Ambrose Newcomb

“ Perk waited, and watched, his tense face betraying the natural anxiety he must just then be enduring. It was indeed no small danger that faced them, for only a most skillful pilot would be able to successfully land a great airship on such a precarious and scanty stretch of fairly level ground.
A very small thing that could hardly be avoided, save through a near miracle, would suffice to throw the heavy plane off balance, and bring about a wreck that must interfere greatly with their mission, if not utterly ruin every hope of success. ”

“ When Perk that very day was so busily engaged loading up, it was all in line with their pretended objective; entering into the spirit of the great game of “pulling the wool over the eyes” of curious fellow aviators, Perk took delight in concocting an extravagant yarn, depicting some of the possible adventures he anticipated running across down in the countries of South America—Brazil, the Orinoco River forest lands, Peru, Chili and the Argentine—enough to make them envy his good fortune, when tough Luck bound them in fetters along the line of their more prosaic jobs. ”

“ Then when it came to taking aboard a stock of provisions, such as would not require cooking, trust Perk for having a complete understanding as to these requirements—he possessed such a vast knowledge of what was good for a hungry man, not in a position to start a campfire, that when he put the last of their stock away aboard the plane it looked as if they might be getting ready to explore the Arctic regions, where nothing but driftice was to be met, and no chance of having a fire either for cooking or comfort. ”

“ Perk besought the others; whereupon Jack fell upon the senseless vidette and dragged him some distance away—it was an act of mercy, since the man must have been killed otherwise, when Perk completed his little arrangement; for it had been settled between Jack and himself that, in order to convince these tough lawbreakers they could no longer depend on their Hole-in-the-Wall to hide them from those who were ever on their trail, the overhanging walls of the pass must be brought down in a heap of ruins, that would forever choke all entrance and exit in and out of the valley. ”

“ Perk asked numerous questions, since as usual certain matters seemed a bit hazy in his mind, never as speedy as that of Jack to grasp things. Despite these breaks the time hung heavily on their hands, for careful Jack refused to pay any heed to all the long sighs that welled up from Perk’s heart, with the object of hastening the decision.
Finally, when the impatient one was writhing as if actually in pain, Jack took compassion on him.
“I reckon we might just as well make a break, buddy; once down at the outlet we can do the balance of our loafing, until it looks safe for us to start. ”

“ Jack mentioned; “which is about keeping our light hidden under a bushel. Men who follow our dangerous profession must never get themselves in the public prints if it can be avoided; and as for standing up to be in the spotlight, so all people can take note of their looks, it just isn’t done, you know, Perk.” ”

“ Jack told him, with an admiring look. “When it comes to doing big things, especially with all kinds of bombs, (even to mustard and the tear sort) you take the cake. Wait until we get our final plan going, and we’ll see what can be done to give them a great scare. With their leader missing, and the entrance to their valley fort laid in ruins, I reckon they’d cut and run for it, thinking Uncle Sam would now send a force by air ship to round them up.”
“Gosh amighty! but things do look good to me, partner,” Perk could not help saying again, with his face wreathed in smiles. ”

“ Jack hurried out, with a strange thought racing through his brain; he could not help wondering what that fine elderly woman would think if only she knew how the two young men thus befriending her grandson (who must have been so precious to her heart) had been the chief instrument in shape of the outraged Law to run down and send her son-in-law Slim Garrabarnt, up to the penitentiary for a long term of years, as a much wanted criminal. ”

“ Inside of an hour he had his boy pressed close to his heart, and even Perk who sometimes liked to call himself a “hard-boiled guy,” turned away to wipe the unbidden tears from his cheeks.
Of course in due time they heard from Headquarters, with more or less words of high praise, such as seldom spring from such offices where Uncle Sam’s Secret Service agents do their business without expectation of anything more than routine acknowledgment. They were given quite an extensive holiday until there came up another knotty problem which might be submitted to their solving. ”

“ Perk was saying, almost under his breath, as he handed the object in question to his companion, making each movement slowly, so as to keep from attracting attention to the top of the high cliff.
“That could never happen to us, brother,” Jack told him, with conviction in his tones; “because wherever we go in our task of getting some particular man the Government wants badly, these same glasses are worth their weight in solid gold—don’t make any mistake about that, partner.” ”

“ Then Perk made a slight move, and Jack feared he might be about to kick at the beast’s elevated snout, which would only irritate Bruin a great deal more.
“Keep quiet, and don’t do anything to stir him up more than he is already,” was the way Jack cautioned his running mate, knowing the impulsive nature of Perk only too well. “He may fade away when he sees he can’t touch us. Just get your breath back, Pal Perk, and wait up.” ”

“ If there was fog gathering some hundreds of miles distant along the route of the air mail course, no indication of such worry to the pilot’s peace of mind had reached this coastal station.
“Goin’ to have a right decent start, looks like,” Perk mentioned, after they had dismissed the taxi close to the isolated hangar just outside the aviation field limits.
“I expected we’d have it clear as a bell,” Jack told him, as he unlocked the doors of the hangar; “just as well that we don’t have our troubles strike us before we even hit our pace—time enough for all that when we get well on our way.” ”

“ Later on Jack began to lift his head, and turn anxious glances toward his busy comrade, meanwhile sniffing the atmosphere, and faintly smiling—when a healthy young man, accustomed to feeding on first-class chow, day in and day out, is forced by reason of unusual circumstances to partaking—in limited quantities at that—of cold meals, with an extremely minute bill of fare in the bargain, naturally when once again catching the appetizing whiff of frying rashers of prime bacon, also sliced potatoes ”

