the three chums were all gathered in their staterooms wi

observation platform?" demanded Jack. "You cer

Bob. "It better be good or th

ed to belabor his chum with it.

"He's a wild man. How can

commanded his son. Bob sank

xplain out there in the club car. Those men were sitting too close, and I believe they were watching me. One was, at least. You see, while Jack and Bob were snooz

What plot? What are you talki

words here and there reached me. But I gathered there was a plot afoot to smuggle a

le leane

that?"

he exact words. There were only snatches here and there that reached me. But

ntelligence. Often before he had been witness to the la

nk?" he asked. "Anything tha

as something about Ensenada. Isn't tha

ifornia, Mexican territ

olies and motor boats and night running and--"

?" demand

other, and he became excited and raised his voice. He said: 'With Handby in the revenue force keeping us in touch, we'

Whew. These fellows mu

too," commented Bob. "You certainl

ed to the

Handby, in the revenue forces-I'm sure the name was Handby-he suddenly realized they had raised their voices and might have been overhea

r. Temple. "Do you know anything about t

ng them from entrance into the country

Bob nodded

nd immigrants, not only from the eastern part of our country but from foreign lands, too, the white p

untry, for China you will recall has about one-quarter of the entire population of the world, th

nians began to worry at the influx of coolies, fearing they would cheapen living conditions and wages. Their legislator

ny Chinamen here, Fath

mpt classes. That is, Chinamen who are merchants, p

that, Uncle Geor

the reply. "The treaty was signed at Washington

Chinese coolies admitted

talions of Chinese coolies, under contract to do work behind the lines in

untry. This is especially true along the Pacific Coast, although smuggling rings have been discovered in operation along the Me

s in California, operating ranches, fruit and truck farms, who will pay well to have a batch of coolie laborers delivered to

tion, Uncle George?" said Frank. "Don't yo

hall lay this matter before the Secret Service the first thing tomor

ed Jack, "these two

s their destination, that is out of the question, too. In the first place, they already have a suspicion that Frank overheard them, and accordingly they would be on watch. In the second place, w

ng this man Handby is a spy, they can wat

ke that," sai

gain into the club car, and beyond to the observation platform. It was growing late, and they were nearing Oakland. The transcontinental

said Jack. "Smell it. We mus

cific and is unlike any other city in America, with the Latin-like gayety of its populace, its 30,000 Chinamen forming

o his chums, surveying the figures in the club

Frank of overhearing him was tipping the porter to learn to wha