“If he waits until nightfall we’re licked,” said Jim.
The afternoon dragged until four o’clock, and then Jordan uttered an exclamation. He had his glasses pointed at the cabin.
“Here he comes now,” he announced, and the others raised their glasses. Sure enough, a man was wending his way up the slope, straight for Vancouver’s cabin, and Jim called their attention to a white package that he had in his hand.
The clerk stayed in the cabin for an hour and departed at the end of that time. When he had gone, Jordan closed his glass.
“That makes the case complete,” he announced. “Now we can go back and report to the colonel. Who wants to bet that I don’t stay up until taps tonight?”
“Not I,” returned Jim, promptly, “I’m so dead on my feet right now that I won’t know whether you do or not!”
17
Breaking Up Hydes’ Party
On the following morning Colonel Morrell had an early and unexpected visitor. He was a fairly good-looking young man, with a handsome smile and a confident air. Without introducing himself he asked the colonel of the cadet corps an astonishing question.
“Well, what luck did you have with the ghost the other night?” the man inquired with a pleasant smile.
There was a pause before the colonel answered him. “Unfortunately we missed him after a considerable chase. Are you the one who—?”