“Nope!” said Gatineau.
“But of course he will, this telegram....”
“That telegram isn’t the one that was sent.”
“Eh?” gasped Clement.
“This is the one I sent.”
He handed Clement a carbon duplicate which went:
“Banff Springs Hotel.
“Arthur Newman,
“Our party reached North Bay from Cobalt. Think business better done Montreal. We go there next train.
“Nimmo Bates.”
“That quiets brother Neuburg, see?” grinned Gatineau in the face of Clement’s perplexity. “It tells brother Neuburg we’ve muddled the trail and cut back to headquarters at Montreal. Quite natural. You see, like you, I figured Neuburg’d want reports, and he can get them from Montreal.”
“Can he? How?”
“The Chief will see to that. I’ve sent all facts to him, he’ll send reports to Arthur Newman that will keep Neuburg purring. Trust The Chief, he’s a bear. Of course Nimmo Bates will sign ’em. Meanwhile we go comfortably to Banff.”