Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-09
CHAPTER XII.
AT SEA.

The interview in Hestor's cabin
with Mr.. Sidney Hammond was brief
and spirited. Hammond did not wait
for any explanatins, but proceeded
to denounce Hestor in scathing
terms. That gentleman smiled pleas
antly and waited for him to con-
clude.
"This is the act Of mad man or
a yillain!" said Hammond as he paced
angrily up and down the narrow
room. Hestor had seated himself at
writing desk and leisurely rolled
cigarette. "You do not look like
a crazy man, but you act like one.
You have not been drinking to ex-
cess, and cannot plead intoxication
as an excuse for this outrage. OF
all the unaccountable things! What
do you mean to do?r What is your
object in OBTAINING these men whom
you have induced to become your
guests? Have you stopped to think
of the agony this will cause their
relations?, Have you considered how
my sister Olive will feel when I fail
to return homer"
He stopped in front Of Hestor, his
eyes flashing anger. His voice trem-
bled with rage and he restrained him
self by an effort from physical at
tack on Hestor.
Don't get SO excited, Sidney"
said Hestor, as he lit cigarette.
"There is nothing so serious about
this as you imagine. Olive thinks you
have gone to Europe with me. 1
sent her telegram and signed your
name to it. made copy of the
message and here it is"
Hestor handed slip Of paper to
Hammond, who read as follows:
Miss Olive Hammond:
1t is necessary for me to accompany
Mr.. Hestor on a short business trip to
Europe. We sail early this evening, and
l shall be too busy to come home to bid
you good-by. Pack my trunk and valise
and send them to Mr.. Hestor's office.
Do not come down town. as I do not
know where I shall be in the meantime.
Put my scrap books and some writing
paper in the trunk. as wish to work on
my essays on the trip across and back.
Also enclose the matter have already
written. I shall not be gone long. Re-
| greet that cannot see you before leave,
! but know that you are used to these sud-
| den journeys and will forgive me.
SIDNEY HAMMOND.
"That shows that while forger
you are not entirely lost to decency,'
said Hammond, with evident relief
but no signs of relenting. "But how
about these other men? They have
dear ones. They have feelings
Think of what they must suffer and
how much grief you will cause il
you persist in your course. You must
| put this boat back to New York al
once"
at cannot be done, Sidney" sale
Hestor. 81 have this all planned out
Tomorrow these men can commun
icate with their people. will TAX,
care of that" Hestor's manner
changed. The smile died on his lip!
and his face grew dark. you ar,
my friend" he said in a tone sin
gularly harsh and strident. "You ar.
my friend, but shall not permit yol
to interfere in the least with m,
plans. This is my yacht, and we ar
on the high seas. The man who re
fuses to obey orders on this boa
will be put in irons. should no
like to see you in the BOBBY hatch
| Sidney" and Hestor laughed in al
unpleasant way.
There will be some one hurt be
fore l go in irons" Hammond sal
tiercely. after what you have don
l should not be surprised, howevel
at any attempted outrage. Do 70
care to give any, sane reason 70
this AFFAIR.""
II gave you the reasons at tn
dinner table, said Hestor, whose f
4 of anger had passed. These me
now on this yacht have managed t
secure control Of about everythin
in the country worth having. The
? run Wall Street, the banks, IL
, trusts, the railroads, and dictate ,
the government. I want to find o,
what would happen II they shou
y die simultaneously. Such thir
might happen, don't you know? We
,, what would be the result? No o,
knows. I am going to find on
u They will be cut off from commun
cation except for one day. Duri1
that time they may be dead for {
y. any one knows, Theps 4 Will see tn
wvSa n xxSslyN1 fyvn thsSL s11fi