“This thing is big, Bob,” he went on. “As you know from the confidential report you got, we feel sure that only a few men are actually involved in the ring, but they must be men of great daring and resourcefulness, for they have managed to elude some of the best detectives.” “Then it seems kind of foolish for me to tackle it,” said Bob, half to himself and half to his uncle. “Not at all. A new, younger man may have some ideas that older men in the service would not have. You’ve had one break in getting Hamsa out of the way and we’re sure that he was linked with the gang.” “I guess there’s no question about that for he stole the confidential reports Tully and I had.” “Then what does that mean to you?” asked Bob’s uncle. The younger agent, struggling to button a shirt collar that was too tight, stopped and sat down on the edge of the berth. “In the first place it means that he wanted to find out just what the federal people knew about the operations of the gang. Then it appears pretty obvious that he didn’t want any more federal men nosing around Atalissa and Nira.” “Right in both cases,” agreed Merritt Hughes. “Now what?” “Well, it follows that there must be some good reason for this interest in federal operations, and all I can figure out is that the gang is getting ready to smuggle in a large amount of gems.” “Go to the head of the class; you’ve had a perfect score. The question now follows, what shall we do?” “Are you going to try to demote me now?” grinned Bob. “No, I’m just trying to find out how far along the way you’ll get by sound deduction and logic.” “Then I’d say that we ought to go through with our original plans and that Tully and I proceed on to our assignments at once with additional agents held ready to back us up if we get in a jam or things break wide open and we need help.” “You’re not worrying about Hamsa having escaped from the river and getting word to the others in the gang?” “Of course I’m thinking about that angle, but that’s a chance we’ll have to take,” replied Bob. “We’ll make the decision tomorrow. There may be some further advices from Washington by that time.” Bob finished dressing and his uncle picked up his bag and together they walked out into the train shed. “Breakfast is going to taste good to me,” said Bob. “Don’t waste any time in getting there.” “Then we’ll eat at the restaurant in the station,” decided his uncle. Breakfast was served quickly after they placed their orders and Bob ate the meal with real relish. Corn cakes with a thick coating of maple syrup especially pleased him and he had a second order. After the meal was finished, they walked through the main waiting room of the station and to the taxi stand just beyond where Merritt Hughes signalled for a vehicle, and they were soon speeding toward the hotel.