elephone."

"Whom did he talk to?"

"Why, I don't know," said Tom. "How would I?"

"How long was he in there?"

"Why, fifteen, twenty minutes. Maybe half an hour. Why, Jack? Anything
wrong?"

"Yes, Tom, there is," said Jack. "Can I trust you?"

Tom looked hurt.

"That's fer you to say."

"Excuse me, Tom," said Jack. "But after what I've just seen I don't
know whom to trust. Yes, I believe you're true blue, Tom. I'll tell
you. But wait a minute."

He walked to the door and looked out. The coast was clear.

"Tom," said he, returning, "I'm going to take you into my confidence.
Listen."

In as few words as possible he related their adventures that day and
the part played by Remedios. Then he added that in Mr. Rollins's
companion he had recognized the Mexican chauffeur.

"What do you make of it?" he asked.

"Treachery," said Tom, emphatically. "But who'da thought it of Mr.
Rollins?"

They looked at each other puzzled.

"I wish I knew whom he spoke to by radio and what he said," declared
Jack.

"Wish I'da listened," mourned Tom.

Both stood silent. Suddenly the still night was shattered by a series
of racketing explosions. Jack sprang for the door.

"Remedios's flivver," he cried to his companion. "There isn't another
car in the world can cough like that."

By the time he had emerged from the radio station the car could be
heard shooting away down the desert trail toward Ransome.

"Too late," said Jack, disgustedly. "He's gone. I should have
surprised them together."

He thought a moment, then turned to the other.

"Listen, Tom," said he. "Not a word about all this. I think I'll not
let Rollins know that I suspect him, but will talk this over first
with my friends. And if he comes here to radio again listen to him,
and report to me what he says."

"All right," said the big ex-cowboy. Then as a new idea occurred to
him, he asked: "But how about tellin' my side pard, Dave? He's on duty
days. He oughta know, too."

"I don't know Dave as well as I do you," said Jack. "Certainly he
ought to be informed, so that he can be on the watch, too. Can he be
trusted?"

"You can count on Dave," said Tom. "We been pardners for years. That
bow-legged son o' Satan an' me been through lots o' ruckuses in our
time. If there's any shootin' to be done, count us in. You know how I
kin shoot."

"I ought to know," said Jack. "You taught me."

"Well, then, I'll let Dave in on the secret."

"All right," said Jac