Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-04
CHAPTER VIII.
On Board the Jupiter.


~ the almost invisible drizzle that
filed the air, yet they were
swarmings with the busy pedestrians
who never lose an opportunity to let
every one know that they are on
board New York was twenty-four
hours astern, and the brief Sunday
service had come to peaceful end.
Three tall, interesting looking men
stood leaning against the starboard
rail of the promenade deck, unmindful
of the mist. watching the scurrying
throng Of exercise fiends. Two were
young, the third was old. and Of the
three there was one who merited the
second glance that invariably was be-
slowed upon him by the circling pass
ersby.
He stood between the gaunt soldier
" old man with the fierce mustacha
and the trim, military young man with
one that was close cropped and smart
Each wore a blue serge suit and af-
fected short visored cap Of the same
material, and each lazily pulled at
very commonplace briar pipe.
The customary he gossip and peren-
NAL snooper who is always making the
voyage no matter what ship one takes
or the direction one goes, nosed out
the purser and discovered that the
young man was r. Schmidt of Vienna.
He was busy thereafter mixing with
the throng. volunteering information
that had not been solicited. but which
appeared to be welcome. Especially
were the young women on board
grateful TO the he gossip when he &C
costed them as a perfect stranger to
tell them the name OF another and
even more perfect stranger.
81 am sorry we lost those rooms on
the Salamnbo,- said the younger OF
his two companions. 81 had them
positively engaged, money paid down"
Some one else came along with
more money, Dank," observed R.
Schmidt. I'VE ought to be thankful
that we received anything at all. Has
It occurred to you that this boat isn't
crowded."
Not more than half full" said the
older man. "All Of the others appear
81 to be packed from hold to funnel
This must be an unpopular boat"
y don't know where we'd be, how
ever, If Mr.. Blithers hadn't thought OF
the Jupiter almost at the last minute"
said R. Schmidt.
Nine day boat. though" growied the
old man.
Il don't mind that in the least. She's
steady old tub, and that's some
thing"
Hobbs tells me that it is most ex-
traordinary to find the eastbound
steamers crowded at this season of
the year." said Dank He can't under
stand 1t at all. The crowds go over in
June and July, and by this time they
should be starting for home. thought
we'd have no difficulty in getting on
any one of the big boats, but, by jove,
everywhere ! went they said they
were full up"
TT was uncommoriy decent Of Biith.
ers not coming down to see US of"
said the elderly man. who was down
on the passenger list as Totten. Il
was apprehengive, pom my soul. He
stuck like leech up to the last min
ute"
R. Schmidt was rejecting. TT struck
me as queer that he had not heard OF
The transfer Of our securities In Lon.
dom
Il cannot understand Bernstein &
Sons selling out at time when the
price OF our bonds Is considerably be.
low their actual value" said Totem
frowntng. "a million pounds sterling
is what their holdings really repre-
scented, according to the dispatches
they must have sold at loss OF nearly
$4,000.
I'VE should have Marconigram to
night or tomorrow IN regard to the bid
made in Paris for the bonds held by
the French syndicate" said Dank. pull
ing at his short mustache. MIR. Blith
ers is investigating"
There is something sinister in all
this" said R. Schmidt. Who is buy
ing up all Of the outstanding bonds
and what is behind the movement
London has sold all that were held
there, and Paris is approached OF the
same day. If Paris and Berlin should
sell. nearly 100000 in Graustark
bonds will be in the hands of people
whose identity and motives appear tc
be shrouded IN the deepest mystery"
And 24.000,000 represents the en-
tire amount of our bonds held by out
side parties" said Totten. with a sig
nifcsnt shake Of his grizzled head
The remainder are In the possession
OF our own institutions and the people
themselves. We should hear from
Edelwetss, too, IN response to my ca
blegram. Perhaps Romano may be
able to throw light on the situation.
confess that | am troubled"
steward was politely accosting the
trio.
q beg pardon. is this Mr. Totten?"
Yes"
Message for you. sir. at the
purser's."
Bring II 10 my stateroom, Totten,
said r. Schmidt briefly, and the old
man hurried away on the heels Of the
messenger.
The tive young men sauntered care
lessly in an opposite direction and
soon disappeared from the deck. A
few minutes later T0tten entered the
luxurious paTiOr Of r. Schmidt and
ln{d or uuananad xuiralaqa MOS az ma ms,