The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-28
Secret Voyage

By JOSEPH l. CHADWICK


might have that schooner out. ana
Hammond might be hack Of he
man with the careful voice and the
careless money.
Jim thought lot about that.
during the night while he stood
watch on the AurorH's bridge. hut
gradually Hsmmond's actions
seemed less suspicious The key
was the girl Mary Larsen
She wasn't working with Ham
mond. Jim was sure she was N
with the moneyed man Jim's
anger increased as he thought Of
Mary Larsen. She had tried 70
play him for a sucker; she was
stringing along with that careful
talker; she had fallen for Eric
Forbes. was probably in New York
now as his secretary. She wasn't
worth being sore about, Jim tried
to tell himself, but the trouble
was he was in love with her.
Which" he said aloud, is one
big laugh on me-
The night passed without any
visitors. and when the red sun
came up over the horizon there
was no sign of the schooner.
i Curly went down TO the Sonora
at about eight o'clock. He reported
over the phone that the dynamite
charge had been efficient They
could easily salvage the manga
nese. He was going into the hold.
He was down an hour. then
asked To ne brought up. He was
in a Tritian suit so the winch
brought him up without the pauses
required by rubber suit. The
boom swung his huge. grotesque
form onto the deck. Jim helped
him out of the suit, and Curly's
face wore a strained tight express
sion. He said nothing before the
crew but jerked his head for Jim
to follow him to the captains
cabin.
There, he said, Spike, that fore
ward hold is empty
Enough had happened because
of the Sonora that nothing more
could be surprising. Jim Mallory's
expression showed nothing.
The after hold, then?
IF the ore is there it's slim
pickings. The Sonora is a small
tub. and even full cargo of man.
ganese wouldn't have made you
rich. Are you going to cut into
the aft"
III tear the Sonora apart Jim
replied, land if I don't get my
money out of her I'll have a chat
with Mr.. Jeffrey Hammond
You have a written agreement
with him ,"
Yes. But if there's no salvage
I can't collect a cent
Blacksheep opened the door and
stuck his ebony head in. Spike
sub, a boat am comm"
. Jim picked up the revolver at
the desk and went to deck. The
craft was far off across the blue
water, but he was sure it was not
the schooner they had seen the
night before. He went up to the
chartroom for glasses, then from
the bridge studied the approach
ing boat
Curly came up. asking, what
do you make of it, Spike ?"
It's a yacht Hammonds. 1
think. And I hope so. l want to
talk with that man"
The yacht bore down on the
salvage boat. 1t was trim Of line,
and cleaning white. 1t was quite
bit larger than the Aurora.
Through his glasses. Jim could see
: Hammond Lines lettered on its
solitary funnel.
Put down a boat" Jim said to
Curly I'm going aboard her. =
1T NAV be trap, Spike You've
led him to the Sonora's position,
8 and we know somebody wanted
badly to know where she went
) down"
This is no trap. Hammond
. wouldn't work that way"
Jim went to his cabin and
/ changed into fresh linen and a
white suit. When he came on deck
again, the yacht was standing by
quarter Of mile off. Curly had
launched a small boat with one
, Of the crew at the oars. Jim went
over the side and stepped into the
boat. He gave the yacht no look on
!. the way. but sat in the prov with
. his back 10 the craft.
Hammond hailed him as his boat
: come alongside. then shook his
hand as he stepped aboard. The
? man said. ANY luck. Mallory >"
No luck at all" Jim said.
Neither good nor bad"
over Hsmmond's shoulder hs
. saw Lois. dsrkly lovely, with tx
: element in her eyes. And beyond
Lois he saw Mary Larsen. And
5 that gave him a jolt Mary met
his gaze steadily. with laughter
e in her eyes.
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