Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Secret of Caprice lashes hiding from him the pain that he knew he was causing. “So you see,”’ he said in conclusion, “‘that is why I was so anxious to get in touch with your uncle immediately. I think it more than probable—” the idea came to him on the spur of the moment, but he welcomed it —‘‘more than probable that the crew of Caprice have taken your father into the mountains down the coast and, in due time, will make a demand upon your uncle for ransom. That would at least assure you that your father is safe.” But she shook her head with an air of conviction. “Tt is impossible,” she declared. ‘Father and his friends were all the crew that Ca- price usually carried. He employed a Daniel Carter as engineer, and two men as cook and deck-hands, but he never carried more than that. He always declared that Caprice was the biggest one-man yacht afloat, and that he Soak handle her by himself if he wanted to. In fact, he has done so on short trips around the Chesa- ake.” “But this man Carter—’ Ward pressed his theory as the one least likely to distress ' her—‘“‘one never can tell about paid hands when a chance for big money tempts them.” Again she shook her head. “His father was raised and educated by my grandfather,” she said, “and he and his brother were raised and educated by father. Such a thing is out of the ques- tion.” “Then,” said Ward, ‘‘the other two have done this thing, and Carter may also be a victim. I assure you that I do not want to alarm you needlessly, but the evidences we have found aboard Caprice seem to me con- clusive proof that immediate action by your uncle is imperative.” For a long time she did not answer him, but sat staring at the floor, compelling his unbounded admiration by her display of self-control under such a trying ordeal, where most women would have broken down utterly. But, with her, there was no out- ward sign of the emotion that he knew must be surging through her, save that constant writhing of her bloodless fingers as they clasped and unclasped each other over her knee. Finally she looked up at him with a suddenness that startled him. “How many people know about this?” she asked. _ 15 “Only four,” he replied, wondering at the object of her question. ‘‘You—” she enumerated them—‘Mr. Conway, your mechanician, and Mr. Con- way’s chauffeur. That is right, is it not?” “Perfectly.” “T remember Mr. Conway. Is it likely that he has told any one about it—any of his friends in New York, I mean?” “T know that he has not.” “And your mechanician and the chauf- feur?” “T can guarantee both of them.” “And you yourself have said nothing?” “T came directly here, to tell those who had the first right to know.” Again she paused in deep thought, the red coming and going in her cheeks. At length she seemed to have reached a decision. “T only wanted to know,” she explained, “because I agree with you that nothing should be said that could possibly get to thee ears of—of the men who have done this thing, whatever it is. Uncle Stephen should be given a chance to take charge of affairs before another move is made. [I shall try his New York address on the chance that he has gone there, and have the message re- peated to his Chicago hotel. Will you par- don me a moment?” She rose and walked into a curtained alcove in one side of the room and he heard her, after a moment, asking for a telephone number. “T want to send a telegram,” she said, evidently to some one at the other end of the wire. ‘‘Will you take it? Thank you. Reacy? “To Mr. Stephen Blaydon, Hotel Olchester, New York: Ward Fenton, an aviator, here. Says he and Philip Conway have found Caprice sunk off coast below Sea View. Says she was scuttled. No bodies aboard. Wire me what to do.’ Sign it ‘Nellie,’ please, and send the same message to the Grand Union Hotel, Chi- cago.’ She gave the directions for the charging of the message, and returned to him. “You heard?” she said. ‘‘That, I think, is all I can do for the present. \It is possible that Uncle Stephen has reached either New York or Chicago, and if he has, I should have an answer in a very short time. I wonder—” she pondered another moment, and again Ward admired her marvelous self- control under such trying circumstances— “IT wonder if you would call again this CS) (EC) Comichoo