The Argosy, August 1905 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

ear 140 THE ARGOSY. A sailor was pacing the deck directly before the stateroom door, and he turned quickly to look at Tarr when the latter appeared. The passenger was re- minded of the surveillance which he had noted the evening before, but put it away. “My imagination is getting the better of my common sense,” he muttered, as he looked off across the sea. He had to cling to a line the instant he stepped out upon the deck, for the slant of the planks was painfully acute. Far out on the sea line he observed a smudge of smoke. He thought of the Babbler, which was somewhere in this part of the ocean if the report from the Savoird was true. “What do you suppose that is out yonder?” he asked the sailor. The latter glanced up at the shrouded figure on the bridge before replying in a low tone: “1 couldn’t just say, sir, barring that it’s a steamship. She’s likely one of our own line or a Cunarder. It might be the Peruvian Monarch; she should pass us hereabouts. She’s a-many miles away from us, sir.” “You have no sure way of telling at this distance?” asked Tarr curiously. “Not now, sir. If it’s the Monarch, shell send aboard the news. You'll get it at breakfast in the extry News- Letter.” “ Oh, by the wireless system? ” * Aye, sir.” An officer approached and the sailor turned quickly away. Tarr went back into his room and lay down a bit, as Crowding seemed very quiet. The con- stant strain and his sleepless night had exhausted him, and he sank into a slumber that was only broken when a steward came with his coffee. Beside the urn was a note from the captain’s clerk: “Captain Holds requests Mr. Tarr’s presence in his, the captain’s, cabin im- mediately.” “What the devil does that mean? ” growled Tarr. “ What does he want of me? » . -“T could not tell you, sir,” said the 't go down there now, I ousin alone.” “ge? * 7 owns ae “The clerk told me to remain with him if you so desired, sir.” “ You can tell the clerk, with my com- pliments, to go to the devil! ” exclaimed Tarr in a rage. The order stirred his bile. ‘ No offense to you, young man, but Crowding is much too ill for me to leave him.” “But it’s the captain’s command, sir,” said the steward softly. “When the doctor comes up I'll see about it. Meanwhile, if Captain Holds wishes to see me he knows where I am.” The steward looked horrified, but there was nothing more to say, and he backed out of the room. ““Cateh me chasing around at the beck and call of that pig-headed Eng- lishman!” muttered Tarr, who vividly remembered the manner of the com- mander the day before. Ten minutes later Mr. Brier rapped at the door of the cabin. The purser was buttoned tightly into his uniform, his face was very red, and he puffed as though he had hastened up from his room, which was the truth. “See here, you, sir!” he exclaimed. “Mr. Tarr, if that’s your name! The captain wants you at once.” Tarr was by no means appeased, and he stepped out of the room, closed the door so as not to disturb the sick man, and shook his fist in the purser’s face. “Who the dickens are you speaking to?” he demanded in a tone which made Brier draw. back. “Do you think Tm one of your crew? My passage is paid for on this steamship, and was paid for by a man who may have some influence with the directors of the Blue Creseent Line. “T consider that I’ve borne from your captain about all Pll stand. Now, take that back to him, with my compliments. And let me tell you, sir, when you speak to me, to be a little careful what you say and how you gay it!” Brier had been opening and shutting his mouth like a fish, trying to get a word in edgewise all this time. Now he sputtered forth: “I—I reckon the man who sent you here won’t have much influence with the owners by the time you reac bh obey the eaptain ~*~ tee mat, 4 . comicbooks.com |