If you have any knowledge of his whereabouts I wish you would be so kind as to drop me a line. If you know nothing, I hope that you and the other friends he spoke of so often would come down, and I will put myself at your orders. I am uneasy. As you doubtless know, this is one awful tough town.
Trusting to hear good news at an early date, I remain,
Yours truly,
Geo. T. Aughinbaugh.
112 Temple Street.
On reading this John Wesley took it upon himself to open the letter for the non-existent Mrs. Bransford. From that cryptic document they gathered three things only. First, Jeff was under duress; his letter was written to pass inspection by hostile eyes. Second, Leo Ballinger was to visit Uncle Sim and to learn typewriting. Third, George would tell them what to do. There was no George at Rainbow; Leo’s only uncle, Simon Hibler, lived in El Paso, his clerk’s name was George. The inference was plain.
The next day the three friends presented themselves at 112 Temple Street.
Chapter IX
“And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion