Rock Island Argus., 1914-02-28

after Wednesday," said Godfrey quick
iy. Il won't have any interest in il
after that" I agreed TO do So
was just getting ready TO leave the
Office the next afternoon when Godfrey
called me up.
How are you feeling today. Lester?'
he asked
mot as fit as might / said
How would you like a Whit OF salt
air this eveniug?"
FIRST rate. How will get it?'
"The Savole win get to quarantine
about o'clock I'm going down on
our boat to meet her. want to have
talk with Inspector Pigot. the French
detective. VIII you come along:"
"Wili Ir' I said. Where shall
meet your"
AT the foot OF Liberty street at 5
o'clock"
'I'Il be there" promised. And !
was.
The boat was cast loose as soon as
we got aboard. backed out into the
busy river. her whistle shriekinS shril
ly. then swung about and headed
I down stream. There were two other
men on board-the regular ship report
ers. suppose
| Godfrey and I stood for son,e time
looking Mt the harbor in silence.
TITS great sight, isn't it?'' he said
at last. 'Helloi Look at that boat?'
/ he added. az a yacht coming down the
I bay drew abreast OF us and then slow
/ Iy forged ahead. "She can go some.
can't she? This boat OF ours is no
slouch, you know. but Just look how
| that one walks away from Us. wonder
who she is? Whatboat is that, captainy'
he called to the man on the bridge.
Don't know, sir" answered the cap
tain, after n look through his glasses. !
Private yacht-can't make out her |
uame-there's flag or something |
hanging over the stern. She's flying /
the French flag. There come the other |
press boats behind US. SIR he added !
And there's the Savoie just slowing
down at quarantine"
Far ahead we could see the great I
hull of the liner, dark against the hori-
zon and crowned with row upon row /
OF glowing lights.
The Sayoie had slowed down until /
she was Just holding her own against
the tide. and one of her lower ports
swung open. A moment later boat
puffed up beside her, made fast and
three or four men clambered aboard
and disappeared through the port.
There so the DOCTORS" said God
frey And there is that French boat
going alongside"
The tug from quarantine dropped
asterp and the French yacht took her
- 4
from her was helped aboard the Sa-
vote. Then 1t was our turn. and
moment jater Godfrey and and the
other two men We're aboard the liner.
My companions exchanged greetings
with the officer in charge OF the open
port. and then we hurried forward
along narrow corridor, smelling OF
rubber and heated metal, then up stair
after stair. until at last we came to
the main companionway. Here the two
men left US. to seek certain distinguish
ed passengers Godfrey stopped in
front of the purser's Office and passed
his card through the little window to
the man inside the cage.
~ should like to see NJ. Pigot OF the
Paris detective force" he said. Per
haps you will be so kind as to have a
steward take my card to him?"
THAT is unnecessary. sir" replied
the purser courteously. THAT is NJ
Pigot yonder-the gentleman with the
white hair. with his back to US. You
will have to wait for n moment, how
ever. The gentleman speaking with
him is from the French consulate and
has but this moment come aboard"
l could not see Inspector Pigot's
face. but I could see that he held him.
self erect, in a manner bespeaking
military training. The messenger from
he legation was youngish man. with
waxed mustache and wearing an eye
glass. He was greeting NJ. Pigot at
he moment and. after a word or two.
Produced from an inside pocket an Of
iciai looking envelope. tied with red ,
ape and secured with an immense red
zeal. :
M. Pigot looked at il an instant,
while his companion added a sentence {
n his ear. Then. with a nod of assent.
he detective turned down one OF the
,assa geways. the other man at his /
ieels
Official business. no doubt" COM !
nented the purser ''He will. no doubt
oon be disenga ged." g
Yes. but meanwhile my esteemed S
win arrive" said God. a
rey. with a grimace. They are Oh i
~ heels. Here they are now" '
In fact. for the next twenty minutes
eporters from the other papers kept L
rriving. till there was quite crowd
efore the purser's office. And from >
early every paper a special man had
cen detailed to interview NJ. Pigot .
all the papers were alive to
le Importance OF the subject. There =.
as some good natured chatting. and -
len one OF the stewards was bribed =
carry the cards OF the assembled :,
Multitude to NJ. Pigot's stateroom.
18th the request for an audience. ,
rf.ho ctnrrnrd rrnnt nu-ar iannhInr :