Adventure, August 1917 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

88 ‘‘Whaat apout t’e nafy’s reasons for t’is pusinesse”’ asked Evan. McConaughy shrugged his shoulders. “T will na worrry about the navy’s thoughts,” he answered. “They ha’ sud- denly discoverred they know nothin’ about something they should know all about. So they send us to discoverr it for’em. That’s the navy’s way, an’ as it is exactly what I should expect ’°em to do, I see no prroblem to be solved.”’ “Good,” rumbled a deep voice behind them. ‘‘There’s a man who isn’t afraid to speak what he thinks.” McConaughy turned slowly to face Lord Claragh, who was accompanied by Miss McNish and his son. “T ha’ neverr concealed ma opeenion yet, sir,” he returned calmly. “If the Admirralty everr want it, ’tis their’s for the askin’.”’ Lord Claragh chuckled. “T’ll wager. Who are these men with your” “Ma firrst officerr, Mr. Grant. Ma chief, Mr. Apgar.” Lord Claragh shook hands with each. “I’ve heard of you two. Like skipper, like crew, eh? Wish I could be conscience- less enough to pry you away from the Red Funnel.” “Ye couldnae, sir,’’ stated Jock simply. “Eh?” Lord Claragh looked puzzled. “He'll mean our serrvice wi’ Miss McNish is na an affairr o’ pounds an’ shillin’s,” explained McConaughy. The bushy eyebrows of the Lord of the Claragh Line, master of fleets and argosies, bent together in a straight ridge. Then he decided to laugh. “How I envy you, Tabitha,” he said. ‘“‘There are no men in my line I could say that of.”’ Miss McNish looked almost beautiful at that moment. ‘They mean it, too,” she said. “We do,” endorsed McConaughy. “The feminine influence goes for some- thing, then,’ remarked Claragh with a touch of pleasant cynicism. But McConaughy frowned. ‘Tis a mattherr between honest Christians, that’s all,” he said. “Humph, I wish I could find some of the same sort of Christians. Any time you want—but I’m not a recruiting sergeant. Tell me what you think of the Mona?”’ Adventure “She’ll do.” “If she lacks anything you have only to ask for it.” “She'll do,’”” McConaughy repeated. “‘Wi’ the engineer ye spoke o’ and the storres cited in the indents we shall be all rright. T’ll tak’ twenty o’ ma own crew.”’ The Hon. Herbert Tibbotts returned from a saunter up the dock in the interests of diversion, in time to overhear this last statement. “T say, governor,”’ he volunteered, “‘don’t you think the old tub would do better if we had a navy man or two along? No offense to you, Mr.—that is, Captain— Captain McHoneybee.”’ McConaughy’s teeth showed for an instant between his tight-drawn lips, but otherwise he restrained the sudden murder- ous impulse that took possession of him. “No, Herbert,” Lord Claragh said firmly. “T see no reason for employing navy officers. In fact, the Admiralty people are particularly anxious to give Captain Mc- Conaughy a free hand.” “Quite so, quite so. But then, you know, governor, it’s no child’s play, this driftin’ up to Germany’s front-door and rappin’ to see if Kaiser Bill is home. I say, Miss McNish, not a half-bad way to put it, what? Ill try that out at the club when I get back, eh?” Miss McNish, with an appealing glance at McConaughy, put a resolute hand on the Hon. Herbert’s arm. ‘“Come, and show me how the machine guns work,” she said. “Oh, rather. But I didn’t think you were interested. It’s like the girl at the Variety who meets the old codger in the antiquary shop, you know, and he says, ‘Why, bless me, my dear, I didn’t know——’ ”’ They disappeared toward the speed- boat’s fo’c’s’le, and McConaughy slowly regained control of himself. Evan was muttering openly. “You said something, Mr. Apgar?” asked Lord Claragh. ‘“Naught,” snapped Evan. “Ah. And what do you think of the Mona’s engines?” ‘“‘Goot enough, inteet.”’ Lord Claragh turned to Jock. “Did you notice the steering-gear?” he said. ‘‘They tell me she can all but turn on her tail.” “‘She’ll be weell-foundit,” conceded Jock. CoOMmiclsoo C© S|