“Carlos?”
“Give him no thought, my dear. He will not trouble you on the trail. I will see to that.”
“I don’t trust him,” Mrs. Rhodes answered. “He will betray you—”
“Will you stop worrying?” her husband cut in impatiently. “Let me handle this end of it. Your job is to get those gems through safely.”
Rhodes replaced the empty cardboard box in the safe. He blew out the light and the couple started to leave together.
Jack, fearful of being seen, quickly moved back behind the rear building wall. His heart pounded with excitement! He had seen and heard enough to convince him that distrust of the engineer was well founded!
Obviously, Rhodes was scheming to defraud the mining company officials. Furthermore, his conversation with his wife indicated that he was in close touch with Carlos, the bandit!
Chapter 22
ORDERS FROM BOGOTA
From his hiding place, Jack watched Rhodes and his wife walk to the cottage. Taking leave of Mrs. Rhodes at the doorstep, the engineer went directly to a supply shed nearby.
Presently he emerged with an unlighted lantern.