The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 4 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

586 with the motor wrench, and I had to knock him out. He’s gone nutty.” ‘Sailors do sometimes, I’ve heard.” ‘Well, so do landlubbers for that mat- ter.” “Let’s have a look at him.” : Again there came to Fanning the strong inclination to show Tom the note, and com- pare the warning with the attack, to see if there could be any connection. And again the same strange feeling of caution came over him and held him back. - : “Here comes the yacht,” said Tom. The big white hull’ was looming up. ‘Launches, ahoy!” they soon heard. And in twenty minutes or less they were on board, the launches had been swung to their berths, and Fanning had told his story to Batterson. The owner of the Sapphire stood with his hands in his pockets looking gravely at Fanning while he spoke. The sailor had been taken below to receive care. “This is an amazing thing,” Batterson said. “I never had any trouble with the fellow, nor with any of my men. Why, I chose him, as I chose the other for Tom’s launch, because he was so faithful. I wouldn’t have had such a thing happen for all I’m worth.” “Oh, you didn’t do it, Batterson,” put in Tom. ‘So long as Board isn’t hurt the in- cident is closed. What about the fish?” The gravity disappeared from Batterson’s face and he laughed. “But I don’t see any fish.” “No. You show us some pretty toys and put us out to sea in cockle-shells and tell us to fish. You pick out one spot in the whole Atlantic, apparently, where there isn’t a fish, never was a fish, never will be a fish. What was that fellow’s name— Tantalus, who did things like that?” “Here is the envelope,” said Batterson, taking it from a little case. ‘Now we shall She.” He opened it, took out the paper and handed it to Tom. “Read it.” “Well, by Jove!” per to Fanning. On the paper was written: ‘“‘No fish.” ‘Allow me to present the prizes,” said Batterson, handing each of them a marine- glass. ‘Batterson, you are a wonder,” Tom de- clared with great unction. “You are a king of entertainers and everything that goes to Tom handed the pa- THE ARGOSY. make life gay and worth while. But now will you tell us why you did this insane thing?” “I wanted amusement, and wanted to give you fellows a little surprise. That’s all. Now we'll start back for the gay little city of New York.” The return trip was but a repetition of the voyage outs They arrived at Mr. Kendry’s house at four o’clock one after- noon. They had been gone nine days. Fanning’s mind was in a whirl. During the return run he had not set eyes on the man who attacked him in the launch. He had made frequent inquiries as to his con- dition, and Batterson had replied each time that the fellow was doing very well. Mrs. Kendry and Joyce asked many questions about the trip. Fanning sat alone on the side porch smoking while Tom was with his mother, and Joyce out among her friends, and his mind could not find its balance. ‘This is the finest, the happiest home I was ever in,” he said to himself, “and yet there is something wrong.” That same night at the dinner table Mr. Kendry said: 7 “Mr. Fanning, I’d like to have a talk with you after dinner, if you have nothing of importance on hand.” ‘Nothing, sir’ answered Fanning, won- dering at the gravity of manner shown by his host. It was coming now. He was going to be politely requested to pack his little suit- case and leave. He had known before they started on the cruise that he was not wanted here. He did not know why, but everything had pointed to that fact. And he had deter- mined to go as soon as seemed the correct thing after the return. He found Mr. Kendry in his den. He motioned him to a large armchair and held out a box of cigars. “Fanning,” the lawyer began, holding his hands so that the tips of the fingers met, “what—but wait. I am going to ask you some questions. Not through idle curiosity. I can say no more than that now. What do you know about your parents?” The question came like a bolt from a perfectly blue sky. Of all the things Fan- ning might have imagined the lawyer could speak about this would have been the last. ‘“Why—I don’t know much of anything about my parents. My mother died when COMMICOOOKS (C@