Colonel Sylvester called his attention to a telephone resting on a table.
“I wish you would call up Captain Julius Braddock at company headquarters,” he said, “and tell him about your experience.”
“Yes, sir,” answered Tom.
He lifted the transmitter to his mouth, and presently he and Captain Braddock at the far-away Ranger headquarters, by means of the wire stretching across the lonely prairie, were hearing each other’s voices almost as distinctly as though they were standing but a few feet apart.
The Ranger chief expressed a few words of surprise on learning to whom he was speaking.
“And actually at the ‘Eagle Pass’ Ranch,” he exclaimed. “Is the colonel there?—good. I must have a word with him. What’s that—you have something interesting to tell me—fine—fine; go right ahead!”
Whether his story made any impression on Captain Braddock or not Tom was unable to tell. The former told him, however, that the Texas Rangers always investigated even the smallest clues, and Colonel Sylvester could depend upon the policemen’s looking thoroughly into the matter.
“I’ll relay the information at once to detachment quarters,” came over the wire. “On your way there now, are you?—good. You will be able to give Sergeant Howell all the necessary directions for finding the place. Good-bye. Please tell the colonel I want him on the ’phone.”
During the few minutes’ conversation which took place between the two men, Tom found it hard to control his growing impatience. He gave an audible sigh of relief when the instrument was set back on the table and Colonel Sylvester faced him.
“I’m going, sir,” he said.