“News?”
“You bet.” The excited Captain Cornell turned toward the two taxis and waved their occupants to approach. The three boys who were in the nearer taxi were by his side in a moment, for they sensed from his manner that he had something important to divulge. The three older men who were in the farther taxi were slower to approach. Yet they, too, hurried their pace on noting Captain Cornell’s air of suppressed excitement.
“Fellows,” he said, low-voiced, as the tense group gathered around him and Hannaford, “I know where Ramirez is. And we’re going for him right away.”
Quickly he explained what Hannaford had just revealed to him.
“And don’t worry none about bein’ legal,” said Hannaford. “I’m a deputy sheriff, and bein’ as how you got somethin’ on Ramirez which makes it all right for us to go after him, I’ll swear you all in as members o’ my posse.”
“All right, Hannaford, step on it,” said Captain Murray. “Climb in with us, and show us the way.”
Hannaford was bundled into the foremost car, Captain Cornell joined the boys in the first taxi, and both cars got off to an almost equal start. That bearing Mr. Hampton and Mr. Temple and Don Ferdinand was slower in getting under way, but kept the others in sight.
“This shoulder of mine has felt better in its time,” grunted Mr. Hampton to his companions. “I planned to wait until we got to the flying field, where I could have the flight surgeon examine and treat it, and wouldn’t have to make embarrassing explanations. But, maybe, this Doctor Garfield can fix me up.”
Several minutes later found the three cars drawn up together on a deserted side street near the International Bridge. Hannaford had called a halt. Doctor Garfield’s home and office lay in the next block, and the old ex-Ranger felt it was necessary to prepare a plan of campaign before going farther.
“Doc Garfield was in a hurry when he phoned,” said Hannaford. “I know where his phone is—in a little room separated from his office. He was speaking low and hurried, while Ramirez waited. Doc couldn’t tell me much, only that Ramirez come in a car which he left standing at the curb, and he thinks there’s a woman in the car and a couple or three men.”