CIHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Inttituta for Historical Microraproductiont / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiqua* Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes tecnnjq je et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available tor filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. D D D D D D D D Coloured covers / Couverture de couleur Covers damaged / Couverture endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaur^ et/ou pelliculde Cover title missing / Le litre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes g^raphiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / EnciB de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustratuns en couleur Bound with other material / Relie avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Mition disponlble Tight b'nding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge interipure. Blank leaves added during restoratkms may appear witnin the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration appaiaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait p<»sible, ces pages n'ontpas6tefllr'>>s. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur examplaire qu'il lui a ete possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-Stre uniques du point de vue bibli- ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modifications dans la m6th- ode normale de filmage sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. I j Coloured pages / Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommagees I I Pages restored and/or laminated / ' — ' Pages restaurees et/ou pelliculfes [^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / ' — ' Pages ddcolorees, tachet^s ou piquees I I Pages detached / Pages detaohees I j( Showthrough/ Transparence D D D D Quality of print varies / Qusdrte inegale de rimpression Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been rettlmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t^ frimees d nouveau de fagon k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discolourations are filmed twice to ensure tfie best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decol- orations sont filmtos deux lois afin d'obtenir la meilleur image possible. D Additxxial comments / CommeiTtaiies suppiementaires: This ittm is fllmid n the r>iduction ritio dMcktd below/ Ce document est filmi eu taux de rUuction indiqui ct-dessous. 10X UX 18X 22X y Tha copy fllmad h*r« has baan rapreducad thank* to tha ganaroaity of: National Library of Canada L'axamplaira film* fut raproduil grica i la gtntroait* da: Bibliotbiqua natlonale du Canada Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality poMJbla eenaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming conuaci apaciticationa. Lat imagaa auivantat ont M raproduita« avac la plua grand toin, eompta tanu da la condition at da la naltati da I'aiiamplaira iiimt, ai »n eenfermit* avac laa condition! du conirat da filmaga. Original copiaa in priniad papar cowara ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or Uluatratad impraa- aion. or tha back covar whan apprepriata. All othar original copiaa ara filmad baginning on tha firat paga with a printad or Uluatratad impraa- aion. and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or Uluatratad impraaaion. Laa aaamplalraa originaua dont la couvanura an papiar aat ImprimOa aont fllmOa an oommancani par la pramiar plat at »n tarminani aoii par la darniOra paga qui eomporta una amprainia d'impraaaien ou d'iUuauation, «oit par la tacond plat, salon la cai. Tous las autras axamplairas originaux aont fUmAa an comman9ant par Is pramidra paga qui eomporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'iUuatration at an tarminant pat la dornidra paga qui eomporta uno talla amprainta. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shaU contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUEO"). or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever appUae. Maps, pletos. ehartt, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in tlie upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many frame* as required. The following diagrams Ulustrate the method: Un dee symboles suivsnts apparaitra sur la dernidre imege do cheque microfiche, selon le caa: la symbole -*' signifie "A SUIVRE". la aymbeta ▼ signifie "FIN". Les cartas, planches, ubieeux. etc., peuoent atra filmds i des taux da rdduction diftdrena. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour itra reproduit en un soul cliche, il est film* * partir da Tangle supdrieur geucho, da gaucha d droite. et dd haut en bes, on pronant la nembra d'imagee ndcessaire. Les diegrammaa suivsnts illustrent le mdtlwde. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5. 6 MICROCOPY MSOIUTION TKT CHA«I (ANSI ofKJ ISO TEST CHART No. 2) /APPLIED IM/IGE Inc 1653 East Mdn Street Rochester. New Yorh 14609 USA (716) *a2 -0300 -Phone (716) 288- 5989 - Fo. ^^ c /^ Z^: ^ 'I ^ c .y 7 ^_./ ^^^-^.<^^./ i^' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ' 10 MAP OF "SOCIAL ISLAND'' (or Hestoria) See fia^e ^g The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES A TALE 0/ WALL STREET AND THE TROPICS By FREDERICK U. ADAMS Author of " President John Smith TORONTO W. J. GAGE & CO., Limited 1901 f s 3 b-O I 535" ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL 09601634 Dedicited to JAMES R. KEENE CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Kidnapped ii II. Two Napoleons ol Journalism 14 III. The Supper Party 33 IV. Mr. Hestor Plans a Newspaper Trust 43 V. Some Strange Happenings 57 VI. The Wall Street P?.nic 66 VII. Mystery on Mystery 78 VIII. Miss Helen Carmody 87 IX. Chalmers has a Suspicion gs X. Some Detective Work 121 XI. Seymour the Sleuth 143 XII. Springing the Trap 164 XIII. At Sea 188 XIV. An Ocean Cruise 203 XV. Marooned 217 XVI. On Social Island 233 XVII. An Exploration 248 XVIII. A Discussion of Trusts 273 XIX. The Hurricane 305 XX. Mr Pence Discovers Gold 326 XXI. Plans for Escape 34' XXH. Life in the Bungalow 356 CONTENTS ^ lO ^ CHAPTH ,j^ XXIII. Hammond Outlines a Plan 384 XXIV. The Building of the Jumping Jupiter 41,5 XXV. The Escape from Social Island 431 XXVI. The Rescue 445 XXVII. Home Again 474 The Kidnapped Millionaires KIDNAPPED II Chapter I « A LL about the Kidnapped Millionaires!! j^k Record Extra ! All about the Great Mys- tery!! Record Extra ! " Hundreds of newsboys poured from an alley and dashed into the human currents which surge at the confluence of Nassau street anc Park Row. In a moment the air was aflame w'th the red headlines of the " Record Extra." It was not necessary to buy a paper. The type was so large that it told the news to the passerby. For a week the Wall Street boom had been the sensation of New York and of the country. The perpetual excitement which reigns within the shadow of Trinity church had permeated office and counting room. It was the whispered topic of conversation among clerks, and the noisy subject of debate in hotel lobby and corridor. The jargon of the Stock The KIDNuiPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ la ^ Exchange was incorporated into metropolitan Eng- lish. The tales of fortunes made to the clicking music of the ticker, aroused the cupidity of thou- sands, who saw in the whirl of speculative frenzy the prospect of wealth without work. Newspapers fed the flame and vied in displaying and narrating the golden exploits of magnate and operator. On this Tuesday morning headlines and text cov- ered the front page of the New York Record and proclaimed the following story : KIDN APPE D 1 1 1 Four Mnltlmflllonalres Mysterloosly Mlsslnf ! 1 1 Palmer J. Morton, AndrusCarmody Simon Pence and R. J, Kent cannot be found II Fears that They have been Kidnapped, or have met with Foul Play. ■ZOTFXICENT OH WAIJ, STBEBT. " Palmer J. Morton, R. J. Kent, Andrus Carmody, and Simon Pence have n.ysteriously disappeared. They did not appear at their offices this morning. Inquiry by telephone at their houses discloses the astounding fact that though expected they did not come home last night. Various rumors are in circulation, but at this writing nothing is known, except that these four great capitalists have completely disappeared. Their combined wealth is estimated at $750,000,000. " KIDNAPPED ♦ 13 ♦ The street Ci owds received the news calmly. They did not believe it. But they bought the papers. The news came by way of Wall Street. Strange rumors had been in circulation all the morning. A sense of impending trouble permeated the crowd of brokers which clustered around the standards on the floor of the Stock Exchange. The curb brokers on Broad street were uneasy, as they waited for the hour of ten. The market opened strong and then sagged. It was a few minutes past eleven o'clock when the tickers in a thousand offices stopped in their task of recording quotations. There was a splutter of dashes on the tape. Cus- tomers gathered around the pedestals. There was news coming. They anticipated the announcement of an important failure. It had been rumored that a Consolidated Exchange house was in trouble. The following message spread itself along the tape : " 1 1 .07 a. m. — Palmer J. Morton, R. J. Kent, Andrus Carmody and Simon Pence have not ap- peared at their offices. They did not return to their residences last night. Relatives are alarmed and have notified the police. They were last seen at a conference held at the office of Palmer J. Morton at four o'clock yesterday afternoon. No trace since. Foul play is feared." The murmur of the Stock Exchange swelled into a roar which reverberated above the rumble of traffic and the unrest on the streets. This was the morning of ;he twenty-fourth of April, memorable in the records of Wall Street. TWO NAPOLEONS OF JOURNALISM Chapter II »4 ROBERT VAN HORNE was the owner and editor of the New York Record. He was a leading light in a much-criticized school of journalism. F : was the exemplar of the theory that the modern newspaper should " do things " — to quote the idu;.natic expression of Mr. William Chalmers, his managing editor. Under the editorship and active personal atten- tion of Robert Van Home the New York Record was not a placid mirror of contemporaneous events. He regretted that the title of The Record was a mis- nomer, and tolerated it only because it was legally aiid inseparably identified with Associated Press and other valuable franchises. Mr. Van Home believed that journalism had a higher mission than mere news gathering. It should be made the nursery of history. It should he more than a mentor to errant humanity. It should be more than an intellectual policeman, guarding the street crossings of civilization. Van Home believed that the New York Record should formulate, initiate Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM ♦ ij ♦ and execute those excellent plans which in former times had been abandoned to the slow and uncertain processes of i volution. Journalism should be the hothouse of progress; the incubator of undeveloped issues. This was the Record's motto. Robert Van Home was the millionaire son of a departed millionaire father. His mother died in his school years, and at the age of twenty-six he found himself the sole owner of the immense Van Home estate, roughly estimated as having a /alue of twenty millions of dollars. His cattle roamed on a thousand hills in New Mexico and Texas. The drills of his mining machinery were boring into the rocks in scores of productive mines in Colorado, the Dakotas and Montana. With the traditional " Van Home luck " his agents had been among the first to strike it rich in the snow-swept valleys of the Klondike. At an opportune moment he had invested a small fortune in Tennessee iron lands, and before this story opens had smiled at the confusion of those friends who chided him as the purchaser of a " gold brick." As a business man it seemed to be his province to disappoint those numerous prophets of disaster who see in every departure from beaten paths the sure road to financial min. Had these dis*^ i ■»- casts been of any effect on the Van Homt '?■<*. ny, that young man would soon have been overwhelmed in a tide of misfortune. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ i6 ♦ Let it not be supposed that this escape from the wiles and snares of misfortune was largely due to the influence of any lucky star. Beneath a careless exterior, and regardless of a seeming recklessness of expenditure, the more careful student of the Van Home character could discover the cool and calcu- laimg player m that great game called Business. Had fate decreed to him a modest fortune, it is probable that his love of luxury would have impelled him to make use of his business talents. By the exercise of these traits his mind would have become absorbed in the pursuit of wealth, and he would have developed into a conspicuous example of the modern commercial or financial pervert. Instead of falling to this dreary lot, he did not permit the massing of money to monopolize either his time or his fancy. Vnn Home was graduated from a leading univer- sity with average honors. He was popular with his fellow-students and held his own in the relaxations of tiiat social class, whi-'h at college can afford to purchase what the fancy dictates. He was not wild, neither was he a prig. He possessed many small eccentricities, and while the story of his college days would point no moral in a Sunday School book, there were no incidents not chargeable to youthful buoyancy and a superabundance of spend- ing money. He had determined on journalism as a profession and had established his ideals. Special attention was paid to a course in business training, Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM and he mastered the intricacies of bookkeeping. Van Home made a thorough study of mechanics, and acquired a theoretical and practical knowledge of the machinery and processes which go with the modern newspaper. The future editor led his class in historical studies and researches. He schooled himself to estimate past events from modern standpoints, and found himself speculating on how he would have " cov- ered " the assassination of Csesar or the destruc- tion of Rome, had he bern conducting a newsp:^per in those days. He wrote an essay and proved that Rome would not have fallen had the newspaper been an institution of that age. In this production he took the ground that corruption cannot thrive i^ given wide publicity, and that the abuses which finally overwhelmed the Roman Empire would have been refo.med, had the searchlight of the modern press been thrown upon them. In later years he modified this adolescent theory; but it was a good essay. Soon after the death cf his father, Van Home bought the New York Record; a paper which had survived a clieckered career in the arena of metro- politan journalism. From the first issue under the Van Home management The Record was a publi- cation which could not be ignored. Like Minerva it sprang into life fuU-giown, and panoplied in new and startling annor. It commanded attention and received it. There was no escape for the public. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 18 ♦ Unless one were blind, deaf and dumb he could not remain unaware of the fact that The Record was being published. Huge transparencies blazoned the name across the principal streets. A procession of a thousand " sand- wich men " marched up Broadway and impeded traffic; each man decorated with the mystic name from t —.ry point of view. At available street cor- ners the .negaphones of vociferous phonographs an- nounced the projects of the New York Record, and at intervals proclaimed news bulletins, which could be found in detail in the editions then on the streets. A thousand feet above the flagstaflfs of skyscrapers, picturesque kites gave support to streamers, which bore the name of the new paper. At night search- lights cast the name on the clouds, or on smoke from bombs thrown into the air for that purpose. Passengers on the Brooklyn Bridge and on the ferry boats plying the East and North rivers, saw at night the name of "The Record" emblazoned in letters of electric light, erected on barges and towed back and forth at great expense by tugs. The forces of earth, air, sky and water were harnessed to the chariot of The New York Record, and driven with whip and spur by Robert Van Home. Special trains bore enormous numbers of the first edition of the new paper across the continent. Sou- venir copies printed on specially prepared silk were placed in silver envelopes, each embellished with original designs in gold filigree, the work of the Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM ♦ 19 ♦ best artists of New York and Paris. These beautiful gifts were sent to the President and members of his cabinet, to the governors of notable states, and to a selected list of statesmen, savants and distinguished persons. Fac-similes of the letters acknowledging the receipt of these souvenirs, together with half-tone portraits of the President and others, filled three pages of The Record to the exclusion of less impor- tant news. The success of The Record from a circu- lation standpoint was instantaneous. At the end of the first year The Record showed a net loss of about $2,000,000. Mr. Van Home examined the figures with some care, drummed on his desk, lit a cigar, softly hummed an air from the prevalent musical skit, and sent for Mr. William Chalmers, his managing editor. Chalmers was a tall, smooth-shaven, clear-cut young man, who had passed his thirty-five summers. He had acquired no gray hairs in the accumulation of a vast and varied fund of experience. He was possessed of an easy confidence ; was handsome with- out knowing it, and had that g^rasp of every detail of the newspaper business which made him invalu- able as an executive. He had travelled in every part of the globe ; had interviewed section hands on railroads and emperors in palaces; knew the lan- guage of the slums and the grace jf a court ; could report a murder case or dictate a message for a president. "What do you think of that for a showing?" The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES Q.O asked Mr. Van Home as he handed the treasurer's statement to Chalmers. That placid gentleman stud- ied the figures for a few moments and replied by asking the editor what he thought of it. " It surpasses all of my expectations," replied Van Home after a pause. " We simply underestimated our receipts. You will remember we calculated our deficit for the first year of $3,5ot?,ooo, and for the second year at $1,500,000. At the end of the second year we expected to be on a paying basis, and at the close of the third year we hoped to show net earnings of $600,000. Our plant is worth a million, and this would be ten per cent, profit on a total investment of $6,000,000. Well, instead of this dreary wait, we are on a paying basis this minute. The past month shows a balance of $40,000 in our favor. I am going to give that to you." Chalmers did not evince any great surprise. It was a part of his training not to be surprised. He knew Van Home's methods too well to assume a sense of gratitude which he did not feel. It was a munificent gift, but Van Home felt he had earned it and so did Chalmers. Van Home gazed out of the window, surveyed for a moment the swirling crowds on Park Row and listened to the subdued roar of traffic, pierced by the shrill staccato of the newsboys. He then called a stenographer and dictated an editorial which de- clared in favor of the establishment by the city of New York of music halls and places of free public Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM ♦ 21 ♦ entertainment in the more neglected sections of the metropolis. This completed, he rang for the city editor and instructed him to secure, if possible, the services of an eminent and popular divine to report the heavyweight prize fight wrhich was the great event of the evening. Mr. Van Home th '■. dghly understood the great reading ublic to wh.^h his paper made a bid for support. It wished to be amused. The Record amused it. It wished to be thrilled. The Record thrilled it. It hungered for sensations. The Rec- ord had a never-ending supply of sensations. It clamored for pictures. The Record had them. It stood ready to print instantly reproductions of pho- tographs of past, present or future events. For years this public would submit with resigna- tion to flagrant abuses. When informed by The Record that the story of its wrongs was an item A news, worthy of scare headlines, the public would arise for a period and buzz like •> swarm of disturbed bees, in an impressive bu generally harmless manner. It would forget the tale of its woes in the contemplation of the vast events incident to the arrival of a bankrupt English duke. The Record did not hesitate to assume entire management of any momentous event, be it local, national or international. It stood ready to relieve the government of any responsibility in the conduct of a war; and was equally prompt in becoming stakeholder for two negro prizefighters. It was an The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 0.1 i^ unvarying rule that The Record's name must be linked with any important news chronicled in its pages. Its reporters were in the front rank on every battlefield, and the readers were regaled with five columns relating how the news was obtained by The Record staff, while a paragraph or so was deemed sufficient for the recital of the event itself. The Record was the first to discover that small- pox was epidemic in New York. It thereupon be- came The Record's epidemic of small-pox. It being impossible to copyright the idea, this wideawake paper formed a Small-Pox Bureau; purchased all of the best vaccine virus; retained an eminent staff of physicians, and proceeded to suppress the dreaded scourge. An entire building was rented in a down- town district, with branch offices in various parts of the city. Thep; was positively no immunity from the disease unless one availed himself of the free services of The New York Record's Bureau of Small-Pox. The Record equipped and dispatched to the i^orth Pole an expedition for the rescue of an exploring party which had been sent out by the Russian gov- ernment. The front page was devoted to a picture of The Record's arctic steam yacht " Boreas," in gigantic combat with an iceberg. Another illustra- tion proved that the iceberg was six times the height of the Syndicate Building; and that it contained more congealed water than the annual output of the Consolidated Ice Trust. The fac-simile o' a cable- Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM ♦ ^3 -^ g^am from Mr. MalakofiFski, Secretary to the Grand Chamberlain of the Czar expressed to the Ameri- can people, through Mr. Robert Van Home, " the thanks of the Russian government in this, the hour of their extremity, fot the enterprise so nobly launched by The Record." Other letters from un- known, but unquestionably great men in various parts of the world, expressed unanimous approval of the plans and enterprise formulated by " The Record Arctic Relief Expedition." On another page was a map giving the exact route which would be followed by Captain Nathan Fearless of the " Boreas " from the time he left The Record office until he reached the unfortunate Russians, — who were shown to be but a few leagues south of the pole. In this map The Record office was shown as being approximately the size of Newfoundland, but this was so evident a mistake as justly to be attrib- uted to artistic license. It was not considered neces- sary to follow up these vast undertakings for any lengfth of time. In the first place, apace would not permit such a procedure. Then again, more startling events followed in endless procession, each dwarfing its predecessor in vivid human interest. For all that The Record readers know or care. Captain Na- than Fearless and his brave crew are yet on the good steam yacht " Boreas," and are perhaps the modern prototype of the Flying Dutchman, condemned for- ever to roam among tl ss and ice crags of the frozen north. The fui ■ listorian will search in The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 24 ♦ vain for their fate as he pores over the musty files of The Record. At enormous expense " The Record's College of American Archaeologists " reproduced a section of the imperial city of Rome as it existed in Nero's time, and on seven hills up in Westchester county the city was burned amid the acclaim of an audience, estimated by The Record to exceed the total popu- lation of the Imperial City at the time of this famous disaster. The Record reporter who took the part of Nero anf*. executed on a violin one of Sousa's marches while the city was burning, narrowly escaped a horri' 1e fate, and was rescued only after heroic efforts on the part of the Scarsdale fire depart- ment. The New York Record did not confine its eflforts to this mundane sphere. It added new knowledge to the geography of the moon. Mr. Chalmers, the managing editor, declared that in his opinion the moon was a " dead one," and said that The Record would better conserve its interest by paying attention to Mars or Venus. " The Record's Astronomical Staff " reported with regret that Venus resented all attempts to intrude on her privacy, and that Mars was a more promising newspaper subject. While attempts had been made to communicate with Mars they had not been formulated on any plan which would warrant reasonable expectation of success. The astronomers admitted that they could suggest Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM ♦ 25 ♦ no feasible plan, but Mr. Chalmj/s (x.r.,e to the rescue. " Go and find me a map of the United States," he said to his office boy. After a search one was pro- duced. Mr. Chalmers looked at the scale and drew a parallelogram one hundred miles in width and seven hundred miles in length. One end of this area was just east of Denver and the other was located in the western part of Kansas. Within this block he traced the letters "The New York Record." '■ Do you catch the idea ? " he asked of the Astro- nomical Staff. They did not. " It should be obvious," he said with some resent- ment. " We will survey these letters in this terri- tory, which I am informed is fairly level. Well and good. Now then; once every mile we will collect the materials for an enormous bonfire. Let's see; that would be about 3,200 bonfires. We should be able to secure the wood, petroleum, tar, etc., neces- sary to make a blaze one hundred or one hundred and fifty feet in height, at an average cost of $25.00 a bonfire. That would make $80,000. You gentle- men of the Astronomical Staff will locate yourselves with your instruments on top of Pike's Peak. At an agreed moment, when the earth and Mars are in such a position that it is night in two communicating points, we will have a force of men ignite these bonfires." The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ a6 ^ Mr. Gialmers paused to give effect to this plan. It had made an impression. The Astronomical Staff expressed in their faces the appreciation which it was not necessary to voice in words. " If Mars is inhabited, and if their astronomers are attending to their business as they should be," continued Mr. Chalmers, "they can read those letters as plain as you can make out the sign of an oyster house at night as you walk up Broadway. They may not know what it means, as they prob- ably have an alphabet of their own. But if they have as much sense as a police detective they will see their cue. They will reproduce the same letters on Mars to let us know that they are ' on.' We will say nothing about it to the public when we set off the bonfires. The people out in Colorado and Kansas will pay little attention to scattered bonfires, and if they did they would not guess what the scheme was. It will probably take the people on Mars some time to get ready to signal back. When they do, all of the astronomers in the world will see it. Of course you will see it on Pike's Peak, but you keep quiet. Let the news come from the great observatories at Cam- bridge, Lake Geneva, Stanford University and from the English, French, German and Russian observers. Just think of the announcements they will make ! In comes an Associated Press cablegram to The New York Gazette, our friend I he enemy down the Row: Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM ♦ 27 ^ " ' Zurich, Switzerland, April 16. " ' To New York Gazette, "'New York. U. S. A.: Professor Starloff, the eminent astronomer, observed remarkable phenomena on surface of Mars to-night. At 9 :28 p. m. a light broke out near the center of the planet, gradually brightened, and then revealed the inscription " The New York Record." The letters showed distinctly for five hours, and were studied by the astronomers until the planet sank below the horizon. It will be watched for again to- night. Telegrams from other observatories report the same phenomenon. There is no longer doubt that Mars is inhabited. Congratulations are being cabled to Mr. Robert Van Home of The New York Record.' " " All the papers in the world, except The Gazette, will print the news," said Mr. Chalmers, as he lov- ingly traced the letters anew on the map of Colorado and Kansas. " If the men on Mars have any sense they will keep it up and make it a .standing ad for The New York Record. Talk about your Chinese kites as a means of getting your name up in the air ! With these letters as a starter, we could establish an interplanetary code, with The New York Record as a basis." This experiment did not eventuate exactly as Mr. Chalmers had planned. There was no response from Mars. The Record declared it to be the greatest scientific experiment of the age, and announced that The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES <^ a8 ^ they had conclusively demonstrated that Mars was not inhabited. The envious and splenetic Gazette declared that the experiment proved nothing, except that the people of Mars were too intelligent and exclusive to hold any communication with The New York Record. This was clearly illogical, unsci- entific, and not in good form. The Record was the champion of many reforms and stood for the people in sturdy opposition to the encroachments of corrupt wealth. But it was ever sensational in its advocacy of plans for the better- ment of humanity. It never descended to the com- monplace, and was not prosaic in well-doing. It was ready to advocate a reform provided the cam- paign in us behalf could be made startling and worthy to compete against other news features. Mr. Walter B. Hestor was a friend of Robert Van Home. He was a young man with a fortune and a hobby. His hobby was journalism. His for- tune was conservatively estimated at thirty millions, and he was in a position to indulge in any fancy which attracted him. The New York Record under the Van Home management dazzled him. Its method of handling great news events appealed to Hestor. At one time he contemplated founding a rival paper, and surpassing, if possible, the bewildering strokes of enterprise which were displayed in the pages of that paper. On reflection he decided it meant too much work. He realized that the management of a great newspaper entailed an enormous amount of detail. Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNylLISM ♦ 19 ^ Though possessed of much energy and persistence, Wjilter B. Hester was introspective enough to realize that he was not fitted for the task of supervising a metropolitan newspaper. He therefore abandoned the idea. He had no difficulty in forming a close acquaint- ance with Robert Van Home. They were fellow- members of several clubs, and both were fitted by wealth and education to move in the same social cir- ciss. Hestor lost no time in confiding his ambitions to Mr. Van Home. He wished to make his mark in the world as a journalist. Mr. Van Home readily perceived that Hestor was a genius in his line of thought and action. The ambitious amateur would listen to no proposition involving pay for his serv- ices. All he asked was a chance to plan and exe- cute those joumalistic commissions which gave play to his genius as an initiator and to his skill as a writer. Mr. Van Home was delighted to accept the vol- unteer services of the brilliant but erractic Walter B. Hestor. At the time this story begins, Hestor was about thirty-two years old. He was a member of a New York family which traced its wealth and ancestry back to the sixteenth century. His for- tune was an independent one; and, though his tastes were expensive . did not live up to his income. It was Walter B. Hestor who secured the first in- terview with the Czar of Russia. Through his family coiinectic , and after an amount of intrigue ij The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 30 ♦ which would have done credit to a Talleyrand, he held a protracted interview with the monarch of all the Russias; the publication of which startled the world. It occupied the entire front page of The Record, and Hestor's portrait was displayed side by side with that of the Czar, and beneath was the in- scription, " Walter B. Hestor, Special Envoy of The New York Record. " It would take a volume to recount the journal- istic exploits of Walter B. Hestor. He built the splendid steam yacht the " Shark," and employed it in his worldwide search for sensational news. He took two hundred passengers from a sinking liner, and was decorated by four governments for bravery. In every war the " Shark " was in the foreground. It was the Hestor yacht that ran the batteries at Havana and escaped from the harbor with valuable news and information. At every signal of trouble, Hestor and the " Shark " were sure to be on hand long before the representatives of other papers were aware that news was brewing. At his own expense he established a system of espionage on all the courts of Europe. Hestor was known in every palace of royalty, and in a few years became recognized as the most brilliant newspaper correspondent in the world. At the time this story opens, Mr. Hestor had returned to New York after a cruise in Philippine waters. He was interviewed by all the newspapers, and his portrait flashed from hundreds of prints iii Two NAPOLEONS of JOURNALISM •^ 3' ♦ all parts of the country. He was proud and happy at h,s success. His mind was ever alert for some scheme which would emphasize his fame. He re- garded his foreign triumphs as but stepping stones to some great coup which should immortalize his name. Hestor was disappointed when he learned that Mr. Van Home had departed recently on a secret him, but finally deeded to remain in New York for a time and devote his energies to matters of local in- terest. Hestor was greeted warmly at the clubs, and found himself a popular hero. He was welcomed at the theaters and some of his newspaper exploits were made the subject of a topical s.ng and renH-red with great success at a leading vaudeville hall For some time he led a life free from care in company with congenial spirits, who were glad to shine in his reflected fame. At the office of The Record Mr. Hestor had a luxurious private room, as befitted his rank as the special envoy of the paper. One afternoon he re- ceived a message from his old friend Sidney Ham- mond, stating that he would be in the city for two days, at the end of which time he would be compelled to make a western trip on important business. Hestor was delighted to hear from Sidney Hammond, and at once arranged a theater and supper party in his THE SUPPER PARTY ♦ 3a Chapter III A' (C A PARTY of eight occupied the Hester box at the opera and thoroughly enjoyed " La Boheme." Walter B. Hestor and Miss Edith Le Roy; Sidney Hammond and Miss Olive, his sister; Mr. Converse and Miss De Neuville; Mr. Blalce and Miss Meredith, constituted the merry group, which at the conclusion of the opera, mingled in the fashionable mob, and after the usual delays and annoyances found themselves in carriages speed- ing toward Fifth Avenue. There was a crush of carriages in front of Del- monico's. It was the night hour when New York attains the height of its feverish activity. The avenue was alive with swift-moving equipages. An army of lackeys was busy receiving the arriving guests. Inside the massive doors, the strains of an orchestra throbbed in an air heavy with perfume. The glare of light from thousands of electric globes vras reflected from glass and marble, but subdued by palms and masses of roses. A fable had been reserved for Mr. Hestor and his The SUPPER PARTY ^ 23 '* guests — ^brave in its at/: v ''f ''fien and flowers, and its glitter of cut glass. As Mr. Hestor entered the hall he was recognized by scores of friends and for a few moments held an impromptu reception. When this social duty was ended. Miss Edith Le Roy took prompt charge of certain details — as was the wont of this vivacious young woman. Mr. Hestor had seated himself next to Sidney Ham- mond. Miss Le Roy had no idea of consenting to such an arrangement. " You are the host, Mr. Hestor," she said, " and you must take the head of the table. Miss Meredith will sit at your right, and Mr. Hammond will take his place next to her. I am not going to permit you and Mr. Hammond to monopolize each other's con- versation. I can trust you, Miss Meredith, to keep Sidney and Walter from entering into any discus- sion of their dreary schemes for reconstructing the universe." Miss Meredith laughingly agreed to do her very best. Miss Le Roy contemplated her disposition of the guests with satisfaction, and declared it a triumph of epicurean diplomacy. " The opera was just splendid ! " she exclaimed, as she sank back in her chair with a sigh of pleasure. " Wasn't Saleza superb in that solo I " Miss Le Roy then entered into a spirited disserta- tion concerning the relative merits of two recently published novels. As the writer of a boc4c which The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ••• 34 ••• had been favorably received by critics, she consid- ered herself an authority on current literature. She was a girl of a dashing type of beauty; the only daughter of wealthy parents who petted and idolized her. They would have spoiled her, were it not that she possessed the trait of unselfish good nature. She was in fine spirits this evening, and looked lovely in a costume which was a fitting frame for her style of beauty. Her dark eyes flashed when animated by conversation. Miss Olive Hammond was of a different but not less attractive type. With a mass of golden hair, dark blue eyes and a white skin, perfect in its delicate tints. Miss Olive formed a radiant contrast to the darker beauty of Miss Le Roy, and to the stern and expressive face of Sidney. Miss Hammond was de- voted to her accomplished brother, who was twelve years her senior, and never seemed happier than in his company. Miss Meredith and Miss De Neuville were pleas- ing types of that metropolitan young womanhood developed in an environment of wealth. They had tramped over golf links, romped in the surf at New- port, roamed in the Adirondacks, basked in the win- ter delights of Florida and California, and had ran- sacked the scenic pleasures of the continent at +he expense of fathers who were content to slave in trffices in weary pursuit of needless wealth. The dinner went on merrily amid a general con- versation in which a limitless number of topics were The SUPPER PARTr '*' zs -* introduced, discussed, and dismissed. Terrapin fol- lowed bouillon, and canvas back ducks were served with some rare old Burgundy. The spacious dining halls had in the meantime become crowded, and the orchestra encountered a noisy rival in the laughter and conversation which mingled in a harmonious blend from hundreds of tables. Dainty preparations of shell fish gave place to a salad, followed by a glace, which Miss Le Roy pronounced " a dream in old rose." While the ladies discussed bonbons, the gentlemen lit cigars or cigarettes, and wooed the god of Nicotine with all the ardor which follows the enjoyment of so sumptuous a repast. While Miss Le Roy was energetically defen^'ng her favorite French author from an attack un- wittingly made by Mr. Blake, her plans so carefully arranged at the opening of the dinner were dis- rupted by Sidney Hammond, who readily persuaded Miss Meredith to change places with him. Miss Le Roy smiled her scorn when she discovered this du- plicity, and promptly announced a social boycott against the ungallant Hestor and Hammond, who already were absorbed in a quiet conversation on a topic which seemed of special interest to them. Sidney Hammond was a college mate of Walter Hestor. He was the stroke oar in the famous crew which humbled the pride of the rival university. Unlike many of the athletic heroes of the institutions of learning, Hammond combined the frame of a muscular Apollo with the brain of the scholar. He The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 36 ♦ was even more a hero with the professors than on' the campus. The text and reference books pre- scribed in the curriculum served but to stimulate his thirst for research. Though abundantly able, through the generosity of his father, to enter into all of the pleasures of the gilded class, he performed the rare feat of remaining a studious recluse and retaining his popularity. During the years spent in college he was an intellectual and physical machine, seemingly incapable of mental or bodily fatigue. The few friends who enjoyed the privilege of his apartments found him the best of hosts, with a well- appointed si(Jeboard and the choicest of cigars. Ex- cept on rare occasions Hammond did not permit these social relaxations to intrude on his time, and his friends grew to know just how long Sidney would tolerate their company in preference to his books. At the period of these incidents, Sidney Hammond had reached his thirty-third year. He stood a frac- tion of an inch over six feet in height and was as erect as a Doric column. His broad shoulders, well thrown back, were slightly rounding rather than square, — as in all masculine figures possessed of un- common strength. His face was clear-cut and of a dark but unblemished complexion, the nose well pro- portioned and the mouth stem in repose but sympa- thetic and good-natured when he smiled. The Ham- mond jaw was firm, but not so heavy as to indicate irrational stubbornness ; yet firm enough to warrant The SUPPER PARTT ♦ 37 ♦ the belief that no common obstacle would stand in the way of a purpose deemed just. Dark, thoughtful eyes, at times wandered into mazes of reflection, and were singularly attractive and attentive in con- versation. His laugh was natural, hearty and in- fectious. A broad forehead was crowned with a mass of hair which once black was now faintly tinged wi:h gray. Sidney Hammond tipped the scales at two hun- dred pounds. He was the unquestioned peer of any boxing expert in the various clubs of which he was a member, and was the last man that a judicious highwayman would select as a subject for an encounter. Though possessed of all the graces which make a man attractive to the fair sex, Sidney Ham- mond was classed as a " man's man " by the num- eroas young women who had failed to arouse in him more than that courteous interest and polite con- ventionality which society exacts from its votaries. Hammond was a pleasing conversationalist. He had the rare trait of being equally popular as a listener. He talked rapidly, but with distinctness, and never was at loss for a phrase or an idea. As a listener he at once engaged the rapt sympathy of the speaker. " Any one can talk well with Sidney Hammond as an audience," declared Miss Edith Le Roy on one occasion. " Without saying a word he leads you on, and on, and on. Wh^' I once talked to him an hour without stopping, ana it never occurred to me until The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 38 ♦ I was entirely out of breath that he had said hardly a word. I told him my most secret thoughts. It was like talking to a confessor. But once get Sidney started and you will not care to talk. He is just delightful, but you can't make the slightest impres- sion on him. Oh, well ! he will lose his heart some day. They all do." On the death of his father Sidney Hammond suc- ceeded to an exclusive and lucrative law practice, and to the larger share of an estate probated at $3,- 000,000. In most communities he would have been regarded as a wealthy man, but in the New York of this period he stood on a financial footing with thou- sands of others, and far removed by circumstance and inclination from the circle of monied giants. Walter B. Hestor, the famous correspondent, had in three years made a great name for himself. He was tall and smooth-featured, with a figure rather slender and slightly awkward. He was of a nervous temperament and was a remarkable combination of native shrewdness allied to an irrepressible frivolity. This latter trait was not a weakness with Hestor. In fact, it constituted his strength. He could put it on or cast it aside, but he generally preferred to wear it. He was liberal in his ideas, but fantastic in his methods of expressing them. To an extent he was an unconscious disciple of the more earnest and more conscientious Sidney Hammond. They were staunch friends, and no approach to discord had marred the years since they first met at college. The SUPPER PARTY '*' 39 <* Hestor sipped a f'ass of wine; knocked the ashes from his cigar, and extended an enameled cif ,ar case to Hammond. " How long does our famous correspondent in- tend to remain in New York? " asked Sidney Ham- mond. " It must seem dull here after what you have been through." " It seems good to be here," replied Hestor. " I am going to quit roaming around and stay in this country for awhile. I believe that there is more big news on the tapis here than anywhere in the world. I believe there is some sensational news about the trusts if it could be obtained and properly handled." " They are getting big enough and bold enough to attract attention," said Hammond. " There will be plenty of news about them some day." " How do you like The Record's leading editorial to-day ? " he asked. " The one about the big steel combine, do you mean ? " " Yes." " Candidly, I cannot say I liked it," said Ham- mond, after a moment's pause. " I suppose Williams wrote it. It sounded like his stuff. Williams is a good writer, and there is no better man on local •ssues, but I am afraid the trust problen-. is beyond his depth. He denounces trusts. He might as well denounce the Galveston disaster. He has treated The Record readers to an entertaining but not novel bit of trust invective. I presume it is what they The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 40 ♦ want, but what good does it do? He proposes no remedy." " Certainly he proposed a remedy," said Hestor, rallying to the support of the editorial staff. " He demands the enforcement of the anti-trust law which, if put into operation, will result in the dis- integration of criminal trusts." " You talk like a political platform, Walter," re- turned Hammond. " You believe nothing of the kind. You are perfectly well aware that no effective anti-trust law will be affirmed by the courts. Every time a test is made, the various courts pronounce such laws unconstitutional. Twenty states have passed anti-trust enactments, and all have met the same fate. I do not believe it is possible by law to prevent any two men, twenty men or hundred men from consolidating their interests and thereby effect- ing a saving and increasing their profits. The trust is the inevitable result of evolutionary forces. It possesses certain advantages. These must be con- served. On the other hand, the trust of to-day pos- sesses certain features which menace our very exist- ence as a people. A remedy must be found ; but it must be a natural remedy. You know my views on this subject, and I do not propose to abuse your hos- pitality by inflicting anew on you the details of my pet theory, which may or may not be worthy of consideration." " Your theory is all right, Sidney, and I already have announced myself your convert," said Hestor. The SUPPER PARTY ♦ 41 ♦ "I'll tell you what you do. Write out your plan as you have explaincl \* to me, and we will make a two-page Sunday feature of it. I will send proof- sheets of your matter to all of the big trust mag- nates, and some of them will answer it. I don't suppose any of them will heartily approve it, but it will make interesting stuff. What do you say ? We will have a four-column picture of Mr. Sidney Hammond, the eminent social economist, and then a group with Morton, Carmody, Kent, Rockwell, Haven, Pence and other multi-millionaires. Such an article will please Bob Van Home." " You will do nothing of the kind," said Mr. Hammond, with some decision. " Whatever views I have on the subject are undeveloped, and the prob- lem is too great for me to pose with any petty remedy. It would mai^e me a jest among my friends, and could do no good, either to The Record or to the cause of better conditions. What is more, the wealthy men you have named would pay no at- tention to my screed or to that of any other theorist." " If we could but devise some plan to bring about a national or international congress of such men," said Hestor, taking out his pencil and jotting down a list he had in mind. " I can imagine the headlines, ' College or Financial Giants,' ' Millionaires as Re- formers,' ■ Syndicates to the Rescue,' ' Trusts Trem- ble,' ' Wealth Willing to Compromise.' It would be great! If we could get some foreign financiers The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ "43 ♦ with titles to stand sponsor for the idea, our home product would be more likely to follow their lead. It is worth thinking about. I am going i > cable Van Home and suggest it to him." " I am afraid you would be wasting your time," saia ..ammond. " It seems to be the logic of his- tory that power never pauses on the brink of a precipice but plunges wildly over. These men can- not stop. They do not know how to ston. Imagine Palmer J. Morton dr-,: r.'ng business long enough to listen to the discussion ^i plans which, if carried out, would check his ambition to be the undisputed dic- tator of the railway traffic of a continent! He would not do it. He is satisfied with things as they are, and undoubtedly has convinced himself that he is one of the greatest benefactors in history. Per- haps he is; but his methods are going to be criti- cized." " Did you ever talk to him on such subjects ? " " No. I know him too well to attempt it," said Hammond with a grim smile. " I have several law cases in which his interests r -e involved, and I know his habits. He talks nothing but business in his office. When he quits his bank he drops everything, and woe to the man who reminds him of business affairs. At the club he pursues the ordinary amuse- ments, and seems to enjoy them. When he takes a vacation — which he does for a week or two in the dull summer season — he has cleared ..is business decks, and would hurl from his yacht the man who The SUPPER PARTY ♦ 43 ■♦ used the word, ' business.' I do not blame him. The same is true of the other men you have named. You know them as well as I do. They have, — or at least think they have, — the load of half of the world on their shoulders, and seem condemned to carry it to their graves, unless it becomes unbalanced and falls off." " No, I do not think it possible to bring such a body of men into a conference," continued Hammond, as Hestor remained silent, with a far-away expression in his eyes. " In the hrst place they would not meet ; in the second place, they would not talk. They are not willing even to defend their methods, to say nothing of taking the initiative towards reforming them. We must possess our souls in patience ; do the best we can, and let the sequence of events work out its destiny. It is our good fortune that we can better afford to wait than most of those who think they have reason to complain. A millionai'e lawyer with a good practice, and the millionaire corre- spondent and special envoy of a newspaper, should be able to withstand the onslaughts of trust mag- nates for a considerable period." " I am going to form a trust," said Hestor sud- denly. "Yes?" " You need not laugh. I am. I am going to form a newspaper trust." " All right, Walter," rejoined Hammond, who was familiar with Hestor's moods. " It is too late The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 44 ♦ for you to begin to-night. Let me know when you are ready to draw up the papers and I will render you my best services as your attorney. Thus far I have been more successful in organizing trusts than in fighting them." " I will need your services in a short time," said Hestor with some excitement, which Hammond at- tributed to the wine. " I am not jesting. Of course this is confidential." " Certainly. I am going to Chicago to-morrow, and will be back in about a week." " Let me see you when you get back. I shall wish to talk with you." " I will do so. Olive, my dear," said Hammond, addressing his sister, " it is time your aged brother was on his way home. I shall ask the permission of the ladies, and of our excellent host to depart, as I have a long journey ahead of me to-morrow — or more properly to-day — it now beingpast two o'clock." " You and Walter are as ungallant as you can be," pouted Miss Le Roy, as Mr. Hestor gave the signal for the party to disperse. " Just because you have talked all you wish, we all must run along home, like good little girls. I am going to give a supper party soon, and it will last until everybody has talked as much as they care to." And with this awful threat Miss Le Roy was captured by Mr. Hestor and led away to her carriage, nor did her smiling face show signs that her resentment at her wrongs was deep or lasting. MR. HESTOR PLANS ♦ A NEWSPAPER TRUST 45 Chapter IV MR. W. B. HESTOR'S private office in The Record building consisted of a large, well- furnished room which adjoined that used by Editor Van Home. During his absence on the " Shark " or elsewhere this room was kept closed. The walls were covered with charts and maps, and also with portraits of famous singers and actresses — ?. nsMr' )f science and amusement in keeping with the Hestor character. Hestor was the most popular man who ever fre- quented a newspaper office. In the language of the police reporter, he was an " easy mark." Any sort of tale of woe would extract financial tribute from him. and the reporter in trouble never had to look further than Hestor when that gentleman was in the city. He was in his element when surrounded by a crowd of working newspaper men, but entertained so liberally that Mr. Van Home w.s compelled to caution him. " You keep away from my men when they are on duty or I will discharge you," said Mr. Van Home The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 46 ♦ on one occasion. " You are getting to be altogether too popular. When you are around, the staff is thoroughly disorganized, and it takes a month to get them back into shape after you are gone." Hestor made all kinds of promises, and broke them. The morning after the supper, Hestor appeared at the