“Now then,” he said, “it is time for me to show you all the cards. You know, O’Brien, who this Smith is?”
“The most dangerous scoundrel in Europe, and the slickest knave that ever planned the downfall of his own country to satisfy his own miserable ambition. That much and more I know, but try as I may I can’t get my eyes on him, nor yet my hands.”
“He is slick all right,” agreed Mr. Ridgeway. “But thanks to this extra dirigible and the place at Barnegat, we will elude him. That is all I want now. After we are off, O’Brien, start something that will bring that gang inside the law, and arrest the whole bunch on suspicion or what not. Anything to keep them from doing any mischief.”
“But Mr. Ridgeway, sir, it is now, now while you are here that they are dangerous.”
Mr. Ridgeway shook his head.
“Unfortunately not.” He took a paper out of his pocket and handed it over to O’Brien. Lawrence looked over his shoulder and slowly spelled out the words of a curiously printed anonymous letter. It was written on heavy wrapping paper, and read:
“This is not a threat. It is simply to tell you what will happen. If the crown jewels that are lying in the Treasury Building and the papers intended for a certain republic are taken out of this country, that day, mind you, the President of the United States will forfeit his life and so will you. You will remember this, because it is the truth. Make no mistakes.”
O’Brien whistled. “So that’s your little scheme, is it?” He pondered. “Of course it will be easy to take care of the president,” he said. “And you will be safe up in the air, but no one knows what else they will do. I think it’s up to O’Brien to get after them. Well, thanks to this lad, I know where to find most of the gang. When do you start?”
“I want to go tomorrow,” said Mr. Ridgeway. “You see we have really two journeys to make; two errands to accomplish, and the sooner we do accomplish them, the better it will be. I will go from here to the White House and have my papers put in order, and have the custodian of the jewels ready with them tomorrow morning.”
“Do you specially mind when you start?” asked O’Brien. “I wish you could set the time for evening. I want a whole day to get hold of my little family party. Even if I start tonight, it may take me that long.”