“They did not,” was the reply. “Sam said that he thought he might be able to pick up valuable information and asked for the use of the Ann and the company of Jimmie. That’s all he said to me concerning the moonlight ride he proposed.”
In bringing his mind back to the conversation with Sam on the previous night, Mr. Havens could not avoid a feeling of anxiety as he considered the significant words of the young man and the information concerning the sealed letter to be opened only in case of his death. He said nothing of this to the boys, however, but continued the conversation as if no apprehension dwelt in his mind regarding the safety of the lads.
“If they only went out for a short ride by moonlight,” Glenn suggested, in a moment, “they ought to have returned before daylight.”
“You can never tell what scrape that boy Jimmie will get into!” laughed Ben. “He’s the hoodoo of the party and the mascot combined! He gets us into all kinds of scrapes, but he usually makes good by getting us out of the scrapes we get ourselves into.”
“Oh, they’ll be back directly,” the millionaire remarked, although deep down in his consciousness was a growing belief that something serious had happened to the lads.
He, however, did his best to conceal the anxiety he felt from Ben and his companion.
Directly the three went down to breakfast together, and while the meal was in progress a report came from the field where the machines had been left that numerous telegrams addressed to Mr. Havens had been delivered there. The millionaire looked puzzled at the information.
“I left positive orders at the telegraph office,” he said, “to have all my messages delivered here. Did one of the men out there receipt for them? If so, perhaps one of you boys would better chase out and bring them in,” he added turning to his companions at the table.
The messenger replied that the messages had been receipted for, and that he had offered to bring them in, but that the man in charge had refused to turn them over to him. He seemed annoyed at the fact.
“All right,” Mr. Havens replied, “Ben will go out to the field with you and bring the messages in. And,” he added, as the messenger turned away, “kindly notify me the instant the Ann arrives.”