United labor bulletin., 1914-02-21

uOtc Vi anxiety.
Why not? l have your word for II
that the enterprise is honest; as for
the other part of 1t. why, the secrecy
and all that sort of thing. 1t only
makes fellow a bit more keen, don't
you know"
you are confident you can fill the
bilIets?"
Sure thing. / know the very chaps
who will jump at chance like this.
where they would t1rn down an ordi-
nary of1er. You didn't know where to
look. Mr.. Brownlow"
| The old gentleman breathed sigh
OF relief Il suppose not" he admit
ted Il never before had to deal with
matter like this You know where
the Claremont is?"
Tom nodded He had dined there
often enough to have its location and
its 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 IT
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 hastened away. His assurance
that he could find the men to com
/ plste the Kohinur's equipment was not
iliadTised; 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 was
1 obliged TO pick him up bodily and de
posit 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 hurry. too-and I'm
]
how ] get him. You're elected. As
It is. I'll have to get along without a
second unless | can break in one OF
Browulow's tars I've got you. and
take il from me. you're not going 10
get away"
'But-you know. Tom" Mercer
tried final protest. even while Tom
was throwing in the clutch. The lat
ter cut curtly in:
Yes. l know. But, believe me. Phil.
the booze isn't going to get you while
you're on the Kohinur with me. This
job viii beat all the Jag cures you've
ever been up against You1l be en-.
titled 10 a postgraduate diploma when
you are discharged
Mercer subsided. grumblingly &C
ceptlrs the inevitable
At the Claremout Tom stabbed the
machine, tried to get Van Vechten or
the phone and failed. and notified Ram
ley at the Kenmore's garage where to
fzd his employers car. Then he anc
Mercer and Cox clambered down tc
the Claremont's landing. where .
launch was waiting.
After persuadinE Phil Mercer that
he didn't have 10 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
whiie-uniformed sailor in charge oi
the launch.
lis this the Kohinur's launch7" he
demanded.
The fellow jerked an indineren,
thumb in the general direction of the
boats vanished bow, where the name
was conspicuously emblaIoned in
raised. but somewhat tarnished. brass
letters.
You can read. can't you" was the
impudent reply.
Look here, my man; you answer a
civil question civilly. and say sir
wher you speak to ne, Do y'get me .
The sailor recoiled with dropped
Jaw.
Beg pardon, sir he made haste to
conoiliate. You're Captain Phinney
Il didn't know"
Answer my question"
Yes. sir; this is the Kohinur's
launch. was waiting for you. Mr.
Brownlow's on board now"
Look at that lettering" went on
Tom sternly. indicating the name on
the bow: ''as green and duh as an old
brass kettle. Aud what do y'mean.
coming after your captain in a soiled
rig Ike that? You'll put in the rest of
the evening washing and ironing it"
cTo RE CoNTINUEDl