“My later wire?” Pawlinson fairly yelled. “What in thunder are you getting at?”
“Here!”
Hallins strode hurriedly over to his desk and caught up a yellow telegraph blank.
“I received that not thirty minutes before you stepped in yourself. I thought, of course, you knew what you were about when you sent it.[Pg 49]”
“I sent it? I?” shrieked Pawlinson, as he tore open the sheet, where we both read:
“Send patrol launch well manned immediately to Trawly’s Rock. My orders from Washington.
“Pawlinson.”
“And you have sent it?” cried Pawlinson.
“I did wonder that the thing wasn’t in cipher,” admitted Hallins, getting scared. “But I didn’t dare disregard the command from Washington. But who did send it?”
“I wonder if that Stevens——” I broke in excitedly.