按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The double blast of a trumpet invited them to dinner down stairs。
PART 4
Dunn was sitting in the smoking room writing his story of the
kidnapping when a ruddy young Englishman stopped opposite him。
〃You're Mr。 Dunn； are you not？ Reporter for the _World？_〃
〃Yes。〃 The newspaper man looked him over with a swift； trained
attention。
〃A young lady would like to see you for a few minutes。 She is
interested in this shanghaing of Mr。 Farnum。〃
Dunn's black gimlet eyes searched Beauchamp's face。
〃All right。 Glad to see her。〃 Dunn's story was being transferred to his
pocket as he rose。
He followed his guide to the ladies' writing room。 A slender young
woman was standing in front of the bookcase。 She turned as they entered。
Beauchamp introduced the reporter to her； but Dunn failed to catch the
name of this rather remarkable looking young lady。
〃You are to write the story of Mr。 Farnum's adventure？〃 she asked。
The reporter's eyes narrowed very slightly。 〃What story？〃
〃The account of the shanghaing。 Oh； I know all about it。 Have you all
the facts？〃
〃I'll be glad to hear what you know； Miss〃
She answered his hesitation by mentioning her name。
Dunn grew more wary。 〃Miss Alice Frome； daughter of Senator
Frome？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Anything you have to say I'll be pleased to hear； Miss Frome。〃
169
… Page 170…
THE VISION SPLENDID
To his surprise she broke through the hedge of reserve he had
withdrawn behind。
〃You distrust me。 You think because I'm Senator Frome's daughter that
I must be against Mr。 Farnum。 Is that it？〃
〃I didn't say that；〃 he sparred。
〃I'm not against him。 It's because I'm anxious to see him win that I
want to be sure he has given you the whole story。〃
〃Why shouldn't he give me the whole story？〃
〃Because he isn't the kind to boast。 Did he tell you about the sharks？〃
〃Or how Miss Frome helped pull him aboard just in time to save him
from the crimps？〃
The reporter's eyes gleamed。 〃What's that？〃 he snapped quickly。
〃And all about the race from the schooner to the _Bellingham；_ It was
the most exciting thing I ever saw。〃
〃Great guns！ What's the matter with Jeff Farnum？ He didn't say a word
about thatmissed the cream of the story。〃
Alice smiled。 〃I thought perhaps he might have。〃
〃He said he saw a chance to swim across to the _Bellingham。_ That
made a pretty good story。 But sharksand the shanghaiers chasing him
and a young lady helping to haul him aboard to safetyand that young
lady Miss Alice Frome！ Say； this is the biggest story that ever broke in
Verden。 If I fall down on it I'm a dead one sure enough。〃
〃You think it will help Mr。 Farnum's fight for his bill？〃
〃Help it。 Say； I'd give fifty dollars to see James K。 Farnum's face when
he reads the _World_ tomorrow morning。 The town will go right up in the
air。 Hundreds of telegrams are going to pour in to members of the
assembly from their constituents。 We'll make a Yale finish of this yet。〃
〃It's lucky Miss Frome recognized Mr。 Farnum。 Otherwise I suppose
he would have been sent back to the _Nancy Hanks_ 。〃
〃Oh； Miss Frome recognized him？ Jeff said one of the passengers did。
He couldn't remember who。〃
〃I don't suppose my name is necessary to the story。 Just say a young
woman on board；〃 Alice suggested。
Dunn's black eyes questioned her。 〃Are you for us； Miss Frome？〃
170
… Page 171…
THE VISION SPLENDID
She smiled。 〃I'm for you。〃
〃Against Senator Frome and Mr。 Powers？〃
〃I think the bill ought to be passed。 I'm not against anybody。〃
〃Well； I'll tell you this。 It will help the story a lot to have you in it。
Some people might say we framed the whole thing up。 But with Senator
Frome's daughter starring in it。〃
〃Oh； no； Mr。 Farnum's the star。〃
〃Well； you're the leading lady。 Don't you see how it helps？ Clinches
the whole thing as genuine。 It's as good as putting the Senator himself on
the stand as a witness for us。 We've just got to have you。〃
〃It will really help； you think？〃
〃No question。〃
〃Very well。〃
〃And photographs。 You'll stand for one； of course。〃
〃Now really I don't see 〃
〃They can't get back of a photograph。 It carries conviction。 Of course
we've got pictures of you at the office； Miss Frome。 But I want to play fair
with you。 Besides； I want them to show the ship setting。〃
She laughed。 〃Don't worry。 Your enterprising photographer caught me
twice before I knew it。 And he got one of my cousin； Mrs。 Van Tyle。 She
doesn't know it； though。〃
〃Good boy； Quillen。 Now； if you'll begin at the beginning； Miss Frome；
I'll listen to your story。
When she had finished his eyes were gleaming。 〃It's the biggest scoop
I ever got in on。 Sounds too good to be true。〃
PART 5
At Gillam's Point Jeff and his friends； with Dunn and Quillen； left the
_Bellingham_ on the launch which brought the pilot。 They caught the fast
express a half hour later and reached Verden shortly after midnight。 His
hat drawn down over his eyes and muffied to the ears in an ulster so that
he might not be recognized； Farnum took a cab with Captain Chunn； Dunn
and Quillen for the office of the World。 He slipped into the building and
his private room unnoticed by any member of the staff。
171
… Page 172…
THE VISION SPLENDID
Dunn presently brought to him Jenkins； the make…up man。
〃Rip your front page to pieces。 We've got the story of a life time；〃
Captain Chunn exploded。
Jenkins opened his eyes and grinned at Jeff。 〃That's what Jim tells me。
Have you got the proof to hang the thing on Big Tim？〃
〃I've got a letter he wrote to Captain Green of the_Nancy Hanks_ 。 It's
on city hall stationery of the last administration。〃
〃Funny he used that paper。〃
〃Someone usually makes a slip in putting a deal of this kind through。〃
〃And the letter？〃
〃Just a line； signed with O'Brien's initials。 'The terms agreed on are
satisfactory。' I found the letter in Green's cabin。 As I thought I might make
use of it I helped myself。〃
〃Bully！ We'll ru