et up with you and your water, or
else some one will find it before then. If no one finds it first, we've
lost nothing. That's plain. But if my Cobre friends--the push that
railroaded Stan to jail--if they should find that place while I'm back in
New York, and little Jackson Carr working on it--Good-bye, Jackson Carr!
They'd kill you without a word. That's another thing I'm going back to
New York for besides getting money. There's something behind Stanley's
jail trip besides the copper proposition; and that something is back in
New York. I'm going to see what about it.
"Just one thing more: If we don't come, and you have to strike out for
the tanks in Cabeza Mountain, you'll notice a mess of low, little,
insignificant, roan-colored, squatty hills spraddled along to the south
of you. You shun them hills, bearing off to your right. There's where our
mine is. And some one might be watching you or following your tracks.
That's all. Now I'm going to sleep. Wake me about an hour by sun."
* * * * *
Mr. Peter Johnson sat in the office of the Tucson Jail and smiled kindly
upon Mr. Stanley Mitchell.
"Well, you got here at last," said Stan. "Gee, but I'm glad to see you!
What kept you so long?"
"Stanley, I am surprised at you. I am so. You keep on like this and
you're going to have people down on you. Too bad! But I suppose boys will
be boys," said Pete tolerantly.
"I knew you'd spring something like this," said Stan. "Take your time."
"I'm afraid it's you that will take time, my boy. Can't you dig up any
evidence to help you?"
"I don't see how. I went to sleep and didn't hear a thing; didn't wake up
till they arrested me."
"Oh! You're claiming that you didn't do the robbin' at all? I see-e!
Standing on your previous record and insistin' you're the victim of foul
play? Sympathy dodge?... Hum! You stick to that, my boy," said Pete
benevolently. "Maybe that's as good a show as any. Get a good lawyer.
If you could hire some real fine old gentleman and a nice little old
gray-haired lady to be your parents and weep at the jury, it might help a
heap.... If you'd only had sense enough to have hid that money where it
couldn't have been found, or where it wouldn't have been a give-away on
you, at least! I suppose you was scared. But it sorter reflects back on
me, since you've been running with me lately. Folks will think I should
have taught you better. What made you do it, Stanley?"
"I
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