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."I don't either.""So let's forget about them for a while and adjourn to the darkroom," Ken saidPage 52ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfirmly."I'd still like to know130THE STATION WAGON AGAIN 131if the curves of Fenton's snake and the curves of Mr.Green's trail have morethan a passing resemblance to each other." At the head of the stairs he addedover his shoulder, "Who knows? Soon we may actually have the kind of valuableinformation the Rands seem to think we've had all along."Half an hour later they turned off the enlarger and turned on the ceilinglight.On the blueprint, which had been tacked flat on the enlarger easel, Kenhad traced the entire snake.Now he looked down at his handiwork withsatisfaction.The cobra's head lay near Route 17, at the edge of the park, andits body looped and curved back into the area of the park itself."I knew it,"Ken said."I knew this would work!" "You call that working?" There was bothscorn and regret in Sandy's voice."Exactly three curves of the snake coincidewith three curves in the trail and that small section of the trail can't bemore than five hundred feet long out of a couple of miles," he added."But those three curves are half the snake's body," Ken pointed out."Look allthe way from those two big loops not far from the head to the tiny loop justabove the tip of the tail.The only thing that worries me now," he went on,"is that Fenton's gone up this trail, found his money, and departed hours agofor parts unknown, while poor Richards watches the two main entrances.""I see.All your figuring is perfect, but ""Of course," Ken interrupted thoughtfully, "if wefound the place where the money had been hiddenafter it was gone, I mean at least we'd get a story.Isuppose Fenton would be careful about leaving evi-132 THE CLUE OF THE COILED COBRAdence around, but I think it's worth going up there to investigate.Besides,maybe he hasn't picked it up yet, for some reason.""For Pete's sakel" Sandy slumped into a chair and stared at him."When youonce take hold of an idea, you certainly hang on, don't you? Look!" He pointeddramatically to the blueprint."That trail twists and winds back and forthabout two hundred times.It's only reasonable that the curves of the snakemight happen to coincide with a couple of those twists.But that's all itamounts to it's a coincidence!""But they match perfectly!""Oh, sure! I won't argue with you on that.But just suppose for a minuteyou're right and that Fenton went to all the trouble of having this ringdesigned to follow those three little curves.Then what? You talk aboutinvestigating, but what are you going to investigate? Do you plan to dig upall the ground along both sides of those five hundred feet of trail?""Certainly not." Ken sat down opposite him."It's clear to me that the threecoinciding curves mark the general location and that the specific location issomething Fenton could trust to his memory.Maybe he planted the money at thebeginning of the spot where the snake and the trail coincide.Or maybe it's atthe end.Or maybe it's right here" he pointed "where the tail of the snaketurns right back on itself, and bisects that last curve.That gives us threepossible locations." He waited for Sandy to comment, and when the redheadremained silent he added, after a moment, "Well, it's certainly better thanhaving to search the whole park.Unless, of course, you have a better idea."THE STATION WAGON AGAIN 133Sandy ignored the sarcasm of the last words."As a matter of fact, I have aswell idea.I just don't have any evidence to support it.And I likeevidence," he added pointedly."If your idea's so good, let's hear it.""Well," Sandy said slowly, "I've been waiting all along for somebody Richards,say to suggest that Fenton hid his money in one of the caves of Cave Hill.Itseems to me "Ken didn't let him get any further.He was on his feet."Of course! Caves!They're a natural hiding place." He was bending over the blueprint again,Page 53ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlseeking out the spot he had looked at only casually before the spot markedCave Hill Picnic Area."The snake's got nothing to do with the caves," Sandy warned him, still in hischair."It was the first thing I checked for, but it's no good.The snake endsway below Cave Hill, the way we've got it placed to match the curves in thetrail.""O.K." Ken said."So I've been wrong all along.The curves are purecoincidence.The caves sound like a much better possibility." He straightenedup."Let's go investigate 'em right now."Sandy shook his head."You speak with the blissful-ness of ignorance.Thereare approximately one hundred and fifty caves in that area from a size aboutbig enough for a rabbit to a size that would hold the state capitol and thensome.They're scattered around all over a heavily wooded hill.It would takedays to find them all weeks, probably.Some of the big ones have been fittedup with lights.Some are so dangerous from falling rock and stuff that they'vebeen blocked up for134 THE CLUE OF THE COILED COBRAyears." He shook his head again."Fenton may have been stalling around fordays before picking up his money, but I don't think he's going to wait longenough for us to go through all those caves and find the particular one heused if any."Ken took three long strides, found himself at the wall of the small darkroom,and turned to stride three steps in the other direction."You're just manufacturing difficulties," he said."First of all, we caneliminate the caves that have been equipped with lights.Presumably they'reopen to the public and visited regularly.Fenton wouldn't try to hide so muchas a penny in a place like that.""Fine." Sandy eyed him sidewise."I think there are about a dozen of those.That leaves us only about one hundred and forty to locate and explore."Ken paced to the end of the darkroom and back once more."All right," he saidfinally."A hundred and forty  so what? If we eliminate the barricaded ones "He stopped."When did the barricades go up, do you know? Recently?""Not very recently, but I'm not sure just when.I suppose a few at a time wereblocked off when they became dangerous."Ken studied the floor."I suppose we wouldn't dare eliminate any of them, inthat case.A barricade probably wouldn't stop Fenton, anyway.He might evenprefer it." He sighed and lowered himself into his chair."If only the snakefitted some trail in the cave section.""Sure.If only." Sandy grinned briefly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]