Together they went to the nearest police-station, where Frank told his story to the sergeant in charge, repeating his offer for the arrest of the thief and the restoration of the message. He was told that everything possible should be done, and with that promise he was compelled to be satisfied.
Frank scarcely spoke as they returned to the hotel. Bart wiped the perspiration from his face and said things to himself.
In his room Merry sat quite still for some time, the look on his face indicating that he was in deep thought.
Bart did not venture to break in upon his meditations. To Hodge this second loss of the message, at the moment when Merry had begun to read it, was something to throw him into a perfect tempest of rage; but Frank had shown that he was master of his temper.
Bart knew Merry was thoughtfully considering the situation and studying over it in view of the proper course to pursue. After half an hour he quietly said:
“That is what I’ll do.”
“What is it?” asked Bart, unable to repress his curiosity longer. “What have you decided to do?”
“I believe there is not one chance in a thousand that the man who snatched that message will be captured before he can get out of New York, and this has led me to decide on a course of action. In the single sentence that I read my father said that he was at the cabin of Juan Delores, near Urmiston, which is about fifty miles from Denver. I shall wait here until to-morrow. If the police have not made a capture by that time, I shall leave New York.”
“Whither bound?”
“For the cabin of Juan Delores, near Urmiston, Colorado. I am going to find out the truth, if possible. There is a mystery to be solved, and I mean to solve it. Bart!”