office at an early hour. He looked over his mail, and then wrote a note to Palmer J. Morton, the great financier and railroad magnate, requesting an early interview on a matter of some importance. This off his m,ind, Hestor made the rounds of the office. He chatted awhile with Mr. Chalmers and then drifted into the art department. He was in efferves- cent spirits, and seemed highly satisfied with all the world. Finally he returned to his room and pro- ceeded to work off the exuberance of his animal spirits by performing a clog step to a lively tune, the words of which he sang with more regard for speed and exact time than for expression : " There was an old geezer, and he had a wooden leg; No tobacco could he borrow, no tobacco could he beg; Another old geezer was cunning as a fox. And he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box." (Spirited breakdown, and repeat — ) " Yes, he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box." As the versatile Mr. Hestor paused to contem- plate, with much satisfaction, the success which had been attained in this terpsichorean diversion Mr. Chalmers, the managing editor, entered the room. ill A NEWSPAPER TRUST ♦ 47 ♦ "Here is a cablegram from Reynolds, the man you left in charge of the Philippine situation," said Mr. Chalmers, as he laid two yellow pages on Hestor's desk. Reynolds was one of the war cor- respondents of The Record. " He cables us that The Record's Philippine Expedition under his com- mand has defeated the natives with great slaughter and has taken possession of the Island of Mindero. He has declared himself governor and has estab- lished a provisional government. He says he will tolerate no interference with his plans by the United States government. It is hot stuflF." " Reynolds is a good man, but he is sometimes too impetuous," said Hestor, as he read the cable- gram. " He needs some one with discretion to direct his efforts. Send him word to compromise with the government, but to protect all of the rights of The New York Record in any settlement." " By the way, Chalmers," said Hestor, as he paced up and down the room, " why wouldn't it be a good scheme to let the women of New York assume entire charge of The Record for a week. Get some well- known society woman to act as editor-in-chief, and advertise for women writers of all kinds. Of course you will have to lode after the mechanical and routine part of the paper, but let them collect and write all the stuff. Select young women to report the horse races, prize fights, the police news, the courts and handle all of the departments of the paper. They could run just as much or as little The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 48 •♦ *orpij^ and out-of-town stuff as they pleased. They would write all of the editorials and draw all the pictures. Great scheme — don't you think so?" Mr. Chalmers said it probably would drive him into an insane asylum, but that it was nothing short of an inspiration. He agreed to outline a plan and to confer with some progressive women he had in mind. While they were discussing this project, word was received from Mr. Palmer J. Morton that though very busy he would be pleased to see Mr. Hestor about four o'clock that afternoon. The great financier was not unacquainted with the erratic correspondent of The Record, and while not in sym- pathy with the aims or methods of that paper was not inclined to incur hostility by refusing the request made by Hestor. At four o'clock the Hestor automobile wheeled in front of a Broadway office building, and a few min- utes later the famous correspondent was ushered into the magnate's private office. This apartment was severely plain. A large railroad map of the United States occupied all of one wall. A dingy bust of a dead railroad president was in an opposite comer, and the room was also graced with an en- graving of the dark-gowned members of the United States Supreme Court of 1873. There was also the draughtsman's plans of a steam yacht. Everything was in perfect order. The large oak desk was free frcxn the confusion which marks the close of a busy '•■ i A NEWSPAPER TRUST ♦ 49 •♦• day with many men of affairs, and was as clean and neat in its systematic array of papers and letters as if it had been made the special care of a painstaking clerk. Mr. Morton was a large, broad-shouldered man, with a close-cropped beard which must once have been black or dark brown. Shaggy grey eye- brows stood guard over eyes of a steel blue-grey; eyes which looked you full in the face as if to bid you tell your innermost thoughts; and to tell them quickly. Enormous hands were knotted with mus- cles of which the foreman of a railroad section gang might be proud. A dark suit of blue ; a scarf of the same color, without any pin; and a modest watch chain, were features of apparel which distinguished Mr. Morton from the well-dressed attendants who ushered Hestor into this office. " I am glad to meet you again, Mr. Hestor. Take a chair. You will find that one more comfortable. I trust you do not intend to interview me. You know my rule." Mr. Morton looked sternly at Hestor, who smiled and replied that he had long ago abandoned that enterprise as a vain pursuit. " I have called on a matter of business," said Mr. Hestor, briskiy, as he removed his gloves, and leaned slightly forward in his chair. " You are a busy man and I will attempt to state my proposition as con- cisely as possible. According to popular report and to general knowledge you have been the moving spirit in those great financial undertaking's which IP. i' ; r I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 50 ♦ have resulted in the reorganization of various indus- tries. Your standing is such that your name is suffi- cient to guarantee the success of any undertaking of this character. Did it ever occur to you that there is one great industry which never yet has tested the benefits which come from a community of owner- ship? In other words, have you considered the possibih'ties of a newspaper trust ? " Mr Hestor paused. The stem old millionaire did not an ver for a moment, and seemed to be waiting for the editor to continue. Hestor was content to wait. " I have thought of it, but I did not imagine the first suggestion would come from a representative of The Record," said Mr. Morton. Hestor was not the least abashed. " I am not responsible for what appears in The Record, and you know enough about newspapers, and especially metrc^litan papers, to understand the exigencies of politics," he said. " You will con- cede that our criticism of trusts has not seriously interfered -.vith your plans. In any — " " I d.; not concede that," interrupted Mr. Mor- ton. " That, however, has nothing to do with your proposition. State your plan. I am willing to listen to it." " There is no industry in the country offering so great an opportunity for trust management as that of the newspaper press," said Mr. Hestor, with earnestness. " It is true that we have the Associ- I ' Lte A NEWSPAPER TRUST ated Press service, which is a cooperative affair, but this, while an invaluable adjunct, is really a small item in the total expense of a great paper. It simply does on a small scale what can and should be done on a large scale." " You would have a sjmdicate of papers — one paper in each of the large cities," suggested V' Morton. " I would have a syndicate which would own two papers in all cities having populations in excess of one hundred thousand," replied Mr. Hestor. " Yes, I see. One republican and one democratic paper in each city. Ah-um-m. That would be quite a plan," said Mr. Morton, drawing his hand slowly over his stubbled chin. " Both under one general management, I suppose?" " Certainly." " Have you made any general estimates of the expense of such a plan, or prepared any synopsis of the way in which it could be executed? " asked Mr. Morton, with the first manifestation of real interest. " I did not care to go to the expense and trouble of doing so until I had a conference with you," re- plied Hestor, who guarded himself against over- enthusiasm when he saw that he had made some progress. " It will require considerable capital, much work, and good judgment in the execution of the plans ; and more than all, the most rigid secrecy must be maintained. You are the only man to ^ The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 52 ♦ whom this subject has been broached, and I need not ask you to regard this matter as strictly confidential in case you should decide to do nothing in the way of its advancement." Mr. Morton nodded his head and growled a con- sent to this injunction, which he evidently regarded as unnecessary. " I would start this syndicate in a chain of thirty cities, with two papers in each," continued Mr. Hestor, who rapidly noted a list. " Here are the cities I had in mind : New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington , Rochester, BuiTalo, Atlanta, New Orleans, Louisville, Cincin- nati. Pittsburg, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul or Minneapolis, St. Ix)uis, Omaha, Galveston, Kansas City, Denver, Helena, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles." Mr. Hestor then entered into a detailed and com- prehensive explanation of the proposed newspaper trust. He submitted figures showing that sixty papers could be purchased for less than $115,000,- 000, and proved that these papers were then earning $7,500,000 a year, or more than five per cent, on the required investment. Hestor proposed retrench- ment in three important departments, viz. : the Sun- day papers, the editorial staflFs, and the abolition of the advertising agency. Instead of preparing sixty Sunday papers, the syndicate would print four, each of surpassing excellence. These four papers would A NEWSPAPER TRUST ^ S3 * give all syndicate papers in contiguous territory a distinct Sunday paper. Each of these four Sunday papers would have a marked specialty, and each would strongly appeal to a certain class of readers. One would make a specialty of amusements ; another of literature; the third of fiction, and the fourth of science and art — but each would be a complete maga- zine. Hestor showed that four such Sunday maga- zines could afford to employ the highest literary and artistic genius of the world, and proved that no competition with them would be possible. The sav- ing would amount to not less than $4,000,000 a year, in the single item of Sunday papers. The editorial department would be conducted on a similar plan. Instead of four hundred editorial writers — as at present — he would have a staff of of twenty ; acknowledged authorities in their respec- tive specialties. The editor-in-chief would keep in touch with the owners of the syndicate, who would thus be able to dictate the thought of the country in the leading Republican and Democratic papers. " The reduced expense of the editorial department will be about $700,000," said Mr. Hestor. " You can place your own estimate on the financial benefits your syndicate will receive from being able to in- spire and regulate the thought of a nation." Hestor then explained how millions could be saved by dealing direct with advertisers without the inter- vention of the advertising agency, which he char- acterized as the " most stupid survival of the middle- I I ' I lit The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 54 ♦ man system." He explained that the agency levied tribute on advertiser and newspaper, and that an enormous percentage was absorbed by a worthless parasite. Hester sai'l that a staff of ten men could do the work now performed by several thousand. " The expense of securing advertising will be practically nothing," concluded Hester; "the aver- age rates will be doubled, and we will receive all of the enormous fund which now goes to the agencies. This will be of benefit to all concerned, except to the useless and decadent advertising middleman. I would not dare place any estimate on the added revenues from this much-needed reform. It cer- tainly will far exceed any other item of saving." " You make out a strong case," said Mr. Morton, after an interval, in which both gentlemen said noth- ing. " This is too important a matter to decide off- hand. I should not care to go into it without con- sulting with some of my associates. What financial interests have you in mind in this connection ? " " I propose to leave that matter entirely in your hands," replied Mr. Hestor promptly. " I do not know that I am on unfriendly terms with any of the men who are reported to be your associates in similar reorganizations. I stand ready to invest $10,000,- 000, provided a company is financed for a total of $125,000,000 or $150,000,000. I have talked this matter over with Mr. Van Home, and you can count on his cooperation." |l A NEWSPAPER TRUST ♦ 55 ♦ " You have the proper confidence in your plans," said Mr. Morton. " I will discuss this project with some of my associates. Tf I find they deem it worthy a more careful examination, it might be well to arrange a conference and settle on some definite mode of procedure. Mind you, I am not holding out any promises. If these gentlemen evince a decided interest in the matter I will communicate with you. Tht secrecy of the plan will not leak out through the .nen I have in mind." " When can I reasonably expect to hear from you?" " Four of the gentlemen I have in mind meet here to-morrow afternoon at a director's meeting," said Mr. Morton, consulting a memorandum. " Later they dine with me at an uptown club. I will see what they think about it and send you word when I can see you. In the meantime it will be a good idea to reduce your plans to writing. If possi- ble, make an estimate of the amount annually ex- pended by your sixty papers for commissions paid to advertising agencies. Make your report as compre- hensive as possible. I can give this no more time to-day. I have an engagement at five o'clock." Mr. Morton arose, closed his desk, and shook hands with Mr. Hestor. That gentleman joined the crowd of clerks who had finished their day's work, descended the marble stairs and stepped into his automobile. The observer might have thought that the correspondent of The Record was stamping his The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 56 ^ feet to Ice.,, them warm as the vehicle sped up Nassau street. He was not. He was exer-ting a " sitting clog step " to his favorite melody : There was an old geezer and he had a wooden leg; He had no tobacco, no tobacco could he beg. Another old geezer was as cunning as a fox, And he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box; Yes, he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box. As the automobile swung into Park Row, Mr. Hestor was singing and dancing the second verse; a feat which he attempted only on occasions of great moment : Says Geezer number one, will you give me a chew ? Says Geezer number two I'll be damned if I do; Go save up your nickels, and save up your rocks. And you'll always have tobacco in your oid tobacco box; Yes, and you'll always have tobacco in your old tobacco box SOME STRANGE HAPPENINGS ^ Chapter V 57 THIS narrative now has to do with a series of incidents which stirred Wall Street to its speculative depths. The stock market had sustained a decided set-back in March. The foreign money market was in an unsatisfactory con- dition. England, Germany and Russia seemed on the verge of an industrial and financial collapse. There were heavy withdrawals of gold from the Bank of England, and consols dropped to the lowest point in years. The New York market did not yield to any extent to these disturbing factors until an unlooked for bank failure in Boston, with ex- tensive New York and Chicago connections sent a shudder through the entire list. Three leading rail- road companies made discouraging monthly state- ments of earnings. An ever-watchful operator, w'th bearish tendencies, saw his opportunity and smashed the market by heavy " short " selling. He had little trouble in reaching the margins of the mob of small speculators, and their holdings swelled the prcq)ortions of the riot. It was not a panic, but it The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ J8 ♦ was a most emphatic scare. The wise financial edi- tors characterized it as " merely a return to healthy, normal conditions, in which the stocks heKi in weak hands had been transferred to invesf^rs and those able to carry them in spite of transient declines," which is the same as saying that the " lambs had been sheared," and that the wise ones were content to await a new growth of wool on the backs of the patient sheep The fore'gn situation brightened in April. A big rail.n:, ; combination was effected with a blare of trutr <>ets and the public fought for a chance to buy stocks. Everything went up. The old bears turned bulls and bought stocks. They gave out profound interviews in which they informed the delighted public that " prices were beginning to adjust them- selves to that permanent higher plane, in conform- ity with the new conditions, made pos,sible by our unprecedented prosperity as a nation and by our firmly established position as a financial world- power." Like love's sweet song, these well-rounded phrases are ever old but ever new. To their soft notes the credulous speculative public responds as does the doe to the call of the hunter, or the trout to the fly. " There is not a cloud in sight I " exclaims the wily old speculator. Every fool in the country believes him and leaves his umbrella at home. He is lucky if the then brooding cyclone leaves him with enough clothes to warrant the use of an umbrella. Il \ Some STRANGE HAPPENINGS ♦ 59 ♦ Certain it was that an unmistakable stock boom was well under way at the time this history opens. On the Saturday following; Hestor's interview with Mr. Morton there was heavy selling from houses supposed to be identified with the leading bull in- terests but the market closed strong with substan- tial advances well distributed throughout the list. There was some questioning as to where this selling came from, but the leaders for an advance were so earnest and evidently sincere in their assertions and denials that no general suspicion was directed against them. Monday was an ideal day; more like June than the first of May. It was so warm that the more sturdy of the toilers in the " curb market," which surges up and down Broad street, discarded their heavier coats and from mysterious sources produced linen sackcoats and other light summer wear. The old Trinity churchyard was splendid in its new garb of gfreen. Luxuriant creepers traced virgin beauties on the grey and crumbling old gravestones. The twittering of birds in the elm trees mingled with the jargon of the streets. Fleecy clouds floated lazily overhead and nature was pr^^ant with the birth of summer. The air was like ozone. Pleasure sedcers thronged Battery Park and revelled in the intoxicat- ing beauties which mark the first summer day of the year. Little cared the wild crowd on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for the glories of the The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 60 ^ weather. They knew it was good for the crops. The reports from every section of the West were glowing. A flood of buying orders poured into the commission houses, and brokers fought to execute orders at the opening. London cables came in higher. There was a rumor of a big British victory in Africa. Another well-authenticated report stated that the war was on the verge of a settlement. Money rates were low. It was a sad outlook for the bears. Good news came from everywhere. There was no stopping the market. Baltimore & Ohio rose six points; Milwaukee & St. Paul four and «ie-half points,' Jersey Central, five and one-eighth points; Metropolitan, three points; Sugar an extreme ad- vance of eight points. This was at noon. At this hour the rise was checked. There was heavy selling from houses active in the same direc- tion m Saturday. It was attributed to " profit tak- ing," and the bulls prepared for another assault. They carried the market up half a point. Between one and two o'clock a Boston and a Chicago house sold more than two hundred thousand shares of Bal- timore & Ohio, St. Paul, Jersey Central, Metropoli- tan, Sugar and some of the industrials including Steel and Iron. This dampened the ardor of the professionals. They could not understand it. Cor- respondents were asked by wire for information. None was forthcoming. The wise ones were puzzled. There was something back of this movement which Some STRANGE HAPPENINGS ► 6i ^ There was a traitor somewhere I worried them. Who was it? Mr. R. J. Kent, the great operator, paced slowly up and down his room, but never missed an exami- nation of the tape as it escaped from the chattering ticker, by an interval exceeding half a minute. As the hour of two approached, the little m.achine be- came furious in its efforts to keep pace with the op- erations of the sweating, swearing and struggling brokers, two blocks sway. Mr. Kent let the tape slide through his fingers and read a record which translated was as follows : 3,000 lares Sugar 149^^ —2,200 Sugar 149—4,000 Sugar 1481:^—700 B. & O. 10714—1,100 B. & O. 107—2,800 B. & O. 1064^ —500 B. & O. 106—3,200 St. Paul 171—4,000 St. Paul i7o>^— 500 St. Paul 170—3,000 St. Paul i69>4— 1.400 Metropolitan 173^— -900 Metropoli- tan lyzyi — 1,600 Metropolitan 171% — 4,000 Jer- sey Central 159^^—800 Jersey Central 158^— 1,700 Jersey Central 158—55 Jersey Central 158^ —2,400 Sugar 147^—800 Sugar 147. Mr. Kent stepped to his private telephone. "Who is selling that Sugar?" he asked his broker. " Street & Rogers are selling most of it now. Brokers for Morris & Hauser of Boston, and Wright & Fanniiig of Chicago have also been selling it. These houses have been selling St. Paul, Jersey Cen- tral, Baltimore & Ohio, Metropolitan, Steel and The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 63 ^ Iron and other stocks," was the prompt answer. " I advised the office of it some time ago." "Who is the selling for?" " No one seems to know." "What do Haven's brokers say?" " They seem to be up in the air. They are still buying Sugar." " All right. Good-bye." Mr. Kent called up Mr. Haven, the gp'eat sugar magnate. " What in the devil is the matter with your Sugar stock? " he demanded. "I don't know," was the response. "It's all right. I am buying it as fast as it is offered. What is it now ? " Mr. Kent examined the tape. " One hundred and forty-eight and a quarter," he replied. " It has been down to one hundred and forty-six and a half but has recovered some. Who is doing that selling? " " Sure, I don't know," answered Mr. Haven with some impatience. " Probably some one taking profits. It will go up again." " All right. Thank you. Good-bye." Mr. Kent studied the tape for a few moments. The market was slowly steadying. The public was obeying the mandate, " buy on every reaction." Mr. Kent pondered deeply. He rang a bell. "How much Sugar have I bought?" he de- manded of his private bookkeeper. Some STRANGE HAPPENINGS ♦ 63 ♦ " Forty-three thousand shares," was the reply. " It will average about 142, will it not? " The bookkeeper produced a slip of paper, ran his eye over the figures, made a rapid calculation, and said that the average price paid for this line of Sugar stock was 142^. "Very well; that is all," Mr. Kent said. He called up his broker who represented him on the floor of the Stock Exchange. " Sell all the Sugar you can without breaking the market," he commanded in a voice which could not be heard ten feet away. Wall Street is all ears. " There is good buying just now. Begin on 500 share lots. Feel them out at the start, but keep busy. Sell at least 50,000 shares before the close, no mat- ter what happens. When you have sold 20,000 shares, offer it in one, two and three thousand lots." The broker repeated the order quickly so that there could be no mistake. Mr. Kent returned to the ticker. "Some one taking profits, eh?" muttered Mr. Kent as he paced the floor, nervously chewing an unlighted cigar. " I'll show them how to take profits! They must think I am in my second childhood. They have an idea I am going to hold the bag, do they? This is the way they keep their agreement 1 " He rang the bell furiously. " How much B. & O. have I ? " " Fifteen thousand shares at an average of 93," was the reply. