Thus the afternoon waned, and the time came when they were ready to think of the essential “eats”. Of course it was Perk who brought this subject up, for he chanced to have a tremendous appetite, and was apt to give considerable time to figuring what his next menu would be—indeed, half the enjoyment in his estimation lay in thus building air castles along the line of “grub”.
Remembering that little episode up in Atlanta, where some unknown party had made such a “rat’s nest” of Scotty’s adjoining room, evidently under a mistaken belief it belonged to himself and Perk, Jack made sure to carry all his important papers on his person, properly secured, so that no deft hand of a sneak thief could negotiate their abstraction.
“All ready, partner,” he told Perk, at the time looking out of the window, holding back the curtains to see the better who chanced to be walking along the opposite pavement.
“You never said sweeter words than them, old boy; I sure was close to faintin’, my tummy feelin’ like the bottom was adroppin’ out—soup an’ such soft stuffs, while fillin’ at the time don’t stay with me any great while—I crave solids mostly. On your way then, Jack!”
Jack had marshalled all the facts that had been placed in his possession, weeded a few out as worthless, and by the time their discussion ended had told his companion that the Finger of Destiny was pointing out their future course as lying over the almost boundless plains of Texas, across New Mexico, and deep into Arizona deserts, to the wild country along the border not far distant from the spot at which the Gila river forms a junction with the larger Colorado; where the latter serves as a watery boundary line between Arizona and Southeastern California, with Old Mexico less than thirty miles distant as the crow flies.
It would be a big jump for them, but the flood of bad currency undoubtedly had its start somewhere in this hostile region, and spread out like an open fan, northwest into San Diego and Los Angeles—northward up to Salt Lake City—and in the northeast as far as Oklahoma. To effectually break it up it was necessary that they go to the fountain head, so as to destroy the very roots of the noisome poison ivy plant.
They spent more than half an hour dining, and needless to say Perk enjoyed himself to his heart’s content—who wouldn’t if he had a pocketfull of ready cash, furnished by a bountiful Uncle Sam; a bill of fare bristling with all kinds of tempting dishes such as Perk doted on; and to complete the combination having been born with a healthy, unbridled appetite?
It was just commencing to get dusk when they emerged from the restaurant and started back to the hotel, some two blocks distant. Perk, as usual, kept turning his head this way and that very much like a wolf scalp-hunter looking for his suspicious quarry. Presently he picked at Jack’s sleeve, and bending his head until his lips almost touched the other’s ear he observed in a sibilant whisper!
“Listen, partner—we got a clam doggin’ us like a bloodhound on the track o’ a runaway nigger from a convict camp back in Alabam—get that, do you?”