"The more I see and learn about Motor Matt," declared Grattan, "the more I admire his shining abilities. He's a wonder. We've matched wits several times, and he's always had a shade the best of it. Will you answer a civil question, my lad?"
"What is it?"
"Where's Tsan Ti and the ruby?"
"Tsan Ti and Bunce are at a farm near here, but——"
"So that old idiot has got tangled in the net, too!"
"But the ruby," finished Matt, "has been lost."
"Lost?" Grattan showed considerable excitement. "How was it lost?"
"Sam Wing stole the ruby from Tsan Ti, on the train, and jumped off at Gardenville. The mandarin discovered his loss in time to leave the train at the same station."
"Oh, thunder!" exclaimed Grattan disgustedly. "So that was why Tsan Ti followed Sam Wing out of Gardenville!"
"And you thought the mandarin was afraid of you, and that that was his reason for hot-footing it into the hills," derided Pardo.