Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"What thing, and what are you talking about?"

Captain Wass patted his coat pocket.

"I convinced her, and it was lucky that I was able to, for it's a matter

where only a close and careful friend ought to be let in. But after this

you mustn't keep any secrets away from me if you expect me to help you.

However, you have shown that you can take good advice when I give it to

you. I advised you to grab Julius Marston's daughter and, by thunder!

you went and done it. Now--"

Mayo impatiently interrupted. Captain Wass was drawling, with manifest

enjoyment of the part he was taking in this romance.

"You have brought something for me, have you?"

"She is a keen one, son," proceeded the captain, making no move to show

the object he was patting. "Hunted me up, remembering that I had you

with me on the old Nequasset, and put questions to me smart, I can

tell you! You ought to have been more confidential with me."

"Captain Wass, I can't stand any more of this nonsense. If you have

anything for me, hand it over!"

"I have taken pains for you, traveled down here, four or five hundred

miles, taking--"

"Yes, taking your time for the trip and for this conversation," declared

Mayo, with temper. "I have been put in a mighty mean position by not

knowing you had these papers."

"Safe and sure has always been my motto! And I had a little business of

my own to tend to on the way. I have been finding out how that fat Fogg

snapped himself in as general manager of the Vose line. Of course, it

was known well enough how he did it, but I have located the chap that

done it for him--that critter we took along as steward, you remember."

In spite of his anxiety to get into his hands the parcel in the old

skipper's pocket, Mayo listened with interest to this information; it

related to his own affairs with Fogg.

"I'm going to help the honest crowd in the Vose line management to tip

over that sale that was made, and when the right time comes I'll have

that white-livered clerk in the witness-box if I have to lug him there

by the ears. Now, Mayo, that girl didn't say what was in this packet."

He pulled out a small parcel which had been carefully tied with cords.

"She is in love with you, because she must be in love to go to so much

trouble in order to get word to you. If this is a love-letter, it's

a big one. Seems to be all paper! I have hefted it and felt of it

consid'able."