Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-05
'YoII ARE NOT GOING HOME To
NIGHT. GENTLEMEN" SAID
HESTOR

have determined to ascertain whether
or not the universe will continue to
run without the aid of you gentle
men, and have adopted this pleasant
method of making the test. Of
course there are bound to be some
trifiing annoyances and some worry
occasioned, but with your aid these
can be reduced to minimum"
With the exception of Mr.. Kent,
the guests had arisen from their
chairs. Their faces were study for
an artist. Mr.. Rockwell was in q
rage, and neryously grasped heavy
decanter, as if to use it as a weapon.
"lf you are in earnest. this is an
outrage for which you shall suffer-"
he shouted in a voice hoarse with
passion. He dropped the decanter in
his excitement and it smashed in
fragments on the floor. IF you are
sane, this is a crime. If it is a Joke,
it is an intolerable outrage. If you
are crazy, you should be taken care
OF by your friends. / am sure" he
continued, lowering his voice and
speaking with more calmness, "that
Capt. Waters and his crew will pay
no attention to your orders. Surely
he will not detain gentlemen of our
standing against our will.''
Mr.. Kent arose deliberately and
paced up and down the dining-room,
smoking his cigar with the air of a
spectator who was but slightly inter-
ested in the matter at issue. Mr..
Pence was in an agony of terror.
This is awful" he groaned. "Speak
to him, Mr.. Carmady. Speak to the
captain'"
Mr.. Carmody was gentleman of.
impressive mien. He had retained
his dignity and his composure most
admirably, and addressed Capt. Wa
ters with the easy air in which he
was wont TO. issue orders to the
managers aud superintendent of his
vast enterprises. He calmly drank
a little of a glass of water and step
ping forward. faced Capt. Waters.
That gentleman was a study in
bronze. He was in full uniform. The
gold braid of his cap, the bars of
gold on his shoulders and sleeves,
and the rows of brass buttons on
his coat, were in sharp contrast to
the plain apparel of the group which
now clustered around him. A long,
livid scar across his left cheek and
extending to the peMt of his chin,
showed plain in the electric light
which flooded the room. The closely
cropped gray moustaches the shaggy,
black eyebrows beetling over the
cold blue eyes; the iron-gray hair
beneath the cap; the erect, impas-
sive pose of the figure-proclaimed
the character of the official who held
in his control the immediate destiny
of the group Of men who now con-
fronted him.
Mr.. Kent did not join this party.
He had paused by starboard win
dow md was gazing out as If deeply
concerned in study of the weather.
Hestor stood little back of the
captain, while Hammond had seated
himself by the table. In his face
anger and bew;ldcrment struggled
for mastery.
"Capt. Waters" said Mr. gaMmody,
| placing his hand familiarly on the
broad shoulder of that official, cor
behalf of the gentlemen on this
yacht, demand of you, as its cap
tain, that you Immediately put about
and return to New York. You are
responsible. Mr.. Hestor is clearly
irresponsible. 1t is our wish to re
| turn at once
at certainly is! It certainly isl
exclaimed Mr.. Pence, attempting t,
grasp Capt. Waters hand. That of
fetal glanced at Mr.. Hestor as i
waiting for him to answer.
1 "You know your orders" said Hes
tor. ''You are the captain OF thi
yacht"
| 81 get my orders from Mr.. Hesto
and obey them," said Capt. Waters
addressing no member of the grou
in particular. His voice was gruf
but not unkind. 1--WE are heade
east, nor'east. When he says t
chpnge her course, will change he
course. Until then, not. That's all.
This was long speech for Cap
Waters. He turned and walked t
the door.
aThe sshnrks n yurrs. gentlemen,