“Blocked that, of course,” explained Cager.
“Any telephone message through, do you think, to Lucas or Siwash at Wandersun’s shack?”
“No telephone,” said Cager. “An’ then Siwash isn’t there. That is part of the news. He went along the lake yesterday—to Gunning’s shack.”
“What time?” asked Gatineau anxiously.
“About five.”
“Before those ladies made Banff,” said Gatineau with relief. “Unless, of course, they got a message through on the way.”
“They didn’t,” said Cager. “No wires, no train letters came through. I’ve been watching Siwash—Lucas, as he calls himself—pretty close. I guess he didn’t get any sort of message.”
“Not from along the lake?”
“Not even that. But I don’t know why he went. He just went up in a canoe. I think he’s coming back. You see he was to meet them ladies, and the woman, Mrs. Wandersun, hasn’t come back, or Neuburg shown himself? No—then about those people who had a letter for Siwash when he came along—I mean those neighbors who were told that he was coming, and the ladies, too. Are they in this, do you think?”