He ran his eye down the paper. Then he looked at Doctor Hoff with a half
smile.

"You didn't notice anything peculiar about this list?"

"Don't know as I did."

"Not the--er--nitric acid, for instance?"

"Nope. What of it?"

"Mr. Hoff, your son has been caught by one of the oldest tricks in the
whole bunco list--the lost Spanish mine swindle. That acid, together
with the rest of the outfit, means a gold-hunt as plain as if it
were spelled out. And the Spanish professor was sent for, not to give
lessons, but to translate the fake letter. Where does your son bank?"

"Fifth National."

"Telephone there and find out how much he drew."

Doctor Hoff sat down at the 'phone. "Five hundred dollars," he said
presently.

"Is that all?" asked the other, disappointed.

"Yes. Wait. He had six checks certified aggregating ten thousand
dollars."

"Then it isn't South America or the West Indies. He'd want, a letter of
credit there. Must be some part of the United States, or just across
the border. Well, we've done a good day's work, and I've got a hard
evening's thinking before me. We might be able to head off the colonel's
personally conducted expedition yet, if we could locate it."

The evening's thinking formulated itself into a telegram to Average
Jones' club, the Cosmic. It was one among the many distinctions of the
modest little club in Gramercy Park, that its membership pretty well
comprised the range of available information on any topic. Under
the "favored applications clause," a person whose knowledge of any
particular subject was unique and authoritative, whether the topic
were Esperanto or fistiana, went to the head of the waiting--list
automatically and had his initiation fee remitted. Hence, Average Jones
was confident of a helpful reply to his message of inquiry, which summed
up his conclusions and surmises thus far:

"Cosmic CLUB, NEW YORK CITY:

Refer following to geographical expert: Where is large, shallow,
unmapped body of salt water in United States, or near border, surrounded
by hot, snake-infested desert and mountainous country, reputed to
contain gold? Spanish associations indicated. Wire details and name of
best guide, if obtainable.

A. JONES."

The reply was disappointing:

"Cyrus C. Allen absent from town. Will forward your wire.

"COSMIC CLUB."

Well poised as Average Jones normally was, he chafed over the ensuing
delay of four days, each of which gave the colonel's expedition just