The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs - M. V. Carey [35]
“And if nothing happens?” said Detweiler. “If there is no spaceship?”
Banales shrugged. “Then it is indeed a joke—a joke which I do not understand.”
The meal went on in silence. The boys ate heartily, but the men only picked at their food. Elsie and Mary ate nothing at all.
After supper the Three Investigators went out and looked up at the Barron house.
Immediately a window in the big house went up and Mrs. Barron put her head out.
“Go around to the front of the house,” she said softly.
The boys did as she asked. They found Charles Barron sitting on one of the cast-iron chairs on the veranda.
“Good evening, Mr. Barron,” said Jupiter.
Barron scowled.
Jupiter went up the steps, followed by his friend. “Mr. Barron, I have a theory about today’s events,” he said.
“Young man,” said Barron, “I thought I made it clear this afternoon that I’m not interested in your theories.”
Barron got up and went into the house.
Mrs. Barron came out a moment later and took a chair on the veranda. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess my husband simply doesn’t want to hear the truth. He’s planning to leave with the spaceship. He says I must come with him.” She looked down at her green sweater and skirt. “He says I’m to go in and change soon. I’m not supposed to wear a skirt to travel to a new planet. Charles believes that slacks would be more appropriate.”
Jupiter grinned and sat down. “What about your other preparations? Has Mr. Barron started to gather the things he wants to take with him? What does he want to save when the Earth is destroyed?”
“He says he’ll pack his things after dark,” said Mrs. Barron.
“I see.” Jupiter leaned to one side on his seat and put his arm along the back of the chair. His fingers found a flaw in the metal work. It was a small opening like a slot. He touched it, then turned and looked curiously at it.
“Irritating, isn’t it?” said Mrs. Barron when she saw him examining the chair. “All the furniture has holes like that. It’s something the ironworkers did when they cast the things.”
Jupe nodded. “I see. Mrs. Barron, does your husband realize that what he’s doing may be dangerous? He’s allowing himself to be manipulated. He’s seeing events that conspirators want him to see, and he’s hearing what they want him to hear. He’s doing exactly what the plotters want him to do.”
“Jupe, are you so sure there is a plot?” she said.
“I’m positive,” said Jupiter. “Actually, Mrs. Barron, we’re prisoners here. We wouldn’t be allowed to leave if we tried.” Bob and Pete nodded in agreement.
“But why?” she cried. “Who are these conspirators? What do they want?”
“They’re the men on the road, and some others,” said Jupe, “and they want Mr.
Barron’s gold.”
The front door opened and Charles Barron came out on to the veranda. Mrs. Barron jumped slightly, and he smiled at her.
“Ernestine, my dear, surely you guessed that I would listen,” he said. He sat down near his wife. “You spoke of gold,” he said to Jupiter. “Very well. I am now interested in hearing what you have to say.”
“Yes, sir,” said Jupe. “Mr. Barron, it’s common knowledge that you’ve liquidated all of your assets, that you distrust the financial institutions of this country, and that you believe gold and land are the only good investments. From these facts I deduce that you have put all of your money into gold, and that the gold is concealed here on this ranch. Nothing else would make sense.”
“Why, Charles!” said Ernestine Barron. “You have gold here? You never told