The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-12-18
Z CHAPTER III

by restaurant, and then ordered a
huge batch of sandwiches, wrapping
each one in oiled paper as If for a
picnic. Leaving these to be called for
later, he paid visit to dry goods
store where he selected an oblong pa
per box big enough to contain mans
suit of clothes. With wrapping paper
and stout Irvine, he returned to the
restaurant for his sandwiches.
They only half filed the box. The
rest of the space was slowed with
bottles of water and sweet drinks,
pickles. olives, fruit. cakes and candy.
The proprietor of the restaurant
smiled when he clapped the cover on
the box.
Looks as If you we're loading up to
last week." he remarked.
II may need it" replied Dick frank
ly. I'm going where grub may be
hard to get. / don't want to take a
chance"
AS he paid for the food and trouble,
the restaurant man made no further
inquiries, and Dick volunteered no ad-
ditional information. When the box
was wrapped, he borrowed pen and
ink, and wrote on the outside:
Miss Alice Cutler,
Steam Yacht Pelican,
Blanks Pier, City,"
II guess that will do" he chuckled,
admiring his chirography.
Five minutes later he was on his
way to Blanks pier. The Pelican was
already at the dock coaling. Dick took
swift survey Of the scene, and then,
whistling nonchalantly, with the box
under his arm, he walked toward the
end.
No one challenged him, and when he
reached the Pelican's side he stopped.
A dozen grimy men were storing coal
aboard, deck hand checking off on
card the number of bags carried into
the hold. A small gangplank was
thrown from the main deck to the
pier.
Dick started up this and reached
the deck before anyone challenged
him. Then booming voice right be-
hind him caught his ear.
Hello, there! What d'you want?
Don't you know this is a private
yacht?'
1t was Captain Brent.
"Sure!" replied Dick nonchalantly.
It's the Pelican, isn't it? Mr.. Cut
ler's yacht?"
"Well. what If it is?' growled the
captain.
Nothing, except / guess I'll take a
rest here. Hot day, isn't it?" He re-
moved his hat and began wiping his
forehead.
Eyes, it's hot, but it may be hotter
il You don't look sharp. What you got
in that boxT'
Dick smiled and winked. ST
knew, cap. don't know that I'd tell
you, but we'll both have a guess. Miss
Cutler didn't take me into her con-
fidence. Maybe it's bathing suit, or
diving Dress"
"It's for Miss Cutler?'' queried
Brent, picking it up and reading the
name and address. "Well," slowly,
after weighing 1t with both hands, "she
amt here. Leave it, and I'll give it
to her. I'll put it in her cabin"
He started to walk away with the
package, but Dick rescued it. mot
SO fast, cap" he said good naturedly
"She didn't tell me to leave it-she
said not to leave it. If she wasn't
here when l called, was to wait half
an hour. Then if she didn't appear 1
was to carry it around to her house."
The skipper looked little puzzled,
and gave the package another sharp
scrutiny.
That's queer" he muttered. 81
didn't know she expected to come
aboard this morning"
"Pll bet she didn't know herself"
grinned Dick. "That's why she said
not to wait for her longer than half an
hour. She gave me this card to make
sure l could find her home"
He fingered the card carelessly, and
when Brent reached out hand to
take it he let him have it. The man
stared at it moment, and then re-
turned it. Dick felt that the card
would remove any suspicion that might
find lodgment in the others brain.
"All right" he said finally. "Stay
on this deck, and when the half hours
up go down that gangplank you came
up"
Sure! You don't think 1 was going
to jump overheard and swim did
your"
The skipper frowned and eyed him
with disapproval. Dick fiirted out a
cigarette, and added; ANY objections
to smoking. cap? I'm dead for
few whiffs."
mo, not if you stay outside" was
the surly retort.
Dick Is taking bio chances. II