Part 13 (1/2)
”That 'll be fine, although I may not need you. In the meantime have your men keep an eye out for Yeasky. And,” Armitage paused, ”if Koltsoff--never mind; we 've first to prove our case.”
”Yes, that would be about the wisest thing you could do,” observed the chief. ”Good luck.”
An hour later Armitage stood in the servants' sitting-room confronting Miss Hatch, Mrs. Wellington's secretary, who was viewing him, not without interest.
”Mrs. Wellington will see you, I think,” she said. ”She usually breakfasts early and should be in her office now.”
Armitage had an engaging grin which invariably brought answering smiles even from the veriest strangers. So now the crisp, bespectacled young woman was smiling broadly when Armitage shrugged his shoulders.
”Mrs. Wellington?” he said. ”I had an idea I should have to see Mr.
Wellington.”
”By no means,” a.s.serted the secretary. ”Wait a moment, please.”
In a few minutes the young woman returned and nodded.
”Will you come with me, please?”
She led the way up a winding pair of stairs and down a long hall with heavy crimson carpet, turning into a room near the rear of the house.
Mrs. Wellington was at her desk looking over a menu which the housekeeper had just submitted. She glanced up as the two entered, her face unchanging in expression.
”This is Mr. McCall,” said the secretary, who without further words went to her desk and unlimbered the typewriter.
As Mrs. Wellington brought Armitage under her scrutiny, which was long, silent, and searching, he felt as he did upon his first interview with the Secretary of the Navy. However, no one had ever accused him of lack of nerve.
”You apply for the position of physical instructor to my sons,” she said at length. ”How did you know we wanted one?”
Armitage, caught for the instant off his guard, stammered.
”I--at least Miss--I mean I read it in one of the papers.”
”Hum,” replied Mrs. Wellington, ”a rather misleading medium. Correct in this instance, though.”
”I believe it was an advertis.e.m.e.nt,” said Armitage.
”What qualifications have you?”
Armitage smiled easily.
”I have taught boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu in Southern athletic clubs,” he said, ”and I trained the 19-- navy team at Annapolis.”
He submitted Thornton's eloquent testimonial. Mrs. Wellington laid it aside after a glance.
”Where is your home?”
”Louisville, Kentucky, ma'm.”
”What have you been doing in Newport? I remember having seen you at church yesterday morning.”
”I came up to see Winthrop of the Harvard Graduate Advisory Committee on Athletics about getting the job as trainer for the football team next month. He is away.”