“My young friend,” said he, “if you knew more about the ways of government, you would think differently. We have to do a tremendous amount of work on small appropriations and with a limited force. Ours is not a spectacular branch of the service, and the gentlemen in Congress see no occasion to spend money on us. They prefer to spend it
where it will show. Moreover, now that the World War has increased the national debt, they are shouting for economy. Instead of giving us more men and money, the men who hold the purse strings are cutting us down.”
Mr. Temple nodded understandingly.
“But this tip about Handby,” said Frank, returning to the first subject, “won’t that help you?”
“It will, indeed,” said Inspector Burton. “Handby is employed in Southern California, operating out of Los Angeles and San Diego. Just to show you how valuable I consider your information, I’ll say that since sitting here I have made up my mind to make a trip immediately to the south myself. Handby shall be put under surveillance at once.”
“Won’t you arrest him and try to make him confess?” queried Jack.
“No. That would scare off the others. I’ll watch Handby in hope that he will lead us to his associates, and thus we will be enabled to scoop in a number of the crooks and break up the smuggling ring.”
“About this radio station in the cove?” said Frank. “You remember? I told you I overheard ‘Black George’ telling his companion the radio at the cove would keep in touch with the coolie boats?”
Inspector Burton nodded.
“That’s important, of course,” he said. “But as