Part 30 (1/2)
”Don't like her, eh?” he grinned
”Can't say that I do,” Gregory answered ”It looks to me like Mr
Barrows rew instantly serious
”You wanted a sea-going craft which could stand rough water and beat the _Fuor d'Italia_ we built for Mascola,” he said slowly ”And you left the lines and everything else entirely up to us Is that right?”
Gregory nodded Then a gleahted his eye
”You think this one will fill the bill?” he questioned
”If she doesn't, it's up to us,” the ory's face, he went on: ”Don't e a boat froory 'You can't tell by the looks of a frog how far he can ju enough to quit guessing When he tackles a proposition like yours, he wants yourto take you out for a trial Then if there's anything you want changed we can fix it up before we turn her over to you to beat Mascola If you can spare the tiive you a good chance to see her perfor up nasty off the breakwater”
Gregory's face cleared The suggestion had two-fold value By acting upon it at once he could combine business with pleasure Visit the jobbers in the city and at the same time test out the launch
”I'll be ready in half an hour,” he answered
The boatet a bite to eat Don't forget to bring a rain-coat with you You're liable to get wet”
Gregory promised and hurried away In the cannery he found McCoy and outlined his plans
McCoy objected ”Better take it easy for a day or two,” he counseled
”No use trying to hit the ball too hard at the start”
Gregory s, Mac,” he said ”I'll find out what the trouble is with the jobbers and be back so that his advice was futile, McCoy left to put up a few saory turned at once to his desk As he prepared the quotations for submission to the jobbers, a cheery voice interrupted him in his work
”Welco
He jumped hastily to his feet and put out his hands
”Oh, if you only kne good it was to be back,” he began Then, as he noticed the girl's rapid change of expression at his words, he hastened to alad to leave your house I wasn't It's the only holad I aet back to work”
dickie smiled at his enthusiasm
”I know,” she said ”It's wonderful you were able to get back so soon”
Soon the talk turned to business and Gregory explained his plans for visiting Port Angeles Like McCoy, dickie voiced her objections, but withman could not be talked out of it, she exclaioing or she never would forgive me She's kind of adopted you and she toldthe new speed-boat and its practicability at the present time should it be proved a success
”Mascola ran across our trairl explained ”If you had had that boat, you ly lately and last night his men tried to crowd ours off the beach with their seine If they try it again, there'll be trouble”