The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-06-23
Gil DINA'S RLJBN0

vi ntdil ulSSdSt INC Wetk dlltI sue
was quite ready to take him to the
Mediterranean. The vessel was a
least as big as one of the ocean liners
of 80 years ago, and had done 22 1-16
knots on her trial. Mr.. Van Torp took
her over as she was, with her officers,
crew, cook and stores, and rechris-
tened her. She had been launched as
the Alwayn he called her the Ian.
cashire Lass-a bit Of sentiment on
his part, for that was the name of a
mare belonging to Lady Mauds
father. which he had once ridden
bareback when he was in an amazing
hurry.
He had one interview with the cap
tain.
"See here, captain" he said, 81 may
not want to take a trip this season.
I'm that sort of a man. may or
may not. But II 1 do want you. I'll
want you quick. See?"
With the last word. he looked up
suddenly, and the captain saw" for
he met a pair Of eyes that astonished
him.
Yes, see." he answered mechanic
ally.
"And II you're in one place with
your boat, and l wire that l want you
in another, I'D Ike you to get there
right away" said Mr.. Van Torp.
Eyes, sir"
"They say she'll do % no." contin-
ued the owner, but when / wire /
want you I'd like her to do as much
more as she can without bursting a
lung. II you don't think you've got
the kind of engineer who'll keep her
red-hot, tell me right of and wen get
another And don't you fuss about
burning coal, captain. And see that
the crew get all they can eat and not
drop of drink but tea and coffee, and
II you let 'em go on shore once in a
while, see that they come home right
side UP with care, captain, and make
each of 'em say truly rural and Brit.
ish Constitution before he goes 10
bed, and II he can't. you Just unship
him, or whatever you call It on a boat
Understand, captain"
The captain understood and kept his
countenance.
Now, want to know one thing.
continued the new owner. Whats
the nearest sea port to Bayreuth, Ba
/ varia?
Venice" answered the captain
without the least hesitation, and SO
quickly that Mr.. Van Torp was i'm
I mediately suspicious.
"If that's so. you're pretty smart,
he observed.
"You can telephone to Cooks once
sir, and ask Them" said the captain
quietly.
The instrument was on the table al
Mr.. Van Torp's elbow. He looked
sharply at the captain, as he un
hooked the receiver and set It to his
ear. In a few seconds communication
was given.
Cooks Office? Yes Yes. This Is
Mr.. Van Torp, Rufus Van Torp Of
New York. Yes. l want to know
what's the nearest sea port to Bay
reuth, Bavaria. Yes. Yes. That's
just what I want to know. Yes. III
hold the wire while you look 1t up"
He was not kept waiting long.
Venice, you say? You're sure you're
right, suppose? Yes. Yes. was
only asking. No thank you. II want
a ticket I'll look in myself Much
obliged. Good-by."
He hung the receiver in it's place
again, and turned to his captain with
a different expression, in which ad.
miration and satisfaction were quite
apparent
Well" he said. you're right It's
Venice. must say that, for an Eng
lishman, you're quite smart"
The captain smiled quietly, but did
not think it worth while to explain
that the last owner with whom he had
sailed had been Wagner-mad and had
gone to Bayreuth regularly. More
over, he had judged his man already.
"Am to proceed to Venice at once,
siT?" he asked.
"As quick as you can. captain"
The Englishman looked at his watch
deliberately, and made a short mental
calculation before he said anything. IL
was IL in the morning.
II can get to sea by five o'clock this
afternoon, sir. VIII that do?"
Mr.. Van Torp was careful not to be-
tray the least surprise.
YES" he said, as II he were not
more than fairly satisfied, "that'n do
nicely"
Very well. sir, then I'll be OF. It's
about 5000 miles, and she's supposed
to do that at IS knots with her own
coal. Say eight days. But as this is
her maiden trip we must make allow
ance for having to stop the engines
once or twice. Good-morning, sir"
"Good-day, captain. Get in some
coal and provisions as soon as you ar
rive in Venice. may want to 60 to
Timbuctoo. or to Andaman islands or
something. I'm that sort of a man.
I'm not sure where Ill go. Good-by."
The captain stopped at the first tele-
graph office on his way to the Water
loo station and telegraphed both to his
chief engineer, Mr.. M'Cosh, and his
chief mate, Mr.. Johnson, for he
thought it barely possible that one or
the other might be ashore.
Must have steam by D. m. to-day
to sail at once long voyage. Coming