Part 25 (2/2)
”Mr. Paterson and Mr. Johnson.”
”Just show them into the morning room,” said Dorothy, rising. ”Captain Kempt, it is awfully good of you to have listened so patiently to a scheme of which you couldn't possibly approve.”
”Patiently!” sniffed the daughter.
”Now I want you to do me another kindness.”
She went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper.
”Here is a check I have signed--a blank check. I wish you to buy the yacht 'Walrus' just as she stands, and make the best bargain you can for me. A man is so much better at this kind of negotiation than a woman.”
”But surely, my dear Dorothy, you won't persist in buying this yacht?”
”It's her own money, father,” put in Katherine.
”Keep quiet,” said the Captain, rising, for the first time speaking with real severity, whereupon Katherine, in spite of the fact that she was older than twenty-one, was wise enough to obey.
”Yes, I am quite determined, Captain,” said Dorothy sweetly.
”But, my dear woman, don't you see how you've been hoodwinked by this man Johnson? He is shy of a job. He has already swindled you out of twenty thousand dollars.”
”No, he asked for ten only, Captain Kempt, and I voluntarily doubled the amount.”
”Nevertheless, he has worked you up to believe that these young men are in that rock. He has done this for a very crafty purpose, and his purpose seems likely to succeed. He knows he will be well paid, and you have promised him a bonus besides. If he, with his Captain Kidd crew, gets you on that yacht, you will only step ash.o.r.e by giving him every penny you possess. That's his object. He knows you are starting out to commit a crime--that's the word, Dorothy, there's no use in our mincing matters--you will be perfectly helpless in his hands. Of course, I could not allow my daughter Kate to go on such an expedition.”
”I am over twenty-one years old,” cried Kate, the light of rebellion in her eyes.
”I do not intend that either of you shall go, Katherine.”
”Dorothy, I'll not submit to that,” cried Katherine, with a rising tremor of anger in her voice, ”I shall not be set aside like a child.
Who has more at stake than I? And as for capturing the rock, I'll dynamite it myself, and bring home as large a specimen of it as the yacht will carry, and set it up on Bedloe's Island beside the G.o.ddess and say, 'There's your statue of Liberty, and there's your statue of Tyranny!'”
”Katherine,” chided her father, ”I never before believed that a child of mine could talk such driveling nonsense.”
”Paternal heredity, father,” retorted Kate.
”Your Presidential plan, Captain Kempt,” interposed Dorothy, ”is excellent so far as Prince Lermontoff is concerned, but it cannot rescue Lieutenant Drummond. Now, there are two things you can do for me that will make me always your debtor, as, indeed, I am already, and the first is to purchase for me the yacht. The second is to form your own judgment of the man Johnson, and if you distrust him, then engage for me one-half the crew, and see that they are picked Americans.”
”First sane idea I have heard since I came into this flat,” growled the Captain.
”The Americans won't let the Finlander hold me for ransom, you may depend upon that.”
It was a woe-begone look the gallant Captain cast on the demure and determined maiden, then, feeling his daughter's eye upon him, he turned toward her.
”I'm going, father,” she said, with a firmness quite equal to his own, and he on his part recognized when his daughter had toed the danger line. He indulged in a laugh that had little of mirth in it.
”All I can say is that I am thankful you haven't made up your minds to kidnap the Czar. Of course you are going, Kate, So am I.”
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