Part 37 (1/2)

”By the way,” laughed Mr. Farnum, contentedly, ”that steward is no longer missing. We've just had the pleasure of seeing him placed under lock and key, where he'll keep until he's wanted.”

”Will you come aboard the flags.h.i.+p in our launch?” asked the mids.h.i.+pman.

”Yes, thank you,” replied Farnum. Thereupon Jack signaled to Hal Hastings, aboard the ”Pollard,” which lay to, not far off, to return to moorings.

”Catch your man?” yelled Hal, through a megaphone. His chum nodded in the affirmative.

”Toot! toot! toot!” sounded the ”Pollard's” auto-whistle, in three long, triumphant blasts.

Arrived at the flags.h.i.+p, the mids.h.i.+pman conducted the visitors at once to the admiral's office.

”Did you catch the rascal?” asked that fine old officer.

”Yes, sir,” nodded Farnum, and gave a quick, brief account of the capture.

”Captain Benson appear's to be your lucky star to-day,” laughed the admiral. ”By the way, captain, I must congratulate you most warmly on that daring, magic dive. Your boat is surely in a new cla.s.s. But now to other interesting business. After you had gone it occurred to me to make a most thorough investigation into the whole matter of that steward.

”Your man Miller certainly displayed considerable originality in his attempt to hide from the law. He had been aboard for some time. He plainly realized that about the last place detectives would ever think to look for criminals would be among the crew of a battles.h.i.+p. We always require references for any man we enlist, and always look up the references. I have yet to satisfy myself as to how the fellow Miller managed to get around the matter of references. However, he got aboard, and was all but safe from pursuit. Moreover, this flags.h.i.+p is scheduled to sail for the European station as soon as the manoeuvres are over. Miller, I imagine, intended to desert when in European waters. By that time, as police pursuit would have cooled, he must have figured that he would be rather safe from the law.

”I have investigated his doings aboard this boat. Among other things I have learned that he deposited with our paymaster, taking a receipt for the same, an iron box--a small affair--which, the fellow said, contained papers regarding the history of his family. He had been years in getting the papers together, he explained to the paymaster, and wanted them put in a place of safe-keeping.”

Jacob Farnum sprang to his feet, a great light of suspicion s.h.i.+ning in his eyes.

”I have had that box taken from the paymaster's safe and forced open,”

continued Admiral Bentley with a smile. ”It is a right that we exercise over any package at need. It was opened in the presence of three officers of this fleet, and it was found to contain, probably, close to a half million dollars in bills of large denominations. The paymaster will be able to give you more exact figures. He has the money in his safe again. It will be transferred to the custody of civil authorities ash.o.r.e until the courts have issued an order for its further disposition.”

”It's Miss Desmond's money,” cried Farnum. ”Only a little while to wait, and then that splendid young woman will come into her own.”

Tears glistened in the boatbuilder's eyes.

”If you think I am unusually affected over this matter,” explained Mr.

Farnum, presently, ”let me, with your permission, sir, tell you of the fine, brave conduct of the girl in saving Captain Benson and the submarine boat.”

Admiral Bentley was greatly interested in the recital that followed.

In due time the flags.h.i.+p's sh.o.r.e boat carried the three to land again.

With fingers that shook Jacob Farnum penned a most exultant telegram to Grace Desmond.

That sent, they engaged a boatman to put them aboard the ”Pollard.” It was now the turn of Hal Hastings and Eph Somers to share in the excitement and the joy.