Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-02-26
CHAPTER XII.
AT SEA.


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 a mad man or
a villain!" said Hammond as he paced
angrily up and down the narrow
room. Hestor had seated himself at
writing desk and leisurely rolled
a cigarette. You do not look like
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? 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 L fail
to return home?"
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 a 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.
sent her telegram and signed your
name to it. | made a 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
| 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 l do not
know where I shall be in the meantime.
Put my scrap books and some writing
paper in the trunk, as l wish to work on
my essays on the trip across and back.
Also enclose the matter | have already
written. l shall not be gone long Re-
gret that 1 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 q 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 at
once"
"It cannot be done, Sidney" said
Hestor. II have this all planned out.
Tomorrow these men can commun-
icate with their people. 1 will take
care of that" Hestor's manner
changed. The smile died on his lips
and his face grew dark. "You are
my friend" he said in tone sin
gularly harsh and strident. "You are
my friend, but shall not permit you
to interfere in the least with my
plans. This is my yacht, and we are
on the high seas. The man who re-
fuses to obey orders on this boat
will be put in irons. l should not
like to see you in the BOBBY hatch,
Sidney" and Hestor laughed in an
unpleasant way.
There will be some one hurt be-
fore | go in irons," Hammond said
fiercely After what you have done
1 should not be surprised, however,
at any attempted outrage. Do you
care to give any sane reason for
this affair?"
Il gave you the reasons at the
dinner table," said Hestor, whose fit
of anger had passed. These men
now on this yacht have managed to
secure control of about everything
in the country worth having. They
run Wall Street, the banks, the
trusts, the railroads, and dictate to
the government. / want to find out
what would happen If they should
die simultaneously. Such a thing
might happen, don't you know? Well,
what would he the result? No one
knows. | am going to find out.
They Will be cut off from communi-
cation except for one day. During
that time they may be dead for all
any one knows. Then | will see that
'N'N = A'''i''' ii'il 'h'liis say ing
that they are safe. That will relieve
the strain on their families and
friends. We then will see how the
country gets along without them for
awhile. Great scheme, don't you
think?"
Hammond continued 90 pace the
floor but said nothing. ilestor
seemed Intensely Ia earnest.
Does Mr., Van Horne, the editor
of The Record, know anything about
thisH" asked Sidney.
"Of course he does not" said Hes
tor promptly, II have not seen Bob