"Cosmic CLUB, NEW YORK CITY:

Refer following to geographical expert: Where
is large, shallow, unmapped body of salt water in
United States, or near border, surrounded by hot,
snake-infested desert and mountainous country, reputed
to contain gold? Spanish associations indicated. Wire
details and name of best guide, if obtainable.

A. JONES."

The reply was disappointing:

"Cyrus C. Allen absent from town. Will forward your wire.

"COSMIC CLUB."

Well poised as Average Jones normally was, he chafed over the
ensuing delay of four days, each of which gave the colonel's
expedition just so much start upon its unknown course. The only
relief was a call from the Spanish instructor who answered Jones'
advertisement. He was the same who had served young Hoff. As the
Ad-Visor surmised, his former employment had been merely the
translation of a letter. The letter was in base Spanish, he said.
He didn't remember much of it, but there was something about a lost
gold mine. Yes; there was reference to a map. No; no geographical
names were mentioned, but in several places the capital letters B.
C. seemed to indicate a locality. He hadn't noted the date or the
signature. That was all he could tell.