Apparently, as Perk was saying to himself, it was “all over but the shouting;” and he imagined there had been quite enough of that when the startled inmates of the blocked valley heard that dreadful thunderous sound typifying the collapse of the organization of defiant lawbreakers clever Slim Garrabrant had built up, partly to show his contempt for Uncle Sam’s thief catchers.
Slim, by the way, after he had recovered from the blow received at the time of his surprise, and capture, exhibited an utter indifference as to what became of him. He even laughed, as if absolutely free from any concern; and joked with Perk as the airship raced through illimitable space, declaring it was one thing to nab him, and a horse of another color to hold him.
“Bet you three to one you two boys will have your same old job to do over again before six months have gone into the discard,” he shouted, humorously; but Perk only grinned, and shook his head; at the same time wondering if the rest of their lives were really to be taken up with chasing after this slippery customer, and curbing his pernicious activities.
Having the whole day ahead of them, Jack did not mean to put his cherished aircraft to its best licks—plenty of time; and actually he dreaded receiving the anticipated thanks and compliments from the Big Boss over at the Washington Headquarters; in which Jack surely differed vastly from most men of his dangerous calling, who would be only too willing to stand in his shoes.
After delivering their prisoner, just as jolly and unconcerned as ever, over to the Federal officials at Los Angeles, Jack and Perk headed for San Diego, the latter wild with an eagerness to “fill up to capacity” at their beloved restaurant.
They carried Simeon along with them, having a spare cot in their room to which he was more than welcome, for a day or two, until an answer came to his wire to Headquarters, ordering him doubtless to report, and tell his dramatic story in person, after which he would be given a vacation to fully recover his broken health.
Jack had a purpose in this besides the wish to see more of a man whom he respected so much. He had heard Simeon say that he and Slim Garrabrant had married sisters, both of whom were no longer on this earth. This had set Jack to speculating, concerning the old lady named Mrs. Ferguson, grandmother to the handsome little boy whom he and Perk—principally Perk—had saved from the cruel fangs of a mad dog, as narrated in the early pages of this book.
He introduced the subject by asking Simeon if he would like to hear where they had picked up some kind of a clue covering Slim Garrabrant; and upon the other eagerly saying he certainly did, there followed the brief story of the strange adventure of Main Street, in one of San Diego’s suburbs.
When he spoke of their discovering the picture of Slim on the wall of that cottage, and incidentally mentioned the old lady, Simeon was greatly shaken. He clutched Jack by the arm, Perk staring open-mouthed, not quite understanding the drift of things—and in broken language begged him to tell some more—what about the old lady—did they know her name—and was it Mrs. Leonore Ferguson; and what of the lad—was he apparently in good health?
“I’m asking you Jack, because he is my own, my beloved little Walter, the only legacy my dear wife left me to remember her by, when she passed away. There was a fire in the building where they lived, something like a year and a half ago; and hunt as I would I never could get a trace of my dear ones. To think that, not content with saving my own life, you two should be the means of my being once more reunited with all I have in the world! Take me to see them without delay, if only you will, and I shall never, never cease to bless both you gallant comrades.”