“ Perk suggested; nor did the other try to place any obstacle in his way.
“Nothing to hinder you, buddy,” Jack was telling him, holding out his hand with a smile. “I’m not going to say another thing about being careful, because I’m dead certain you’ll be on your guard every minute of the time. Only, if set upon fight with all your might; for you must know men like these jail birds, most of them I reckon having broken out of bondage, hate our class as the devil is said to detest holy water; and they’ll never give you a decent chance if you surrender.” ”

“ Jack told his mate, before they thought of turning in, “when you get to shivering too much, the only thing to do is to get up, and start your daily dozen in exercising your arms violently; but make no noise on your life. We don’t know when one of those brutes may be prowling close by, and upset all our tricks by knocking over the apple cart.”
“Needn’t fear I’m sech a silly as that, ole hoss,” Perk assured him, indignantly. ”

“ Later on, as they sat, or lay resting after the strenuous climb, they could compare notes, and begin to build up something of a plan of campaign.
“I reckon,” said Jack, softly enough, after one of those halts, during which he always made up his calculations, “we’re as high as we need go. By sheering off here to the right we’re apt to strike the top of that high cliff we spotted. Then we’ll have all the chance we want to get rested.”
“Shucks! I aint a mite tired, buddy,” Perk assured him, between breaths; “on’y short o’ wind, as yeou might say. Some climb, b’lieve me!” ”

“ Seems like we was abeatin’ the record right along on this here jaunt—the thickest fog—the longest night—an’ neow the beatenist country ever! If it keeps agoin’ like that we’re bound to run up against the wust gang o’ holdup men that was ever heard of. ”

“ Taking Great Chances Jack could read his chum almost as easily as he might an open page. Consequently he readily surmised what was making the other feel so good—he saw Perk’s chest swell up, and his whole person partake of the joy that accompanied his secret thoughts. Not for worlds though would he wish to let the other know how it amused him.
“Let him enjoy the thrill while it lasts, the dear old chap,” he told himself in a whisper. “It isn’t often he plays the high hat role; and after all’s said and done his queer little game did pan out just fine—no shooting, or whooping things up ”

“ Jack noticed this fact presently, and felt called upon to warn the other.
“Keep your eyes more on the ground, partner, and do less sky gazing,” he told Perk in a low but distinct tone. “A tumble might give you a bad hurt; and besides, we can’t afford to make any sort of racket, you know. Never mind those rotten buzzards—what do we care about their carrying-on.”
Perk suspected that Jack had himself guessed what ailed him, from the way he connected the sailing of the uncanny crew with his companion’s erratic actions. ”

“ Jack turned a beaming face on him at hearing this fulsome compliment.
“Nice of you to say what you did, Perk, old chum;” he remarked, with a nod of his head; “but you greatly overrate the landing—all any one had to do was to pick out the safest way, and stick to it through thick and thin. Easy as falling off a log, let me tell you, buddy.”
“Oh! yeah; but yeou stuck!” ”

“ We wouldn’t live up to aour reputation as sleuth hounds if we didn’t work undercover, Jack.”
“Fine for you, brother,” he was told; “I’m tickled pink to know you’re waking up to the necessity for Secret Service men keeping away from the glare of publicity, even if they have to lose much credit; like editors of the big newspapers, who never put even their initials to the strong articles they write everyday.”
In this fashion did Jack usually apply himself to eradicating certain weaknesses that afflicted his best pal, knowing that in so doing he was helping Perk to become more efficient ”

“ I kinder guess not any,” remarked the skeptical Perk, with a look akin to disgust on his face; “they’re a heap too lazy to move, ’cept to come to their three meals a day when off duty, and kept in camp. Same men when on a raid robbin’ some border bank; holdin’ up a train; or nice healthy jobs like that, kin act like a pack o’ half starved locoed wolves.”
“I was just thinking,” continued Jack, who seemed never to lose a point worth considering, “that perhaps we’d better make sure our eats are kept secure. ”

“ Jack understood, and inwardly blessed the lucky chance that had caused his pal to fetch his old war weapon out to his friend the town gunsmith, so as to have it put in first-class condition. It must have been the hand of a kind fate that brought about this wonderful coincidence, Jack was telling himself, when guessing that the running airman must be trying with all his cleverness to insert a cartridge or two into the chambers of the small, antiquated six-shooter. ”

“ When Jack did not happen to be looking Perk managed to slip several articles into his pack, evidently begrudging their lack; which he considered only right and proper, since his shoulders and back must stand for the extra strain.
“An’ if we do need ’em, which is like enough,” he told himself, as if in apology for his deceit; “they might jest prove life-savers—yeou never kin tell haow the cat’s agoin’ to jump; an’ they do say as a stitch in time saves yeour whole bacon.” ”

“ Flyin’ high, I’d call it, partner—alivin’ off the fat o’ the land mebbe.”
“Why not, when they’ve pulled off some mighty big shake-downs during the last few months, and must have raked in a heap of dough? With the coin you can buy all sorts of good things to eat; and don’t forget how they’ve got a special delivery ship, that is able to tote half a ton or more of freight.”
“Whew! jest to think o’ that,” breathed Perk, making a face as if some extremely painful thought had flashed through his excited brain; “an’ heow we on’y got four slim sandwiches to fill up on—hardly a bite apiece.” ”

“ That’ll come to us in the bargain, I reckon, if we’re unlucky enough to slip-up, and fall into their hands.”
“Huh! I cal’late these kiotes jest hate all Government men like a cat does agettin’ its feet wet,” hazarded Perk, shrugging his shoulders.
“Oh worse, far worse than that, buddy,” Jack assured him amiably; “they know how their lives are at stake, and to them a Secret Service man takes on the shape of a noose, or the electric chair. Whenever it comes to a fight between the two of us, and that crowd, it’s got to be to the death, with no mercy shown.” ”