The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-12-07
CHAPTER XII
Tho Yacht MSemlnole.m

There was little to dc but wait i'm
guidance. Mr.. Adams dispatched q
few kilograms to nearby lake ports,
md briefly outlined certain plans of
action for the morrow, provided moth.
ing further was heard from the miss.
Ing bout; these included possible
visit to Fairlawn. and city-widc
search for Hobart, who both men de.
party OF the yacht. West told his new
assistant the entire story In detail, and
Macs interest In ferreting out the
matter became intense. 1t was the
kind of case which fascinated him
with its mystery, but no theory he
could spin born from long police eN
perience, seemed to exactly fit all the
revealed facts. The great puzzle re
volved about the strange actiuas OF
the girl; her part In the affair pre-
senting an unsolvable riddle. They
must have talked for an hour, discuss
ing the situation frankly from every
angle, yet arriving at no definite con,
clusiOn. The sky in the east was rec
with dawn when both men fell fast
asleep in their chairs, still waiting.
1t was nine O'clock, and still ne
word. The two had eaten a hasty
breakfast In a restaurant across the
street, discussing the. situation agair
thoroughly. but to no more satisfactor!
result. 1t seemed impossible to recon
cile certain facts. If the silver knife
with its call for help, had indeed beer
dropped by Natalie Coolidge. and sht
was being held prisoner in the hands
of villains on board the Seminole
why had she acted toward West a,
she did in that house OH Wray street
To all appearances there she had beer
hand In glove with the conSpirntOrs
willing even to cOnniva at the Cap
tain's murder II necessary to the sue
cess Of their crime. Only one theOr.
was possible; that the girl was under
constraint driven TO her strange act b,
personal fear. She dare do nOthin,
else. terrorized by the threats of IIo
bart. and her own sense OF utter hclO
leSSnesS in his power. This, and thl:
only. must he the answer 70 the riddle
McAdamS, unable to remain quiet
departed to get his police search start
ed in an attempt to discover HObar
in his new hiding place. The fellow
could not he on the yacht as that hat
sailed from Jackson park at far toe
early an hour for him to have possibly
made one of the party. He would still
be in the city then, securely concealed
In some dive Of the underworld, per
fectlng his plans, whatever thel
might be, and, perhaps, arranging t,
toin those on the boat later. The de
tective even thought this unlikely, his
theory being that Hobart merely de-
sired to get the girl safely out of the
way for length Of time sufficient to
enable him to complete his nefarious
scheme. He argued that Natalie was
In no real danger; she would be held.
no doubt, kept out Of sight as long
as was necessary, but otherwise left
uninjured. This was no strOng-arm
crime. but high-class confidence
game, and the important thing was to
quickly lny hands on Hobart. With
him once In the tolls. the whole con.
spiracy would instantly collapse with
this end In view McAdams took up the
mans tram leaving West to stand
guard over the telephone.
The latter called up Sexton, and
hurried him out to Fairlawn, with in.
structions to find out all he could from
the servants there relative to any late
Developments This accomplished,
nothing remained for West to do but
sit down and wait for something else
to happen.
The delay was shorter than he an.
ticipated. There was n sharp ringing
of the bell. tho police operator respond
tp2 quickly,