Part 13 (2/2)
”Yes, and I'll be glad of it,” reh here at this hotel, but I want to get busy”
”So do I,” confessed his chuh the Canal as guests of Uncle Sa acceded to Mr Hadley's request, as the completed films were to form part of the official exhibit at the exposition in California later on
”Whew, but it _is_ hot!” exclaimed Joe, after he and Blake had looked over their possessions, tofor their trip next day
”Yes,” agreed Blake ”Let's go out on the balcony for a breath of air”
Their room opened on a small balcony which faced the beach Mr
Alcando had a roo the corridor, and his, too, had a small balcony attached As Blake and Joe went out on theirs they saw, in the faint light of a crescent andfrom the Spaniard's room
”He has coreed Blake ”I wonder who it is? He said all of his friends had left the hotel He ht, the only sounds being the low booradually, to Joe and Blake, came the murmur of voices from the Spaniard's balcony At first they were low, and it seeht, that the conference was a secret one Then, clearly across the intervening space, caht?”
”Perfectly,” was the answer, in Mr Alcando's tones ”I have given it every test”
Then the voices again sunk to a low murmur
CHAPTER XI
ALONG THE Canal
”Blake, did you hear that?” asked Joe, after a pause, during which he and his chum could hear the low buzz of conversation from the other balcony
”Yes, I heard it What of it?”
”Well, nothing that I know of, and yet--”
”Yet you're more suspicious than I was,” broke in Blake ”I don't see why”
”I hardly knowbox, and what you saw in that letter--”
”Oh, nonsense!” interrupted Blake ”Don't iine too much You think that curious box is so picture caht be, and--”
”And you're afraid he will get ahead of you in your invention of a focus tube; aren't you?” continued Blake, not giving his companion a chance to finish what he started to say For Joe had recently happened to hit on a new idea of a focusing tube for apicture camera, and had applied for a patent on it But there was soranted He was in fear lest soranted a similar patent before he received his
”Oh, I don't know as I'm afraid of that,” Joe answered slowly