Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

4) Penn " yee eee ae te ye “0 Bs pe >, Vy De® 50 2 went down with her or clung to whatever wreckage they could find floating.” “I see. Then, don’t you think there is a chance that some of them reached shore or were picked up by a passing ship?” “T had hoped so, but my inquiries in New York, as soon as Nellie told me you had found the yacht, have convinced me that they would have been heard from by this time. So we have been forced to the conclusion that my poor brother is lost.” Blaydon’s voice shook as he pronounced the last sentence. From the deep shadows in which the girl hid came another sharply drawn breath of pain. Blaydon rose and began pacing nervously up and down the deck, puffing jerkily-at his cigar. “Tt leaves us in a most unpleasant pre- dicament,”’ he said, pausing before the aviator. ‘Aside from the natural shock of such a loss to us, it involves financial mat- ters of such great importance that it is now absolutely essential that no word of this tragedy be allowed to reach the public for possibly a year.”’ “You need have no fear of that on my ac- count, Mr. Blaydon.” “Well, that’s good of you. You see, Otto had just started the biggest deal of his life in South America. It can still be pulled through if the people down there continue to believe that they are dealing with him. He left a large part of the New York end in my hands, and I can still put it across if I’m left alone. It means just about doubling the estate, so you see I feel justified in taking any measures necessary to protect myself—. which means to keep this thing quiet. You understand that, don’t your” “Perfectly.” Fenton kept his tone calm and unemo- tional, but he nevertheless recognized the hidden threat in Blaydon’s words. ‘“‘And I not only propose to protect my- self, but Pll make it mighty well worth any- body’s while to leave me alone and do as I want until 'm through. I mean that any way you want to take it.” Blaydon paused and stood before Fenton impressively, his big bulk making a gigantic silhouette in the lantern’s light. Ward began to see that there might, after all, be some comparatively innocent reason for the camp down the shore. If, as Blaydon claimed, this deal was of such vast dimen- sions, it was only natural to expect him to Adventure take drastic measures not to have it inter- . fered with. “You need not have any fear of me, Mr. Blaydon,” he said reassuringly. “I am not much given to interfering with things that do not concern me, and as for making it worth my while, that need not enter into our relations in any way.” “Well, that’s good of you, isn’t it Nel- lie?” He turned to the girl, but Ward could see no movement from the shadows nor could he hear any sound that indicated a response. “‘There’s just one thing more,” Blaydon continued. “Before we leave here, I must go over Caprice and see what she’s worth for breaking up. The engine looks to me as if it might be put in shape to bring a couple of thousand dollars, and I wondered if you and that young fellow of yours—Loder— wouldn’ t give me the benefit of your expert advice.” “Why, certainly,” Fenton agreed cor- dially. “Any time.” “Good! Call Loder over now, will you? We'll go below and have a look at, it.” Ward went to the railing and shouted for Carl. The lamp in the tent moved, andsoon the mechanician’s voice answered him. “Did you call, Chief?” “Yes; come over to the yacht at once, will you?” Carl set down his lantern and was soon climbing up his new stairway. “Good!” said Blaydon again. “We'll go below and just see if the machinery is badly damaged by its bath.” He led the way to the hatch and down into the cabins, but Nellie Blaydon did not move. Throughout the long conversation she had sat like a woman in a trance, only - the occasional sharp breaths of pain indi- cating that she was listening to what the men were saying. gai BLAYDON led them into the en- NCAR gine-room in the forward part of the yacht. “Now, ” he said, turning to Carl, “Mr. Fenton has given me permission to use you and your knowledge of engines, but don’t think I want you to do it for nothing. lia cook’s worth five dollars, an engineer’s worth twenty-five.” . “All right, Mr. Blaydon,” said Carl quietly. Ward glanced at him curiously, for it did not sound at all like the usual (@) (EO) com IOOKS