Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-10


I by Jove." said Captain Franci.
Newcombe gravely. I'm glad yot
told me. Pretty rough that. cal
It,"
The young American selected an.
other cigarette from his case, rolled
1t slowly. between his fingers-anG
leaned suddenly across the table.
Look here!" he said. 1--WE ar
idea. I'm going cruising somewhere
why not there: The Florida
coast hits me down to the ground
How would you like to make the
trip with me-"
Captain Francis Newcombe leaned
back in his chair. and laughed o
7 I'm afraid not" he said. Il
"Oh. come on. be a SPORT" urged
Howard Locke enthusiastically
The more I think of it. the. better
/ like 1t.
I'll have good company ON a
cruise. and you'll enjoy it. And it's
quite all right SO far as my show
ing up there Is concerned. It isn't
as though ! were foisting myself on
their hospitality. The little old
boats my home: and, for that mat
| ter, 1 can drop YOU and sail solemn
~ away. You'll have the time of
your life: What's the objection?"
| Thine" said Captain Francis
NeWcombe, 1T you'd take q long
| while. wouldn't it?"
! wouldn't guarantee to get you there
| As fast as a train would, but what
difference does a few days make ?
IL isn't>as though it were a busi-
ness engagement you had to keep. ("
No: that's So" acknowledged
Captain Francis Newcombe. And
frankly l must admit it appeals to
me: but"--he looked at his watch
II don't know whether can man
age 1t or not. Anyway. I promise to
sleep on it. It's after twelve, and
time to turn In. What do you saw"
That suits me-" said Howard
Locke. so long as you promise to
say yes In the morning.
Well see." said Captain Francis
The two men rose from thar
chairs. and. crossing the room
where several games Of bridge were
In progress. stepped out on the
deck. And here. their respective
cabins lying in different directions.
they bade each other goodnight.
But now Captain Francis New
combe. despite the pitching of the
ship and the general unpleasant-
ness OF the night, appeared to be in
no hurry.
He stepped to the rail ana stared
out into the murk. through which
there showed, like penciled streaks
en- black background, the white,
irregular shapes Of the cresting
waves.
'T wonder" said Captain Francis
Newcombe to himself. Il wonder II
1t suits my book?" .. So. !
His mind began to moil over the
problem In O cold. unprecedented,
judicial way. Was the balance for
or against the acceptance OF the
young Americans offer? To arrive
at Martins place in the company of
a man Of the standing Of Howard
Locke was an Endorsement that
spoke for itself. But he already had
an unqualified Endorsement. Polly
supplied 1t. Still. he could not have
too much Of that sort of thing.
Would. then. the man be in the way,
q hindrance, q complication? He
could not answer that offhand, but
1t did not seem to be q vital point.
What he proposed to do on Manwa
Island in a general way he knew
well enough; but just how he pro-
posed to, do it, and just how long
he proposed to stay there. a week,
or a month. or longer, only local
conditions as he found them must
decide.
He shrugged his shoulders sud
denly. Neither Howard Locke nor
envy other man would make of him.
self a MISUNDERSTANDING were
removed. But there was another
point, an outstanding point. After
Manwa Island there was-America.
True. he hid brought Runnells with
him. while he had said good-by to
Paul Cremarre, who had departed
for Paris. and there after for such
destination as his fancy prompted,
for the period, mutually agreed up
on. Of six months-but he, Captain
Francis Newcombe. was not pre-
pared to say when. or where if
ever, he intended to utilize, in the
same manner as before, the services
Of either Runnells or the French
man again. Certainly not In Amer
lea, II . lone hand promised better
there! He proposed to play q lone
hand at this Manwa leland. It