The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-09-02
CHAPTER M.
In Which We Sail For tho Spanish
MAN,

IN vERYBoDY did. Why should ]
|F not know Cal Davidson, one Of
LII the decentest chaps in the
- world? Why not since we be-
longed to half dozen of the same
clubs In New York and other cities
Why not since this very summer l had
put my private yacht (named, oddly
enough, the Belle Helene) in commits.
sion for the first season in three years
and chartered her for the summer
around Mackinaw and cruise down
the Mississippi to the gulf that fall!
Why not since had still unbanked
the handsome check Davidson had in.
sisted on my taking as charter money
for the last quarter?
Davidson. OF all men had counted
him my friend. And now here was he,
reputed to be about to marry the girl
who. as he knew, must have known.
ought to have known, was all the
world to me- And my own yacht!
Why. no man may know what may go
forward in yachting party. And If
perchance that fall he could persuade
t" accompany him Helena and her
chaperon q made no doubt that would
be her Aunt Lucinda. for Helena's
mother died when she was child)
what could not so clever man as Da-
wilson. repeat. one with so much Of
way with women. accomplish in a
Journey so long rs that. with no other
man as his rival? 1t would be Just
like Cal Davidson to go ashore at st.
Louis long enough to find chaplain
and then go on ahead for a honeymoon
around the world-on my boat with my
no, she was not mine-but. then
Davidson must be found at once, must
be halted in midcareer.
1t was about this time that Hiro-
shimi came in with the mornings mail
and kilograms. but paid small atten.
ton to him.
Hiroshimi coughed. "Supposing hon.
orable like to see these yellow wire en-
velopings."
telegram. 1t was from Cal Davidson
himself. and read:
Name best price outright sale bill Helen
10 me answer CnlcagO.
SO then the scoundrel actually was
on his way down the lakes. headed for
the south. even thus early in the sea-
son. l knew, of course. that Bill Helen
meant Belle Helene AS though |
would sell my boat to him. of all men.
1t might almost as we'll have been a
sale of Helena herself outright, as this
cursed telegram stated. l crumpled
the sheet in my hand.
IF honorable contemplates some an
swering of mail this morning, it will
be one ow-wore till the miserable pony
mail carry all man comes" yentured
Hiroshimi.
Nothing this morning. Hiro," | man
aged to choke out. land, Hire. make
ready my bag, the small one, for a
Journey"
"Ss-s-s"' Kissed Hiroshima, which
was his way of saying, Yes, sir. very
we'll, SIR
! managed to better the wardrobe of
both boys by certain ducks and linens
from my own store, albeit world too
large. Lafitte, none too happy at be-
ing thus uncongenially clean. was de-
light itself when set to selecting an
armament from my collection. He
chose three bright and clean Japanese
swords. special blades of the samurai
armorers. forged long before Mutsu
hito's grandfather was a boy-I had
paid a rare price for them in Japan.
To these he added three basket
handled cutlasses. which l had OBJ
tanned in London, each almost old
enough to have belonged to the crew
of Drake himself A short barreled
magazine pistol for each of us was his
age. AS for Jimmy. he insisted ON a
small bore rifle as we'll as shotgun.
1--WE might see something" he remark
ed laconically.
Thus equipped, l persuaded my as
sociates to lay aside most of their
somewhat archaic artillery. Neither
had taken any thought of other sup
plies. Hiroshimi. however, now ap-
peared, bearing, in addition to my hand |
luggage, two hampers. roll of |
blankets and silk tent in it's canvas
wrapper.
Honorable is embarked in those
small going boat that is made tied to
the bank?" inquired Hiroshimi. l only
nodded now, relying on his efficiency.
He approached my young pirates, and
rather against their will removed from
them some of their burden of weapons.
singing about himself bundles, bas-
kets. bags and cutlery, until he al
most disappeared from view. He cast
on me reproachful gaze, however,
as he took from Lafittes hand the bar
ed blade Of the old samurai sword and
noted the ancient inscription on blade
and scabbard as he sheathed it rever-
emily.
What does it say, Hiro" asked OF
him.
~ Az