The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-14
BOMBsHELL HITS HOME
CHAPTER "

 shortly before midnight. Jim Mal- lory, summoned to his hosts study faced a distinguished looking man of about 55. They shook hands Hammond'S eyes were troubled. Jim remembered hearing the man was something of an invalid.
 Hammond sat down at his desk, and said, Sorry I wasn't here when you arrived. Mackay Radio reported picking up an sos from Hammond ship"
 That's quite all right, sir" Jim Mallory said He was aware of several things; that the Hammond Lines scene to have much trouble of late, that Hammond's secretary, Mary Larsen, was at the other desk at the far end of the room, and that though the girl was busily writing she could be just as busily listening to this conversation Hammond said, I've been con- sidering your several communica- tions, Mallory, concerning tn e freighter Sonora which went down in the Caribbean some months ago. You've located the ship, and you'd like to salvage her cargo"
 That's it, sir. I think the job would pay. I first contacted your New York office. meaning to deal with the insurance company, but I was informed the cargo had not been insured"
 Quite right. There was a slip up in the office. The cargo should have been insured. But I can't agree that salvaging would pay The cargo was manganese, and ore is always difficult to salvage. Besides, the Sonora lies at 80 fathoms and divers can't work at that depth"
 She lies at 40 fathoms, MT. Ham, monG, not 8O."
 But the Coast Guard took a sounding" The Coast Guard took a sound ing at the spot where the Sonora's crew said she went down. She doesn't lie there, but several miles away"
 Perhaps the crew was mistaken. After all, the men must have been rattlcd. They were caught in a hur- ricane and the captain and his first officer were lost."
 Jim Mallory made a slow thing of lighting cigaret. Hes stole a glance at the girl; obviously she was all ears. He looked back at his host; 1t was obvious that Hammond was uneasy. His face was some what haggard by illness, but illness didn't wholly explain the worry in his eyes.
 By the way, Mallory" Ham, mond said, did you go down to the ship?"
 Jim Mallory saw Mary Larsen's head come up He said, "Yes." And he saw Hammond frown. You could feel mystery here, he told him. self.
 Hammond's voice was casual, asking. Was she badly damaged?"
 T wasn't down long, sir" Jim Mallory answered. He admitted nothing, and that was no lie. He wasn't telling all he knew. He wasn't, for example, telling that he had seen holes in the Sonora's hull holes that could have been put there, not by a storm. but by gum fire. He saw something like relief in Hammond's worried eyes. "I1l think this over" Hammond said. Tomorrow we'll put it up to Eric Forbes, my general manager who is flying down from New York If we like your proposition. we'll certainly come to terms with you Now if you don't mind. '' He TO SC and came from behind the desk. "I'll turn in Doctors or ders, you know"
 Jim Mallory said, Good night sir" After Hammond had left the room he walked over to Mary's desk.
 You left the party early. You must have pressing work, to be at it at midnight
 T keep irregular hours-Spike, , she said, venom in her voice. She showed the papers she had beer working on into a drawer, slammed the drawer and rose. You are very smart, MT. Mallory. Or should say fresh?"
 You're rather clever yourself, he said, Pretending to work SC you could hear what was said hert tonight. Do you make a habit O. spying on your boss?"
 That got her, as he knew i would. He saw quick alarm in he eyes.
 "Stin," she recorted, I'm no planning to blackmail him-as yoV -