Brandon of the Engineers

As a matter of fact, Jake handled the subject with some judgment when

Kenwardine, who had just finished his breakfast, gave him coffee in the

patio. They sat beneath the purple creeper while the sunshine crept down

the opposite wall. The air was fresh and the murmur of the surf came

languidly across the flat roofs.

"Aren't you in town unusually early?" Kenwardine asked.

"Well," said Jake with a twinkle, "you see we got here late."

"Then Brandon was with you. This makes it obvious that you spent a

perfectly sober night."

Jake laughed. He liked Kenwardine and meant to stick to him, but although

rash and extravagant, he was sometimes shrewd, and admitted that there

might perhaps be some ground for Dick's suspicions. He was entitled to

lose his own money, but he must run no risk of injuring his father's

business. However, since Kenwardine had a share in the coaling wharf, he

would learn that they had been to Adexe, and to try to hide this would

show that they distrusted him.

"Our occupation was innocent but rather arduous," he said. "We went to

Adexe in the launch to see when our coal was coming."

"Did you get it? The manager told me something about the tug's engines

needing repairs."

"We got one scow that broke adrift off the Tajada reef. They had to turn

back with the others."

"Then perhaps I'd better telephone to find out what they mean to do,"

Kenwardine suggested.

Jake wondered whether he wished to learn if they had already made

inquiries, and thought frankness was best.

"Brandon called up the wharf as soon as the office was open, but didn't

get much information. Something seemed to be wrong with the wire."

"I suppose he wanted to know when the coal would leave?"

"Yes," said Jake. "But he began by asking if the tug had come back safe,

and got no further, because the other fellow couldn't hear."

"Why was he anxious about the tug?"

Kenwardine's manner was careless, but Jake imagined he felt more interest

than he showed.

"It was blowing pretty fresh when she left us, and if the scows had

broken adrift again, there'd have been some risk of losing them. This

would delay the delivery of the coal, and we're getting very short of

fuel."

"I see," said Kenwardine. "Well, if anything of the kind had happened, I

would have heard of it. You needn't be afraid of not getting a supply."

Jake waited. He thought it might look significant if he showed any

eagerness to change the subject, but when Kenwardine began to talk about

something else he followed his lead. Half an hour later he left the

house, feeling that he had used commendable tact, but determined not to

tell Brandon about the interview. Dick had a habit of exaggerating the

importance of things, and since he already distrusted Kenwardine, Jake

thought it better not to give him fresh ground for suspicion. There was

no use in supplying his comrade with another reason for preventing his

going to the house.