The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-07-09

You are perfectly satisfied with the
conditions ?" he queried. not without
note OF anxiety.
Why not? | have your word for II
that the enterprise is honest; as for
the other part OF II, why, the secrecy
and all that sort Of thing, 1t only
makes a fellow a bit more keen. don't
you know"
You are confident you a fill the
biiiets?"
who will jump at a chance like this,
where they would turn down an ordi-
nary offer. You didn't know where to
look. Mr.. Brownlow."
The old gentleman breathed a sigh
Of relief. II suppose not" he admit
ted. Il never before had to deal with
a matter like this. You know where
the Claremont is"
Tom nodded. He had dined there
often enough to have its location and
fits other characteristics pretty well
stamped upon his memory. Brownlow
continued:
The Kohinur is at anchor In the
Hudson, just off the Claremont land
ing. Her bunkers are full; most OF her
supplies are on board, but I'll take II
upon myself to complete the list this
afternoon. I'll wait for you there.
There are some further instructions
that | must give you before the char
terer and party come aboard"
Tom fastened away. His assurance
that he could find the men to com
plete the Kohinur's equipment was not
illadvised; he had in mind the very
men he wanted, and his task was sim
ply n of running them to earth.
AS being Of prime Importance, he
first secured the engineer, and by five
o'clock had found Phil Mercer. This
young man he was forced, almost lit
orally, to shanghai. That is to say.
Mercer was disposed to hang back be-
cause of certain delinquencies which
had been the occasion of his expulsion
from Annapolis, So that Tom was
obliged to pick him up bodily and de-
post him beside the drivers seat. Cox,
the engineer, lolling at ease in the
tonneau, grinned cheerfully.
Maybe you don't want the job or
need the money" announced Tom with
decision, but | do need a first officer
in a devil of a hurry, too-and I'm
going to be over-particular about
how | get him. You're elected. AS
it is, I'll have to get along without a
second, unless | can break in one of
tars. I've got you. and
take 1t from me, you're not going to
get away"
"But-you know, Tom" Mercer
tried a final protest, even while Tom
was throwing in the clutch. The lat
ter cut curtly in:
yes. | know. But, believe me, Phil.
the booze isn't going to get you while
on the Kohinur with me. This
will beat all the jag cures you've
ever been up against. You'll be en-
TO a postgraduate diploma when
you are discharged"
Mercer subsidized, grumblingly ac-
the inevitable.
At the Claremont Tom stabbed the
machine, tried to get Van Vechten on
the phone and failed, and notified Ram
at the Kenmore's garage where to
ind his employers car. Then he and
Mercer and Cox clambered down to
he Claremont's landing, where a
launch was waiting.
After persuading Phil Mercer that
he didn't have to attend to a suddenly
'ecollected telephone message, or any
other errand that might take him in
he neighborhood of the Claremont's
bar, Tom addressed himself to the /
white-uniformed sailor in charge of
he launch.
rs this the Kohinur's launch?" he
demanded.
The fellow jerked an Indifferent
humb in the general direction of the
ooat's vanished bow, where the name
vas conspicuously ~emblazoned in
but somewhat furnished, brass
etters.
you a read, can't your" was the
mpudent reply.
Look here, my man; you answer a
,ivil question civilly, and say sir
when you speak to me. Do y'get me p"
The sailor receiled with dropped
aw.
BEG pardon, sir" he made haste to
,onciliate. You're Captain Phinney
Il didn't know"
Answer my question"
yes, sir; this is the Kohinur's
aunch. ! was waiting for you. Mr..
3rownlow's on board now" (,
Look at that lettering" went on
Tom sternly, indicating the name on
he bow; las green and dull as an old
'rass kettle. And what do y'mean.
after your captain in a soiled
ig like that? You'll put in the rest OF
evening washing and ironing n