Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-21

against every buBkestIOH haAc Nnos
you can't help doing It now"
but, Monty" said Mrs. Dan, what
" your guests would rather go homer
Nonsense: you were asked for five
months cruise. Besides. think OF yet.
ting home In the middle of August,
with every one away"
Brave as he was in the presence Of
his friends. In the privacy Of his state
room Monty gave way to tho depres-
sion that was bearing down upon him.
| 1t was the hardest task Of his life to 20
on with bis scheme in the face Of oppo-
sition. lie knew that every man and
woman on board was against the prop
osition, for his sake at least, and II was
difficult to he arbitrary under the cir
cumstanccs. Purposely he avoided Peg
gy all forenoon. His single glance Mt
her face In the salon .was enough to dis
| turb him UNNECESSARILY.
The spirits of the crowd were sub
dued. The North cape had charms, but
the proclamation concerning 1t had
been too suddcn-hnd reversed too
quickly the general expectation and de-
sire. Many of the guests had plans at
home for August. and even those who
had none We're satiated with excite
ment. During the morning they gath
ercd in little knots to discuss the stua
ton. They were all generous. and each
one was sure that he could cruise in
definitely if on Monty's account the
new voyage were not out of the qics-
ton. They felt it their duty to take a
desperate stand.
The half hearted little gatherings re
solved themselves into ominous groups.
and in the end there was a call for a
general meeting in the main cabin.
Captain Perry, the first mate and
the chief engineer were included in
the call, bat Montgomery Brewster
was not to be admitted. Joe Rrng.
don Loyalty agreed to keep him on
gagged elsewhere while the meeting
was In progress. The doors were
locked. and Il cursory glance assured
the chairman Of the meeting Dan De
Mile, that no member Of the party
was missing save the devoted RraR-
don. Captain Perry was plainly nerv-
Gus and disturbed. The Others were
the victims Of suppressed energy
that presaged subsequent eruptons.
Captain Perry. we are assembled
for a purpose" said DeMile. clearing
his throat three times. First of all
as we understand it. you are the sail
ing master of this ship. In other
words. you are, according to maritime
law, the commander Of this expedition
3. You alone can give orders to the sail
ors, and you alone con clear a port
Mr.. brewster has no authority except
, that vested in common employer
, Am l correct?"
"Mr. DeMillc. If Mr.. Brewster in
, structs me to sail for the North cape
, l shall do so," said the captain firmly
! "This boat 10 his for the full term oil
the lease. and l am engaged to sal
her with my crew until the 10th OF
next September"
: I'VE understand your position. cap
tain, and ! am sure you appreciate
J ours. 1t isn't that we want to end I
very delightful cruise. but that W.
regard 1t as sheer folly for Mr.. Brew
t ster to extend the tour at such tire
, inendous expense. He is-or was;
y rich man, but 1t is impossible to is
. more the fact that he Is plunging mucl
o too heavily. In plain words. we wan
0 to keep him from spending more Of hi
r. money on this cruise. Do you under
Z stand our position. Captain Perry?'
gully wish with all my soul tina
{ could help you and him. My hand
are tied by contract. however. much a
| ut
Glow does tho crew feel about thi
additional trip, captain?" asked De
Mile
"Thcy shipped for Ave months an
will receive FIVE months pay. TIL
men have been handsomely treated
and they will stick to Mr.. Brewster t
the end" said the captain.
"There Is no chance for muffin!
them" asked Smith reGretfully. TIL
captain gave him hard look. but sal
nothing. Everybody seemed uncon
Portable
apparently the only way IS the on
suggested by Mr.. Smith this morning,
said Mrs. Dan, speaking for the W.
| men. mo ono viii object. l am sur
If Captain Perry and his chief office,
1 are allowed to hear the plan"
ut Is very necessary. in fact" sal
Mr.. Valentine. 1--WE cannot procee
| without them. But they will agrf
! with us, am sure, that it IL wise"
! An hour later the meeting broke VI
and the conspirators made their wa
to the deck. 1t was II strange fact th'
no one went alone They were
groups OF three and four. and the my
terry that hung about them was almo
perceptible. Not one was willing
face the excited, buoyant Brewst'
without help. They found strength ar
security in companionship.
Peggy was tho one rebel against IL
conspiracy, and yet she knew that Il
" others were justified in the step thu
= proposed to take. She reluctantly jOi
II ed them in the end, but felt that 81
!" was the darkest traitor in the crow
+ Forgetting her own distress over Il
40 way in which Monty was squanderil
~ his fortune. she stood out the one
rs fender OF his rights until the end al
then admitted fearfully to Mrs. u
pa Mile that she had been quite unre
is sonable" in doing so.
Alone in her stateroom after signil
IT. | the arrannpment she wondered what