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 64 ♦ " Wire Brown & Addy of Boston, to sell me 20,- 000 B. & O. at the market. Send word to Blake & Co. of Chicago to sell me 25,000 St. Paul at the market. Rush ! hurry ! " He was at the private telephone again. " How much Sugar have you sold? " " Twenty-two thousand. It has broken a point and a half." " That's all right. Put it out in two and three thousand lots. Sell me 30,000 shares of Metro- politan at th« market. Got it? That's right. Good- bye." The ticker was singing like a sewing machine. Sugar, B. & O., St. Paul, Jersey Central, Metropoli- tan, Steel and Iron and other stocks came out in blocks of from one to four thousand and even five thousand lots. But the market held remarkably well. There was " not a cloud in the sky," and the public was sunning iself. But even their guileless optimism could not withstand the impact of the mysterious in- terest which had been selling hundreds of thousands of shares on Saturday and during the present ses- sion, reinforced as it was by the enraged Mr. Kent, who ascribed this selling to the perfidy of his asso- ciates. When the day's battle was over the field was covered with the dead and wounded. Sugar had closed at 145^4 bid and 146 asked. Baltimore and Ohio had dropped to 105^; St. Paul to i67>| ; Metropolitan to 170; Jersey Central to 158^4 I and Steel and Iron showed a net loss for the day of three Some STRANGE HAPPENINGS ♦ 6S ♦ points, and an extreme drop from its high point at the opening of nearly nine points. When Mr. Kent had received reports from his brokers, and telegraphic advices from Boston, Chi- cago and Baltimore, he found that he had sold 55,- 000 shares of Sugar and that all of his other com- missions had been executed. He had accomplished one of the phenomenal changes of position for which he was famous and dreaded. In a hundred offices his name was mentioned, coupled with expressions which would not warrant reproduction on these pages. He quietly talked the situation over with his lieutenants, instructed them to " smash " the market at the opening the next morning, and with an un- ruffled mien left his office shortly before four o'clock. THE WALL ♦ STREET PANIC Chapter VI 66 I ! ' T SBB a hell of faces furge and whirl ^ Like maelstrom in the ocean— faces Imu And fleshlesB as the talons of a hawk- Hot faces like the faces of the wolves That track the traveler fleeing through the night* Qrim faces shrunken up and fallen In. Deep plowed like weather-eaten bark of oak-^ Drawn faces like the faces of the dead, Grown suddenly old upon the brink of Earth. T S this a whirl of madmen ravening ''' And blowing bubbles in their merriment } Is Babel come again with shrieking crew To eat the dust and drink the roaring wind ? And all for what ? A handful of bright sand To buy a shroud with an d a length of earth ? • «*•«* 'T'HE green of May is edging all the bonghs, ■^ The shy arbutus glimmers in the wood, And yet this hell of faces in the town — This roai- of giddying madness surging on. Surrounded by the quiets of the hills ; With great calm star forever overhead. And, under all, the science of the dead.' —Edwin Uarkhah in Nnv York Journai. WHAT happened on this famous Tuesday has been lightly touched on in the open- ing chapter of this history. The morn- ing papers had devoted considerable space to the *' bear flurry ** in Wall street. There were guarded allusions to the coup performed by Mr. Kent, who The WALL STREET PANIC ♦ 67 ♦ had conducted his operations with little attempt to disguise his attitude. His profits were variously es- timated at from $750,000 to $3,000,000, and it was strongly intimated that he would live to regret the unwarranted scare he had precipitated. The Record had an illustration proving that if Mr. Kent's win- nings were in one dollar bills they would make a package three times the height of the Eififel tower, and that it would take two express cars to hold them. This pleased the public, and reconciled them to the losses which had been sustained by the small specu- lators. On the preceding evening the excitement on the Stock Exchange had been transferred to the big hotels and fashionable cafes uptown. The more im- portant speculators made the circuit of the hotels and clubs in search of the financial giants of Wall street. Such as were interviewed professed utter ignorance of the cause of the decline. Mr. Kent was not to be found at any of the places he was wont to frequent and several anxious followers called up his residence by telephone, but were told that he had not yet arrived. Mr. Morton did not make his usual appearance at his favorite club. The morrow was anticipated with dread by those who had trailed in on the much-heralded boom. On the following Tuesday morning London ignored the New York break in prices and opened strong. Chicago and the speculative West looked on its splendid crops and telegraphed buying orders If The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 6% ^ in generous volume. The galleries around the trad- ing floor of the Exchange were crowded with the sight-seers who are always in force when the market is excited. The hand on the big clock slowly ap- proached the hour of ten. The thousand or more brokers gravitated towards the various standards which bore the names of the important trading stocks. Did you ever make the experiment with iron filings and a magnet? Place such filings on a sheet of paper and pass a magnet under the paper. The tiny bits of metal will mass themselves in peculiar and irregular figures. As the magnet moves, kaleidoscopic changes will be effected. Individual filings will detach themselves from one mass and fly to another. Such was the scene on the floor of the New Yoric Stock Exchange. The great gong sounded. The murmur became as the roar of a freight train as it dashes past the echoing walls of a station. At the signal of the gong a thousand well-dressed men becime maniacs. Their faces grew purple. Mad- ness glared from their eyes. They assaulted one an- other. In their demoniacal fury coats were ripped from shoulders, hats crushed, and scarfs torn into shreds. With waving arms and extended fingers, with voices rasping shrill, vibrant, hoarse, thun- derous, menacing, incoherent — it was the incarna- tion of riot, the sublimated essence of disorder. At times a man could be seen fighting his way out of one The WALL STREET PANIC ♦ 69 ♦ of these humsn whirlpools. He would clutch men by the throats. They would not know it nor care for it. He would jam his elbows into their sides, and after a struggle seemingly hopeless, would es- cape from the surging mass with eyes bulging and face bruised in the conflict. You may search the world-scattered tribes of aborigines and you can- not approximate a scene equal to this in savagerj-. The thin veneer of civilisation is melted in the heat of lust. In a thousand offices men pale with excitement hang over the tickers, or follow with nervous glance the boy as he records the quotations on the bulletin board. The loungers alone are in repose. The at- tempted jest of the wit is received with mirthless laughter. The affected nonchalance of the loser de- ceives not even himself. The joy of the winner is savage in its grim selfishness. Such are the cata- combs of Wall Street — a crypt swept by the winds of the worst of human passions, and relieved by hardly a spot where sympathy can find a resting place. In a hundred cities and towns, restless eyes follow the moves as they are made on the great gambling board. From countless sources money is absorbed and attracted to this common center, to swell the profits of the magnate or pay the expenses of the commission brokers. The market opened strong and at a slight advance in spite of large offerings of stock by Kent brokers and from Street & Rogers — ^acting for their un- The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 70 ♦ known principals — the market held its own the first half hour. It was at this time that vague and por- tentous rumors were circulated on the floor, and whispered over telephones. These rumors were greeted with general incredulity, but the effect on the market was apparent from the time the first suspicion was breathed. London, Chicago and other speculative centers continued buying and selling, unconscious of the shadow which was now darketi- ing the street. The storm broke at eleven o'clock. The yellow slips distributed by a news agency contained the following paragraph in double-leaded type: " n : 05 a. m. Andrus Carmody, Palmer J. Morton, R. J. Kent and Simon Pence cannot be found. They were last seen in Mr. Morton's offices about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Their rela- tives know nothing of their whereabouts. The po- lice and detective force have been notified." A message of similar purport was recorded on the tape. Any description of the scenes which followed on the floor of the Stock Exchange would be deemed exaggeration by those who never have seen a specu- lative panic sweep all before it. The tempest was loosed. Before its fury the sturdy financial oaks bent in the blast. The puny speculative saplings The WALL STREET PANIC ♦ 71 ♦ were uprooted and borne away on the wings of the cyclone. Staid old men who had not been seen on the floor of the Exchange for months, rushed hat- less through the streets and hurled themselves into the crazy mob. The sixiy acres of the financial district was a Bedlam. Men tore papers from the hands of news- boys and rushed away without paying for them. The wildest rumors, if of evil purport, became cer- tainties. The word went down the Street that a great bank had closed its doors. There was no fragment of truth in the statement, but it was ac- cepted as an unquestioned fact. It was charged that the great enterprises in which Carmody, Pence and Morton were concerned were insolvent, and that these men were in secret conference, endeavoring to arrange a compromise with the creditors. Mr. Kent was regarded as the speculator who had been in- trusted with this news, and commissioned to use it to recoup some of the losses. The evening papers were flooding the city with extras. The news was so stupendous as to confound the genius of the designers of headlines. There was neither space nor type suflRcient to depict their emotions. But the imagination of the reporters was equal to the crisis. In bewildering succession the millionaires were kidnapped, lured away and murdered by anarchists ; had committed suicide, or reposed safely in the bosom of their families. At one o'clock Sugar had dropped 25 points, Bal- The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 72 ♦ timore & Ohio i8 points, St. Paul 14 points, Metro- politan 32 points, Jersey Central 17 points and Steel and Iron 21 points. The stocks in which the miss- ing men were not known to be interested withstood the shock with smaller losses, but the whole list was mutilated almost beyond recognition. The news had reached I^ndon too late to permit English operators to cover in that market, and the cables bore the tales of their dilemma. Shortly after one o'clock brokers in the employ of Street & Rogers jumped into the market as buy- ers. In the first hour of the session, before the break came, it was estimated that they had sold not less than three hundred thousand shares, and Kent brokers had sold fully one hundred thousand more. The total sales for the first hour reached the unpre- cedented total of twelve hundred and eighty thousand shares. From eleven until one o'clock the representa- tives of Street & Rogers did nothing. They then began to take some of the stock as it was offered. They became the center of riots. Men fought like fiends to sell them stock. In spite of their support the offerings were so numerous that prices still de- clined. They bought Sugar in ten and twenty thou- sand share lots. In an hour Street & Rogers had covered six hundred thousand shares. Two papers appeared with extras containing a dis- patch from Philadelphia stating that Messrs. Mor- ton, Carmody, Pence and Kent were in conference at the Hotel Lafayette. It related with great explic- The WALL STREET PANIC ♦ 7J ♦ itness that they were considering the 'k-tails of a gigantic railroad combination, and the jrticle con- tained a brief interview with Mr. Morton in which he refused to discuss the objects of the meeting, but regretted that the public should hn\e htcnne alarmed at the secrecy which had been ileemej iKrv. The same news was spread throui^'h the b >kerage and commission houses by the news ager.fes and came out on the tape. The eflfect was electrical. The market rose by jumps and bounds. Every one seemed rushing to cover, but the spurt was short-lived. When the market had advanced an average of ten points, Street & Rogers and Boston and Chicago interests turned heavy sellers. They threw the stock they had accumulated at the bottom figures right and left. They found plenty of purchasers. The Philadel- phia dispatch was so good it must be true. It sounded natural, and was a logical reason for the absence of these men. At two o'clock the market was firm and slowly advancing notwithstanding the vast oflFerings from Street & Rogers. At 2 :30 Wall Street was growing optimistic. It regarded the sell- ing as profit taking, and bought with confidence. Sugar rose to within seven points of the opening figure. Then came the final disaster. It was announced that John M. Rockwell, the great capitalist, and Hiram Haven, the " -r magnate, also were miss- ing. Simultaneo, .,. -ord was received from Phila- The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 74 ♦ delphi? that none of the gentlemen mentioned had been at the Hotel Lafayette, and that the dispatch was bogus, having been sent out by a commission house which took this method to recoup some of its losses. In the crash which followed several liouses went to the wall. Their holdings were thrown on the market. Sugar dropped an extreme forty points. Other securities suffered in proportion. A man stood in the middle of Broad street and blew his brains out. Staid old investment stocks vvliich had regularly paid dividends for years dropped five points between quotations. Sugar fell elev*^ points on a sale of 400 shares, and did not steady ' df for ten minutes, during which time it was worth $35.00 a share less than it had been those few minutes before. Once more it was Street & Rogers to the rescue. For two days they had been selling on good news and buying on bad news. Again their brokers stood in the breach and bought Sugar, B. & O.. St. Paul, Jersey Central, Metropolitan and Steel and Iron from men who seemed willing to give it away. When tlie gong sounded at three o'clock, the signal that this awful day was ended on the Stock Ex- change these brokers were yet surrounded by swarms ot men frantic in their efforts to sell stocks at any prices. It was midnight before the lights went out in the offices of Street & Rogers. Scores of haggard men arranged private settlements on terms which would permit them to remain solvent. b^ The WALL STREET PANIC ♦ 75 *•• The profits of the unknown principals or syndi- cate represented by Street & Rogers of New York, Morris & Hauser of Boston, and Wright & Fan- ning of Chicago, were conservatively estimated at $24,000,000. But they were yet in a precarious situation. Shrewd judges calculated that these houses were " long" on stocks to the extent of fully 1,000,000 shares. In the existing state of the market, with the panic in full sway, the profits might disappear in the torrent of holdings which were being thrown overboard. The experts figured that the unknown syndicate had sold 800,000 shares on Friday, Sat- urday and Monday, and during the early part of the Tuesday session. They had covered 600,000 shares on the big break which announced the disappearance of the capitalists. Their average profit was esti- mated at $20.00 a share or $12,000,000. On the rise following the bogus dispatch they had sold 400,000 shares, making a total of 600,000 shares for which they were " short." They covered this — according to the best judges — at an average profit of $25.00 a share or $15,000,000. This was done during the panic which followed the disappearance of John M. Rockwell and Hiram Haven, and the disclosure of the bogus Philadelphia dispatch. This made their total profits $27,000,000. but they had purchased ?n additional million shares, which at the closing figures showed a loss of about three points or $3,000,000. The syndicate was therefore ^1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 76 ♦ $24,000,000 winner, with a million shares yet in their possession, which must be sold in a market that seemed shattered beyond hope of repair. The members of the firm of Street & Rogers gave out no figures and refused to name the men they were representing. They stated that they had con- sidered the market overbought, and had sold stocks m anticipation of a natural reaction. The unex- pected bad news had found them in a situation from which they could not help reaping an enoimous advantage. They had simply taken profits on the vanous movements of the market, and did not share the apprehensions of those who feared for the safety of the missing men. Mr. Street declared that prices were too low at the closing figures, even if it were known that the worst had happened. Intrinsic val- ues could not be permanently affected by the fate of individuals, and he advised buying on any further declines. Thus closed the most memorable day in the his- tory of Wall Street. MYSTERY ON «» MYSTERY Chapter VII 77 THE hundreds of columns of space devoted by the New York morning papers to the great event could have been condensed into a ievi paragraphs, so far as any true explanation of the mystery was concerned. Six men, whose combined wealth was variously estimated at from $800,000,000 to $1,250,000,000, had disappeared as suddenly and completely as if the earth had opened and swallowed them. Four of them — Messrs. Pence, Kent, Haven and Morton — had been in the latter's office about four o'clock on Monday afternoon. Mr. Morton's secretary was sure they had held no conference at this time, and said they soon left the building. He thought they left together, and supposed they went away in car- riages or in an automobile. It was not uncommon for men distinguished in the world of aflfairs to meet at Mr. Morton's office. Mr. Morton had arranged for an important conference with some railroad men at his office for the following morning at eleven o'clock. The correspondence files showed that fact The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 78 ♦ conclusively. Mr. Morton had telephoned to his residence that he would not be home for dinner. This was not unusual. That was absolutely all that was known of Mr. Morton's movements or plans. John M. Rockwell was in his office from eleven o'clock until about two in the afternoon. He trans- acted business as usual, and had planned to start on a trip to Chicago the following day. His private car had been ordered to the Pennsylvania depot. Andrus Carmody was to accompany him on this business journey. Both of these gentlemen had left word at their residences that they would not be home to dinner. Hiram Haven did not leave his office until nearly four o'clock. This was about his usual hour, and there was nothing in his correspond- ence or instructions to indicate that he would fail to be on hand at the regular hour on Tuesday morning. Mr. Kent's failure to arrive at his office nearly drove his brokers distracted. They admitted that he had left ther.i certain commissions to fill on Tuesday morning, but the nature of them or how they were executed they declined to make public. He left his office about four o'clock Monday afternoon, but did not say where he was going. For the first time in forty years Siuion Pence failed to come home. Only on rare occasions did he remain away from a home dinner. He had stated that a business engagement would keep him in the city during the evening, but that he would be back Mr S TERT on MTSTERY "^ 79 ♦ at a seasonable hour. The police officials were noti- fied at midnight of his failure to return to his resi- dence. Not fully appreciating the significance of this event they made no search for the missing man, and classed it among the cases of this kind so famil- iar to the hardened members of the night police force of the metropolis. This completes all that was known concerning this mystery. That the panic was beyond control was appar- ent long before the Stock E.xchange opened Wednes- day morning. The Governors met and solemnly discussed the advisability of closing the Stock E.xchange until some light was thrown on the mystery. They dreaded to take this step, but the situation was unprecedented. In ordinary emergen- cies, the banks, trust companies, life insurance com- panies and other representatives of capital had been able to meet and adopt a plan to protect the market, and thus avert a panic disastrous to all interests. But the great heads of the money power had van- ished. The smaller lights who remained were in a state of physical as well as financial panic. Each imagined himself the next victim. Special police- men guarded all the offices, and every visitor was scrutinized as a possible kidnapper. Hundreds of extra police officers were thrown into the financial district. All suspicions characters were arrested. Crowds were not permitted to assemble and a con- dition approaching martial law prevailed. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 80 ^ The Governors of the Stock Exchange finally de- cided to open the session as usual, reserving the power to suspend business if conditions warranted such procedure. The market opened from two to five points below the close of the previous day. Several failures were announced. Street & Rogers bought about 300,000 shares of stock in the first hour and then stopped. With their support with- drawn the panic increased. There were rumors that Street & Rogers were heavily " long " and on the point of suspending. This the firm emphatically denied, and stated that they could stand a further drop of twenty-five points. On a call for margins they promptly furnished them. With the panic at its height the Governors met to take action. A motion was made to suspend business on the Exchange. As a member arose to discuss this proposition, a messenger entered and handed the President a letter. It read as follows : Mr. M. L. MoRTONj New York city: Dear Sir: — This is to inform you that I am alive and well. I shall be obliged to remain away from the city for a short time, possibly several weeks. You and my relatives and friends need not have the slightest fear for the safe return of myself and the gentlemen who are keeping me company. I remain, very truly yours, May 2. Palmer J. Morton. The letter was in Mr. Morton's handwriting and had been positively identified as genuine by his pri- Mr S T ERT on M T S T ERT ♦ 8i ^ vate secretary and by the oldest clerks in his office. These facts were hurriedly explained to the Presi- dent of the Beard of Governors, who adjourned the meeting and sounded the gong for attention on the floor of the Exchai^^e- At that moment pande- monium reigned. A score of trading houses had failed, and others were on the point of suspension. Banks were calling loans. Money was quoted at two hundred per cent, on call loans, with gilt-edged stock as security. Sugar was hovering around par, a drop of more than sixty points in less than forty- eight hours. The nerve-racked brokers expected the announcement of yet more disastrous news, and listened stolidly as the chairman waved his hand for quiet, cleared his voice, and began his reading. No one heard more than the close of the first sentence: " I am alive and well." The joyous voice of the gray-bearded old chairman told them that the mes- sage was from Palmer J. Morton. What a shout went up! It was re-echoed by the vast mob which defied the police and swarmed into Broad and Wall streets. The enthusiastic clerks and customers cheered from every window. Some one produced an American flag and flung it to the breeze from the third story of the building. As if by magic flags appeared in every direction. Headed by a bank cashier, who furiously waved a flag surmounted by an eagle, an impromptu proces- sion formed on Broad street, marched yelling up Wall street, past old Trinity church, and swept tri- The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES <^ 82 ^ umphantly north on Broadway. Thousands joined their ranks. They tramped down Park Row, cheered the newspaper offices, and were wildly de- monstrative in from ; The Record building. They then turned into t',c narrow defile of Nassau street and filled this bu .''ing thoroughfare from curb to curb. From thousands of windows happy business men and pretty typewriters waved flags and hand- kerchiefs. The panic was ended. Prices moved violently upward. In half an hour the face of the market was changed. In the whirl of speculative joy some stocks passed the high figures which had been reached at the opening on Monday morning. But while the agony of suspense was passed, and it was known that the missing men were safe, the case was yet shrouded in a mystery deep as ever. At the close of the day the market stood on a plane which averaged about ten points below the level estab- lished before the leaders of finance and speculation had vanished. It was noticed that Street & Rogers were persistent buyers from the moment the first news of the Morton letter was made public. Their sales were so small as to show that they represented but profit taking for regular customers, and not the immense holdings of " long " stock which had been absorbed during the height of the panic. Their profits were roughly estimated at $35,000,000. The welcome letter was addressed to Mr. M. L. Morton, a brother of the great financier. It was in a Mr s T E R r MrSTER r on ♦ 83 ♦ plain white envelope and written on ordinary letter paper, with a single fold. The postmark on the letter was indistinct, but when put under a glass the inscription clearly read, " Provincetown, Mass." The letter had been mailed at nine o'clock at night, and left the Cape Tod town on a late train. With slow connections the letter reached New York in time for the 10 45 a. m. delivery. Here was a clue worth following. A special train with the best detective talent in New York, was prepared and dispatched to Provincetown. But the developments which speedily followed, deep- ened the mystery and puzzled the cool-headed chief of the detective force. Between four and five o'clock the same afternoon letters were received by relatives of John M. Rockwell and Andrus Car- mody. These letters were at once placed in the hands of the detectives and not made public. This was in compliance with instructions which had been issued by the chief. The Rockwell letter was post- marked " Springfield, Massachusetts." The Car- mody letter was mailed from a Harlem district in New York City. Early the following morning — Thursday — a let- ter from Albany, New York, was received from R. J. Kent, and another was mailed to the Simon Pence residence from Brooklyn. Mr. Hiram Haven was as yet unaccou'7ted for. hut late in the afternoon word was received from him from Philadelphia. These letters vvei\. of a purport similar to the Mor- The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 84 ♦ ton letter. They were written on several kinds of paper, and there was no uniformity in envelopes. The Pence letter was written with a lead pencil. The detectives descended on the peaceful citizens of Provincetown; which sand-girt village of Cape Cod found itself of a sudden possessed of the cen- ter of the stage. Probably no town in America af- fords less opportunities for secretiveness than Prov- incetown. There is but one street in the village— a narrow, winding lane which follows the sinu- osity of the harbor. To the west and south are the waters of the bay. To the north and east the white and ever-moving sand dunes threaten to engulf the little fishing town. Beyond these desolate wastes of sand the Atlantic thunders against miles of beach, relieved only by far-separated lighthouses. But the detectives were not dismayed. The sum- mer seaswi had not yet opened, though a few yachts had swung into the cozy land-locked harbor, which reposes within the fish-hook cape of sand to the west and south of the hamlet. There were hundreds of fishing boats at their deep-sea toil, and their skip- pers were interviewed. So were the trainmen and conductors. The latter were positive that no man answering Mr. Morton's description had traveled over the single road which runs up Cape Cod pen- insula. The only strangers who had arrived, were then stopping at the Puritan House. These men were seen, interviewed and abandoned as sources of information. Two detectives were left at Prov- 11 M r S T E R r on M r S T E R T ♦ 85 ♦ incetown to continue the search for clues, and the others received telegraphic instructions to proceed to Springfield, Mass., and Albany, New York. On Friday the New York papers contained brief accounts of the disappearance of one L. Sylvester Vincent, a Chicago gentleman, who followed the profession of promoting enterprises and inventions. Mr. Vincent had been stopping at the Broadway Central Hotel. He was described as a gentleman of impressive bearing and rare charms of conversa- tion. Mr. Vincent had registered in the hotel two weeks before the time when his absence was noted. His hotel bill was due, and repeated efforts to pre- sent this little matter to Mr. Vincent's attention dis- closed the fact that he had not been in his room since Monday night. An examination of his effects re- vealed a much frayed evening suit, a small collection of unwashed linen, the prospectus of a plan for a ship canal connecting Pittsburg with Lake Erie, and a pocket dictionary. In the light of much greater events the fate of L. Sylvester Vincent made so feeble a flicker that it was unnoticed by the great reading public. MiaiOCOrY RESOWTON TBT CHAIIT (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) _^ /APPLIED INA^BE Inc a^. 