The Argosy, Vol. 81, No. 4 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

31754. proaching a window out of which a light shone, with the curtain rolled invitingly up, when he walked into the arms of half a dozen husky marines. He made no struggle, but was dignity itself. “My man,” he said, addressing the ser- geant, ‘“you are making a mistake. I am Clarkin of the secret service, and you'll find yourself in trouble if you don’t dismiss your men at once. You understand me.”’ The authoritative note in the man’s voice caused the sergeant to hestitate, seeing which Dart slipped out from the door and strode up to the group. “Sergeant, take that man away from here at once. You had your orders, did you not?” . The officer saluted and turned to his ma- rines. 3 “Take that man away and lock him up. Search him for weapons.” To Lansing’s great joy a frisking process revealed a search-lamp and an automatic revolver, all of which dissipated any super- ficial doubts the sergeant or Dart may have had. The non-com officer would not even look at the secret service badge which Clarkin vainly tried to display. Instead he prodded him lustily with his big fist, told him to keep silence and ordered his men to hustle him away. As he was being pulled down ‘the steps it occurred to the bewildered man for the first time that Lansing was at the bottom of this incident, and a throaty roar of rage proclaimed his realization of this fact. “Vou, Lansing—” What more he would have said is prob- lematical, for his protest ceased suddenly as the fist of a marine brandished before his eyes, with the threat that another word out of him would result in his being beaten to a pulp. It was thus in silence that he was led across the parade and thence to the administration buildings near the ferry landing. So far Lansing’s scheme had worked in a completely satisfactory manner, and further particulars could be left to Dart, who lost no time in putting them into ef- fect. Leaving the house, they went down to the sea-wall, and after a brief parley with a sentry stepped aboard the parent ‘ship of the. three submarine divisions. In his capacity as commander of first di- 711 _vision Dart at once proceeded to wake up the slumbering monitor. He sent an or- derly to summon Lieutenant Landis, com- mander of the submarine X-3, a small craft of the early Holland type, and then went to the wardroom, where Landis soon appeared, a uniform jacket thrown over his pajamas. As Dart unfolded the nature of his visit the youthful officer’s eyes widened. He nodded from time to time, now and again interposing a question. Dart finished with him in fifteen minutes, and, rising, told him to be off to his bunk. “Have everything ready,” was his final Injunction, ‘‘and don’t fail me, Ted, in a single particular.” ; The lieutenant nodded, then bowing to Lansing, went out of the room to return to his cabin. ‘The Wooster was connected with the various island departments by tel- ephone, and Dart felt that the situation warranted his waking up the commandant. As it chanced, the latter was entertaining at bridge, and thus Dart was spared the apologies he had hastily prepared. He ran over the events of the evening, stated his further plans and received the commandant’s sanction to the holding of Clarkin under arrest until the next day. “Now,” Dart said, clapping his hands softly, ‘“‘we’ve got everything ship-shape and Bristol fashion. You had better come up to the house and spend the night in a real bed—unless you want to stay here in my cabin aboard the monitor.”’ ‘“Thanks,” replied Lansing, who had-his own notions of comfort and at the same tinie had reasons for wishing to keep con- stantly in touch with his friend. “I don’t mind a comfortable bed at all and a navy breakfast,” he added. “All right,” Dart yawned, “let’s go home then, and turn in. By the way,” and he glanced curiously at Lansing, ‘have you ever been down in a submarine?” “No,” was his reply, “but that doesn’t frighten me.” Lansing shook his head. “All right,” laughed the officer. “I should_ suggest a good night’s sleep at least.” In the meantime the Nealis dance had been running on-into midnight and past that hour with undiminished ardor. Nealis, who quite approved of his friend’s choice, had taken advantage of Lansing’s absence P=EOMIGOOO SS (E@)