The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-22

PhInney."
enable you to put mo in the way OF
finding what wanted; didn't expect
that you would-er-ahem!-"
Tom took the words out Of his
mouth.
Strike you for the job myself, eh?
Well, have"
Brownlow seated himself at his
desk, upon which he thoughtfully
drummed with his fingers, every now
and then directing a sharp glance at
his caller. Tom was beginning to real
ize that the employment Of captain
for the Kohinur, for some occult cause,
was not to be so simply arranged as
such matters generally are; the pre-
liminaries were unusual and-to him
unnecessary; he was becoming more
and moro puzzled, for he believed that
Brownlow was needlesely investing
the proceedings with an air OF mys-
terry, and this made him restive.
BY and by Brownlow drew long
breath and once more gloomily shook
his head.
'Im fearful that it's not to be"
sighed he, heavily. when you hear
the conditions you will back out like
all the rest Of 'em. Seems like these
days navigators are too busy clipping
coupons and drawing dividends to be
attracted by a little thing like double
wages"
Tom pricked up his ears. Two pas
times had been mentioned which he,
at least, never had enjoyed. He inter-
rupted with an exclamation.
Double wages! Say"-eagerly-"f
the games straight don't care to hear
conditions. Where's your yacht? I'll
get my dunnage aboard without vast
ing any more time"
The little man bounded from his
chair and began pacing the floor with
short, nervous strides. Every now
and then he would halt with jerk and
address few remarks to Tom. rub his
hands together briskly and dart of
upon his promenade.
81 declare, Mr.. Phinney," he spoke
vehemently, "in way this is a rare
stroke of luck for me; but before we
70 any further l must-my conscience
impels me to tell you-ahem!-some
things. Certain details must be laid
before you before allow you, out Of
the generosity of your nature, to bind
yourself to any obligation. The condi-
tions, | believe / may truthfully af-
firm, are extraordinary; indeed. with
out exaggerating the state Of affairs, l
may even go so far as to say that they
are astoundlngly extraordinary; and l
must put you into possession Of such
facts as am at liberty to impart
"But"-he broke of abrupdy@T
need more than captain; am
pledged to secure the services Of a
first and second officer and q CHIEF en-
gineer. The scamps who have been
serving me In those capacities-oon-
found 'em-are poor, miserable, spine
less creatures whose proper walk IN
life. is between a pair Of plow-handles
instead Of upon, the deck Of sea-go-
ing craft. They are q pack Of cow
ards, Mr.. Phinney, when an oppor-
tunity is presented to them that
smacks of adventure As I>have al
ready intimated, I've had the DEVILS
own time trying to fnd men for the
billets, and you'll have to scare EN- up
somehow, somewhere before six
o'clock. That's the fix I'm in"
But what is 1t you want to ten met"
Tom impatiently tried to pin him
down. "If the thing depends upon 80
much we haven't any time to spare.
I've a motor below. and I'm pretty sure
can get the men,"
Brownlow threw himself into his
chair and hitched 1t closer to Tom.
Leaning forward, In confidential atti-
tude and occasionally emphasizing his
remarks with a vigorous tap upon the
young mans knee, he impressively be-
gan:
'Looky here, Mr.. Phinney-here's
the way of 1t. A certain party wants
to charter the Kohinur for an indsf-
Continued on Page 81 &.