Waldo Edgar turned back from the map and faced his young agents. There was just a trace of a smile on his lips. “Think you can handle this assignment?” he asked. Bob was the first to reply. “I’ll handle it if I have to swim along the whole coast of Florida,” he said. Waldo Edgar chuckled. “I don’t think that will be necessary.” “How about my uncle and Merritt Hughes?” asked Tully. “Will they be working in the same territory?” “Yes, they are working on the Florida angle of the case and I expect you to keep them advised of any developments which you are able to uncover. You can reach them in Jacksonville and their telephone number will be given to you before you leave Washington this afternoon. If you call here at one o’clock, your complete transportation and expense money will be ready for you as well as a written file of all the information which we now have about the jewel smugglers. Can you be ready by one o’clock?” “I can go now,” said Bob. “Better go home and throw an extra shirt or two and some socks into a traveling bag,” advised the federal chief. “I like to see plenty of enthusiasm, but you may be gone a good many weeks and you should be thoroughly prepared for a strenuous trip. If you have boots and some good heavy clothes, be sure to put them in your bag and by all means do not go unarmed.” Waldo Edgar stood up and shook hands with each of them. “I will not see you again before you go, but I expect great things from both of you. I shall watch your reports with interest.” Chapter III “GOOD LUCK” ★ Bob and Tully left the office of the federal chief together and descended in the same elevator to the first floor. Both of them were stirred by a strong feeling of elation for this was their first assignment since becoming federal agents. Bob would have liked to talk the case over with his uncle, but he knew now that Merritt Hughes was already on his way to Florida and whatever Bob was to do on the case he would have to do alone. “Seems to me you get all the best of these assignments,” grumbled Tully. “I know something about Florida and Nira is just about the last place in the world I want to go to.” “I don’t see why you should complain,” said Bob, “even though Nira may not be a very pleasant place, for you have a distinct advantage over me since I have never been to Florida.” They parted as they walked out of the building, and Bob, hailing a taxicab, sped toward the apartment building where he made his home. Packing was a comparatively simple thing for Bob. He pulled a serviceable but battered Gladstone bag out of the closet and opened it upon the bed. Fortunately he had a large supply of freshly laundered clothes and he packed one side of the bag solid with shirts, socks and underwear. That done he went back to the closet and rummaged around until he found an old hunting outfit of corduroy trousers and coat.