New Ulm review., 1912-10-16
CHAPTER XXI.

e E .
The missing property safe in the
hands OF its rightful custodians-
through sheer good fortune, not
through skill or Sherlock Holmes
sagacity-and only limited space of
time remaining for the Journey to the
Rio Grande. it was only natural that
the young messengers should wish to
hurry on their road. They did not in
terrogate either the wounded negro or
the captive Filipino, much as they
would have desired to do SO, for neith-
er was In condition to stand an inter-
view. They did manage, however, to
get this Information, through the good
Filipino from whom the giant African
had wrested the belt in the corridor
of the hotel. How big Sam had fall
en- in with Aguilar, how the islander
probed the secret of the negro's sud-
den affluence, and how he also learned
of the more valuable contents of the
belt-these were mysteries reserved
for later solution. The boys were glad
enough, under present circumstances,
to regain their property and be on
their way.
They were standing near the SER
geant's desk in the police station on
the following morning, bidding good
bys to the big officers who had done
so much to aid them, when a little
bunch of harness bulls" came in,
hustling clump of intoxicated pris-
oners to the cells below. Two or three
of the captives could hardly keep their
! feet; the group swayed and weaved
from side to side like some huge,
broken-legged animal, and the boys
were almost trampled under the un-
certain feet of the drunks and their
guardians. AS they broke ground to
get free from the crowd, Brockett
thought a hand sought his pocket,
and. warned by the painful memory
Of recent happenings, snatched quick
ly at it. He caught nothing. Hur-
riedly thrusting his hand into his
pocket, he brought up scrap of pa
per, dingy and thumb-marked, but
criss-crossed with the sign of a "a
miliar code.
Stepping over to the window he
read, scrawled upon the dirty paper,
these hieroglyphs:
IL TIC A SH FA SH TC FA PO SH
8BH Pos T SH A TIC w SH PO Fin r
BA TO 3BH Pos e L SH E L SH.
| Il IC II ~ r1n n r1n on IL T. W TJ
Fin TO SH TO HR PO PO SB Fin w
TO 3BH SH w HR E L TO w Fin r
TO HR TC E L."
"Some people have more luck than
sense. Continue on route till further
instructions" Brockett translated.
The adventures which had their
climax in the opium joint gave Brock.
ett and Solano plenty of material for
discussion as they rolled out on a
southwestern train. This time the
messengers made no attempt to dis
guise their course. but went straight
to the station, bought their tickets
and climbed aboard. Instead of pur.
chasing the red or yellow slips which
| license you to toss about in the berths
of the Pullman, however, they decided
to stay in the seats Of the day-coach
and get what sleep they could, while
alternate three-hour watches were
agreed on as the best way of Tending
of any possible trouble. The man
who really wants to get you," re-
marked Solano, sagely, has a much
better chance in Pullman than In an
ordinary day-coach, and you take ten
times as many risks for your extra
money"
Before beginning the night watches
the youngsters traversed the whole
train, passing through the sleepers on
their way to the dining car, and salts
fled themselves that none of their en-
emies had started on the same jour
ney. No German nobleman, big, gruff
and devoted to his kaiser; no cat-like
Japanese, no sinking Filipinos. were
to be seen from smoker to diner, and
as none Of the berths were made uI
/ early, there was no possibility of q
concealed antagonist crouching behind
the green curtains. After supper they
returned to their red-plushed perches
and spent three hours discussing the
happenings at Chicago. or the adven
lures yet to come.
Solano fished from some inner pock
ct a tiny Anglo-Spanish textbook, and
urged its importance upon his com
panion. "You may need to know q
few words Of the language before very
long," he insisted, 'and now is as
good time to begin learning as any,
"Why not let me carry the book p
responded Brockett. "Then, If a Mex
ican starts any conversation. I can
simply dig up the book and read him
the proper answer"
"Good idea," assented Solano, ''ex.
cept in emergency cases. Suppose q
large, thick revolutionist, OF the bone
head variety, asks you to give quick
account Of yourself, and has a rifle
pointed at you while he is asking!
And suppose, also, that he gives you.
In Spanish, time limit Of two min.