he moving picture boys recognized as that of Mr. Alcando.

"It is Blake Stewart and Joe Duncan," said the former lad. "We
have called--"

"I beg your pardon--In one moment I shall be with you--I will
let you in!" exclaimed the Spaniard. The boys could hear him
moving about in his apartment, they could hear the rattle of
papers, and then the door was opened.

There was no one in the room except the young South American
railroad man, but there was the odor of a strong cigar in the
apartment, and Blake noticed this with surprise for, some time
before, Mr. Alcando had said he did not smoke.

The inference was, then, that he had had a visitor, who was
smoking when the boys knocked, but there was no sign of the caller
then, except in the aroma of the cigar.

He might have gone into one of the other rooms that opened from
the one into which the boys looked, for Mr. Alcando had a suite in
the hotel. And, after all, it was none of the affair of Blake or
Joe, if their new friend had had a caller.

"Only," said Blake to Joe afterward, "why was he in such a hurry
to get rid of him, and afraid that we might meet him?"

"I don't know," Joe answered. "It doesn't worry me. You are too
suspicious."

"I suppose I am."

Mr. Alcando welcomed the boys, but said nothing about the delay in
opening his door, or about the visitor who must have slipped out
hastily. The Spaniard was glad to see Blake and Joe, and glad to
learn that they would soon start for Panama.

"I have much to do, though, in what little time is left," he said,
rapidly arranging some papers on his table. As he did so, Blake
caught sight of a small box, with some peculiar metal projections
on it, sticking out from amid a pile of papers.

"Yes, much to do," went on Mr. Alcando. And then, either by
accident or design, he shoved some papers in such a way that the
small box was completely hidden.

"We have just come from Mr. Hadley," explained Joe, and then he
and Blake plunged into a mass of details regarding their trip,
with which I need not weary you.

Sufficient to say that Mr. Alcando promised to be on hand at the
time of the sailing of the steamer for Colon.

In due time, though a day or so later than originally planned,
Blake and Joe, with their new Spanish friend, were on hand at the
pier. Mr. Alcando had considerable baggage, and he was to be
allowed the use of an old moving picture camera with which to "get
his hand in." Blake and Joe, of course had t