|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 25
"I am sorry. I wish I could help you. Better let me try." Fitzgerald
stirred his coffee. "You are convinced that there is some cabal
working against you in the newspaper business? That seems strange.
Some of them must have heard of your work--London, Paris, Berlin. Have
you tried them all?"
"Yes. Nothing for me, but promises as thick as yonder sands."
The little man rose, and walked out of the room, smiling.
"Splendid!" he murmured. "What a specimen to add to my collection!"
"Do you know what your duties will be?" Fitzgerald inquired.
"They will consist of replying to begging letters from the needy and
deserving, from crazy inventors, and ministers. In the meantime, I am
to do translating, together with indexing a vast library devoted to
pirates. Droll, isn't it?" Breitmann laughed, but this time without
bitterness.
"It is a harmless hobby," rather resenting Breitmann's tone.
"More than that," quickly; "it is philanthropic, since it will employ
me for some length of time."
"When do they expect you?"
"At half-after ten."
"We'll go up together, then. Did you see the admiral's daughter?"
"A daughter? Has he one?" Breitmann accepted this news with an
expression of disfavor.
"Yes; and charming, I can tell you. It's all very odd. In Paris that
night, they both sat at the next table."
"Why did you not speak to them?"
"Didn't know who they were. The admiral was one of my father's boyhood
friends, and I did not meet them till very recently;" which was all
true enough. For some unaccountable reason, Fitzgerald found that he
was on guard. "I have ordered an open carriage. If you have any
trunks, I can take them up for you."
"It will be good of you."
They proceeded to finish the repast, and then sought the office, for
their reckoning. Later, they strolled toward the water front.
Fitzgerald, during moments when the talk lagged, thought over the
meeting. There was a false ring to it somewhere. If Breitmann had
been turned down in all the offices in New York, there must have been
some good cause. Newspapers were not passing over men of this fellow's
experience, unless he had been proved untrustworthy. Breitmann had not
told him everything; he had even told him too little. Still, he would
withhold his judgment till he heard from New York on the subject.
Cathewe hadn't been enthusiastic over the name; but Cathewe was never
inclined to enthusiasms.
Passing the angle of the freight depot brought the little harbor into
full view. A fine white yacht lay tugging at her cables.
"There's a beauty," said Fitzgerald admiringly.
"She looks as if she could take care of herself. How fresh the green
water-line looks! She'll be fast in moderate weather; a fair thousand
tons, perhaps."
"A close guess."
"I understand she belongs to my employer. I hope he takes the sea
soon. I suppose you know that I have knocked about some as a sailor."
"That will help you into the good graces of the admiral."
"How dull and uninteresting the coast-lines are here! No gardens, no
palms, nothing of beauty."
"You must remember the immensity of this coast and that our summers are
really less than three months. Here comes one who can tell us about
the yacht," cried Fitzgerald, espying the peg-legged sailor. "I say!"
he hailed, as the old sailor drew nigh; "you are on the _Laura_, are
you not?"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|