1653 East Moin Streei r-,S Rochester, New York U609 USA '-SS (716) *SZ - 0300 - Phone a:^ (716) 28B - 5989 - Fa. MISS HELEN CARMODY «» Chapter VIII 86 "K INDLY send my card to Mr. Van Home." The office boy bowed to a lady heavily veiled, accepted a card on which was printed " Helen Carmody," bowed once again and disappeared for a moment into an inner room. In a moment he reappeared, opened the connecting door and ushered the visitor into Mr. Van Home's private office. As the lady entered this room she lifted the folds of her veil and revealed a face, the pure beauty of which was but faintly dimmed by eyes whose lids showed traces of weeping. The natural whiteness of a skin perfect in the tints and shadings which can be painted only by the carmine of youth and health, was not less beautiful in the pallor caused by emotions which she struggled to master. The dark material of a street costume out- lined a slender, graceful figure of medium height; a figure with the indefinable curves which enthrall the fancy of the artist or sculptor, and defy the pen of the most appreciative writer. Dark eyes of ex- pressive beauty were yet tender and sympathetic Miss HELEN 87 C A RM O D Y Masses of dark brown hair were arranged with all of the taste which renders the coiffure the crowning beauty of womanhood. The mouth was too yield- ing in the curving lines of the red lips to be classed as firm, yet it was the feminine type which clearly rr. irked the courage and tenacity of the ancient and honorable family of Carmody. The teeth iaughe.' to scorn the ideals of the dentist. Her apparel was rich in its simplicity; the frame best suited for a woman of marked beauty of face and figure and grace of carriage. As she entered the Van Home office, Miss Car- mody paused in evident surprise, but with no sign of confusion, as Mr. William Chalmers bowed and advanced to meet her. " I am pleased to receive you, and hope that I may be of some service to you, Miss Carmody," said Mr. Chalmers as he motioned his visitor to a seat on a divan. " My name is Chalmers ; I am Mr. Van Home's managing editor." " I had expected to meet Mr. Van Home," said Miss Carmody. There was disappointment in the tone of her voice, but no displeasure at Mr. Chal- mers' action showed in her expression as she looked at that gentleman as if to ask for an explanation. " Mr. Van Home is in Europe," said Mr. Chal- mers as he took his place at his desk, and brushed aside the obtrusive butt of a half-smoked cigar. " He went on some important business and no an- nouncement was made of his departure. Mr. Van iiL The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 88 ^ Home left for Europe two weeks ago. He is now somewhere in Russia." " That is very unfortunate," said Miss Carmody. The tears glistened in l.er eyes, and she held them back only by a too-evident exercise of will power. " Miss Carmody," said Chalmers in his rapid but cordial manner, " if your desire to see Mr. Van Home arises from any mission in which The Rec- ord is concerned, I am fully authorized to take his place. In his absence there is practically no limit to my authority." The eyes of the young lady brightened. She looked at the handsome face of the young managing editor with a mingled expression of hope and doubt. " I am afraid you cannot do that which I had intended to ask," Miss Carmody said. " I CM do anything except suspend the publica- tion of the paper," replied Chalmers with prompt fervor. " I should be tempted to even do that, if I imagined it could possibly relieve the distress which you are suffering." The pale face of the young lady flushed at this declaration, which was uttered with a sincerity which left no doubt as to the honesty of Mr. Van Home's representative. " That is the last request in the world I should make," she replied, after a moment's pause, in which the color left her cheeks. " Mr. Chalmers," she continued, in a voice tremulous it its decision, " I am going to submit something to you as if you were iJi Miss HELEN C ^ R M O D T ♦ 89 ♦ Mr. Van Home. I have known Mr. Van Home for many years. He has been a visitor at my father's house, and when father disappeared I thought of asking hirn to aid me. My mother is dead, and the whole responsibility falls on me as his only child. The house is frequented by vulgar detectives, and they have driven me nearly frantic. One would think, from the questions they ask, and the things they do, that I was suspected of being a party to my father's disappearance. And our well-meaning friends are almost as bad. They smother me with their sympathy. I am not looking for sympathy. I wish to find my dear father, and I have not the slightest confidence in the detectives, or in the meth- ods vvhich they have adoptc ' She paused for a moment ..s if to consider how she should frame the request she had to make Mr. Chalmers was deeply attentive. " I am a great believer in the possibilities of such a newspaper as The New York Record," she said. " I think that one good newspaper man is worth a dozen detectives. I do not believe the detectives will ever locate the men who have abducted my father — for it certainly is a case of abduction. I wish to place a sum of money in the keeping of The New York Record, a part of it to be offered by it as a public reward for the return of the men who have been kidnapped, and the other portion to be used under your personal direction for the same purpose." The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES *•• 90 ♦ Mr. Chalmers smiled ; and reaching into his desk produced the p/oof of the copy of a headline which was yet wet with the printer's ink. " In a small way I had anticipated your plan," he said, as he handed her the proof. It read as follows : ONE HirNDKED THOTTSANS DOIIABS ££WASD!! The Hew York B«cord offers this Sum for the Bescne of the Hiningr Hillionaires and the Capture of the Abductors! Certified Check for $100,000 deposited by The Becord in First National Bank. Miss Carmody's face was radiant with pleasure. " But you should not do that," said she. " It is not your place to devote this large sum of money for the benefit of those in whom you have but the general interest of all law-abiding citizens. As you know, my father is very wealthy. In my own name and right I have a large amount of money which I can obtain at any time. I am sure," she said with a smile, " that Papa will return me any money I spend in trying to find him. You must let me ad- vance this money. I wish to offer, through The Record, $250,000 reward, and in addition I wish you to employ in this search as large a number of your staff as you can spare, and have it done entirely at my expense. They will find that I am a liberal employer. Of course I shall not publicly appear in the matter in any way. I have already contributed Miss HELEN C ARM O DT ♦ 91 ^ to the general fund which has been subscribed by the relatives of the missing men, but I have sc little faith in the authorities and the private detectives that I wish to take the step I have indicated. You must not refuse me. You know what you promised to do," and Miss Carmody blushed in a way which made her radiantly charming. If that young lady anticipated any prolonged re- sistance on the part of Mr. Chalmers she was un- aware of the traits which had been developed by his newspaper experience as managing editor of The Record. He would have been delighted to have been able to offer a reward of a million. In fact he had a headline set up with that figure as the title, and it gave him a sensation of joy so keen it was with difficulty he lopped off an extra cipher and reduced it to $100,000. He then attempted to con- vince Miss Carmody that it would be a good plan to make the reward $350,000, of which The Record should contribute $100,000, but she would not listen to it, and for the first time in his career the young journalist was dictated to by an outsider. " I will tell you what we will do," he said, as he comprehended the possibilities and rose to the oc- casion. "We have a large staff, but not large enough to meet this emergency. I will detail ten of our best men to this work. Then I will secure ten or twelve of the best men from other New York papers. Then there are some famous detective re- porters in Chicago. We will have them. We will The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 9a ♦ scour the country for all the talent which money can purchase. I will take personal charge of this force, map out a plan, and keep at it. We shall suc- ceed ; I know we shall succeed." Miss Carmody clapped her hands in her joy and enthusiasm. All traces of sorrow and care had dis- appeared from her face. She sprang to her feet and grasped Mr. Chalmers' hand. There was noth- ing of boldness in this action, nor did Mr. Chalmers construe it as such. It was the joy natural to a generous-hearted girl who loved her father and ap- preciated the hearty sympathy which Mr. Chalmers expressed in his offer of cooperation. " You are just splendid I " she declared, her eyes dancing with excitement and pleasure. " I do not know how to thank you. You are right; we are certain to find Papa. Oh, if there was anything I could do! But," she said, with a little sigh, as she returned to her seat, " I will do all I can. You will let me know everything that happens, will you not, Mr. Chalmers?" " I will put in a private telephone and have it connected with your esidence, if you will g^ive your consent," Mr. Chalmers replied. " That is an excellent plan," said Miss Carmody. " Then it will not be necessary foi me to come to your office and take up your time as I am now doing." " You need not let that disturb you," replied Chal- mers with a broad smile. " Now that we are part- Miss HELEN C A R M DV ♦ 93 ♦ ners in this entei prise, I am going to be so bold as to ask you to be permitted — ^as Mr. Van Home's per- sonal representative — to call at your residence as occasion may demand, and make a more consecutive report of what has been done than I could over the telephone." " It is unnecessary for me to give you permis- sion," said Miss Carmody. " You may consider it a standing invitation, with as much of the nature of a command as I have a right to give." Thus the stress of a danger broke down the rigid conventionalties of .society, and formed in a few moments an acquaintance as free from restraint as if it had been the slowly nurtured product of years spent in the ball rooms or at other formal social func- tions. For an hour Miss Carmody and Mr. Chal- mers discussed their plans, while the city editor fumed in the anteroom and the art department went on a vacation. Miss Carmody departed in high spirits, after cordially shaking hands with the man- aging editor, who declared in his inmost heart that the departure of Mr. Van Home was the most pro- pitious event in his career. The next moment he was in the maddening whirl of work incident to the routine of a daily newspaper. CHALMERS HAS A SUSPICION ♦ Chapter IX 94 THE myste.ious fate of the six missing mil- lionaires remained the one topic of dis- cussion in New York city. All fo'-mer sen- sations paled to drea-y tameness. From every sec- tion of the country detectives flocked to the me- trofdlis, attracted noc only by the fabulous rewards, but by the fame which would crown the unravelling of the secret. Many and weird were the theories evolved by professional and amateur detectives. The favorite one was that the millionaires had been lured aboard a submarine boat, and were either traversing the depths of the ocean, or had sunk, owing to some unforeseen defect in the mechanism of the craft. The fact that no word was received from the kid- nappers claiming the rewards or demanding a ran- som gave color to this theory. The rewards aggre- gated two million dollars, and it was specifically stated that no questions would be asked and abso- lute immunity from prosecution was guaranteed. But no word from the missing capitalists had been received since the receipt of the letters from CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ** 95 ♦ Provincetown, jpnngfield, Albany, New York Brooklyn and Philadelphia. It was as if the earth had opened and swallowed the-n. The crank was in his glory, \n ana.chist boldlv announced that he belonged ts to determine who has profited by these men's disa^ppearance. Who were Street & Rogers acting "They refuse to say," said Chalmers. "The pohce have demanded their books, and the question wil be passed on by the court to-morrow. These books will throw no light on the subject. You may rest assured that they have covered up their tracks so far as stock books are concerned. The account will probably stand in the name of a member of the hrm. They have plenty of money, and were win- ners from the start. From Monday noon they were on velvet.' Later they did nothing but pyramid heir profits. The question is, who were they acting for? Perhaps they were acting for themselves they practically say so." " I will put twenty men on Wall Street to-mor- row, said Stevens. " I am going out to Province- town to-n.ght with ten men, and I have detailed the others to various points in the city. By the way, has that man L. Sylvester Vincent been heard of? '' " Who is he? " asked Chalmers. "You had a paragraph about him yesterday," said Stevens. "He is missing from the Broad- way Central Hotel. Has not been seen since Mon- day night. He may have something to do with it. I have sent a man to Chicago for his record." Stevens went away and left Chalmers to his re- flections. The managing editor leaned back in his The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES <9> I02 ^ chair and gazed for a long time at the ceiling. Then he lit a cigar and blew rings of smoke at the wall above, as if to bombard it into a surrender of the secret. He placed his feet on the desk and allowed his mind to wander at will over the dark fields of the mystery. There was no thoroughfare. Chal- mers leaned back until the office chair threatened to fall. He then stood up, kicked it savagely, and paced up and down the room. " It's queer ; mighty queer." Mechanically he picked up Mr. Van Home's cablegram and again read it. " ' Put Hestor to work on the case,' " he mused. " I will do right well putting Hestor to work on the case. I wish I knew where I could find him." When preoccupied, Chalmers had a habit of drawing perspectives of cubes on a tablet of writing paper. On this occasion he outlined innumerab'" cubes and shaded them in a way entirely satisfactory to himself, but hardly in conformity to the canons of art. He crumpled the paper into a wad and ac- curately snapped it out of the window. There was a rap on the door. Chalmers glared angrily in the direction of the sound, but said nothing. The office boy did not rap again; he was too well trained to make that mistake. The visitor was Informed that Mr. Chalmers was not in. " Hestor came in here on Saturday," muttered Chalmers as he hurled a pile of unoffending ex- changes in the direction of the waste basket. " He CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ♦ 103 <*► said he was compelled to make a hurried trip to Europe, and expected to sail on Monday or Tues- day in his yacht the ' Shark.' That makes mc think that I promised to insert a notice about his departure. I had forgotten all about it." Mr. Chalmers consulted a memorandum and wrote the following notice, sending it to the com- posing room : " Walter B. Hestor, the famous journalist, ac- companief' by Mr. Sidney Hammond, has departed on a cruise in Mediterranean waters on his steam yacht the ' Shark.' He will combine business with a pleasure trip, and readers of The Record may con- fidently await a series of entertaining letters from its talented correspondent. Mr. Hestor will be abroad several weeks." "Queer chap, that Hestor," mused Mr. Chal- mers as he relit his cigar. " Of course it's only a coincidence; but I cannot help thinking about it." Chalmers paced up and down the room with his head thrown back and his eyes half closed in thought. He attempted to recall every word and action of Hestor's during the days immediately pre- ceding his departure. " It's too deep for me," he said, as he returned to his desk and mechanically picked up the Van Home cablegram. " What does Hestor want in the Mediterranean? How in thunder am I going to reach him?" h The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 104 ♦ He turned the knob on the door to Hestor's private office. It was locked, and Chalmers knew it was locked. He sent for the janitor. " Have you a key to that door? " " No, sir. Mr. Hestor has the only key," the janitor replied. " Take off the lock and put in a new one," he said. " We must have a room for Mr. Stevens and some of his men. Hestor may be mad, but I cannot help it." The door was soon opened and Chalmers entered. The heavy oak desk was closed. At the base of the door, opening into the hall, were a number of letters which had been dropped through ;. slit by the post- man. When Hestor returned from his long expedi- tions he frequently found a bushel basket full of accumulated letters. There were perhaps a dozen letters now lying on the floor. Chalmers picked them up and looked at the inscriptions. Three were in dainty white envelopes and sealed with wax. Chalmers glanced at them and threw them back on the floor. One bore the name of a big grocery house. Another was from a liquor house. A third was from a furniture establishment. Yet another was from n billiard table manufacturer. The fifth contained the address of a dealer in smoked and canned meats. There was one from a manufacturer of awnings, one from a piano house, and another from a dealer in guns, fishing tackle and sporting goods. There were sev- CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ♦ 105 ^ eral other letters with the names of well-known New York merchants on their upper left hand corners. " Hestor is quite a business man," mused Chal- mers as he sorted over the letters. " These are bills. I know a bill as a cat knows his home. Bills for stuff on his yacht, I suppose. Very likely. I won- der what they are. There is a way to find out, and I am going to do it. This is all wrong, perhaps, but I am going to find out if there is anything in my suspicions. Hestor is a queer fish. He left New York the night these men disappeared. Where did he go? Why did he go? Van Home wants him to work on this case. It is my duty to locate him. Hestor would be glad to take hold of a mystery like this. It is right in his line." In this way Chalmers stifled his conscience — if he had such an anomaly as a newspaper conscience — and copied tlie Imsi-.iess addresses on the envelopes. He then threw tnem on the floor. When the janitor had fitted a new lock to the door, Chalmers closed the room and put the keys in his desk. If the jani- tor wondered that Jack Stevens and his men did not use the Hestor office, he was wise enough not to say anything. The janitor of a metropolitan newspaper office is possessed of more secrets than a prime minister. Mr. Chalmers sent for a reporter named Benson, a cautious, self-possessed gentleman who could ex- |*tract information from sources barren to all but the select few who are masters of the art. It was not fi u The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES "^ io6 ^ necessary to waste words with Mr. Benson. He thoroughly understood his business. " Here are some business addresses, Benson," said Chalmers, handing him a slip of paper. " I promised Mr. Hestor I would attend to certain bills as they became due. Go to these houses and ask for item- ized statements of any bills against Mr. Hestor If necessary explain that Mr. Hestor has suddenly been detailed to work abroad and that through an over- sight he neglected to leave the key to his room where his mail is delivered. You should have no difficulty Merchants seldom object to the prompt settlement of accounts. This is a personal matter, concerning no other member of the staflf." Mr. Benson bowed, said not a word and quietly left the room. Late in the afternoon he was admitted to Mr. Chalmers' office. He produced from a deep inside pocket a small package and handed it to Chal- mers. " There they are," he said. "All of them?" Mr. Benson nodded an affirmative, turned on his heel and vanished. Mr. Chalmers examined the slips with much w- terest. The first one was from a furniture house. It was an itemized bill for a long list of articles, among which were the following. Twelve brass bedsteads .... @ $40 oo $480 00 Twelve hair mattresses 35 00 420 00 Thirtj-six chairs 4 00 144 00 CHALMERS has a '* .07 Twenty-four chairs... /w Twelve leather sofas ' ' Two leather sofas... Twelve center tables. One dining table One sideboard Two library cases . Twelve willow rockers."" Twelve rugs One rug ' ' Four writing desks. Miscellaneous furniture SUSPICION ^ 00 $144 00 75 00 900 00 125 00 250 00 40 00 480 00 300 00 500 00 125 JO 250 00 10 00 120 00 60 00 720 00 2!;o 00 100 00 400 00 1,600 00 $6^58 00 '• SoT" VL"^ '^"^ '''""' '°"g ^"d «7 . ^^' ^' 'f Hestor had started a hotel or board •ng house." reflected the managing ed to "^fj twelve-room boarding house. Thatl no the kind He hlsT '' T" P"' "P '" ^ ^- York house He has h,s ov^-n bachelor apartment. I have been He read and reread the furniture Wii Then he leaned back in his chair and invoked the resource of a memory trained to its work and responses "TL 1 r '*'t °^ ^"^^ fi"^-« °f -irtlo invited Boh V T'' '^ ^'''^^'^' "^'-^ H-to-- r he wl r ""r^- ^'^'^ ^"-^ -"y^^'f to dinner at the Waldorf, and after dinner we went to his «ent. He was ,o,.,ciousIy mysterious abo some house he was building. Bob Van Home had The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ io8 ^ been talking about a summer joint he was going to erect out on Long Island. Hestor said he was building one which would make Bob's look like thirty cents. He raved about the scenery and all that. Seems to me as if he said something about palm trees. Bob asked him where it was, and he shut up like a clam." Chalmers reflected. " He said ' palm trees ' all right. Seems to me as if he said something about alligators. Then he closed up and said nothing." Chalmers examined the other statements. They were bills of various kinds— for stocks of canned gooff ,, smoked meats, condensed milk and the multi- tudinous articles which would be used by a well i-quipped camping party. They were dated between the 25th and the 29th of April, and were rendered on the first of the month. It was late in the after- noon when he was through with this work. About eleven o'clock that night Chalmers re- ceived a telegram from Mr. Bernard Seymour dated from Chicago. Mr. Seymour had been detailed by Jack Stevens to hunt up the Chicago record of L. Sylvester Vincent. Seymour had the reputation of being a whirlwind at newspaper detective work. It was Seymour who solved the Dr. Cronin murder mystery. He discovered the famous Carlson cottage, and covered himself arid his paper with glory. Sey- mour never allowed a sensation to grow cold when he was working on it. He believed in furnishing news. There were some who criticized his work, CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ♦ 109 ^ asserting that with him accuracy was but a minor l^sideration. In recent years Seymour had not been offered a chance to regild his fame, and he started for Chicago fully determined to emblazon h.s name so high on the newspaper dome, that envy and spleen could not reach or tarnish it bulletm, filed m Chicago at eight o'clock that night : Chicago, May 8. L. Sylvester Vincent is the kidnapper. He formed plan m Chicago two months ago. Has bee^ e^in conference with Joseph Reiterman and Xr bie ^^ °P?'-a'°"- Was probably backed by th«n o abduct Rockwell, Carmody, Kent, Pence Cen charaftr°"M ""T^^'"' '* ^ P'^^^'^Ie but desS words H."'' K !, ''°'^' '=^" ^"'J ''" thoLTand words. How much do you want ? Bernard Seymour. Chalmers wired the impetuous Seymour to send nothmg except a brief statement of the facts he had learned; not for publication, but for the private in- formation of Mr. Stevens and himself. Chalmers then wired Stevens to put his men at work at Provincetown, and return to N '-rkatonce He received a telephone message v,, . Miss Carmody asking him to call at her residence if convenient, and m fifteen minutes an automobile landed him ?j the Carmody mansion. li The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ IIO a^ He found Miss Carmody with Miss I. lith Le Roy, Miss De Neuviile and Mrs. Isabel White, the latter being the wi 'owed aunt of Miss Carmody, and a most charming chapcrone to that young lady. Mr. Chalmers was acquainted with all the ladies except Mrs. White. All were eager for the latest news. Mr. Chalmers repeated Mr. Van Home's instructions about the reward, and displayed a copy of the headlines and the leading article for the fol- lowing day. He told what had been done in the way of forming a detective staff. " We now have forty men aetailed exclusiv to this work," he said. " Ten are with Mr. Steve, at Provincetown and others are at various pointt selected by Mr. Stevens and myself. I know you ladies will excuse me if I ask for a few minutes private conversation with Miss Carmody. We must all do what we can to advance her interests, and this is a matter in which she is especially concerned, and no precautions can be omitted." " Certainly we will excuse you," said Mrs. White. " Why, of course," said Miss Le Roy and Miss De Neuviile. But these young ladies were devoured of curiosity and would have giv-en anything quietly to have stepped into the adjoining room and over- heard the subdued conversation between Miss Car- mody and the managing editor. Chalmers briefly recited the story of L. Sylvester Vincent and told of the telegram he had received from Seymour at Chicago. CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ♦ III ^ " This is a clew well worth following," said Mr. Chalmers. " I do not suppose you have ever heard your father speak about a man named Vin- cent?" Miss Carmody was sure that her father had never mentioned the name. It was an odd one and she would have remembered it. "Did Mr. Vincent ever call here? Your butler or footman might know." Miss Carmody rang a bell. A servant ap- peared. " Tell Smith I wish to see him," .said Miss Car- mody. " Do you keep the cards of all who all on Mr. Carmody?" asked Miss Carmodv as the butler stood in the doorway. " Yes, Miss 'Elen." " Bring me the cards which have been received in the past three or four weeks." The butler bowed, disappeared, and soon returned with a formidable assortment of cards. These were spread out on the table, and Miss Carmody and Mr. Chalmers began an examination of them. " This is a new game of cards, Miss Carmody," said Chalmers, glancing at his lovely companion. " The one who finds the right name wins." " I win ! " said Miss Helen, her eyes flashing with excitement. " Here it is ! " She passed a neatly engraved card to Mr. Chal- mers. That gentleman took it and read : i* The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES <*> iia ^ <^&>. kS^^^^v^ v^si**. IHTaator, Mackulcal Bxpart and Promoter, CHICAOO. " Here is another one," said Miss Carmody. They looked at all the cards and found four with the name of L. Sylvester Vincent. She sent for Smith. " Do you remember the gentleman who presented these cards? " she asked. Smith looked at the cards a moment and said: " I remember 'im very well, Miss 'Elen. The first time 'e came 'e walked right in and 'ung up 'is 'at before I could stop 'im. 'E said 'e 'ad an happoint- ment with Mr. Carmody. I took 'is card to Mr. Carmody and 'e said 'e did not know 'im, and would not see 'im. I told 'im Mr. Carmody was nut at 'ome. 'E said 'e would v;ait. I told 'im that Mr. Carmody saw no one on business at his residence. 'E said 'e knew that, but 'e 'ad to sail for Lunnon the next day and must see Mr. Carmody that night. Finally 'e went away." "What kind of a looking man was he?" asked Chalmers. " 'E was a large man with a red face, sir," said CHALMERS has a SUSPICION *•* "3 ^ Smith. " 'E -ad a big moustache, and was not a bad iookm' sort of a chap, sir. 'E wore a sillc hat and ad a roll of paper under 'is arm, sir. 'E was very bold sir; extremely bold, sir. 'E gave me much trouble, sir. The next night 'e came again. 