“Did you make a map of the locality?”
“Ain’t you cute? Why don’t you ask if I have it with me?”
“You are too quick, my friend. It is unfair to be so sensitive. As a man of the world you are perfectly aware that no one would consider any proposition unless he knew what he is going after.”
“All right. I’ll tell you. It’s platinum—” Ollie spoke more softly, but Bob understood what he said.
“My friend, there has been no platinum discovered in Peru in hundreds of years. There was, at one time, a small amount of it, but never a very great quantity. Not enough to make it worth thinking about. The world gets it in quantities from Russia, and these Andes have been searched diligently, but there is little here.”
“That’s where you are wrong.”
“How do you know it was platinum?”
“Listen, big boy, during the war we had to have it, and I flew with some other lads into Russia to get it, see? We came out with it—I got more than any other man in the outfit, and I brought it back. I know what I’m talking about.”
“That is indeed interesting. I shall present your proposition to the chief and I am sure that he will be most happy to discuss the matter with you.” He extended his hand with a smile and Ollie accepted it with a swaggering toss of his head.
“I knew I’d get you on the run. Come on, I want to have a dance with one of those Spanish girls—they sure have pretty girls here.” The pair rose quickly and a moment later strode off toward the dancing pavilion.