Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

Mayo trudged on in silence, kicking the sand.

"Seems to me the smallest thing that girl could have done was to offer

to get you a hearing with her old man. It was some chore you did for

her, mate!"

"I had to save myself. A few more in the party didn't matter."

"These society girls think of themselves first, of course! I don't

suppose you give a hoot for my advice, Captain Mayo, but I'm talking to

you in the best spirit in the world."

"I know you are, Captain Downs," declared the young man, his sullenness

departing. "I didn't mean to show bristles to you! I'll try to see

Marston. It 'll be a hard stunt. But I'm in the mood to try anything. By

gad! if they lug me to jail, I'll go kicking!"

"That's the spirit, boy. And if you can get in a few kicks where Julius

Marston can see 'em they may count. He's the boss! I don't think I'll go

any farther with you. This is too hard footing for an old waddler like

me. Good luck!"

They shook hands and turned their backs on each other with sailor

repression in the matter of the emotions.

The young man went on his way, wondering in numbed despair how he could

have left Alma Marston with merely a curt word of farewell.

Mayo lurked that evening in the purlieus of Jersey City, and entered the

metropolis after midnight on a ferryboat which had few passengers and

afforded him a dark corner where he was alone. He found lodgings in

humble quarters on the East Side.

In the morning he nerved himself to the ordeal of appearing in the

streets. His belief in his own innocence made his suffering greater as

he waited for the clap of a heavy hand on his shoulder and the summons

of an officer's voice. He knew that the eyes of Uncle Sam are sharp and

his reach a long one. He had firm belief in the almost uncanny vigilance

of government officers. He was rather surprised to find himself at last

in the outer office of Marston & Waller.

He sat down on a bench and waited for a time in order to regain

his self-possession. He wanted to control features and voice before

accosting one of the guardians of the magnate. But the espionage of the

attendants did not permit loiterers to remain long in that place without

explanation. A man tiptoed to him and asked his name and his business.

"My name doesn't matter," said Mayo. "But I have important business

with Mr. Marston. If you will tell him that the business is most

important--that it is something he ought to know, and that--"