'E said 'e 'ad postponed 'is trip to Lunnon on purpose to see Mr. Carmody, sir. I took 'is card to Mr Carmody, and Mr. Carmody was very hangry, sir E came twice more when I was not on the door sir." ' " Very well. Smith, that is all," said Miss Car- mody. She looked at Mr. Chalmers with an expres- sion half of interrogation and half of confidence in his ability to solve the riddle. The chatter of Miss Le Roy sounded musical as it came through the drawn portieres. Two newsboys were "working the street " with a late edition. In the distance their cries sounded like the " honking " of wild geese; one boy with a shrill high note, and the other grumbling in a mournful bass. "Hi, yi, hi, ya!— hum, ha-a-a-r-r, ru-u-u-ml All about the-e-r hu-u-m. All erbout de lost mill- nares! Wurl Extra! All erbout de great myst'ryl hu-u-u-m, ru-u-u-m. All erbout " _ The shrill soprano, as the boys passed the man- sion, rose above the growl of the boy on the opposite side of the street. They passed on until their voices were lost in the pervading hum of the city A shadow passed over the face of Miss Carmody, but it lasted only for a moment. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 114 ♦ " It is remarkable that so many things should point to this man Vincent," said Mr. Chalmers. " He disappeared the same time your father did. He had been here several times the week before. And, on top of this, our man Seymour wires that Vincent is the man." " Do you think tiiat he is, Mr. Chalmers? " Miss Carmody looked eagerly into the eyes of the manag- ing editor, and that gentleman was so hypnotized that he was lost at the moment for an answer. " I — I — no, I do not think he is," said Mr. Chal- mers. " It is probably nothing more than a coinci- dence." " But your Mr. Seymour seems so sure that Vin- cent is at the bottom of the mystery," said Miss Carmody. " Seymour is a good reporter, but he is too emo- tional at times," said Chalmers smiling. " He is like many of our detectives who first make up their minds, and then make the facts fit to prove their theory. It is better to get the facts first, and form your theory later. Of course Seymour may have some important clues, but he did not send them in his bulletin. I have good reason for suspecting a certain person of complicity in this matter, and I have some facts which seem to fortify my sus- picions, but I would not dream of making a charge against him. In a few days I shall know more." " You must not tell me a thing that you deem wise to keep to yourself," said 'Miss Carmody. " I lliil: CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ♦ 115 ^ know that women are charged with inordinate curi- osity—and I have my full share of it— but my only wish is to do all I can to find my father, and to help you in every possible way. How I wish there was sometb. I could do!" " By 'he way, there is something you can do, if you will," said Chalmers. "What is i.t?" Miss Carmody was much inter- ested. " It has but an indirect bearing on this case," said Chalmers. " Mr. Van Home cabled me to-day to have Mr. Walter B. Hestor work on this mystery. Now, Mr. Hestor has gone to Europe with Mr. Sidney Hammond. I forgot to ask him where he would make his first landing. Hestor and Miss Le Roy are friends. Hestor said some.^ ing to me con- cerning a dinner party he gave about a week before he went away, and if my memory serves me right he said Miss L. loy was present. Will you ask her about this dinner party ? It is likely that' Hestor may have talked over his plans with Miss Le Roy or Mr. Hammond. We wish to get into communication with Mr. Hestor at once. He is the most brilliant newspaper correspondent of the time. His assist- ance would be invaluable." " I will do so before Miss Le Roy leaves to- night," said Miss Carmody. " I am glad there is something I can do. Is it not too bad that Mr. Hestor went away just when he did? He is so fond of big sensations that he would have delighted The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ ii6 ^ in this one, and would have done all in his power to solve it." " Find out who made up the members of this dinner party and I will call you up to-morrow and you can tell me," said Mr. Chalmers. " The Record is to be congratulated on so charming an addition to its reportorial staff." " My assignment is an easy one," said Miss Helen, as Chalmers rose to go. " Must you go so soon, Mr. Chalmers ? Won't you stay and join us in a cup of coflfee?" " I should be more than pleased to do so," said Mr. Chalmers, "but we have an important paper to-morrow, and one difficult to handle. I promised my assistants I would return at a certain hour, and I '.lave just enough time to make the distance in." Mr. Chalmers made his apologies to Mrs. White, Miss Le Roy and Miss De Neuville. Miss Carmody accompanied him to the door and thanked him ear- nestly for the interest he was tak.ng in solving the mystery. She extended her hand at parting and shook hands, not with the cold conventional touch, but with the hearty clasp of a good friend. " That girl is a trump," said Chalmers to himself as he settled back in the auto and was vi^hirled down the street. " She is a daughter to be proud of! What a wife she would make ! How would it read ? ' The wedding ceremony , f Mr. William Chalmers, the gifted journalist, and I,Iiss Helen Carmody, heiress to the Carmody millions, was the fitting CHALMERS has a SUSPICION ♦ 117 ^ climax to the social season. The church was thronged with '—I wonder how in the devil I am going to put four big stories on the first page of to- morrow's paper? The need of the hour is a paper with but one page, and that the front one. It would be a joy to make up such a paper. Oh, well it's all m a lifetime! The more I think about it the more I believe that Hestor is at the bottom of this busmess. He is perfectly daffy about news sensa- tions. If he has determined to go into the business of manufacturing news, he has made a good start But It cannot be possible. He would not dare do such a thing. But stranger things have happened. He was mighty busy for a week before he went away What in thunder did he do with all that furniture' I predict I shall know more about it before to-morrow night. He bought enough food to provision a dozen men for six months. Perhaps they were for his crew? But you do not provide six dozen cases uf Scotch whiskey and all the table luxuries of Sherry or Delmonico for a yacht's crew. It's too deep for me. Hestor always was a queer fellow. I don't believe in millionaire newspaper amateurs. One on a paper is enough. Van Home alone would drive a temperance fanatic to drink, if he had to ' managing editor ' him. Bt-t Bob is easy compared with Hes*' Oh, well, forget it. Miss Carmody is a chai girl, even if her father is rich. She cannot he.^ a. I'll bet she will pump that chatter- box of a Le Roy dry of all she knows about Hestor. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ ii8 ^ Miss Carmody is a wise little girl. You wait here for me, Joe," said Chalmers, addressing the driver, as he reached The Record building. " I will be out in an hour." When Miss Carmody returned to her guests. Miss Le Roy at once monopolized the conversation. "Isn't Mr. Chalmers handsome?" she said, clasping her hands. " I think he is perfectly lovely.' Such deep brown eyes and such wavy hair. And he is so easy in his manner. Did you see how he dis- rosed of us as if we were children who were in his way? I would resent such a thing in most men but It comes naturally to Mr. Chalmers. I suppose he IS ^o used to managing a lot of newspaper men that the handling of a few women is a matter of no con- sequence. But he is just splendid; don't you think so, Helen ? " " He certainly is," said Miss Carmody. " I can talk to him just as if he were my big brother." " The adopted big brother is always an interesting character," said Mrs. White. "Sometimes he changes his relationship." Miss Carmody blushed, laughed good-naturedly, and changed the subject. " By the way," she said, addressing Miss Edith Le Roy, " Mr. Chalmers informs me that Mr Van Home has cabled him to ask Walter Hestor to take charge of the search for the missing men. Mr Hestor sailed for Europe before this happened Mr Chalmers thought that possibly you might know CHALMERS has a SUSPICION * '19 ^ Mr TJ'f""''°", f '°'" "^ '^^' "° -ord with with Mr. Hestor without delay " Miss'LTRr •'!■? "°' ''^ ™^^' '^-•' -id night we went to h ""* "^" ^^^"^■- ^'"^ ^^e »nt we went to the opera and then had supner at tr P at that t,n,e. The first I heard about it wa^o; sav" T; :'r ' ""'^^'' ^ ""^f i^"" f-- waite; now that I was real angry with him at the supner Hammond were talking about trusts and aH t2 thTnJ/ r.T: , '^ "■' ^'^"^y^ ''^heming to better thmgs. I thmk things are perfectly lovely as thev are, don J you? Why men like Walter SLor and Sidney Hammond should be worrying abou th^ ;; Who were at the supper?" Miss Helen asked ^._ Jh. I forget. Who were there, Miss De n2 Miss De Neuville wrinkled her pretty brows and thought deeply for a few moments. We go to so many places it is difficult to re remember," she said. '• Let me see : there waSM ney Hammond and his sister Olive-that's two- Walter Hestor and Miss Le Roy-that's fo r-ST 111 f The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ I20 ^ Blake and Miss Meredith— that's six— and Mr. Converse and myself— that's eight." " You arc right, Lillian, I remember now," said Miss Le Roy. " What a splendid memory you have! I can never remember anything." " Walter and Sidney were talking about a big con- vention of the leaders of trusts," said Miss De Neu- yille. " I know Walter was very enthusiastic about It, as he always is about everything. I did not hear either of them say anything about going to Europe." Soon after this Miss Le Roy and Miss De Neu- ville rolled away in their carriages, and the big Car- mody mansion was dark as it frowned on Fifth Avenue. SOME DETECT- IVB WORK ^ 131 Chapter X M " Chicago, Afay 6. Chicago three weekra/owhh"? !J ^"' T°""'^- Left to Carmody, Rockwelf Mnr^ u' °^ ■ntroduction Wire .ne $rt°"p,a„SHreI H' Ltf^-"^"- Bernard Sevmour." and se„t't.e .^ as" etS" Th '^ '^'^^^■^'^ editor was far fro^ sharTg Jatk Ste ve^-rr^ rz If ,'r°"^'^ '-^te'^tirs The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 111 ^ would prove an expensive luxury, but Chalmers had been trained to ignore money as a factor in news- paper ventures. He dismissed the enterprismg Seymour from his thoughts. The following morning Jack Stevens returned from Provincetown. He had learned nothing, but had assigned his men in such a way that he predicted results would follow. Chalmers explained to Ste- vens what he had learned from following up the clue offered by the letters found in Hestor's office. "I will give this my personal attention," said Stevens. " Within two hours I will find where that furniture and stuff went to." "Be very careful what you say or do, Jack," cautioned Chalmers. " The fact that Hestor bought a lot of furniture proves nothing in itself. Say nothing to make these furniture people suspicious. They are likely to wonder at our sudden interest in Hestor's affairs." " Don't you worry about that," said Stevens. " I will not see the members of the firm at all. I will trace the stuff from the teamster who hauled it, or get the facts from the shipping clerk. I will make no bad breaks." Stevens was not away two hours before he re- turned. He was excited but happy. "Well?" said Chalmers. " That furniture went on board the ' Shark,' " said Jack Stevens. " It not only went aboard the ' Shark,' but it went into the hold of the boat. I Some DETECTIVE tfOR K found the two teamsters who hauled it. I made hem behave I was one of the clerks of the furnTure house and explained that a complaint had Z^ made that two chairs were missing. They told me all about it. The ' Shark ' was anchored off Twe„ and helped put .t m the yacht. I told them the matter A^as of no consequence, and convinced them that sus- picion was not directed against them. I also found out about the billiard table. That also went on board the yacht. So did the piano." .tuJ-^^V'nT,'''' "^""'""^ ^"^"^ "^« ^"t of the stuff, sa,d Chalmers. '• It went to the same place. Well, what do you think of it? " ^^ "I do not know your man Hestor," said Stevens. Were he not worth more millions than I have dollars I should say he was under suspicion " We will so regard him notwithstanding his money, said Chalmers deliberately. " Pick out two or three good men and trace his actions as best you can up to the time he went away. He keeps bache- tor apartments uptown. I will get you the address. H-- has several servants, including a coachman He IS 4|..te modest in his tastes. The servants should not be suspicious, if you go at them discreetly " Stevens had no trouble in interviewing the serv- ant of the Hestor establishment. He learned nothing of any consequence until he located the coachman. That dusky gentleman proved a mine of information. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 124 ^ " Marster Walter tole me nothin' 'bout whar he wuz gwine," said Mr. Napoleor Spencer. " De last time I dun see Marster Walter wuz on de pier an' he shook hans good-by an' left er twenty dollar gold piece dar." And Napoleon looked at his hand as if to again see that treasure sparkling in his palm. " Where was that, Mr. Spencer? " " Down by de pier at der Battery," explained Napoleon. " Deres whar de ' Shark ' was a-layin' " " Who was with Mr. Hestor? Did any one ride with him in the carriage? Tell me all abo-U it." "Thar aint much to tell, boss," said Napoleon. " Marster Walter tole me to drive down town an' meet him in front of de Record orfice at half-past three. I dun so, an' he tole me to drive over ter Broadway, as he 'lowed ter pick up Mister Ham- mond and another gemman who was gwine ter see him off on de ' Shark.' I done so and dese gemmen comes down de steps, gets in de carriage and I drives dem away. Dat's all der is to it." " What building did you go to? " " De Carmody buildin', on Broadway, sah," said Napoleon. "Do you know Mr. Hammond when you see him?" / u see " No, sah." " What kind of looking men virere those who got in the carriage? Will you have a fresh cigar, Mr. Spencer? " " Thank yer, boss. Dcy was moighty fine lookin' Some DETECTIVE IV O R K '^ "5 ^ «««n.en." said Napoleon. " Dey was oldish lookin' gem^en. and dey 'peared n,ighty i„,po-.a„., sa"- __ Uid you see anyone else on the yacht ' " '' De ' Shark ' sailed right erway as I left sah " r/herTffT- "^''^^--fi^-'thit; ;s °Shtl. , r' '*' "P' ^^"« ''« °^ders an' de Shark sa,led out inter de bay. Marster Walter d dn t say nothin' ter ,.e erbout whar he was a^me or when he would come back. MarsTer Walters a m.ghty particlar man erbout sich thinj! Steve^Slf "w'^"'' ^'- "P^"^"-" -'^ Jack i>tevens. We want to send a cablegram to him as soon as possible. Good day." " Good-bye boss. Sorry I cawnt tole yer nothin' mo erteut h,m. Marster Walter's a mighty hard -an to find when he's gwinc erway, sah. S b^e Jack Stevens lost no time in acquainting Chal- mers w.th what he had learned. Thel no longer had any doubt they were on the right track StZ"s' """t! ^'M".'" '"^'^ ^ "''"^ ^°'-?" asked t.vesl What motive would a man like Hestor have The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES *•• 126 ^ in kidnapping such men as these? He has plenty of money. He would not demand a ransom. Most of these men have known him since he was a boy; so I am told. His father was a big figure in Wall Street. What the devil was his motive?" " I will never tell you," said Chalmers. " He has always been more or less crazy about the newspaper business. That interview with the Czar turned his head. This is probably his coup de maitre. If so, it is a wonder! " " How much better oiT are we now that we be- lieve Hestor is the man? " asked Stevens. " Where is he? That is the question. How are we to find him?" " You may as well call ofif your men at Province- town," said Chalmers, after a pause, in which both did some hard tliinking. " They can find nothing there. If Hestor did this job, he probably brought the ' Shark ' into Cape Cod bay and posted the let- ter from Provincetown. Then he dropped a man oflf at or near Boston and had him mail the various letters from Springfield, Albany and the other places. It requires no great reasoning to see through that. The last letter came from Philadelphia. Hestor may have made the trip himself. It would be just like him. If so, the yacht probably picked him up at some point along the South Atlantic coast " " It strikes me that the thing to do is to ascertain if Hestor loaded any building materials into that yacht," said Stevens. " If he did he is planning to Some D ET ^.C T IVE WORK *•* 127 build a house to pui that furniture in. If not, the house probably is built." " I have reason to believe the house is already constructed," said Chalmers. He told Stevens of Hestor's talk about his house, the night after the W aldorf-Astoria dinner. While they were consid- ering this phase of the case, the news editor entered with a telegram. It read as follows : " St. Louis, May 7. ^° ^Ywk%^^d^^^^^' ^"""^'''S Editor New Have arrested L. Sylvester Vincent. He refuses to make confession. How much shall I send ' Bie S w" T^ '"" *°"'^"'l ^^°fds before mid night. Wire $200.00. Bernard Seymour." " Your man Seymour is a dream," said Chalmers passing the telegram to Jack Stevens. " Wire him to send us a thousand words information not for publication, and tell him to stick to Vincent and make him talk." Stevens sent the proper dispatch Another telegram was received, an hour later, from St. Louis. It read: " St. Louis, May 7. T '^^o Editor New York Record: Man arrested as t l!,%r D*" ^'^'^•r' ^y y°"' representative proves to be the Rev. Hilton Wesley of Chicago. Where can your representative be found? P. Sullivan, Chief of Police." I The KIDNAPPED MILLION. IIRES * 128 ^ Wire the Chief that the man who represented himself as our correspondent, undoubtedlyTs an"m Postor. I wonder where Mr. Bernard SeJ^ouHs . ^ $500.00 to St.S;es'Se..1."::°Snf • '"^^ Bernard Seymour." you what we ^J o" Y ur WaXf "' V^" m,j. .J i^ogers. An examination was made tc^day and it panned out just as I prXred The account ,s in the name of the firm. I L ^oint o break into Hestor's desk to-night and Tee ! f an learn anything. If his check books are thLe tney are. What I was about to say is this ■ Yn,, fin.i out If any lumber went aboard the ■Shark 'In the tor, builder and architect in New York and sel ^f any work has been done for Hestor in th:,LTwo ; That is a great scheme! " said Stevens. Send men to Boston and Philadelphia on a like ^ome BETECJIVE WORK "ave had anythin JoTo '^^.r^^', ,™" -"^ -ay oi any kind L Vvliter B Hest'; ''s' ^ f « absolute secrecy T ;,„ ,.;, ? '■^^'" "^«"' t° mody residence" "^ ^ar- »IW wilh H.,l„r * " ""'^'^ "> 1»'« importance, which I .J,'.'"^^''^^^ Hammond.' ^f LZlZVl ^7 T "^^^ cannot be interrupted or overheard '" "'"^ "^ Miss Carmody rang for Swith. " Puf 1 ^'■. ^'™°'^'^ P"^^*« offi«." she said i'ut It in order and brine" Mr ChJ cigars. I know he smokes." "'"'" '°"'' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES Mr. Chalmers bowed his thanks. They were soon seated in Mr. Carmody's library and private office. Nothing which taste could dictate or money furnish was lacking in this room. Chalmers took the big easy office chair, while the young ladies formed a charming picture on a nearby divan. '• Miss Hammond, the news I have obtained indi- rectly concerns your brother Sidney," said Chal- mers. Miss Olive Hammond grew pale, and uttered a half-exclamation. " You need not be in the least alarmed. I have no reason to believe he is in any degree to blame in this affair. I am going to relate the whole story, as far as I know it, and you may be able to throw new light on the mystery." For half an hour Chalmers explained the circum- stances which had led him to suspect Hestor. He gave a spirited character sketch of that gentleman, and told many incidents of his newspaper career. He told of the letters he had found and the discov- eries which had been made by Stevens. As he talked the two girls clasped hands. Tears glistened in Miss Hammond's eyes when Chalmers told of the instructions Hestor had left that a notice should be inserted in The Record, stating that Sidney Ham- mond would accompany him on the trip to the Med- iterranean. As he said this, Miss Carmody released Olive Hammond's hand, and instinctively drew away from her. Olive burst into tears. " Sidney never could do such a thing ! Oh, there Some DETECTIVE fT O R K * 131 ^ is a cruel mistake somewhere! " she sobbed. " Sid- ney is the soul of honor. Oh, my brother, my noble honest brother; why are you not here to defend yourself?" Miss Helen threw her arms around the weeping girl. Chalmers did not know what to say. His story had been cut off at its sensational point. He stammered an apology. " He is not guilty. I am sure he is not guilty 1 " exclaimed Miss Carmody. Her eyes flashed as she looked at Chalmers. " I have said that I did not believe him guilty," said that gentleman, recovering himself. "You young ladies jump at a conclusion too quickly. It is probable that Mr. Hammond was the victim of a plot like the others." " Why, Sidney did not know he was going until a few hours before the yacht sailed for Europe " said Miss Olive. She had regained her self-posses- sion. " He sent me a telegram just before he went away, saying that he was obliged to take a sudden trip to Europe with Mr. Hestor. When he left home in the morning he did not know a thing about It. We had planned to go to the theater on the fol- lowing evening, and he had secured the tickets. So how could he have known anything about it ? Sid- ney tells me everything." That is splendid news," said Chalmers, his face lighting ap with pleasure. " You need not worry about Sidney. I hope you kept that telegram." iJI The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * '32 ^ "I have it here in my reticule," said Miss Olive Chalmers read it carefully. He lifted the receiver of the telephone at his elbow. "Give me the Superintendent's office— the Postal Union Telegraph Company," he said. Chalmers was well acquainted with the routine of the telegraph office, and soon arranged that the original of the dispatch be forwarded by special message to the Carmody residence. While waiting for this, they talked over the strange features of the case. " You are sure that Hestor said nothing about going away the night he gave the opera and supper party? asked Mr. Chalmers. " I did not hear him say a word about it," said Miss Hammond. " Mr. Hestor and Sidney had a long talk about trusts. They were at the end of the table, and for a long time took no part in the general conversation. I was not interested in what the others were saying, and found myself listening to Sidney and Walter Hestor. Mr. Hestor said it would be a fine plan if they could induce the leading capitalists of the country to meet and discuss meth- ods to regulate the abuses which have arisen under the trust control of industrial affairs. Now that 1 think of it, he mentioned such names as Rockwell Morton, and Haven, and I am sure Mr. Carmody's name was used. Sidney told him that these men could not be induced to take the time to bother with such matters. Finally Mr. Hestor said that he w-.s Some DETECTIVE fT R K ^ 133 ^ going to rorm a trust of his own. Sidney laughed, but Walter seemed much in earnest. Soon after- ward the party dispersed and we .vent home. Sid- ney went to Chicago, and did not return until the following Saturday." The messenger boy arrived with the original copy of the telegram. Chalmers gave one glance at "Just as I suspected," he said. He passed the telegram to Miss Hammond. It was written in pencil on a sheet of newspaper " copy " paper, with a telegraph head pasted above it. " Is that Sidney's handwriting? " he asked. " Why, no! " exclaimed Miss Olive. " It is not a bit like it." " Walter Hestor wrote that," said Chalmers. " I know his writing; having handled thousands of pages of it. You may rest assured. Miss Carmody, that we shall soon solve this mystery. Hestor has not covered his tracks. He either did not know how, or did not care. No shrewd criminal would send a forged telegram in his own handwriting. He would use a typewriter. Hestor sent this tele- gram so that you would not be alarmed at Sidney's absence. It is plain as day." " It did not read like Sidney," said Miss Olive. " T thought it so queer that he did not want me to come down to the dock and see him away on his journey. He always lets me tag around and bother him." The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * «34 ^ Chalmers enjoined the young ladies to secrecy and returned to his newspaper duties. For two hours he worked with the energy of a dozen men. Those who hold the popular idea that the chief task of an editor is to amass enough material to " fill up " his paper, should spend the night in the office of the managing editor of a metropolitan newspaper. There is enough stuflf— all newspaper copy IS " stuff," be it the message of a President, the death of a Queen, or the three-line notice of a political meeting— there is enough " stuff " on hand or m sight to fill a dozen papers. Each of the de- partments is clamoring for space. The sporting editor must have room for " stuff," which, in his opinion, makes the paper all that it is. The real estate editor is in possession of news that would warrant the use of the entire front page. The re- porters on the latest murder mystery could not think of less than five columns in which to give the details which have been unearthed by their labor and vigi- lance. The financial editor has exclusive infor- mation which will startle the world. A score of reporters have "beats" or "scoops," which will drive the opposition papers into a frenzy of impo- tent rage. The dramatic editor and the amusement staff charge en masse on the door of the managing editor and must have more space. The art depart- ment is wild at the prospective slaughter of care- fully-prepared pictures, line drawings and half- tones. The foreign editor is certain the cable news Some DETECTIVE WORK should take precedence over all other. The adver- tising depirtment announces that it has two extra pages of advertising matter. Thus the storm rages about the head of the man- aging editor. In an hour the floor is covered with butchered " copy." Stories which were designed to insure the fame of the writer, are slashed and man- gled beyond recognition. Art beauties go whirling into the waste basket. And yet the managing editor swings his bloody axe. At eleven o'clock some overmastering piece of news comes surging in. Per- haps a fire, by which millions of property and a score of lives are wiped out. Perhaps the death of a great statesman ; the assassination of a king or a general; or again the news of a decisive battle. Once again the axe comes into play. Not even the advertising is spared. In the early hours of the morning the carnage of news is ended. The last " form " is in the press- room. The building shakes with the rumble of the presses; the "dog watch," detailed to duty in the event of news demanding an extra, opens its game of poker; the blue-gray dawn of day blots out the street lamps and a new paper is born. Thus the endless grind goes on through the years in the news- paper mill. Little of the wheat cast in the news hopper comes out in the form of printed grist. None but the public is satisfied with a successful news- paper. In the eyes of all discriminating newsp.