“It was dark and he may not be sure. Anyway, the mine with Johnson’s initials is still in the shack. We’ll show it to him.”
“What bothers me is how did the mistake happen?” Webb muttered. “I know the mine I loaded on the boat had Johnson’s initials. It should have gone off.”
“Someone is onto our game, and tampered with the mines. It may have been a trick of that newspaper pair.”
“In that case, we’re in a dangerous spot. We ought to clear out while the clearing is good. If the authorities get onto what we’re doing—”
“They won’t—at least not tonight,” the professor said confidently. “The sheriff is as dumb as they come, and is convinced I am a genius second only to Thomas Edison. We’ll have to pull off a successful test tonight with Johnson’s mine, collect what we can, and clear out.”
“Okay,” Webb agreed, “but this is my last job. The game is too dangerous. I served one stretch in the pen and I don’t look forward to another.”
“If we can explode Johnson’s mine tonight, we’ll collect the money and be away from here as soon as we cash the check. Can you pull off the job without any blunder?”
“Sure I can unless someone tampers with the mine! This time I’ll make sure they don’t!”
“Okay,” the professor agreed. “Now I want you to talk to Johnson. Put up a good story, and get him to look at the mine that has his initials on it. If he refuses, we’re licked, but it’s worth a final try.”
“I’d like to find the guy who broke into the shack!” Webb muttered.