Part 14 (2/2)

”Gladys Ardmore!”

”Why, yes,” she smiled, ”didn't you expect me? I told you I thought I'd go.”

”And I said you should not.” Her coolness angered him.

”You forget that this is my father's boat. A man's daughter should always be a welcome guest on his boat.”

”But--but that's not it,” he hesitated. ”This is not a pleasure trip.

We are going five hundred miles straight to sea in a boat intended for sh.o.r.e travel. It's likely to storm.” He sniffed the air and held his cheek to the breeze that was already breaking the water into little choppy waves. ”It is going to be dangerous.”

”But you are going,” she said soberly, ”to the a.s.sistance of my brother.

I have a better right than you to risk my life to save my own brother. I can be of a.s.sistance to you. Truly, I can. I can be the galley cook.”

”You a cook?” He looked his surprise.

”Certainly. Do you think a rich man's daughter can do nothing but play tennis and pour tea? Those times are gone, if indeed they ever existed.

I am as able to do things as is your sister, if you have one.”

”But,” said Curlie suddenly, ”I am going from a sense of duty. Having set out to have your brother arrested I mean to do it.”

For a full moment she stared at him stupefied. Then she said slowly, through set, white lips: ”You wouldn't do that?”

”Why shouldn't I?” His tone was more gentle. ”He has broken the laws of the air. Time and again he sent messages on 600, a radio wave length reserved to coast and s.h.i.+p service alone. He has hindered sea traffic and once narrowly escaped being the death of brave men at sea.”

”Oh,” she breathed, sinking down upon a coil of cable, ”I--didn't know it was as bad as that. And I--I--knew all about it. I--I--”

She did not finish but sat there staring at him. At last she spoke again. Her tone was strained and husky with emotion.

”You--you'll want to arrest me too when you know the truth.”

”You'll not be dragged into it unless you insist.”

”But I do insist!” She sprang to her feet. Her nails digging into her clenched fists, she faced him. Her eyes were bright and terrible.

”Do you think,” she fairly screamed, ”that I would be part of a thing that was wrong, whether I knew it or not at the time, and then when trouble came from it, do you think that I would sneak out of it and allow someone else to suffer for it? Do you think I'd sneak out of it because anyone would let me--because I am a girl?”

Completely at a loss to know what to do upon this turn of events, Curlie stood there staring back at the girl.

She at last sank back upon her seat. Curlie took three turns around the deck. At last he approached her with a steady step.

”Miss Ardmore,” he said, taking off his cap, ”I apologize. I--I really didn't know that a girl could be that kind of a real sport.”

Before she could answer he hurried on: ”For the time being we can let the matter we were just speaking of rest. Matters far more important than the vindicating of the law, important as that always is, are before us. Your brother and his friend, unless I am mistaken, are in grave danger. We may be able to save them; we may not. We can but try and this trial requires all our wisdom and strength.

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