Nothing has happened, or seems likely to happen, and that is
the exact situation up to date. Albert Gordon."

"Now," he asked, after a pause, "what does he say to that?"

"He doesn't say anything," said Stedman.

"I guess he has fainted. Here it comes," he added in the same
breath. He bent toward his instrument, and Gordon raised
himself from his chair and stood beside him as he read it off.
The two young men hardly breathed in the intensity of their
interest.

"Dear Stedman," he slowly read aloud. "You and your young
friend are a couple of fools. If you had allowed me to send
you the messages awaiting transmission here to you, you would
not have sent me such a confession of guilt as you have just
done. You had better leave Opeki at once or hide in the
hills. I am afraid I have placed you in a somewhat
compromising position with the company, which is unfortunate,
especially as, if I am not mistaken, they owe you some back
pay. You should have been wiser in your day, and bought
Y.C.C. stock when it was down to five cents, as `yours truly'
did. You are not, Stedman, as bright a boy as some. And as
for your friend, the war-correspondent, he has queered himself
for life. You see, my dear Stedman, after I had sent off your
first message, and demands for further details came pouring
in, and I could not get you at the wire to supply them, I took
the liberty of sending some on myself."