"The devil has sent that man along at about the right time," declared
Marston. He strode to the companion-way. "Inform Captain Wass that he is
wanted on board here! Hide those bars till he is below!"
He came back, raging, and stood between Mayo and the girl, who had
seemed to find words inadequate during the short time they had been left
together.
"I don't believe anything you tell me! There's an infernal trick, here.
The papers are missing. Somebody has them."
His fury blinded his prudence.
He strode toward Captain Wass when the old mariner came stumping down
the companionway.
"Is your name Wass?"
"Captain Wass, sir."
"You took papers from my daughter and brought them to this man!"
"Correct."
Marston stepped back and kicked at the blank sheets on the floor.
"Perhaps you can tell me if these are what you brought.".
Captain Wass stared long at Mayo, at the girl, and at the incensed
magnate. Then he looked down at the scattered papers and scratched his
head with much deliberation.
"Why don't you say something?" demanded Marston.
"I'm naturally slow and cautious," stated Captain Wass. He put on his
spectacles, kneeled on the soft carpet, and examined the blank papers
and the broken seals. He laid them back on the carpet and meditated for
some time, still on his knees. When he looked up, peering over the edge
of his spectacles, he paid no attention to Mar-ston, to the latter's
indignant astonishment.
"Vose and others are waiting for us at the hotel," he informed Captain
Mayo, "and it's important business, and we'd better be tending to it
instead of fooling around here."
"No matter about any other business except this, sir," cried Marston.
"There can't be much business mixed up in a lot of blank sheets of
paper," snapped Captain Wass. "What's the matter?"
"I have lost valuable papers."
The old skipper bent shrewd squint at the angry man who was standing
over him. "Steamer combination papers, hey?"
"You seem to know pretty well."
"Ought to know."
"Why?"
Captain Wass rose slowly, with grunts, and rubbed his stiff knees.
"Because I've got 'em."
"Stole them from the package, did you?"
"It wasn't stealing--it was business."
"Hand them over."
"I insist on that, too, Captain Wass," said Mayo, with indignation.
"Hand over those papers."
"Can't be done, for I haven't got 'em with me. And I won't hand 'em over
till I have used them in my business."