Rhodes started to protest, then seemed to think better of it. “Suit yourself,” he shrugged.
“About Willie and War,” the Scout leader resumed. “You’ll send out a searching party?”
“No, I can’t!” Rhodes snapped. “We’re running a mine—not a kindergarten. I didn’t ask you and your party to come here! You’ve interfered with operations!”
“We did discover the old mine, don’t forget.”
“Oh, that! You didn’t make such an important discovery. I’ve always known—”
“You’ve known the location for some little time?” Mr. Livingston quietly supplied. “Perhaps that was why you were so eager to get back here again as engineer?”
“No such thing!” Rhodes denied. “Now get out of here, will you? Let me finish my breakfast in peace!”
“Sorry to have disturbed you,” Mr. Livingston returned. “Good morning.”
He and the two Scouts left the cottage. Once they were well beyond hearing, Jack and Ken anxiously questioned their leader as to his plan of procedure.
“Don’t you think it may have been a mistake to let Rhodes have that emerald?” Ken demanded. “It must have high value.”