Part 132

“I say so. I have a bill of sale of her in my pocket.”

“I don't recognize it. The law will have something to say about that later.”

“I don't care what the law may say later. I'm talking right now. We own this steamer. What are you here for?”

“I left quite a lot of little personal belongings on her. I went away in a hurry. I want to come aboard with this valise and get 'em.”

“They must be pretty valuable belongings, seeing that you've chartered a tug to come out here.”

“A fellow's own property means more to him than it does to anybody else. Now that I've gone to all this expense, you ain't mean enough are you, to keep me off? This is between sailors.”

“Who are you?”

The man hesitated. “Well, if I've got to be introduced I'll say my name is Simpson--I have been second officer aboard there.”

“You're not here with any legal papers--you're not trying any trick to get possession, are you?”

“Take all in hearing to witness that I ain't! I'll pick up my stuff and leave in ten minutes.”

“Come aboard, then.”

The man set down his suit-case and hitched a heave-line to the handle. He coiled the line and handed it to a deck-hand. “Throw that to me when I'm on deck,” he ordered. Then he came up the ladder.

“Heave, and I'll hoist up the bag,” suggested Mayo at the rail.

“Wait till I get there,” barked the visitor, still climbing. He caught the line after he had reached the rail and pulled up the case with some effort and great care.

“Look here, that bag isn't empty,” said Mayo.

“Who said it was? I'm carrying around in it all I own in the world. I'm starting for New York as soon as this tug sets me ashore.”

He picked up the case and started for the officers' quarters. Mayo went along, too.

“You afraid I'm going to steal her engine out of her? The few little things of mine I'm after were hidden away, and that's how I forgot 'em. Now don't insult me by following me around as if I was a thief.”

“I don't know just what you are,” muttered the young man. “There's something that looks mighty phony about this, but I haven't got you sized up just yet.”

“I'll go back--go back right now. I supposed I was asking a favor of a gentleman and a brother officer.” He started on his return to the ladder.

“Go get your stuff,” commanded Mayo. “If your business here is all your own, I don't want to spy on you.”

He went back to question the captain of the tug for information in regard to the Ethel and May.

“She's in Limeport,” reported the captain, elbows on his window-sill. “Came past her in the inner harbor this morning. You've bit off quite a chunk here, haven't you? We all thought this storm had sluiced her. Made quite a stir up and down the water-front when old Can-dage blew along and reported that she had lived it out.”

“Reckon some of the panic boys are talking in another key about the prospects out here, about now, aren't they?”

“Ain't so sure about that, sir,” stated the towboat man, loafing into an easier attitude.

“Isn't there a feeling on shore that we are likely to make good on this proposition?” There was solicitude in Mayo's voice. He was acutely anxious. On the sentiment ashore depended Captain Candage's success.

“Can't say that I hear of any!”

“But the talk must--”