“You don’t mean that woman passenger on the sea sled!” Jack exclaimed incredulously. “The one who didn’t tell us her name!”
“She is Mrs. McClellan Rhodes, wife of the engineer. Her first name is Rosie.”
“Ye fishes!” Willie yipped in sudden apprehension. “You don’t suppose she’s going to the mine too!”
“I wouldn’t know,” replied the planter. “Rosie didn’t say. But if she is heading for Emerald Valley and the mountains, her husband must now be at the mine. And in that event, your friend, Mr. Corning, had better be alert!”
Disturbed by the planter’s remarks, Jack and his friends tried to learn more. Mr. Ferendez could tell them very little.
He related that he had met McClellan Rhodes and his wife only once before, at Bogota. At that time they were mingling in society, living high.
“Rhodes didn’t attend to his duties at the mine, I was told,” Mr. Ferendez reported. “According to rumor, he was replaced because of inefficiency. Under Appleby Corning, the mine has improved. But apparently, there’s dissatisfaction among the emerald miners.”
“You think Rhodes may have something to do with it?” inquired Willie.
“Oh, he’d like to get his old job back,” the planter returned. “No question about that. He and his wife made a good thing of it.”
“Where is Rhodes now?” asked Ken.