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"Not at all Everything was in its place The bunks in a side chamber were made, the kitchen was cleared up, all the utensils were still on the shelves Even thechamber and efficiently shot; their skulls each had a neat round hole in its center No, I'd say the departure was very methodical
"You have not yet explained your conclusion as to the Coloradans' identity," Donner said flatly
"I'erly on his side "The indications were all there, of course The heavier equipment still bore the manufacturers' trademarks The ore cars had been built by the Guthrie and Sons Foundry of Pueblo, Colorado; the drilling equipe and Ironworks of Denver; and the small tools showed the naed thes, bothtowns in Colorado"
Seagram leaned back in his chair "The Russians could have purchased the equipment in Colorado and then shipped it to the island"
"Possibly," Koplin said "However, there were a few other bits and pieces that also led to Colorado"
"Such as?"
"The body in one of the bunks for one"
Seagram's eyes narrowed "A body?"
"With red hair and a red beard," Koplin said casually "Nicely preserved by the sub-zero temperature It was the inscription on the wood above the bunk supports that proved ht add, `Here rests Jake Hobart Born 1874 A daood man who froze in a storm, February 10, 1912"'
Seagram rose from his chair and paced around the bed "A name, that at least is a start" He stopped and looked at Koplin "Were there any personal effects left lying around?"
"All clothing was gone Oddly, the labels on the food cans were French But then there were about fifty eround The last piece of the puzzle though, the piece that definitely ties it to the Coloradans, was a faded yellow copy of the Rocky Mountain News, dated November 17, 1911 It was this part of the evidence that I lost"
Seagraarettes and shook one loose Donner held a lighter for hiram nodded
"Then there is a chance the Russians may not have possession of the byzanium," he said
"There is one ht section of page three of the newspaper had been neatly snipped out It , but, on the other hand, a check of the publisher's old files "
"It htfully "Thanks to you, we have our work laid out for us"