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."But right now all I can really wonder about is how agang of bandidos, as Ramon calls them, could smuggle truckloads of guns andammunition across the border.We're always thinking we're so smart.Why can'twe figure ovit how they're doing it?""Probably," Ken said wryly, "because we're not all that smart.I didn't evenknow we thought we were," he added."Have you always been under the impressionthat we were smarter than the FBI and the Mexican federal police, forexample?""Don't be an idiot," Sandy muttered.Ken grinned.He'd been deliberately trying to snap Sandy out of his grim mood,and he thought he was succeeding."You're the idiot," he said."After all,these bandidos have stymied the efforts of one of the FBI's best men, and oneof Mexico's best detectives.So you're just being swell-headed when you carryon like this because you-you, the great Allen-didn't trip up the gunrunners onPage 26 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlyour first try.""Me? Swell-headed!" Sandy swung in his seat to64 THE MYSTERY OF GALLOWS CLIFFstare at Ken.A moment later he grinned a sour grin."Of course," he said."That's just what I am being.O.K.I'll stop lamenting the loss of areputation I never had and start worrying about those bandidos instead.Remindme," he added, "to pull that same stunt on you the next time you have a greatidea that doesn't work out.""You'll have to do your own reminding," Ken told him."I'll be too busyfeeling sorry for myself.How about dinner?" he asked."I don't know aboutyou, but I'd just as soon eat now, and then stop at the motel and get cleanedup for our interview with Talbott and Gill this evening.""All right.But let's go to the diner," Sandy muttered."The way I feel, thatgood food at El Patio would be wasted on me.""Suits me," Ken agreed."I'm not feeling any too chipper myself.After all,you have had one idea about this business, even if it didn't work out.I'vebeen an absolute blank so far.""Watch it," Sandy said softly."Don't get swell-headed."They were both grinning sour grins when Ken saw a roadside telephone booth.Bythe time he pulled up beside it, Ken was grinning no longer."I'll call Ramon," Sandy offered.Ken shook his head and slid out of the car.He was back in less than a minute."He wasn't there," he reported."All Icould do was leave my name, the way he told us to do if we couldn't reachhim." He sighed as he started the car again."So telling Ramon is somethingwe've still got ahead of us."Tough steaks and soggy French fried potatoes didn't lighten their spirits.Neither did gluey apple pie.But a shower helped.So did the rapid drop inSURPRISE FOR SANDY 65temperature that came with nightfall.They opened their windows, turned offtheir air-conditioner, and at a few minutes after eight were resignedly readyto leave for their appointment."We've got plenty of time," Sandy commented, as he got into the car besideKen, who was already at the wheel."It shouldn't take us more than ten minutesto get there, so we can drive up and down the streets of Gallows Cliff acouple of times first, as if we were lost.Who knows? We might spot somethinginteresting.""Who knows?" Ken agreed, trying to match Sandy's deliberately more cheerfulmood.They were driving slowly past Gallows Cliff's one drugstore a few minuteslater when Sandy said, thoughtfully, "You know, maybe some more decent foodwould be inspiring, after all.If you'll pull up somewhere, I'll go in thereand get us a couple of icecream cones."Before Ken could maneuver toward the curb, Sandy had put his hand in hispocket and then looked suddenly startled."Forgot my wallet!" he muttered."Iguess it's not serious, as long as you're driving- and provided you've gotsome money.Have you, Ken? Will you let me have a dollar?""Sure." Ken waited until he had the car at the curbside and then he reachedfor his own pocket."You won't believe this," he said quietly."I don't reallybelieve it myself.But I don't have my wallet, either."They looked at each other for a moment and then both burst out laughing."Holt and Allen, those great detectives!" Sandy gasped."Bring us your problems!" Ken contributed."We66 THE MYSTERY OF GALLOWS CLIFFhave never lost a case yet.We have never lost anything-except our ownwallets!"But their laughter was short-lived."This isn't really so funny," Ken said."Not a driver's license between us! If we get back to the motel without beingarrested, it'll be more than we deserve."Cautiously he moved out of his parking space.He didn't risk a U-turn.He wentPage 27 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlto the next corner, turned right, and then turned right twice more in order tobring himself back into the highway again.With one eye on the speedometer, heheaded back toward the Saguaro Motor Court.When he finally pulled into the motel's driveway they both heaved a sigh ofrelief."It's eight twenty-five," Sandy informed him."I'll jump out and get the stuffwhile you turn around."The grin they exchanged that time marked the first carefree moment of the day.Amusement over their own forgetfulness had made them temporarily oblivious toeverything else."Mine's on the bureau," Ken said, "where I put it when I changed clothes.""I figured it was," Sandy said, heading for the door."So's mine."Ken turned into the carport beside their room and pulled out again, swingingthe convertible so that it was heading back toward the highway.Sandy hadalready disappeared, leaving the door to their un-lighted room half openbehind him.Clint Tomen, Ken saw, was approaching the convertible from the direction ofthe motel office."Saw you come back," the big man said, in his usual slow manner."Hopenothin's wrong.""No, thanks," Ken said politely."We just forgot something-that's all."SURPRISE FOR SANDY 67"How'd you get on with those scientists today?" Tomen asked, leaning crossedarms on Ken's door as if for a lengthy conversation."Oh, fine.Dr.Talbott was very helpful.So was his assistant," Ken assuredhim."And Gus? Gus Parks treat you all right?" There was a chuckle in Tomen'svoice."Why-er-yes." Ken and Sandy hadn't really thought about it since they left thedig, but now that he tried to recall Parks' behavior, Ken realized that theforeman had simply avoided them after those first few moments ofunfriendliness."He didn't try to convince you to give him a couple of dollars for theprivilege of lookin' at that big hole they got up there?" Tomen asked."No." Ken made an effort to match the man's easygoing friendliness."Dr.Talbott had received a wire about us, you see.So I guess Mr.Parks realizedthe thing was more or less out of his hands.""Ha-ha." Tomen looked amused
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