Mexico Missouri message., 1914-04-16

COnulJlOnsI ne queIleu, uot "ilhout
note of anxiety.
why not? ! have your word for II
that the enterprise is honest; as foi
the other part OF it, why, the secrec,
and all that sort OF thing, It onl,
makes a fellow a bit more keen, dom
you know"
you are confident you can I'LL the
billets?"
Sure thing. know the very chap,
who will jump at chance like this
where they would turn down an ordi
nary offer. You didn't know where t.
look. Mr.. Brownlow."
The old gentleman breathed O sigl
OF relief II suppose not" he admit
ted. Il never before had to deal with
a matter like this. You know wher
the Claremont is?"
Tom nodded. He had dined there
often enough to have its location ant
fits other characteristics pretty wei
stamped upon his memory. Brownlov
continued:
THE Kohinur is at anchor In tn,
Hudson, just of the Claremont land
ing. Her bunkers are full; most OF hei
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 l 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 moi
illadvised; he had in mind the very
men he wanted, and his task was sim
ply one 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 wa,
obliged to pick him up bodily and de
post him beside the drivers seat. Cox
the engineer, lolllng at ease in ths
tonneau. grinned cheerfully.
Maybe you don't want the job o;
need the money" announced Tom with
decision, but l do need first officer
in a devil of hurry, too-and I'm
not going to be over-particular about
how l get him. You're elected. AT
1t is, I'll have to get along without a
second, unless | can break In one OF
Brownlow's 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 Ton
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
you're on the Kohinur with me. This
Job will beat all the jag cures you've
ever been up against. You'll be ep
titled to a postgraduate diploma when
you are discharged"
Mercer subsidized. grumblingIs &C
cepting the inevitable.
At the Claremont Tom stabbed the
machine. tried to get Van Vechten on
the phone and failed. and notified Ram.
ley at the Kenmore's garage where to
find his employers car. Then he and
Mercer and Cox clambered down tc
the Claremonts landing, where o
launch was waiting.
After persuading Phil Mercer that
he didn't have to attend to a suddenly
recollected telephone message, or any
other errand that might take him In
the neighborhood OF the Claremont's
bar, Tom addressed himself to the
white-uniformed sailor In charge OF
the launch.
"Is this the Kohinur's launch?" he
demanded.
The fellow jerked an Indifferent
thumb in the general direction of the
boats vanished bow, where the name
was conspicuously emblazoned in
raised but somewhat furnished, brass
letters.
"You can read. can't your" was the
impudent reply.
Look here, my man; you answer q
civil question civilly, and say sir
when you speak to me. Do y'get me?'
The sailor recoiled with dropped
Jaw.
BEG pardon, sir" he made haste to
conciliate. You're Captain Phinney
i didn't know"
Answer my question"
Eyes, sir; this is the Kohlnur'e
launch. l was waiting for you. Mr.
Brownlow's on board now"
Look at that lettering" went or
Tom sternly. indicating the name or
the bow; as green and dull as an ole
brass kettle. And what do y'mean
coming after your captain In a soiled
rig like that? You'll put In the rest Of