The Cruise of the Jasper B.

uctures, rather than one house. It was known simply as Morris's. It stood a few hundred yards west o

of cottages in the direction of the canal. But these were all summer bungalows, occupied only from June until the middle of Septem

n of buildings including bathhouses, a boathouse, and a sort of shed where "soft drinks" and sea food were

bait for a fishing trip. In one of its phases it made some pretensions to being a summer hotel. It had an extensive barroom. There was a dancing floor, none too smooth. There wer

asons seemed to consist of automobile parties from the city; people apparently drawn from all classes, or eluding definite classification entirely. In the bleakest season there was always a little stir of dubious activity about Morris'

ing family, though he felt it incumbent upon him to offer objections that had to be overcome with a great show of respect, was really overjoyed at the commission. He left his own cottage a mile or so away and took up his abode in the forecastle at once

rms about him. To his library he had added a treatise on navigation. And, reflecting that his firearms were worthless, considered as modern

y, a Japanese lad, who said he was a sailor, and who called

low of about thirty, a man with a kindling

houlders and twisted his fine black mustache, that Cleggett engaged him, taking him immediately from the dairy lunch room in which he had been employed. George's idea was to work his way

after the scheme of using the Jasper B.'s hulk as one of the attractions of a pleasure resort had failed, all the debris of the failure had simply been thrown pell-mell into the hold. Cleggett and Captain Abernethy decided that the vessel, which was stepped for two masts, should be rigged as a sch

e in the direction of the vessel. Indeed, the interest became so pronounced, and seemed of a quality so different from ordinary frank rustic curiosity, that it looked very like espionage. It had struck Cleggett that

t was awakened by Captain

ookin' us over m

ere is she?" Clegget

an-in a new brown suit and with his whiskers newly trimmed he ga

d Cleggett, beginning t

y early this mornin'," pursued Cap'n Aberne

he bay or in

I was to make a guess I'd say she was one of them craft that sails herse

gave up the attempt to learn from the

he volunteered the information as a personal favor from one gentleman to another. "She lies ahead of us in the canal, a p

's up to? What makes y

hy, "or I'd 'a' heard a tug towin' her. Comin' of

the same distance east of Morris's, was anchored a house boat. She was painted a slaty gray color. As Cleggett looked at her a man stepped up on the deck,

e east verandah of that resort intently scanning the house boat th

nt they perceived that Cleggett was provided with a glass each turned hastily and entered, the one Morris's place, and the other the cabin of the house boat. But

was named the Annabel Lee), there was something vaguely familiar

cond story window over the verandah showed him where the tall man or one of his associates gazed out from Morris's; and from a porthole of the Annabel Lee he could see a glass thrust forth from time to time. It was

this watch. He thought it ceased about luncheon time; but at two

utiny. And in spite of his courage a vague uneasiness began to possess him. Tow

te coast, comparatively speaking. Strange things have happened to innocent people before this along the shores of Long Island. It is well to be prepared.

stration, all of you will look to me for leadership. You may go now and rig up a jury mast and bend the American co

itself to his listeners. Their eyes kindled and the keen joy that gall

c pistol, it was now almost impossible for him to lay his hand casually on any part of his person without its coming into contact with a deadly weapon ready for instant use. Cap'n Abernethy picked up a cutlass, "hefted" it thoughtfully, rolled

thumb along the edge of it critically like a man to whom such a weapon is not altogether unfamiliar. A pleased smi

he same time something like a tear blurred his eloquent and magnetic eye

by the Jasper B. had an effect

orris's. An American flag was first hung from an upper window over the east verandah. Then, after a moment, it was withdrawn. Then

rs and incongruous clothing who had torn down the red flag. He was now in violent altercati

picture in a frame. Suddenly the tall fellow seemed to get the upper hand; exerting all his strength, he bent the other backward over the win

see the tall man's neck muscles work as if that person were panting; he could see the signs of suffocation in Heinrich'

d flung his weight upon Heinrich with a vehement spring. Then he

dge of the verandah onto the ground. A few moments later a couple of men ran out from Morris's, busied themselves about reviving the f

f putting out the American flag again. Through the glass Cleggett perceived

f the quarrel; for it was evident to Cleggett that Heinrich and the tall man had differed merely about the policy of displaying the red flag. "A man determined

ng, he saw a vehicle, the rather long body of which was covered so that it

e driver leaped lightly the most beautiful woman Cleggett had

rms was whimpering excitedly as if in sympathy with its mistress. Cleggett, soul of chivalry