The Ely miner., 1943-11-11

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/ believe that the old Conquistadores
had left a secret the Army engi-
neers couldn't figure out.
He stopped abruptly as something
else flashed into his mind. It was
an order he'd seen a couple of weeks
before, from the War Department
In Washington, cancelling Miguel
Valera's previous order to report for
active service with the 65th Infantry
at Fort Buchanan. That was all
there was to it. And now he was
here.
ST wonder what the hell :"
Pete thought as he returned the SEN
try's salute and hurried inside.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J.
Fletcher looked up from his desk
with slight frown. He liked Puerto
Rico and he liked Pete, but he had
been Assistant Chief of Staff. G 2,
for only a couple of weeks, and his
predecessor Colonel Mayhem liked
neither Pete nor Puerto Rico.
And he had warned Colonel Fetch
er. They're all alike. They think
the Army is the city desk of a yell
low journal You've got to watch
them closer than you do the damn
natives. They go off half-cocked.
Look out for what they call their
private sources of information. Don't
trust any of 'em-and watch VIII
cox. A uniform doesn't change a
iackaPs spots"
It was not only his predecessor
warning that disturbed Colonel
Fletcher at the moment. It was the
letter on the desk IN front Of him.
Fortunately it had come in time. II
it had come little later there might
have been he'll to pay In Washing
ton, and Colonel Fletcher might
have found himself back In the States
teaching r. o. T. c. boys squads
right.
He returned Pete's salute.
"Taussig is in room 108 at the
Granada, SIR" Pete said. He re-
membered the "sir" just IN time.
"You can call it off, Captain VIII
cox"
Fletcher spoke evenly and quiet
ly. It was his own fault, of course.
He should have taken Mayhew's ad-
vice instead of the offchance that
Wilcox really had something.
"You may read this"
He handed Pete the letter. ''Taus-
sig is not only a substantial citi-
zen-he has very powerful politi-
cal sponsor"
The letter was to Major-General
Dutton, the Commanding Officer Of
the Puerto Rican Department. The
letterhead and the signature be-
longed to United States Senator
whose relations with the Press had
not always been free of virulent
name-calling.
"My dear General" it read. cit
is very great pleasure for me to
take this opportunity to commend
my old friend Mr.. Richard Taussig
to your kind attention. Mr.. Taussig
is a sanitary engineer of interna-
tional repute. I shall regard any
courtesy you can show him as a
personal favor. I believe he is espe-
cially interested IN the more do
mestic arrangements of the military
establishment, and I hope you viii
see your way clear to allowing
him as much freedom for investiga-
ton as is consistent with the best
interests Of all concerned. I am
looking forward to his unbiased re-
port on the use we are making Of
the vast funds pouring into our
Caribbean bases. With warm per-
sonal regards, am, very sincerely
yours :"
Across the bottom the Generals
aide had scribbled: 't-Is dinner
enough? Have arranged tour. How
long is he staying?"
Pete handed the letter back.
That's all, Captain. And by the
way" Colonel Fletcher smiled faint
ly. "Are you sure this wasn't cam
outage? When you want to meet a
young lady it's best to Just say so,
you know. That's an"
Pete sat for a moment at his
desk. IF were Lindbergh, / could
resign" he thought sardonically. He
unlocked drawer and took a grimy
sheet of cheap hotel writing paper
out of it.
Dear Mr.. Wilcox" it began. ST
take my pen In hand to say Il you
can take this as strictly private
and personal between you and I, 60
ahead. If you got to turn it IN to
them brass hats you're mixed up
with, stick match to it. I don't
want the joint wrecked any more
I want to wake up IN the morgue
via the East River as they say.
You and me are ON the level A
so-and-so named Taussig is headed
your way. Something's screwy,
don't know what. Two guys spilled
it at the bar Tuesday night, and IT s
straight dope.-How's the black-eyed
beauties down your way? Signed
F. A. Schneider"
The signature was elaborate and
flowing, practiced for state occa-
sions, Like the signing of liquor re-
ceipts. Under it was written Gus"
Pete Wilcox sat looking down at
his hot tip, from the keeper of one
of the most disreputable waterfront
dives In Hoboken. It wasn't the first
one he'd got. Not one of them had
been phony. The F. 3. I. had
profted number of times and no
questions asked.
He shrugged. "The Army" he
thought, '.is different. But thought
Fletcher was different too. I guess
they grow brass hats young"
He put the letter back IN the draw
er. After all, it was just Gus word
against a guy who evidently had
friends IN high nlaces But II Ga,a