“Because San Matteo is just the place that would suit Broome for his purpose. There is scarcely anyone living around there. It’s about three or four days’ journey by land and about two by water, so Broome can give the Senor a couple of days start and see if he makes any attempt to evade the conditions, and still be there to meet him on time.”
“I see, you have a long head, Jim, but what is to prevent Broome from getting the ransom and still keeping the girl?”
“You and I.”
“Humph!” returned the engineer, “that looks to me like a pretty big contract we are taking up.”
“It is,” responded Jim, “but we have got to carry it through.”
“It looks to me,” went on the engineer, “as if we were going to be pretty busy for the next few days.”
“And the sooner we get started, the better,” added Jim.
Leaving the restaurant, Jim and the chief engineer walked leisurely to the corner, where they stood for a few minutes, ostensibly watching the hurrying crowd of people on the street, but nevertheless keeping a watchful eye for anyone who might be dogging their footsteps.
“Seen anything of that imp of darkness?” asked the engineer.
“No,” replied Jim, “he isn’t anywhere in sight, but I don’t believe he is very far away.”