Part 17 (1/2)
HIRAM suggested that he and the captain would get the motor out on the floor and test it in order to make sure that another crooked revolutionist had not met a crooked manufacturer.
While they were doing this I went to my office to get a better line on the traffic between that very interesting trio--Becker, Burrell and my clerk, Miss Bascom.
Captain Marianna helped Hiram, so they soon had the motor on skids, and 'phoned me to come down and try it out. The working test was satisfactory and after computing its horsepower, we decided it would drive the boat, and, possibly, at a fair speed. Before leaving the warehouse Hiram called my attention to a small portable sawmill outfit.
”If this works out, that's mine, too,” he whispered, evidently still clinging to the idea of capturing logs in the river.
Hiram was right, nothing like the hull of the _Fearsome_ had ever been produced before. A hundred and fifty feet long, and over thirty foot beam, and with a bulwark not more than a foot high about the entire outside. It looked like an immense skimming dish. Hiram thought it came from the ca.n.a.ls of Mars, possibly a cup challenger there. Captain Marianna a.s.sured us, though she didn't look it now, she was very st.u.r.dy and seaworthy and she did not leak even a little since he had been on her. No doubt it had previously had gasoline power in it, for there were left intact the foundation beams. Hiram said that the captain, now penniless and almost starving, if given some cash and a good job, would likely be distinctly different from now on. I told him I thought the fellow was a fair bet, and left them at work getting the motor ready to move on board. The captain a.s.sured me the sale was to take place at nine the next morning. No one had been around to see it and I felt sure it would go for very little.
As I was up all night I did not see Hiram until the next morning. The sale looked as though it had been arranged for our benefit. The officer said the claims were nearly a thousand dollars, sold it promptly for that bid, got away as though in a hurry, and I attended to the details, leaving Hiram serious but jubilant.
It was late that night when he returned, tired and hungry but enthusiastic. He took little interest in a letter awaiting him until he told me all about his progress in moving the motor and getting it aboard the boat.
”We got the motor aboard late this evening and it fits as if made for the foundation beams, and it will connect with the propeller shaft and clutch with little trouble. But, say, the captain says we must have an air compressor for the whistle and an auxiliary gasoline tank,--and, say,” he continued, while stripping down to wash--”I believe the captain is going to prove a jewel--he's all right.”
”You still think him reliable?”
”Well, if he is as loyal to us as he was to his old employers he will be all right--and willing to turn his hand to anything.”
”Did you see the letter that came for you?”
”Yes, I'm going to read it in a minute--it's nothing, for I don't know any one who would write to me. I've got something more important to do now than keeping up a line of correspondence,” he said, as he finished his ablutions and b.u.t.toned his flannel s.h.i.+rt at the collar. Then he reached for the letter and as he opened it his face changed to astonished resentment.
”Say, who the devil can it be that is writing me these notes? This is the second one I have received, not dated or signed by any one. I don't understand this one at all,” he added, handing it to me.
I took it and read from the same yellow paper and typed as the last one had been:
”Becker & Co. know of the Railroad's plan to s.h.i.+p slaughtered cattle from Illinois to their plant.”
His astonishment was no greater than mine, for instantly I knew that only some one connected with the railroad and telegraph could learn anything regarding Superintendent Kitch.e.l.l's plan. I also recalled that I had not mentioned anything about the plan to Hiram, or any other important thing concerning the case. I wanted him to move uninfluenced by anything I knew or suspected.
After examining the note critically a few moments, I said:
”Hiram, these notes may come from a woman--they have such earmarks. Do you know--have you anything to do with a woman?” I asked, really alarmed at the moment, and scrutinizing him closely.
Hiram stood straight before me and looked me square in the eye with magnificent candor.
”Ben, I have scarcely a speaking acquaintance with any woman in New Orleans except Anna Bell Morgan--and I have not seen her or communicated with her since--well, you know how long--ever since this d.a.m.ned thing came up like a black fog from Hades, out of which it seems impossible to get--and----”
”The plan of getting into Becker's plant is yours. I mentioned it to Superintendent Kitch.e.l.l. Getting some slaughtered tubercular cattle from Illinois is Kitch.e.l.l's idea. He wired or wrote, or both, from his office and this is the result. Somebody inside, sure--somebody for them and somebody for you--who is it, Hiram?” I ended by demanding of him to speak only the truth.
”I haven't mentioned one word to a soul other than you,” he stoutly insisted, his face as open as a printed page.
”Have you mentioned your boat scheme to any one?” I asked, fearful of the incaution of youth.
”Not a person knows of it from me but you and Captain Marianna, and he doesn't know much yet. But this is absolute evidence our finger is on the right spot,” he observed shrewdly, then added, less confidently--”they must have some organization.”
”Go ahead, Hiram, I still think your boat scheme a very good one, but be very discreet and see if you can think of any one who would send these notes to you,” I added darkly, much puzzled and annoyed.