banking
on the pair of us to bring the high-hat chaps at the head of this
smuggler league to the bar, with plenty of evidence that would convict
them, no matter how many big lawyers they employed to beat the case."

"That sounds all to the good with me, old hoss," snapped the pleased
Perk. "'Taint often we get half the praise that's comin' to us--not that
I care a whiff 'bout that, though--satisfied to do my duty by Unc' Sam,
an' let them high-ups have the main credit. But I guess we'll get some
kick out o' the game just the same an' that's worth all it costs us.
Tell me, did this Mr. Ridgeway fork over any news worth knowin'?"

"He did," the other assured him. "I showed him those papers I found
hidden in the cabin of the sloop, with a fine list of names, such as
would cover customers who'd ordered the stuff they had aboard and he
reckoned that several of them might point to the heads of the combine
swinging the big smuggling deal."

"That would be a clue worth while, I'd say," Perk asserted warmly, his
eyes flashing with renewed zeal as though he might be telling himself
they must be getting on a pretty warm scent which would soon lead them
to the party they sought above every one else--the capitalist whose word
was _law_, and whose money purchased all the supplies, from liquor
and vessels to aircraft and everything else needful for carrying on
their business of swindling the Government through the Treasury
Department.

Just as he always did in forestalling any likely move when an important
case was placed in the hands of himself and Jack, Perk was already
engaged in mentally spreading the net destined to gather in the chief
culprits--the outlook promised a multitude of warm episodes calculated
to stir the blood to fever heat and afford him the wild excitement
without which life lost much of its charm--in his eyes at least.

The pulsating throb of the old engine aboard the sloop had long since
ceased to make itself heard, so that they could with reason believe
McGrath and his pal well on the way to their distant goal, with no sign
of stormy weather to be seen in the southwestern heavens.

"How 'bout spendin' the night here, partner?" Perk queried, as he sat
contentedly smoking his favorite pipe after the manner of a man who had
good reason to congratulate himself on the close of a perfect day.

"I was just thinking that over, Perk. We might be in a worse situation
than this, if locality was all that mattered. I