CHAPTER XXV
THE STAGE SET FOR BATTLE
"Hey! you, lay off that stuff!" was the way Perk exploded, even as hemade a wild dash across the floor, and clutched the reckless Simeon bythe arm, dragging him back into the room by sheer strength.
The other struggled but feebly perhaps he was really horrified at thedesperate chances he had been about to take.
"Say, you must be goofy, Hawkins, to try that sort o' game!" Perk wenton scornfully, as the wretched man writhed on the floor where he hadflung him. "Don't you know it's two stories down to the roof o' thatextension; an' chances are you'd a got a broken neck, or leg, in thedrop. Better make up your mind to take the medicine an' stand it."
Jack of course had been aroused at the first movement of his chum, andsat up in bed watching the actions of the other.
"Trying to take leg bail, was he, Perk?" he remarked. "You can hardlyblame the poor dick, come to think of it because he's rubbing up againsta tough proposition. Better put the bracelets on him again, and tie hisankles together he might get loco, and try to jump out of a window, justto end it all and that would be too bad."
Simeon, utterly cowed and silent, made no resistance when Perk followedout his pal's advice. There were several hours of the night stillremaining, and they might as well secure such sleep as lay in theirpower, since no one could predict what sort of strenuous activityawaited them in the near future.
Came morning, and the two air detectives were stirring.
"Another right fine mornin' for us," Perk remarked, blithely, as helooked out of the window, and made a grimace at seeing what a nasty drophad awaited the desperate prisoner had he succeeded in carrying out hisplan.
"Oh! that's the usual program, I understand, out here on the Coast,"Jack told him. "Hardly ever see any rain in this blessed country; that'swhy they have to depend on irrigation for their crops."
"Plenty to keep us hoppin' today, I kinder guess, partner, eh, what?"volunteered Perk, as he started dressing, after removing the stout cordsthat had been wrapped about the lower limbs of the Federal prisoner.
"You never said truer words, boy," Jack added "got to settle about thisbusiness of having our friend here held until the gate's been crashed,and our scoop put through. Then I mean to have a good talk with severalpeople in the Government offices, who can give us a few points that sofar we've been missing. You can't pick up too much information whenaiming to stack up against smart lads like this Slippery Slim. He's gotso many eyes on the watch the chap who expects to corral _him_ must getup right early in the morning, and pull the wires in a dozen differentdirections. I'd a heap rather overdo the matter of taking precautionsthan to let just one ragged end get loose, for a game like this is onlyas strong as its weakest link."
"Do we eat here, or look up a restaurant?" asked Perk, quite naturally,since it was the easiest thing in the world for his thoughts to turntoward the subject of catering to the loud demands of his stomach, whenthe usual time for meals came around.
"On the whole I reckon it'd be as well for us to stick around, and havebreakfast fetched up here," suggested jack. "I'll step down presently,and see if it can be managed."
"Just as you say, partner," Perk told him, grinning, to add: "Make hertwo fried eggs and a rasher o' bacon for me; also a big cup o' coffeewith a stack o' wheats done brown. Say, you might add some toast, and anorange, seein' that this is California, an' a feller ought to patronizethe fruit industry when happenin' to visit the Coast country. Guess thatought to fill a vacuum okay, old hoss."
"Leave it to me, Perk, and you'll never starve to death I'm a goodprovider, and Uncle Sam foots the chuck wagon bill."
When later on two waiters appeared laden down with a mass of dishes,Perk grinned some more, and looked quite joyous; for the odor of coffeeand bacon always pleased his sense of smell as nothing else could.
Poor Simeon had apparently about decided to make the best of a badbargain, for he began sniffing as though the idea of breakfast appealedto him--he certainly needed something to brace him up.
Along about ten o'clock they prepared to set out for the offices of theFederal forces in Los Angeles. Simeon had finally given his word not tomake any further attempt at escape. Jack had been talking seriously withthe fellow ever since breakfast, trying to squeeze further informationfrom him, and holding out hope that if he "came clean" he might yet beallowed to go back to his family after the Government had made use ofhim to send the leaders in the wide flung conspiracy to prison for longterms.
Again a convenient taxi was called upon to convey the trio to theirintended destination. Both Jack and Perk evinced considerable curiosityconcerning the unfamiliar sights on the streets. They asked numerousquestions of the driver, who chanced to be a communicative sort offellow, and filled them up with information about the sunny queen cityof the Coast.
It was not long before Jack's magical passport, sanctioned by the BigBoss at Washington, brought them in contact with several high officialswho apparently had been secretly apprized of their presence in the West,and had also been requested to afford the two daring sky detectives allthe assistance possible in carrying out their plan of campaign.
So it came about that Simeon was taken off their hands, after the storyof his capture had been told. Jack secured a promise that the man wouldbe lightly dealt with because of the valuable aid he had alreadyafforded the sleuth-hounds of the air branch of the Law.
Both of them shook hands with the pitiful looking chap as he was takenaway by a marshal who had been summoned and who would see that he waskept aloof from all other prisoners until his testimony was wanted incourt.
After that they fell into a general talk, Jack telling the deeplyinterested officials about the stirring adventures befalling himself andPerk since they first struck Atlanta, where the drive really had itsbeginning.
In return he was given such information as had been gathered inconnection with more recent happenings along the line of Slippery Slim'soperations and the fact of the matter was there always seemed to befresh outbreaks of the bogus money disease in this or that part of thewhole Southwest, as new agents started to work virgin territory until bythis time the greatest unrest and uneasiness existed among allGovernment ranks.
The balance of that day the two pals put in taking a look around thecity, visiting Hollywood, and seeing a number of movie stars whom theyrecognized from familiarity with their faces on the silver screen atvarious times.
Jack paid another visit to Federal Headquarters on the succeeding day,to gather up all loose ends, and decide on his plans while Perk tookhimself off to look up some old friend, who, he understood, was makinggood in one of the new big pictures.
They met again late in the afternoon, with Perk displaying signs ofnervous tension for almost the first thing he said to his chum was inthe shape of a leading question, which Jack undoubtedly anticipated,knowing Perk's headlong nature as he did, and the habit of the other forseeking speedy action.
"Wal, what's the good word, old hoss--when do we skip out from here, ifso be it's all set?"
"No more hanging fire, brother," Jack assured him, smilingly "we'reloaded for bear this time, sure pop. I've been out at the airport, andhad a full tank of gas put aboard the crate as well as all that stuffyou sent over so's to keep us from, starving to death."
"Bully boy!" crowed the delighted Perk; "jest can't come any too soon toplease me. I'm only cravin' a chanct for a set-to with the head o' thisflim-flam bunch, who's laughed at the Government boys just once toooften. Is it tonight, boss?"
"Midnight ought to see us several hundred miles on our way, if all goeswell," Jack told him, not displaying any outward signs of jubilationhimself, although he undoubtedly must be thrilled by the thought of howthey were now about to put everything to the test, and match their witsagainst that astute schemer, for whom the Federal prison doors wereyawning so widely.
"You never gimme sweeter words, old pal!" Perk was saying, backed up byon
e of his most hideous grins.