Part 5 (2/2)
”This business is proving pretty expensive,” grumbled Judson.
”We're playing for a big stake,” was the reply. ”I found out that the code has been placed in the hands of a Captain Simms, recently attached to the revenue service, for revision. I believe that it is the same Captain Simms against whom I have a grudge, for it was on his s.h.i.+p that I was insulted by aspersions on my business honesty, and that, also, was the work of this Jack Ready.”
”Pity he didn't tell them that he was in irons at the time,” thought Jack to himself.
”Where is this Captain Simms?” asked Judson, not noticing, or appearing not to, his companion's outbreak.
”That's just it,” was the rejoinder. ”n.o.body knows. His whereabouts are being kept a profound secret. Since it has become rumored that the Navy wireless code was being revised, Was.h.i.+ngton fairly swarms with secret agents of different governments. Simms is either abroad or in some mighty safe place.”
”Our hands are tied without him,” muttered Judson, ”and if I don't get that code I don't stand a chance of landing that big steel contract with the foreign power I have been dealing with.”
”I'm afraid not,” rejoined Jarrow. ”I saw their representative in Was.h.i.+ngton and told him what I had learned. His answer was, 'no code, no contract.' I'm afraid you were foolish in using that promise as a means to try to land the deal.”
”I had my thumb on the man who would have stolen it for me at the time,”
rejoined Judson, ”but he was discharged for some minor dishonesty before I had a chance to use him.”
”The thing to do is to locate this Captain Simms.”
”Evidently, you must do your best. The wind has died down and I guess we'll stop at the hotel till to-morrow. Anyhow, it's too long a sail back to-night. Come on, Donald; come, Jarrow.” The bench creaked as they rose and made off, turning their footsteps toward the hotel.
Not till they had gone some distance did the boys dare to speak, and even then they did not say much for a minute or two. The first expression came from Jack. It was a long, drawn-out:
”We-e-l!”
”And so that is the work that Captain Simms has been doing in that isolated retreat of his,” exclaimed Billy.
”And these crooks have just had the blind luck to tumble over him,”
exploded Noddy. ”Just wait till they take a look at the hotel register.”
”Maybe by the time they enter their names the page will have turned,”
suggested Billy.
”No,” rejoined Jack, ”our names were at the top of the page and there would hardly have been enough new arrivals after us at this time of night to have filled it since.”
”We must find Captain Simms at once and tell what is in the wind,”
decided the young wireless man a moment later. ”I guess the instinct that made us follow Jarrow was a right one.”
”I wonder how the rascal became acquainted with Judson?” pondered Billy.
”Mixed up with him in some crooked deal or other before this,” said Noddy.
”I shouldn't wonder,” said Jack.
They began to walk back to the hotel. They did not enter the lobby by the main entrance, for the path they followed had brought them to a side door. They were glad of this, for, screened by some palms, they saw, bending intently over the register, the forms of the three individuals whose conversation they had overheard.
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