Mexico Missouri message., 1914-04-23

/ around nine o'clock tonight; ne VIII
bring you a note from me.
Second, it is uncertain when you
| viii sail: but fires must be kept
! banked IN readiness to clear at any
| time"
Third. after uightfall the boa: must
be kept dark--all interior lights close-
/ ~ shaded-none whatever displayed
on or above deck except your regula-
ton port and starboard lights.
Fourth. nobody is TO be permitted
to come aboard or 20 ashore without
the charterers express permission. !
believe that's all"
Tom stared at the slight figure op-
| posite him, and ran his fingers through
| his thatch OF close black curls.
is this going TO be a smuggling
STUNT" demanded he. frankly Devil
dered "Or are we going TO kidnap
an heiress?"
! "Kidnap an helress!" echoed Brown
low. God bless my soul! What put
that notion into your head? ] told you
that am ignorant OF the nature OF the
charterer's object-save that it is hon.
est!"
"Humph!" Tom grunted 1T doesn't
sound honest"
IN admit that there is a good deal
Of mystery about the affair that ! do
not like; but" And Mr.. Brownlow
waved n hand in a gesture that re-
called to the other the Name which
could not be mentioned.
Tho owner. after final outburst of
gratitude and satisfaction at having
been, as he expressed 1t, saved" at
the last moment, took his departure;
and 1t was not until he had gone that
it occurred to Tom that the charterer's
name had not been once mentioned.
At this neglected detail he expressed
his wonder in the classic language of
one of New York city's former police
chiefs:
Now wouldn't that blow your hat in
the riveri"
He then took over the personal SUI
peTvision of the cleaning-up process.
to such good purpose that by nightfall
the yacht was as spick and span as a
battleship.
II was perhaps close to ten o'clock
or four bells of the first watch
when Tom, arrayed to his satisfaction,
heard the officer of the watch respond
to the launch's hail. He hurried on
deck and stationed himself at the
head OF the accommodation-ste men
tally deploring the absence of lights.
A stir came up from the river, but
the launch was invisible. In a mo
ment mans head and shoulders
doomed dimly in the gangway. He
stepped upon the deck and. leaning to
ward Tom, peered into his face in g
vain attempt to make out his features
To Tom, the mans face was quite in
guishable-merely 4 denser bloi
against the blackness.
} rs this the captain?" inquired {
l voice strangely familiar.
Tom started with surprise. Where
had he heard that voice before? HI
could not recollect on the spur of thu
moment, but for some ineXplicable rea
son It seemed so necessary that h,
should, and he tried so hard to do SO
that the man was obliged to repeat hi
question.
Il beg your pardon" Tom STAN
mered. Il am Captain Phinney."
1t was only natural that he shout
, expect to hear his questioner's nam
in return, or to be handed the note c
introduction mentioned by Brownlow
but the man walked away without al
other word.
The others were following one al
rapfdlu unfit Ave dim
: were ranged along the deck, who'll
invisible in the shadow of the supe
structure.
All at once the now very alert ski
per directed his attention to a murmU
of feminine voices in the launch. TIL
a. ladies', manifestly, we're finding col
siderable amusement in pretending
hazardous embarkation, for the
an transfer from the smaller craft to Il
'ig steps was accompanied by little teri
rs fed shrieks and much subdued laug
IN ter. In a moment one came quick
and agilely up TO the deck. halted an
sa. turned around Her outline presentC
Y. only the vaguest sort of blur.
Ter Welcome to the Kohinuri" 81
ay called back gayly to whoever remainC
got below
ur' And j; Tom had started at sound
us the mains voice, what words are ad
ON quate to describe his sensations nov
me None. It is to be regretted. Reelir
len backward until he stayed himself
a mechanical clutch at the rail,
ids chung there electrified with anna
go ment--stupid with Incredibly II d
49, sun had suddenly burst into view owe
head he could have been no more col
led pletely overcome.
nds Next instant. however. conyicti
ere was hammered home. Two other laup
ley ing figures had Joined the fret. 4
three blending in one faint outlir
lin when he again heard the voice.
Dear mel" 1t complained "HC
dark 1t Isl Aren't we to have a
mt liaht7T