“All right.” The fellow started away, and Cardow called him.
“Tell him to put it well around that low shelf—”
“That’s what he was doing when I left.”
“Very well. That’s the rock that tipped and scared the wits out of the bunch, so that’s one place we can be pretty sure is worth getting under. And warn him to have the charges so the whole works will not blow everything inside to thunder. That stone is hollow as a drum, I know, and I’ll have no more of those half baked jobs. The Boss will be along himself, and if things aren’t working right—” He didn’t finish the sentence and at the announcement that the “Boss” was expected, the men took on a more alert attitude.
“Yes, he knows, but I’ll remind him again.” The chap hurried off so quietly there wasn’t even one step heard, and almost immediately he had disappeared.
Jim wondered how soon the great leader would appear, and he also wondered if the Peruvian police chief was aware that this “Boss” of gangdom was in his country. Recalling the man with the Green Mask who had taken charge of things the night on the ledge, Austin expected that the real head of the vast organization would probably appear in some similar disguise. It was a pretty theatrical sort of get-up, but the lad decided that the Boss did not dare permit any of his men to know him personally, for no doubt every disgruntled one would betray him to the police if he got a chance.
Cardow turned toward him again, but before a question could be put, Gordon spoke in a low tone to the lieutenant. When the discourse was finished, the leader nodded impatiently.
“Now, look here,” he snapped. “I’m not wasting a minute on you. We know that you are in with the bunch we are after, so, you answer my questions, everyone of them, and no stalling.”
“I’ll answer anything I can,” Jim promised.
“See that you do.”