CHAPTER IX
COACHING PERK
Of course it was in keeping with this exchange of confidences that Jack should relate all that had happened to them since their arrival in Atlanta to secure the ship awaiting them, load it to capacity for a long voyage, and finally start off from Candler Field.
Mr. Adkins listened eagerly to this modest account of what had already happened to them as a starter in the hunt they had undertaken; and he was visibly thrilled at hearing of the bitter night chase, the desperate tactics undertaken by the pair of human wolves aboard the Ryan monoplane; and particularly when Jack finally described in vivid language the astounding act of Perk in first shattering the bothersome searchlight, to follow this with his lucky random shot that bore into the gas tank of the pursuing craft and brought about an explosion.
Possibly the urbane gentleman had never in all his life listened to so ghastly a true story as the graphic one thus modestly related by one of the two participants; looking at them, with Jack so calm and modest, giving all the credit to his grinning accomplice, he must have decided in his astute mind that at last Slippery Slim was going to have a pair of human bloodhounds on his trail such as all his ingenuity and vindictiveness combined could not throw into the discard.
“Let me have,” he went on to say to Jack, “as good a description as possible of those same bills your friend Scotty found in that pocketbook dropped among his clothing by the unknown party whom you believe was looking for your letter of instructions from Washington.”
When Jack complied with this request the other nodded his head approvingly.
“No question but what they were of the same stripe as all the others that have been brought to our attention,” he told Jack. “You must know it’s been a mooted question as to whether the plates from which these notes are being printed in vast quantities (that make it a gold mine for the gang) are counterfeits engraved by some master in the art or stolen property, which have somehow never been missed by the plant where much of the printing is done for the Treasury Department—the bills are so perfect that cashiers and tellers are all at sea over the facts, so that something of a near panic has resulted in banking circles as a result of this unknown quantity. Remember these are the old type of banknotes, and not the new abbreviated form of currency, so that it is more difficult to discover the actual facts.”
“It will all come out in the wash, sir,” remarked Perk, sagaciously, with a sly wink at his pal.
“Just so, Perk,” observed the gentlemanly official, smilingly; “but I’m more concerned about your plan of campaign than anything else right now. During the time you stop over here in Orleans I mean to keep you posted with regard to any fresh news that comes in to Headquarters for there is hardly a day when we do not learn of additional discoveries connected with this deluge of phony money that’s been dumped on the whole Southwest by this hard working gang. I am telling you everything that’s known or suspected, so that you can figure out your best line of action.”
“We understand that, Mr. Adkins,” said Jack, nodding, “and you can rest assured we appreciate your kindness more than I can tell you. Before we jump off you will know what we’ve decided to do, so as to pick up a warm trail; and after that, sir, don’t be worried if you fail to hear a single word from us for days, weeks, or even months; but depend upon it we’ll be working on the job every minute.”