“Say, Walt, I guess I’m a bit fresh. We’re rather rattled, Mr. Seadon and me.... Oh, Walt, meet Mr. Clement Seadon, a friend of The Chief’s.... We’re on a big thing, a big criminal thing, and we did something quite stupid back in Banff that we can only put straight by telegraphing, an’ at once.”
“It may save a murder,” said Clement, watching the big man.
“Holy Mike!” cried the big Walt.
“Well, we’re afraid of that,” agreed Gatineau. “You see, we daren’t wait!”
“You won’t wait,” said the superintendent. “I’m getting that set.” He began to run out of the saloon.
“All right, Walt,” called Gatineau. “We’ve got to figure out that wire first.”
He went over to the little writing desk near the rear window. He switched on the desk lamp and selected cable forms. At once he wrote: “Hold all wires from Méduse Smythe to Newman or Neuburg.” He looked up. “Will that do?” he asks. “Our man knows Neuburg; he’ll know what that telegram means. An’ we mustn’t block other wires. Neuburg may be expecting one from Nimmo at Montreal, f’rinstance, and might get anxious if he didn’t get it.”
“That’s true,” said Clement over Gatineau’s shoulder. “And while we’re stopping Méduse’s getting to Neuburg by wire, we might stop her getting to him in person. Write this:
‘Wire Méduse Smythe Banff Springs Hotel as follows: All clear. Have seen Landor Revelstoke. All will be well. Don’t communicate him. Will let you know to-morrow or next day when you can come on here. Wait. No reason anxiety. Englishman who does not look brainy safely interned Montreal. Arthur Newman.’”