“That’s true enough. But we can’t afford to take chances,” said Robson, with the caution for which he was noted. “We ought to have five or six more, and the question is, where to get them.”
“Before we go any further I’m going to get Hughson here, and we’ll have the benefit of his advice,” said McRae. “He’s in the city on business connected with his team. I still think this is a matter for the police, but if he sides with you fellows, I won’t put up any more opposition. This is a serious thing, and we don’t want to go rushing into it before we know we’re right.”
“It won’t take long to get him here, I think,” said Robson. “He told me he was going to stay in this evening, so I think we can get hold of him right away. I think I know where I can find him, so I’ll give him a ring.”
[CHAPTER XXIX]
WEAVING THE WEB
Robson took the telephone and called a number. In a few seconds he heard the familiar voice of the veteran baseball man over the wire, and he explained that he and the manager wanted his advice. Hughson promised to join the council as soon as possible, and it was not fifteen minutes later that he was shown up to the room.
“What’s going on here, anyway?” he asked, when he had exchanged greetings with the little group. “You all look as serious as the mourners at a funeral.”
“It may end in a funeral for some one,” said McRae pessimistically. “Sit down, Hughson, and I’ll give you the facts in as few words as possible.”
The manager sketched a brief outline of the happenings of the last few days and the project that they were considering for that evening. Hughson listened attentively, throwing in a terse question here and there, and when McRae finished he sat silent awhile, digesting the information that had been given him. McRae had not told him which plan he himself favored, so that the veteran baseball man could make his own decision.