Part 6 (1/2)
”Come along, Dan!” called Owen, hoa.r.s.ely to his nephew, as he started up the stairway.
”Yes, run along, Danny,” added Farnum, mockingly. ”You're no better than your uncle!”
After the pair had departed it took all hands at least five minutes to cool down from their indignation. Then they resumed work, and all went smoothly under the quiet, just, alert new foreman, Grant Andrews.
That afternoon, as Jack crossed the yard, going on an errand from Mr. Pollard to the office, he encountered Josh Owen and his nephew.
The pair had just collected their pay from the superintendent. They were talking together, in low, ugly tones, when they caught sight of the boy.
Though Benson saw them in season to avoid coming close to them, he neither dodged the pair nor courted a meeting. He would have pa.s.sed without speaking, but Joshua Owen seized the boy by one arm.
”I s'pose ye feel me and you had trouble, and you got the best of it?”
leered the former foreman, then scowled. ”But listen to me, younker.
Ye're going to run into trouble, and quicker than ye think, at that.
That old cigar shaped death-trap won't float--not for long, anyway.
All I'm hoping is that ye'll go in for bein' one of the crew of that submarine boat. Then I'll be even with a lot of ye all at the same time!”
With which enigmatic prophecy Joshua Owen let go of the boy's arm, and tramped heavily away, followed by his precious nephew.
CHAPTER IV
THE TRICK OF THE FLASHLIGHT
”Have you seen anything of Owen, since he was discharged?”
It was David Pollard who put the question, while the crew, under the new foreman, Andrews, was busy the next day with more work on the motor fittings.
Then, for the first time, except to his chum, Jack Benson told of his meeting in the yard.
”Making threats against you, and against the boat, is he?” smiled Mr. Pollard. ”Well, he can't get near the boat. Partridge took the precaution of getting the keys back from Owen yesterday afternoon, when the fellow went to get paid off. But as for his threats against you--”
”It will be just as well to look out for the fellow, Benson, and you, too, Hastings,” put in young Mr. Farnum, who happened to be aboard.
”Owen is an ugly fellow, and a powerful one, and I imagine he possesses a certain amount of rough brute courage.”
”I'm not afraid of him, sir,” replied Jack, coolly. ”At the same time, of course, I'll keep my eyes open.”
”Owen probably can't hang around Dunhaven very long, anyway,” continued the owner of the yard. ”I don't believe he has very much saved. Of course, he can't get any work in his line in Dunhaven, now that this yard is closed to him. So look out for a day or two, and, after that, I guess he'll be gone.”
”I'll keep my eye open, but I shan't lose any rest,” smiled young Benson, confidently--too confidently, as the sequel proved.
Work was now proceeding at a rapid rate. Andrews was an ideal foreman, quiet, alert, watchful and understanding his trade thoroughly. He was something of a driver, as to speed, but workmen do not resent that if the one in authority be just and capable.
”I wish we had had you as foreman from the start, Andrews,” remarked the inventor.
”Well, I was here, and ready to be called at any time,” replied the new foreman, with a smile.
”By the way, you don't seem to have any trouble with Benson or Hastings,”
pursued Mr. Pollard.