“I think I know what Ramirez is up to now,” he declared, in answer to inquiries. “Sniff, you fellows. Can’t you tell what’s in the air? It’s the reek of Orientals. Ramirez is smuggling again. But this time he’s smuggling bigger game than usual.”
“What do you mean? Opium?” asked young Harincourt.
“Opium? No.” Captain Cornell was scornful.
“Well, but you said this smell is Oriental. And I notice it, too, now that you call attention to it.”
“It’s Oriental, all right. But, look around you. See all these pallets. Fellows, this is a receiving station for human contraband. Either Chinamen or Japanese are bedded here until Ramirez can deliver them across the Border in defiance of our immigration laws. By George,” he added, drawing a long breath, “that’s it. I had a suspicion of it earlier. The racket we’ve been through rather scattered my wits. But now that I use the old head and put two and two together, I get the answer all right.”
The other nodded. Only Mr. Hampton seemed uncertain.
“I don’t know, Captain,” he said. “That leaves so much to be explained. Why should Ramirez have drawn Don Ferdinand’s workers from the mine? How did he happen to lure away my cook, Ramon? Don Ferdinand suspected Ramirez of working up a revolutionary movement, you know. That’s why he followed Ramirez here clear from his distant estate.”
“That’s all true enough,” said Captain Cornell. “But I believe when your friend Don Ferdinand turns up, you’ll find out that I’m right. However, the cars are outside. Let’s get back to Laredo as quickly as the law will allow us. The bull fight will soon be over, and if we can get across the Bridge before the crowd hits it, we’ll be better off.”
“I suppose there’s nothing else to do now,” said Mr. Hampton, reluctantly joining the procession descending the stairs. “But I’m worried about Don Ferdinand. I didn’t think so much of his failure to keep his appointment with us at the Hamilton Hotel. But when you discover that Ramirez had Don Ferdinand’s car, that puts a different complexion on the matter. He must be in captivity somewhere.”
“Say, Mr. Hampton,” said Frank, who was just ahead of him, and who halted abruptly, “what fools we are. Has anybody thought to look on the roof?”