Hope, relying
with splendid faith upon his friend to protect him once he
penetrated past the lynx-eyed gateman.
Runnels accepted Kirk's explanation, and so far exceeded his
authority as to make no objection. Allan, therefore, managed to
spend about half his time in company with the object of his
adoration.
Although the Master of Transportation never referred to his
conversation with Kirk on the occasion of their trip through
Culebra Cut, he watched his new subordinate carefully and he felt
his instinctive liking for him increase. The young fellow was in
earnest, he decided, in his effort to succeed on his own merits,
and had not been posing when he offered to start at the bottom. It
gave Runnels pleasure to see how he attended to his work, once he
had settled down to it.
Accordingly, it afforded him an unpleasant surprise when he
received a printed letter from a St. Louis detective agency
relative to one Frank Wellar, alias Jefferson Locke (last seen in
New York City November 25th), and offering a substantial reward
for information leading to his arrest. The communication reached
Runnels through the usual channel, copies having been distributed
to the heads of various departments. It was the description that
caught his attention:
"White; age, twenty-eight years; occupation, clerk; eyes, bluish
gray; hair, light, shading upon yellow; complexion, fair; height,
six feet; weight, one hundred ninety pounds.
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