human
Coast seems to be clear, eh, Jack?
gpt
Looks that way, as far as I can see,
human
No signs o' aour bein' spied on so far,
gpt
I saw nothing that looked suspicious, partner,
human
Kinder had an idee that lanky goof at the table 'gainst the wall kept lookin' aour way, like he had a suspicion we'd bear watchin'--did yeou happen to notice him, buddy--queer squint to one o' his lamps, an' a turrible long nose that made me think it jest longed to stick itself in other folks' business.
gpt
So you reckoned he was some interested in us, did you, Perk? Well, he had a right to be, I'd say, if you asked me.
human
What's that, partner?
gpt
Why, he knew just who we were, and why we chanced to be in old San Diego right now--get that straight, Perk.
human
Yeou're kiddin' me, Jack,
gpt
I repeat what I said; and to make it plainer I'm adding further that man you mention not only knew us for what we are, but also why we were whispering across our table so much, when certain things came up that had to be discussed, even against our general rule never to talk shop when in public.
human
The devil he did! ejaculated the astounded Perk;
gpt
Ask me a hard one, brother, Jack flashed back, still amused it could be easily seen.
human
I'll go a step further, and say that he was tempted to speak to us, perhaps even join us at our table; but one thing kept him from doing so, which was the iron-bound rule that one agent of Uncle Sam must never thrust himself into any game that is being conducted by another of the brotherhood.
gpt
Meanin', I kinder guess, as heow that party might be in the Secret Service like we air--does that fill the bill, Jack?
human
Just what it does,
gpt
Then--yeou _know_ him, I'm understandin' boy?
human
I most certainly do, Perk--you've heard of him many a time too, even if you've probably never happened to run across him. That man's one of the smartest detectives in the whole shooting match--his name, son, is Josiah Harper, sometimes called The Hawk on account of his long beak, and the fact that he possesses abnormal eyesight.
gpt
So, that's the wonderful Hawk, is it, partner? he was saying, as if he found it difficult to grasp the fact.
human
No, I never did run acrost him so far's I know. What in tarnation kin _he_ be doin' out this way--yeou don't figger he's goin' to butt in on aour job, do yeou?
gpt
Hardly that, Perk, I should say; if he was we'd have been piped off to that effect. I reckon he had orders to run over to San Diego to catch us before we took off.
human
Does that mean he might be fetchin' a last hour message, Jack?
gpt
I figured that way, came the ready answer;
human
Well, I swan!