“Yours regarding Porton received. Crapsey makes another offer. Pair probably enemies now. Will write or wire instructions later.”
“This is certainly getting interesting,” remarked Dave, after having read the message. He turned it over to Roger. “I guess Ben is right––Crapsey and Porton have fallen out and each is claiming to have the miniatures.”
“Well, one or the other must have them, Dave.”
“Perhaps they divided them, Roger. Thieves often do that sort of thing, you know.”
“Do you suppose Ward Porton is really around that Bilassa camp in Mexico?” went on the senator’s son.
“Probably he is hanging out somewhere in that vicinity. I don’t think he has joined General Bilassa. He thinks too much of his own neck to become a soldier in any revolution.”
Having sent his message to the Basswoods and received Ben’s reply, there seemed nothing further for our hero to do but to wait. He and Roger were very busy helping to survey the route beyond the new Catalco bridge, and in the fascination of this occupation Ward Porton was, for the next few days, almost forgotten.
“If the Basswoods expect you to do anything regarding that note you got from Porton they had better get busy before long,” remarked Roger one evening. “Otherwise Porton may do as he threatened––destroy the pictures.”
“Oh, I don’t believe he’d do anything of that 262 sort, Roger,” answered Dave. “What would be the use? I think he would prefer to hide them somewhere, thinking that some day he would be able to make money out of them.”