Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-10-09
on he telephoned to his. 0ld chief from

slider the chief had wanted to give
Forrest the chance to redeem himself.
and at the same time he knew if the
young man was successful that breach
of red tapeism would be forgiven be-
cause of Forests former connection
with the office and the unhappy circum-
stances of his dismissal.
IN give you the same clew that the
others nave. The papers are supposed
to have been taken by small dark
man who had been hanging around the
building for several weeks. He was
traced, the morning following the theft.
to the railroad station, where. he bought
a ticket for New Orleans. At that city
it was learned that he had bought a
ticket for some station further along
the line, but under what name it is not
known. The man is supposed to have
been employed by somebody-its for
you to discover. John-and even If you
find him YOU may not be able to get
track of the instigators of the theft
The other fellows have eight weeks the
start of you. couldn't cable or I
would have done so. Now. go it,
So John Forrest started on his quest
70 redeem his reputation. His search
was as thorough as it could be made.
and he found genuine satisfaction in
the knowledge that he had learned !
more about his suspected man than
had his brother sleuths.
First he learned that the small. dark !
suspect had been seen with COM
panion of the same complexion. but of !
stouter build. This man had not ac-
companied the first man on his fight |
through the south, but Forrest learned
tkat the stout man had taken passage
On steamer sailing from New York
FOR Havana, from whence he had sailed
TO Mexican port. All this investiga-
ton took weeks of valuable time. but
once settled on the trail of Manuel
Corta, the stout man. for Forrest had
even learned the mans ma he, the
Americans pursuit was unfagging I'M
til at last it terminated in a small vii
lage in the heart of the Sierra des Bias
mountains.
Inn there was none, and because he
wore American clothing dark eyes
peered insolently at Forrest from
around adobe huts or from lazily
swinging hammocks under the pecan
trees. If Corta had not moved on the
man would soon be apprised Of the
Americans presence there and. taking
alarm, would be away. Forrest finally
found quarters in the home of the vii
lage water carrier, and because the
vendor Of the precious fluid is always
notorious gossip he soon learned where
Corta might be found. In a broken
mixture Of Spanish. Indian and here
and there an English word or a graph
ic gesture Forrest communicated with
the water carrier. The generous sum of
| money he thrust into the brown hand
made the man his slave
The moon was setting over the Shout
der Of the highest mountain when the
water carrier slipped back through the
thorny underground and motioned the
American to pass through. Forrest
pressed forward and saw in the light
Of lantern three men. The first an
swered the description Of the small
dark man who had been traced to
New Orleans: the second could be no
other than Manuel Corta who held
package wrapped in oiskin covering.
The identity of the third man caused
him to gasp for breath.
Tall and thin his white face showing
strained and haggard in the light was
the nephew of his old chief in the de-
| partment. Blake Finlay and he had
been chums in the old days before For.
rest had made his mistake What was
| Finlay doing here? Was he not conf
| dental secretary to his uncle? For
rests heart sank. If Finlay's quest
was the same as his own he had failed
In his quest. the eagles call had been
in vain. and Forrest might never have
another opportunity to redeem himself
But now the loud and angry words
of the men fell on his ears and he was
conscious that the American had grasp
ed the package and hidden 1t in his
coat while the dark men were ex-
postulating.
You have tricked u.s. sputtered the
man COrta. You accepted our bride
and secured the documents for us, and
now that we have made rendezvous
and are only waiting to deliver them to
the general and receive the reward you
have tracked US down and want your
papers back! Coward!" He drew a
knife and leaped at Finlay. and his
companion sprang to his aid
1 1t was FORESTS quick shot that sent
the knife spinning out of one murder
Gus hand. while the second report was
followed by yell of rage from the
small man and instant retreat Blake
Tinlay leaned against tree and star.
ed ut his rescuer
You ought to be John Forrest" he
said thickly. "If you have heard what
this man says YOU understand the
situation. I've cot the papers back
again. and ! hope that will wipe out
the offense. / can fix it so they will
| GDDanr tD hova haen miclaid. h,,t |,v