“Learn anything?” War eagerly greeted him as he entered the bedroom where the Scouts awaited him.
“I did. The message, supposedly from Appleby, was delivered to the hotel by a boy, but it never came from the telegraph communications office.”
“Then Mr. Corning couldn’t have sent it?” questioned Ken.
“I’m fairly certain he didn’t. The message must be a fake.”
“Any idea who sent it?” asked Jack.
“An idea, yes. But no proof. We couldn’t trace the message.”
“I take it, we’ll not obey the instructions,” Jack remarked, well pleased by the investigation.
“No, I’m more than ever in favor of pushing on to the mine above Emerald Valley. We can’t get there soon enough to please me. I have a feeling Appleby didn’t meet us because he’s in bad trouble.”
“How soon can we get out of here?” asked Ken quietly.
“We can catch a plane to Bogota in an hour. I’ve already booked reservations.”