Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

506 was. sending Robinson on so sudden a ‘“pleasure voyage ”—he termed it that— and on such a vessel as the Nagaina. But if so, they kept their wonder to themselves. Had they not been wise enough to refrain from superfluous questioning, they would not have been attorneys to Jesse J. Robin- son. Down at the docks, meantime, a burly sea-captain swore, and still burlier steve- dores sweated. The order to complete the Nagaina’s provisioning and make her ready for immediate clearance had been received by Captain Porter with annoyance and dis- may. ‘“A yacht!” he growled disgustedly to his second. ‘‘ They’ve made a bloomin’ yacht out of the old Nagaina! We’re to take a bloomin’ millionaire on a pleasure voyage! It ‘ll be, ‘ Captain, put in at Bar Harbor,’ and ‘ Captain, I’ve changed my mind; we’ll make the Bahamas instead,’ and ‘Captain, spread an awning on the quarter-deck; I want to take my bloomin’ siesta there!’ | “Tj know ’em! I was second once on a Bermuda passenger boat, and there’s no pleasing ’em. I’m going ashore to buy some pink and blue ribbon, Mr. Crosby, and when I come back you can tie it around her funnels before our new charterer thinks .to order it done. Maybe that ’ll please him. Hell!” To all of which Crosby listened with a wide grin, and not sharing the bitter senti- ments of his superior. A pleasure voyage, even with the most exacting of millionaires aboard, appealed to him as preferable ‘to the rough hardships of the frozen north. At six o’clock Captain Porter’s antici- pated trials began. A boat put off from the city wharf bringing a man who intro- duced himself as Robinson’s valet demand- ed to be shown the cabin his master would occupy, and proceeded to rearrange and embellish it in a manner which ¢ompleted Porter’s disgust, and filled the steward, who helped, with amazed awe. The fellow had brought off a boat-load of “ silly, womanish junk,” as Porter characterized the soft mat- tresses, silken quilts, fine linen, and other luxuries with which the bare, dingy little stateroom presently incongruously blos- THE ARGOSY. somed. A complete Sevres dining service and silver appropriate thereto was the final straw. Porter clumped sadly up the com- panion ladder. “Why didn’t he charter a_ bloomin’ steam yacht?” he mourned to his still grin- ning second. ‘‘ Why-did he pick on me? Why didn’t he charter a bloomin’ steam yacht, all pretty mahogany and brasses? That’s what I want to know!” Nearly eight o’clock, and Robinson en- tered the room where Dr. Vanaman brood- ed alone over his charge. ‘“ We’re leaving,” he said briefly. you ready?” As the doctor made no reply, he ap- proached, clutched his shoulder and shook him. ‘‘ What’s ailing ye? Asleep?” Vanaman stumbled to his feet. ‘ ’m—tired,” he said heavily. am ready to go.” The millionaire cast him a sharp, almost troubled glance, but made no comment, and the two passed out to the car, waiting ready in the porte-cochére. As-they went Vanaman was vaguely conscious of some- ‘* Are ‘““ But I thing wrong er missing in this departure. It was not the green box. He was carrying that in a leather handbag. His hat? No; that was on his head. And his personal luggage had been packed earlier and taken down with Robinson’s things. What, then? He could not think, and for sheer weariness ceased trying. > | | The chauffeur was holding open the door of the closed car, and as Robinson pushed his companion ahead he stumbled clumsily in and almost fell into the rear seat. ‘What is it, Dr. Vanaman? Are you pie’ That low, drawling sweet voice— Now he knew what had been wrong; whom he had missed. Leilah had not said good-by to them, and no wonder! The old hawk had tricked him. He had never meant to leave the girl behind. For an instant, under stimulus of indignation, the stupor lifted, and he was all angry protest. “You here, Miss Robinson! But you are not going with us! “Youre not! I—I forbid it—”’ ge ‘That ‘ll do, son,” snarled Robinson. He stepped in and took his seat; the chauf- CO DOO SJ (C(O)