Page:Arthur Stringer - Gun Runner.djvu/148

 his protest. "I could find no trace of the receipt."

"Of course not! He shows the value he puts on it by carrying it about on his person, in his wallet."

"But there was something else I did find out," she said, lowering her voice; and again he was struck by the aura of sheer vigour that seemed always to float and cling about her. "It's the fact that eight mountain-guns are to be shipped out of Mobile this week, invoiced and crated as steam-laundry equipment. They are Hotchkiss rapid-fire guns, breech-loading, and with fixed ammunition. Those are the guns that are to be landed somewhere in northern Locombia. They can be taken apart, piece by piece, and carried up through the hills to Guariqui on burros."

"And he had the coolness to send out a wireless about that equipment!" commented McKinnon. The woman, with a warning look, motioned for him to speak more quietly.

"My second discovery was even more important. It began with what seems to be a note from one of De Brigard's generals. They are still afraid of some counter-movement to seize their cartridge shipment. I mean they are worrying about the very ammunition on this ship, the cartridges in the slag-boxes you spoke about.