"I found the paper in the cellar where he was. See how some of these words are scored. Done with a finger nail, looks like." "But how could he know we would see the paper, and if we did see it would understand?" "He couldn't. It would be one chance in a million, but all his life he's been taking chances. This couldn't do any harm." Her dark head bent beside his fair one with the crisp sun-reddened curls. "I don't see any message. Where is it?" "I don't see it myself--not much of it. Gimme time." This was the paragraph upon which his gaze had fastened, and the words and letters were scored sharply as shown below, though in the case of single letters the mark ran through them instead of underneath, evidently that no mistake might be made as to which was meant. J. P. Kelley of the ranger force reports over the telephone that by unexpected good luck he has succeeded in taking prisoner ---- -------- the notorious Jack Foster of Hermosilla ---- -- -- - and the Rincons notoriety and is now - - - --- bringing him to Saguache where he will be -------- locked up pending a disposition of his case. ------------------------------------------- Kelley succeeded in surprising him while --------------------------- he was eating dinner at a Mexican road-house just this side of the border. "Do you make it out?" Maloney asked, looking over their shoulders. Curly took a pencil and an envelope from his pocket. On the latter he jotted down some words and handed the paper to his friend. This was what Maloney read: ........................................ .......................................... luck............................prisoner the notorious Jack Foster of Hermosilla ..............Jack........of.He.......a ........R.........t............s.now ................Saguache................. locked up pending a disposition of his case. .......succeeded in surprising him...... ............................................ ............................. "Read that right ahead." Dick did not quite get the idea, but Kate, tense with excitement, took the envelope and read aloud. "Luck----prisoner----Jack of Hearts----now Saguache----locked up pending a disposition of his case----succeeded in surprising him." She looked up with shining eyes. "He tells us everything but the names of the people who did it. Perhaps somewhere else in the paper he may tell that too." But though they went over it word for word they found no more. Either he had been interrupted, or he had been afraid that his casual thumb nail pressures might arouse the suspicion of his guards if persisted in too long. "He's alive somewhere. We'll save him now." Kate cried it softly, all warm with the joy of it. "Seems to let our friend Fendrick out," Maloney mused.