^per men it is " rotten." The ideal paper of a newspaper The KIDNAPPED MILLIONyHRES ** '36 ^ man would not survive a week. The paper of to-day .s the m.rror of public taste^r perliaps distaste. The following morning Jack Stevens called his staff mto conference. He detailed four men to Bos- ton SIX to Philadelphia, and four to New Orleans and Galveston. Twenty were assigned to work in Wew York, and six were held in reserve. " Interview every architect and builder in these "ties, were Stevens's instructions. " Introduce yourself a : a writer who is preparing an elabora'e article on .ummer or country residences. Be spe- cially solicitous about specimens of tropical archi- tecture^ Then lead up to who designed the Wal- ter B. Hestor residence. There is a special offer of $25,000 for the reporter who locates the architect and the same amount for the one who discovers the contractor." Stevens had already satisfied himself that no lum- ber had been loaded on the " Shark." He explained to his men such facts as were necessary for their guidance. It was not necessary to enjoin them to secrecy. The te.ipting rewards were sufficient to insure that caution. Each reporter was liberally supplied with money and they went to work with energy. That afternoon, the eighth of May, Chalmers opened Hestor's desk, and with Stevens, made a minute examination of its cc 'ents. Much to their surprise, three check books were found on the glass- covered surface of the desk. On dates from April Some DETECTIVE WORK * '37 ^ 25 to May ,, inclusive. Hestor had drawn checks payable to himself, aggregating $4,648,000 cash? asked Stevens, as he footed up the aggre- ..JH^r, " ^ '"•^o'-andum which explains that" sa.d Chalmers. He pointed to the inside cover of one of the check books on which was tabula ed sale of bonds and stocks amounting to $4.6.7,^ "'" said rh.i ■''°'' 'f ' ^"^ '"^^^'y ■■" securities." one tSfTff?. ' ""'"''^^ "«'- '°'d -e at one time that he owned between fifteen and six een m.llion dollars worth of gilt-edg ed "tuff He ^equently sold large amounts'on a ftfong market ve tT h: r T '' ^•'^^"'^*°'- ""*>' *he i„- ITi. I °^''" '^'^ "'^' he never margined a stock m h,s life. If he thought it a purchasThe «>ld other stocks or bonds, and loughtT l" part,cular case he simpl, unloaded ^a lo of stS and bonds on the market and turned them IS "What did he do with the cash ? " asked Stevens w.th an a,r wh.ch indicated that he could answer' nis own question. o-wwer ^M^rTl * ^°^"' '"'^''* ^"'^'' 'f they would " sad Chalmers. "A man of Hestor's standi could margin 730,000 shares of stock with thaf amount of money. He was too wise to draw check paj-able to anyone but himself. He mn^t i, lugged that money down there in bills Itto^ldro: The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 138 ♦ make much of a package in $i,oc» bills. Hestor must be $30,000,000 ahead in this deal. His in- sanity takes a canny form. I would like to be crazy awhile like that my.self." " But how docs he propose to get out of it ? " " Give it up." said Chalmers. " It is too deep for me. Hestor i.' not the kind to think of details like that. He goes ahead and lets consequences take care of themselves. He did not even take the pre- caution to destroy these check books. We can trace him like a rabbit in a new fall of snow. Mark my word, we will locate him and these men inside of a week." But Chalmers' prediction seemed destined to prove false. Day succeeded day, but the most thor- ough search of the offices of architects and builders failed to yield a clue of any structure erected by Hestor. A New York architect was found who ad- mitted that Hestor had talked to him about a coun- try residence. The young millionaire had asked his opinion of the proper style of architecture for a tropical environment, and had made a sketch of a lake with a background of rocks a.id palm trees. The architect did keq) the sketch. The conversa- tion was an informal one at a club dinner, and Hestor never referred to the matter again. Stevens now turned his attention to such cities as Baltimore, Washington and a number of Western cities, in the faint hope that some clue might be found. Insfuctions were cabled to London, Paris, Some D ET EC T I F E tV R K ♦ 139 ^ and other European cities, and a search made in these art centers, but nothing was learned. Chalmers was a daily visitor at the Carmody residence. He inspired Miss Helen with hope, and would not listen to her fears of failure. She was anxious to fit out the Carmody yacht, the " Helen Carmody," and begin at once a search for her father and his companions. " That is a good idea," said Mr. Chalmers. " Go ahead and put the yacht in commission. anT, And every day, when I'm away, she waits for me; And whispers low tar te do dum, for Jack at sea ; Yo ho, my lads! Yo ho! (All together. Sing, Bender!) The sailor's wife the sailo:'s lair shall be; Yo ho, lads, ho! Yo ho! Yo ho! Yo hoi The sailor's wife the sailor's lair shall be; The sailor's wife-e-e-e his lair-r-r-r shall-l-t be I " " That's ' Nancy Lee ' " explained Seymour. " I don't remember all of the second verse. It goes something like this : " A long, long life to my sweet, wife tar ump te de ; And keep your bones from Davy Jones tar ump te de; And may you find as sweet a mate as Nancy Lee ; SETMOUR the SLEUTH ** i6i ^ Yo ho. my lads I Yo, hoi (Now, then, all together on .he choru,. Sing, Bender !) The sa. or s wife the sailor's lair shall be; Yo ho, lads, hoi Yoho! Yohol Yo hoi The sailors wfe the sailor's lair shall be; The sailor s wi£e-e-e-e-e his lair-r-r-r-r-r shall-l-l-l-l-l bel " jmned n the chorus with a deep baritone, which did much to neutrahze the rather harsh tenor of the eager Seymour, and the uncertain bass of Mr. Dick " Naouw that I think on it," he said, "yer friend M.ster Hestor was er mighty fine singer. He uster smg er song erbout an ole geezer that had er wooden leg and was always hard up for terbaccer. I don't '^!fZT'^^' '^' ''°"^'' ''"' '^^y ^^^ thrillin', and Mister Hestor uster sing em and dance at ther same time. He was singen em one time in N'Or- leans. an he fell out through ther passage way an' wen kerplunk mter the Mississip'. Haw, haw, haw, ha ! I thought I would die a-laughin'. He didn't care a gosh dmg. He swum round er while and then we pulled h.m out. Mighty lively feller; that Hestor He just didn't care nothin' at all erbout money." When we was a-loadin' the lumber for that air house of his n, he would stan' araound erbaout ther schooner and raise Cain with ther dock wallopers, and he gin each one on 'em ten dollars apiece ter drink his g^d health. They didn't show up ergain fer er week. Uster hire all ther niggers ter sing an' dance fer The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 163 <«> him, an' thar war so many of them cavoorting along the levee, that it looked like a nigger minstrel con- vention. Mister Hestor would sit on the bridge of the ' Shark ' and throw money at 'em. He sent one nigger over to a place with a twenty dollar bill to get broke, so he could hev more coins ter throw, an' the blamed darkey never did come back. Mister Hestor thought that a big joke. Mighty easy man ter git along with, that Mister Hestor. But he was pecu- liar — mighty peculiar." The drowsy Bender was aroused, and bidding Captain Parker good night they retired. In spite of the fact that they had slept all day, it was six o'clock the following morning before they tumbled out of their bunks and appeared on deck. The sky was overcast and the wind had whipped into the south- east and was blowing half a gale. Captain Parker vt'as roaring orders to the sailors, who were clawing at the canvas and half reefing the sails. The big topsails had vanished. The foam-capped waves dashed spitefully against the port side of the schooner, and scattered spray across the piles of V rf- ber. There was the feel of rain in the air. To north, the smoke of a liner was just discernibij through the thickening mist. " Nasty weather," said Mr. Seymour as the cap- tain approached. " It's going to blow cats and dogs," said that gentleman. He was a good weather prophet. ♦ SPRINGING THE TRAP Chapter XII 163 WALTER B. HESTOR explained the de- tails of tiie proposed newspaper trust to Mr. Palmer J. Morton on Monday, April 24, as has been narrated. He awaited word from the great financier with some impatience, and was delighted, the following Friday, to receive a note from Mr. Morton stating that he would be glad to see him at four o'clock that afternoon. Hestor was there punctually. " I have briefly explained your project to Andrus Carmody, John M. Rockwell, Simon Pence, and R. J. Kent," said Mr. Morton, without any preliminary conversation. " Mr. Kent has agreed to broach the subject to Mr. Haven. I find that none of us have pressing engagements for next Monday afternoon after banking hours. They expressed a willingness to listen to your plans at that time, if such will suit your convenience." Hestor was cool as ice. He thought a moment, calmly consulted a memorandum book, and stated that he had only an unimportant engagement which readily could be postponed. m. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 164 i^ " We will meet at this office, then," said Mr. Mor- ton as he rose to signify that the interview was at an end. " I have a suggestion to make," said Hester. " You never have been on board my new yacht. All last season she was in commission in Indian and Asiatic waters. The ' Shark ' returned to the United States about a month ago and has been thoroughly overhauled and is in fine condition. You and the gentlemen you have named — with the possible ex- ception of Mr. Pence — are famous water dogs. I should be glad to welcome you on the ' Shark,' and promise you a good dinner, after which we can dis- cuss matters at leisure. I will dock her at the Bat- tery, and it is but a few steps from here to the pier." " Rather too early in the season for yachting, is it not?" said Mr. Morton, but his face lit up at the thought. He was a famous yachtsman. " It is fine and warm to-day, but it may be disagreeable Mon- day." " If it is bad weather we can meet at your office. If it is fine we will go on the yacht," suggested Hestor. " If the weather is favorable I see no reason why we should not accept your invitation," said Mr. Morton. " We will wait and see. I will let you know by two o'clock Monday afternoon if we decide to go on your yacht. Good day." On Friday Hestor received a telephone message from Sidney Hammond announcing his return from SPRINGING the TRAP ♦ 165 ^ Chicago. Hestor at once addressed him the follow- ing letter: My Dear Sidney : I have accomplished great things since you have been away. I should like to see you and talk them over with you at once, but have matters of much importance on hand which will take up every minute of my time until Monday evening. I presume that you will find plenty of work awaiting your return. I have arranged to give a dinner to several gentle- men on board the " Shark " on Monday evening. Among them will be Mr. Palmer J. Morton, Mr. Carmody, Mr. Rockwell and others. You must be one of the party. I am going to surprise you. The " Shark " will be docked near the Battery at four o'clock. Join the party at the boat. Do not fail to accept this invitation, as we shall discuss mat- ters which will require your advice. Notify me by message at once of your acceptance of this invitation. Will see you in the meanwhile if I can spare the time. For reasons sufficiently obvious, you will kindly light a cigar with this note and maintain your habitual secrecy as a friend and a lawyer. I remain, dear Sidney, Sincerely yours, Walter B. Hestor. To this letter Hestor received a reply accepting the invitation and congratulating him on the evident prospects of the " trust," and expressing a lively curiosity as to its subject and object. The Monday selected by Mr. Palmer J. Morton for a conference between his business associates and The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ i66 ^ the representative of The New York Record was a perfect day, as has been stated in this history. Mr. Hestor was not surprised when the finan- cier called him on the telephone and informed him that the invitation for a trip and a dinner on the " Shark " was accepted. Mr. Morton said that he had notified Messrs. Kent, Pence and Haven to meet at his office at about four o'clock, and that he would escort them through Battery Park to the pier, the location of which was perfectly familar to Mr. Morton. " It will be unnecessary for you to provide car- riages," added Mr. Morton. " It is but a short walk from my office to the landing, and we will need all the exercise we can get. If you will attend to Mr. Rockwell and Mr. Carmody I will be responsible for the rest of the party. Bring along all of your papers and we will see what can be done." Mr. Hestor replied that he would arrange with Mr. Rockwell and Mr. Carmody to meet either at Mr! Morton's office or to proceed directly to the yacht. This terminated the conversation over the telephone. Hestor then called Mr. Rockwell on the telephone. That gentleman stated that he had an appointment to meet Mr. Carmody at his office at three o'clock, and said that if Mr. Hestor would call for them at about four o'clock they would be pleased to accom- pany him. This was agreed to. At this hour the Hestor carriage, with the old family coachman on the box, stood in front of the Carmody building. SPRINGINGthc TRAP ♦ 167 ♦ and a few miniites later the three gentlemen were on their way to the boat. The) found that Mr. Morton and his party had arrive!, as had Mr. Siilney Ham- mond, who was acqu.iinic'i with the members of the g^oup of capitalists. " Mr. Hammond is my .uto.-iiey as well as my friend," said Mr. Hestor, " and he may be .ible to throw light on any legal comp!iratiiin.'> iliat may arise during our conversation." " I have not had an opportunity to discuss this matter at any length with Mr. Hrstor," said Sidney Hammond, with perfect truth, " but I hope his plans may prove so perfect that from this time on the services of my profession will not be needed." The moment Mr. Hestor arrived and found his invited guests present he gave the signr»l tn Captain Waters. The lines were cast off and the boat headed out past Governor's Island and down the bay. There is no more beautiful sight in tlie world than New York harbor. It is inspiring at all times; by day or by night, in summer or in winter. It is grand in a storm and weirdly mysterious in a fog. And its beauty is never the same. The frowning heights of Staten Island; the picturesque bays and indentations along Bay Ridge and the Narrows ; the lace work of the great Brooklyn bridge; the distant view of the Palisades, purple in their shadowy out- lines; f 'antastic skyline of towering building.s; the : (I. I beauty of Governor's Island; the forests ot 1. 1 om ships of all the world ; the bewildering Ill fl ''i «i - \ 11 ii! The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ i68 ^ panorama of moving craft— tliese form with clouds and sky and weather moods those endless combina- tions, which charm the eye and please the senses of the lover of nature. " It is a shame to tall< business on a day like this," said Mr. Morton, as the group stood on the bridge while the yacht swept past the giant Statue of Liberty. " We shall talk no business until after dinner," said Hestor. " Whenever you gentlemen are ready I shall be pleased to show you tl Shark.' Captain Waters and I are very proud of her " With Hestor as guide they proceeded to make a thorough examination of the magnificent steam yacht. The " Shark " was 225 feet over all, 187 feet on the water line, 26 feet beam and 11 feet draught. She represented the best product of the designer's genius and the acme of mechanical and engineering skill. Her twin screws were driven by two triple- expansion engines. Her engine room was a delight to the man who loves machinery. It was a poem in polished steel, burnished brass, mahogany and yellow pine. Two electric dynamos buzzed in a minor key as they generated the current for the hun- dreds of incandescent globes scattered in lavish pro- fusion in all parts of the yacht. From stem to stern the hull of the " Shark " was of .steel, with collision bulk heads and water tight compartments. She was provided with a steam capstan, steam steering gear and carried four boats— a 32-foot naphtha launch a tl': S PR INGING > 169 the T R AP 22-foot gig, a 16-foot cutter and a 12-foot dinghy. All of these, with the exception of the more plebeian dinghy, were finished in mahogany, and mounted with brass and nickel trimmings. The decks of the yacht were of white pine and the bulwarks were capped with polished teak. The forward deck-house was finished in black swamp oak. A buffet glistened with cut glass and silver and gold plate. The massive mahogany dining table had room for twenty guests. Opening into the dining room was the butler's pantry, with a dumb waiter connecting with the savory mysteries of the galley below. The aft deck-house formed the loung- ing room—" Social Hall." as it was called. It was equipped with all the accessories of comfort, luxury and refreshment. A sideboard was in charge of a negro, whose face and clothes formed the sharpest contrast of black and white. There was no combina- tion of liquid refreshment unknown to " Bob " and he was ever ready to oblige. The great lazy rockers ■ the leather sofas; the more business-like chairs sur- rounding a table which hinted at cards; the ricii but quiet decorations with silk draperies for the win- dows, formed a combination which can be appre- ciated only by those who find their greatest joys on the water. Below decks were the various staterooms- the main saloon, the engine room, galley, officers' qua- ters and berths for the crew. There were eight large staterooms fitted with every convenience and luxury I. i I'l fr 4 I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 170 ^ that money can purchase or ingenuity devise. These rooms were finished in white and gold. The light from innumerable electric globes was subdued by shades of opalescent glass, which extended around the walls and ceiling on three sides of these state- rooms. There \^as no glare, but a powerful and pleasing glow of light permeated the rooms, as if from some unknown source. Brass bedsteads of generous width looked inviting in their downy soft- ness and each stateroom was provided with a bath- room in white and delft blue tile. The walls of these various apartments contained rare paintings, etchings and engravings, while the floors were laid with Wilton carpets and rugs. The main saloon was a spacious room, finished in leather and rosewood. Money had been lavished on this room with a free hand. Securely fastened in niches were appropriate pieces of statuary. The ceil- ings were paneled in rare woods, while dainty de- signs in Russian iron bore clusters of electric lights. One side of the room was occupied by library shelves, so designed that no possible swaying of the yacht could displace the books. The officers' staterooms were fitted on the same sumptuous plan as those for owner and guests, while the quarters for the crew were models of cleanliness wd comfort. There were also refrigerators and stor- age rooms. " You have a fine boat," said Mr. Morton, as the party repaired to the aft deck-house and engaged the SPRINGING the TRyiP ♦ 171 ^ services of the grinning and dexterous " Bob " ' How fast is she ? " " In an emergency we can drive her twenty-three knots an hour," said Mr. Hestor. He lool79 ♦ had seated himself by the table. In his face anger and bewilderment struggled for mastery. " Captain Waters," said Mr. Carmody, placing his hand familiarly on the broad shoulder of that offcial, " on behalf of the gentlemen on this yacht, I demand of you, as its captain, that you immediately put about and return to New York. You are re- sponsible. Mr. Hestor is clearly irresponsible. It is our wish to return at once." " It certainly is! It certainly is! " exclaimed Mr. Pence, attempting to grasp Captain VVaters's hand. That official glanced at Mr. Hestor as if waiting for him to answer. " You know your orders," said Hestor. " You are the captain of this yacht." " I get my orders from Mr. Hestor and obey them," said Captain Waters, addressing no member of the group in particular. His voice was gruff, but not unkind. " We are headed east, nor'east. When he says to change her course, I will change her course. Until then, not. That's all." This was a long speed i for Captain Waters. He turned nnd walked to the door. " The ' Shark ' is yours, gentlemen," said Hes- tor, airily. " The servants are yours to command, but I will issue all necessary orders to the captain. You gentlemen, who have such great interests under your control, must realize that, in such an outing as I have planned. Captain Waters must not be annoyed with conflicting orders. I have provided Micxoconr msoiuTioN tut chadt (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1:25 i 1.4 1^ 1^ 1.6 ^ /APPLIED IIVMGE In ^^ 1653 East Worn Street S'.JS Rochestef, Ne* York '4609 USA j^S (716) *a2 - 0300 - Phone ^S (716) 288-5989-FaK w,i\' :ii The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ««• i8o ^ everything for your comfort, and am sure you will thank me for the treat I have in store for you. I will rejoin you in a few moments. I wish to study our charts and determine our course for the night. Then we will have some music in Social Hall. I would like to see you for a few moments, Sidney; if the gentlemen will excuse you." Mr. Hammond hesitated a moment. Mr. Car- mody stepped to his side and spoke a few words in a low tone. Sidney listened, and bowing to him and the others, joined Hestor and followed him into his private staterooms at the forward part of the deck- ■ louse. "Well, I'll be damned!" said Mr. Haven, with perhaps justifiable emphasis, as Hestor smiled graciously and departed with Sidney Hammond. " We are kidnapped ! " " Did you just find that out? " drawled Mr. Kent, as he reached for another cigar. " I knew that five minutes ago." "You take it mighty coolly," said Mr. Haven, glaring at the big speculator. " One would think that the kidnapping of six of the wealthiest men in New York was an every-day event by the way you take it." " I have seen stranger things than this happen," said Mr. Kent. " Take it easy. Take it easy. You will get Pence excited." Mr. Pence had passed the stage of excitement. He was lost in the depths of despair. Had one of S P R I NGI NG ^ i8i the TRAP the marines entered and commanded him to walk the plank it would not have added to the weight of woe which overwhelmed him. Mr. Palmer J. Morton had taken no part in the brief proceedings which had accomplished this revo- lution. He grasped the situation from the moment Hestor made his first declar.ition, and realized that whether their dilemma was the result of a plot or the whim of a maniac, that arguments and force were useless. In a flash he reviewed the events which had preceded this coup; Hestor's visit and his news- paper trust scheme; the injunction of secrecy, and the skill with which they had been lured on board the yacht. He thought of the strange movements on the Stock Exchange of the afternoon; the enormous selling of stocks by some unknown interest. He glanced suspiciously at Mr. Kent but dismissed the thought which had suggested itself. He had per- sonally invited Mr. Kent; in fact he had arranged the party. Deep down in his heart he cursed him- self. He, the greatest mind on Wall Street, — the giant in the world of finance, — to be made the catspaw of a fool, villain or maniac! The thought was insufferable. He wondered if his associates would place the responsibility for the catastrophe at his door. In a sense he was to blame. But who could have foreseen such a denouement? Mr. Mor- ton prided himself that he could divine the machina- tions of the cool-headed business schemer, but was he expected to cope with the fantastic plots of a The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES «•► 182 ♦ crazy man ? It was enough to know that he had been (hiped. He must devise a way out of the trap which he had helped to set. " Gentlemen," he said, " this is a serious affair, but we must meet it coolly and with deliberation. It is of no avail to storm and ragp We are caged, and it will do no good to beat our wings again.st the bars. I feel myself largely at fault in this affair, but all of us are likely to make mistakes and to suffer lapses in judgment. In this — " " Mr. Morton," interrupted Mr. Rockwell, " I think I speak for all present when I say that we do not hold you in the least responsible for this ridicu- lous event. I should have done the same thing. So would any of us." " I thought that newspaper trust one of the best things I ever heard of," said Mr. Pence, and his eyes brightened for the moment at the thought. " I figured it out that the stock would have paid twenty per cent, dividends on the original investment. Oh, it is awful ! " Mr. Pence evidently did not refer to the magni- tude of the vanished dividends, but to his present sorrow. " We must retire to one of the staterooms and con- sider what can be done," said Mr. Morton. " I pre- sume the owner or the officers of the boat will not object to our movements, so long as we comply with the rules of discipline. We have been informed that SPRINGING the TRAP •^ 183 ^ the yacht is ours, and I suggest that we select our staterooms and meet in one of them and confer to- gether." " You can do anything you please," said Hestor, who had entered the room, and had overheard the latter part of Mr. Morton's remarks. " But the hour is early, and there is plenty of excellent wine strain- ing against the corks in the effort to escape and en- hance the jollity of this occasion. Besides, we are going to have music. I have attempted to reconcile Mr. Hammond to his fate, and I know he will favor us with a song. It is a treat to hear Sidney sing. Mr. Pence, I know you would enjoy the way in which Sidney renders " Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep." It is great! "^'.len Bob is a good singer. He sings the best coo. .jongs I ever heard. I do not pretend to be a virtuoso, but I am an eager and a willing perforr.ier, and will do the best I can. Did I ever sing you my favorite song? It goes like this: " There was an old geezer, and he had a wooden leg ; He had no tobacco, no tobacco could he beg ; Another old geezer was as cunning as a fox, And he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box. (Clog step.) Yes, he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box." " The second verse points a fine moral and is even better," said Mr. Hestor, and he struck an attitude and started the first line : " Said geezer number one, will you — " The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 184 ♦ " Mr. Hestor." The singer stopped. Captain Waters stood in the door, and his hand was on the arm of a gentleman whose face and pose constituted a character study. He was a big, handsome man with a florid complex- ion, an aggressive black moustache, shrewd blue eyes and a profusion of brown hair which fell to his coat collar. There was no timidity in his attitude, yet there was some indescribable weakness in his general bearing. He was well-dressed, and had a roll of paper under his arm which he carefully guarded. Hestor looked it him in blank amazement. Mr. Pence groaned. " Who in t!ie devil are you? " demanded Hestor, as Captain Waters released the arm of the new ar- rival. " L. Sylvester Vincent, of Chicago," was the reply. "What in thunder are you doing on this boat? Where did you find him, Captain Waters ? " "He was in the aft passage way; he had just come out of one of the staterooms." "This is Mr. Hestor, is it not?" said Mr. Vin- cent, who had entirely recovered his self-possession; if in fact he had ever lost it. " I recognize you from your picture. It was like this: I have been trying for ten days to see Mr. Carmody," and Mr. Vincent bowed pleasantly to Mr. Carmody, who glared back at him. " Mr. Carmody is a very busy man, and my time is of some value also. Wei!, I SPRINGING the TRAP ♦ 185 <* followed him down to the boat, and I guessed that he was going to take a little pleasure trip. I figured that this would be a good time to get a chance to talk to l.im, so I came on board. Anticipating that there might be some objections to my — er — to my being a guest, and not desiring to intrude on your company at dinner, I remained down stairs until you gentlemen had finished your repast." Mr. L. Syl- vester Vincent looked hungrily at the yet loaded table and concluded : " I was just starting to come upstairs and introduce myself to Mr. Carmody when your genial Captain — Captain Waters, I believe — kindly consented to escort me here." " You are all right," said Hestor, as he burst into a roar of laughter. " I don't know who you are, or what you do, but if I have any influence you can get a job as reporter on The New York Record any time you ask for it. Captain Waters, how did our old college chum, L. Sylvester Vir.cent, get on board the 'Shark?'" Captain Waters looked rather crestfallen, and glared at Mr. Vincent with an expression which boded that gentleman no good. " He came along about a minute after you and those two gentlemen did," said Captain Waters, pointing to Mr. Rockwell and Mr. Carmody. " I supposed he was one of your party. He handed me his card and came aboard. I found him roaming around below and knew that something was wrong. So I brought him up here." The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ i86 ^ " Glad to see you aboard the yacht," said Hestor. " You will have plenty of time to talk matters over with Mr. Carmody." " When do you go back ? " asked Mr. Vincent as a puzzled expression can;e into his face. " We are not going back," Hestor replied. " We are going to the South Sea Islands." m'' ii AT SEA ♦ l»7 Chapter XIII THE interview in Hestor's cabin with Mr. Sidney Hammond was brief and spirited. Hammond did not wait for any explana- tions but proceeded to denounce Hestor in scathing terms. That gentleman smiled pleasantly and waited for him to conclude. " This is the act of a mad man or a villain ! " said Hammond as he paced angrily up and down the narrow room. Hestor had seated himself at a writ- ing desk and leisurely rolled a cigarette. " You do not look like a crazy man but you act like one. You have not been drinking to excess, and cannot plead intoxication as an excuse for this outrage. Of all the unaccountable things! What do you mean to do? What is your object in detaining these men whom you have induced to become your guests? Have you stopped to think of the agony this will cause their relations Have you considered how my sister Olive will feel when I fail to return home? " He stopped in front of Hestor, his eyes flashing anger. His voice trembled with rage and he re- strained himself by an effort from a physical attack on Hector. I'! I' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '^ i88 ^ "Don't get so excited, Sidney," said Hestor, as he lit the cigarette. " There is nothing so serious about this as you imagine. Olive thinks you have g'one to Europe with me. I sent her a telegram and signed your name to it I made a copy of the mes- sage and liere it is." iJestor handed a slip of paper to Hammond, who read as follows: Miss Olive Hammcvd: — It is necessary for me to accompany Mr. Hestor on a short business trip to Europe. We sail early this evening, and I shall be too busy to come home to bid you good-by. Pack my trunk and valise and send them to Mr. Hestor's office. Do not come down town as I do not know where I shall be in the mean- time. Put my scrap books and some writing paper in the trmk, as I wish to work on my essays on the trip across and back. Also enclose the matter I have already written. I shall not be gone long. Regret that I cannot see you before I leave, but know that you are used to these sudden journeys and will forgive me. Sidney Hammond. " That shows that while a forger you are not entirely lost to decency," said Hammond, with evi- dent relief, but no signs of relenting. "But how about these other men ? They have dear ones. They have feelings. Think of what they must suffer and how much grief you will cause if you persist in your course. You must put this boat back to New York at once." At S Eji * 189 ^ " It cannot be done, Sidpcy," said Hestor. " I have this all plan.ied oui. To-morrow these men can communicate with their people. 1 will take care of that." Hestor's manner changed. The smile died on his lips and his face grew dark. " You are my friend," he said in a tone singularly harsh and strident. " You are my friend, but I shall not permit you to interfere in the least witi' rny plans. This is my yacht, and we are on the high seas. The man who refuses to obey orders on this boat will be put in irons. I should not like to see you ii! the booby hatch, Sidney,'' and Hestor laughed in an unpleasant way. " There will be some one hurt before I go in irons," Hammond said fiercely. " After whiit you have done I should not be surprised, however, at any attempted outrage. Do you care to give any sane reason for this affair? " " I gave you the reasons at the dinner table," said Hestor, whose fit of anger had passed. " These men now on this yacht have managed to secure con- :rol of about everything in the country worth hav- ing. They run Wall Street, the banks, the trusts, the railroads, and dictate to the government. I want to find out what would happen if they should die simultaneously. Such a thing might happen, don't you know ? An anarchist might blow all of them up at a director's meeting. A eye' )ne might hit them, or any old thing happen, don't you know! Well, what would be the result? No one knows. I am 1% 'I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 190 ^ gfoing to find out. They will be cut off from com- munication except for one day. During that time they may be dead for all any one knows. Then I will see that word is received from them, saying that they are safe. That will relieve the strain on their families and friends. We tlien will see how the country gets along without them for awhile. Great scheme, don't you think? " Hammond continued to pace the floor but said nothing. Hestor seemed intensely in earnest. "Why, it's great, Sivlney!".he exclaimed. "I supposed you would be tickled to death. Don't you remember what we were talking about at dinner? You said that such men as these did not have time, and would not take time to consider social economy or anything of that kind. Well, I am going to see that they do take the time. You shall be their pre- ceptor. 'Professor Sidney Hammond, Master of Political Economy and Instructor to Millionaires temporarily Retired from Business! ' How is that? I say it is the greatest scheme ever invented! I have selected a site for this university, and have stocked the yacht library with all the books I have ever heard you mention. They will be glad to listen to you. They will have little else to do. There is no use for you to try and talk me out of it. The hardest part of the work is done. It is now up to yi.a. When you think it all over you will agree with me and help me out. I know you will." At S Eyl ♦ i9> ♦ " Does Mr. Van Home, the editor of The Record, know anytl'-ig about this?" asked Sidney. "Of course he does not," said Ilestor i:o 'ptly. " I have not seen Boh in six months. T. .» my ix-rsonal affair. It is my contribution to the modern ^ jnce of political economy. The Record has noth- ing to do with it. That paper has no exclusive right to my services. I can dc as I please. Just now I am working for myself. I never thought of this until a week r 'o, and it came to me like an inspira- tion. Of coi e I could confide my plans to no one, but I felt sure you would appreciate the scheme and give it your cooperation. You will, when you get over your foolish anger. lust rejoin our friends. They will think I am negU 'ng them.' There being nothing for Sidney to say he remained quiet and returned to the dining-room in time to meet Mr. L. Sylvester Vincent, as has been related. Hestor soon found that his unwilling guests de- sired to retire to the apartments which had been reserved for them. They were shown to the state- rooms, and a servant detailed to look after their com- fort. They found that their host had made every effort to anticipate their needs. Slippers, smoking jackets, pajamas, and a liberal assortment of linen and undergarments were provided in profusion. Hestor bid them a pleasant good night, and returned to the upper deck where he found Mr. L. Sylvester Vincent. That gentleman's face yet bore a puzzled The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 192 <«• i He had vainly attempted to engage Mr. in conversation. He now approached expression. Hammond Hestor. " Where did you say you were going, Mr. Hes- tor ? " he asked. " South Sea Islands." " But I must go back to New York," explained Mr. Vincent. " Just as soon as I can se' Mr. Car- mody you must put me off. Which way are we going now ? " " About east." " Will you ask Mr. Carmody if he will see mc now ? " asked Mr. Vincent in his most insinuating manner. " Can't do it. He has retired for the night," re- plied Hestor. " You stay with us. This is the chance of your life. You are a promoter, are you not? Yes? I thought so. Well, you are in luck. On this yacht are six of the richest men in the world. You can promote any old thing with them if you know your b--siness. Make yourself at home. Keep right at them. Don't let them stand you off. You will have lots of time. I see you have your drawings and plans with you. You certainly are in luck. Bob, show Mr. Vincent to stateroom number eight, and give him a suit of pink pajamas. They will suit his complexion." " I gfuess I'm in for it, Mr. Hestor, but you will find me game," he said. " I wanted to go back, but A.t S EA '*' ^93 ^ I suppose I'll have to stick. Who are all of these gentlemen ? " " I supposed you knew them. I will introduce you to-morrow. There is John M. Rockwell, whom you know; Andrus Carmody, a big iron and steel man; Palmer J. Morton, a railroad magnate and financier; R. J. Kent, a big Wall street operator; Hiram Haven, a sugar manufacturer; and Simon Pence, who is also a financier— you want to keep your eye on Pence— he is likely to own your draw- mgs if you don't watch him. Don't lend him any money. Then there is Sidney Hammond, a personal friend of mine," concluded Mr. Hestor. Mr. Vincent's eyes bulged out as these names tripped from the tongue of Mr. Hestor. He was speechless. " You don't wish to quit a good game like this, don't you know," said Hestor. " Bob, Mr. Vincent has not dined. Serve him the best there is on the boat. You will excuse me; I am going to confer with Captain Waters." Mr. Vincent's surprise did not seriously impair his appetite, but Bob noticed that at times he paused with fork half lifted to his mouth and ejaculated: "Palmer J. Morton! Well, I'll be ! An- drus Carmody and R. J. Kent ! Well, wouldn't that frost you! Say, this is a dream! I wonder when I'll wake up ? " lit placed his drawings on the table, so that he would not lose sight of them, and ..Jill The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 194 ♦ completed a repast which did mutual credit to his appetite and to the skill of the cook. In the meantime six famous men were in conclave in Mr. Morton's stateroom. With the exception of Mr. Pence, they had entirely regained their com- posure, and proceeded to business as calmly as if they were within sight and sound of Broadway cable cars, instead of being captives on the high seas. " Gentlemen," said Mr. Morton, as all were seated, " let us talk this matter over and see what can be done. Have you any plan to suggest, Mr. Kent?" " Not a plan," responded Mr. Kent. " We are in for it. This fellow Hestor has his plans all laid, and I am going to watch him carry them out. There is nothing we can do." " I do not agree with you," said Mr. Morton, leaning back in his chair. " It will be a remarkable thing if six men of our financial standing and alleged ability cannot find a way to circumvent the plans of a knave or a fool. This looks to me like a money question." "Money?" exclaimed Mr. Kent. "Well, how much money have we? " He reached down into his clothes and produced thirty-eight cents in change, and extracted from his fob pocket a five dollar and a two dollar bill. " I have seven dollars and thirty- eight cents to contribute to this campaign fund." " That has nothing to do with the matter, Kent," said Mr. Morton with some impatience. " The fact At SEA ♦ 195 ^ is well known that we can command an almost un- limited amount of money." "You can't command it out on the Atlantic Ocean," drawled Mr. Kent. " Let's see just how much we six plutocrats have in actual money. I have $7.38, and here it is." He placed it on the table. " How much have you got, Haven ? " Mr. Hiram Haven had been making an mventory and produced $31.62." " You are affluent," observed Mr. Kent. " And you, Mr. Carmody?" " I find on examination that I have twelve dollars and some small change; twelve dollars and twenty- five cents, to be exact," said Mr. Carmody. Mr. Palmer J. Morton, finding that Mr. Kent was de- termined to pursue this cash investigation, announced that he had $428.85. Mr. Rockwell was less fortu- nate in his immediate possessions. He scheduled $78.15. " Well, dig up. Brother Pence," said Mr. Kent. " What is your contribution to the war chest ? " " I have eleven cents and a Brooklyn Bridge ticket," said Mr. Pence. " You see I never carry anything but carfare. It is so easy to lose money out of your pockets, and then you may be held up and robbed. I lost a silver dollar through a hole in my pocket once, and have never carried any large sums of money since." " So I have heard," said Mr. Kent. " Well, pass ii The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES •^ 196 ♦ over your eleven cents. You know the story of the widow's mite. Everything counts. Let's see; we have a total of $558.20. That is a good average for six millionaires. I seldom carry more than a hundred dollars. Now, what can we do with it?" rie looked at Mr. Morton. " I do not suppose we can do anything with that amount of money," responded the financier. " That was not my idea. Still it is a good plan to know just how much we have on hand. I look at the matter in this light : if this man Hestor is not abso- lutely crazy he has some definite object in view. It may take the form of a demand for a ransom. The question for us to decide is, first, shall we pay a ransom; and second, if so, how much? Personally I regard this in a purely business way. My time is worth money. We have been trapped and our time captured with our persons. I should be willing to make a reasonable compromise. Since I am the one most to blame for this affair, I shall insist on stand- ing half of any fund which may be agreed upon." " I have often thought of what I would do if kidnapped and held for ransom," said Mr. Carmody in a reflective way. " I have always thought that I would die rather than pay a dollar, but now that the fact confronts me I believe that the thoughts of those at home outweigh my scruples. I think I should be ready to contribute to any such fund." " Who are you going to give it to? " asked Mr. Kent. At S E^ ♦ 197 ^ " Why, to Mr. Hestor," answered Mr. Morton. " It will do no good," replied Mr. Kent, with the decision of a man who has unalterably made up his mind. " He is as crazy as a woman's watch. He will laugh at you. Mark my words; it will do no good to talk to him. Your only hope is in that Cap- tain Waters. You might try that $558.20 on him, but I don't believe he would touch it or a hundred times that amount. I tell you we are in for an ocean voyage with a land-up on some island." Mr. Pence groaned and abstracted his eleven cents from the pile which yet remained on the table. " I am not so sure about Hestor," said Mr. Mor- ton. " He loves money as well as the best of them. Hestor acts crazy but it may be assumed. If we offered him say $2,000,000 he might regain his sense. What do you think about it, Mr. Rockwell? " " I am not very hopeful," said Mr. Rockwell. " In the event we decide on such a courst I would suggest a larger amount. I will cheerfully pledge $2,0( 00 to a $5,000,000 fund." " That is more than your share," said Mr. Mor- ton. " I think your suggestion as to a larger amount is a wise one and I will pledge half of it." This was objected to by all except by Mr. Pence, who had been busy with a pencil and announced that he could not see his way clear to contributing more than $25,000 to any fund. He explained that money was at so low a rate of interest that it was a drug on the market. i 4 it The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 198 '^ " Why, I have $4,000,000 right now in the bnnk which is not drawing a cent of interest!" he ex- claimed. " It is an awful loss to me ! I really can- not spend more man $25,000 for this purpose. And to think that there is no return for it; absolutely no return!" " You would return," said Mr. Kent. It was finally agreed to pledge a sum of $5,000,000 of which Mr. Morton insisted on paying $1,500,000; Mr. Rockwell pledged $1,250,000; Mr. Carmody, $750,000; Mr. Kent, $750,000; Mr. Haven, $725,- 000, and Mr. Pence, $25,000. Mr. Morton was delegated to conduct the negotiations with Hester, and if he failed he v.-as also to confer with Captain Waters as a last resort. After a general discussion the party separated, and at midnight quiet reigned on board the good steam yacht the " Shark." She was then plowing the At- lantic at a twenty-knot rate, at a point about one hundred miles south-west of Montauk light. At the suggestion of Mr. Haven it had been agreed that in the future no open resentment should be displayed towards Hestor. " It is better policy to dissemble," argued Mr. Haven. " We will gain nothing by affronting him. Moreover, if we appear resigned and unconcerned, we may throw him off his guard. Personally I would like to break his neck, but it will be bettw to appear cordial, even if we do not feel that way." Sidney Hammond talked with Hestor until late At SEA ♦ 199 ^ in the night, but was unable to influence him in any way. He decided to abandon such efforts for the time, and to await developments. Mr. Vincent wandered about the boat, kept clear of Captain Waters, and made several ineffectual attempts to enter into conversation with the crew. He finally repaired to " Social Hall," where he kept Bob b isy until midnight. It may have been the swell of he sea, but he had difficult navigation between the buffet and his stateroom, and did not awaken the following morning until the sun was high in the heavens. It was another beautiful day The sun was to the starboard of the yacht as she cleaved the long heavy swell, which came with the early morning hours. This showed a course about north-east, and awakened hopes in the breasts of the captiv nillion- aires. It was evident that the boat was si iipwhere off the New England coast, and not headed for any South Sea Islands. Was it possible that Hestor had repented of his rash idea and was about to return ? Mr. Kent was the first to appear in " Social Hall." Mr. Haven soon joined him, and in a short time all of the party were on deck. The brass work, newly burnished, sparkled in the sunlight; the deck had been scrubbed until it glistened in its cleanliness; from stem to stern the " Shark " was in man-of-war shape and a delight to look upon. " Good morning, gentlemen." Mr. Hestor stood before them in the full cruising IS' {■ }^ Ml The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ aoo ♦ uniform of a New York yachtsman. He looked un- commonly well in it. He bowed pleasantly, stepped up to Mr. Morton, extended his arm and shook hands cordially with that gentleman. He thus freeted the others and seemed delighted at his reception. " I trust that you enjoyed a good night's rest," he said. All had done so except Mr. Pence, who said he did not like the water. " Oh, you will soon get used to it," responded Hestor. " Ah, here romes Sidney. Good morning, Sidney. Beautiful day, is it not? By the way, where is Mr. Vincent? Send one of the bo} and call him. You have not been formally introduced to Mr. Vincent, have you? I will present him at the breakfast table. I will admit that his advent was a bit informal, don't you know, but he is here and we must treat him as one of us." Under the spur of Hestor's good nature, and the understanding arrived at bci;ween the captives the preceding evening, conversation became general and spirited. Sidney looked on in quiet amazement. The stirring events of the day before had seemingly been forgotten, and the entire party acted as if bent on heartily enjoying a much-anticipated pleasure cruise. Mr. Rockwell quietly explained to Sidney what had been agreed upon. " After breakfast," said Mr. Hestor, " such of you gentlemen as choose can change your business suits for yachting costumes. You will find them much more comfortable for lounging around. Mr. Pence At SEA ♦ 20I ^ will look like an old sea dog in the clothes I have selected for him. I will have them placed in your rooms, and if they do not fit I have assorted sizes from which to make a selection. You will find that I have anticipated everything. Ah, here comes M,. Vincent! Good morning sir! Glad to fee you aboard the yacht. Shake hands with Mr. Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell— Mr. Vincent— L. Sylvester Vincent of Chicago. Mr. Carmody — Mr. Vincent." Hestor introduced the uninviterl guest to all present. Breakfast followed, and it was quite a merry party. All were hungry. Mr. Hestor was in bois- terous good humor, and kept up a running fire of talk and questions. He persuaded Mr. Carmody to promise an early interview with L. Sylvester Vin- cent, and that Chicago promoter saw visions of wealth in the aromatic vapors which arose from his coflee. Mr. Vincent was so much emboldened that he entertained the company with an experience he had survived while investigating some Mexican min- ing property for a syndicate of Omaha capitalists — a tale in which a mountain lion and a fair senorita were woven into the plot in which L. Sylvester finally emerged as the successful and triumphant heri^. When breakfast was ended, Mr. Hestor led Mr. Carmody to the main saloon, and with much pride displayed the books of the well-selected library. II AN OCEAN CRUISE S02 ,j i ; 11 'i !' ■:i 1 II I: n\ d [.111 ■ Chipter XIV MR. KENT seated himself with Mr. Haven and Mr. Pence in comfortable chairs on the starboard side of the yacht. Over their heads, and sHghtly forward were the trim outlines of the naphtha launch. Six or eight miles away the sails of a schooner showed white against the blue of sea and sky. Mr. Pence looked longingly at the schooner and then at the launch. In some way the two were linked in his mind with a vague possibility, but he surrendered the thought with a sigh. A few fleecy clouds drifted overhead. The sun was warm enough to temper the air from the ocean. There was just enough breeze to ripple the swells. " This is not at all bad," said Mr. Kent, as he stretched out his legs and lazily smoked a cigar. " I have been thinking for years of taking a vacation, and now I am taking it." He looked at his watch. " It's five rrimutes of ten." he said, looking at Mr. Haven. " I wonder if they have missed us yet. There will be some fun on the Stock Exchange when the news comes out." " If I had sold Sugar yesterday as you did," said An OCEAN C R VISE ♦ ao3 ^ Mr. Haven, with some acridity, " I might look at this matter in the calm antl philosophical way in which you do. You know you sold Sugar yesterday, Kent." " I generally know what I sell and when I sell it," said the noncommittal Mr. Kent. " I would like to have a lot of it sold right now. Six abducted mil- lionaires is not a strong bull argument." " Just think of where money on call loans will go to," sighed Mr. Pence. " I wish I h.id remained at home. Oh, why did I make this fool voyage ? " " You certainly are in bad luck, Brother Pence," said the sympathetic Mr. Kent. " They could use that four millions of yours to-day before the session is closed. I suppose money will go to one or two hundred per cent. The boys will fight to get it." Early in the forenoon Mr. Morton found Hestor and asked for a private conversation in his state- room. The request was readily granted. " Mr. Hestor," said the big financier, after a rather awkward pause, "you must be aware that your guests are men whose time is very valuable, and whose interests will be imperilled by their con- tinued absence. You know that we wish to return. Thus far you have refused to comply with our re- quest. Is there no " - in which we can compromise the matter?" " I know of noiK. which will not disarrange my plans," said Hestor. " You are all having a good time. What more can I do for you ? " The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 204 ^ " I will come to the point at once," said Mr. Mor- ton. "I an authorized l)y the gentlemen on this boat to offer you five million uollars for our immedi- ate return to New York harbor." " I could not think of it," said Hestor promptly, as if declining an ordinary business proposition. " I have more money now than I know what to do with. That is why I went into newspaper reporting. No money could tempt me, Mr. Morton. Let us drop the subject and go on desk. It is too fine a day to remain below." Mr. Morton realized that he had failea, nd that there was absolutely no hope in that directi .1. He said nothing to his associates of his lack of success, but waited for a chance to speak to Captain Waters. It was late in the afternoon before he had an oppor- tunity to make any proposition to that official. Hestor was on the upper deck. Captain Waters en- tered the saloon, which at that moment was occupied only by Mr. Morton and Mr. Rockwell. As the Captain entered the room, the latter, at a signal from Mr. Morton, discreetly retired. Captain Waters stood for a moment at the center table and idly turned over the leaves of a magazine. Mr. Morton advanced to the table. " We are favored with beautiful weather, Captain Waters," said Mr. Morton.. " Good cruising weather," responded the Captain as he turned and started for the companion way. Mr. Morton placed himself squarely in 'ront of him. ,: ) '■ An OCEAN CRUISE ♦ ao5 ^ "Captain Waters, I wish to have a few words with you in private." " Not with me, sir," said Captain Waters. He stopped for an instant with one foot on the stair. He looked Mr. Morton lull in the eyes. "I talk in private only witli Mr. Ilcstor," he said. Mr. Morton laid his hand on the officer's arm. He was not accustomed to have his requests refused or his offers rqiulsed. For a moment he seemed to study the stern face of tlie official. " Captain Waters," he said, in a low yet distinct voice, " do you wish to make a million dollars? " " No, sir." The heavy jaws came togett ■ with a snap which was more eloquent in its decision than any studied refusal. He disengaged hij arm and strode up the companion way and in a mmute stiiod on the bridge of the " Shark." He studied the sky for awhile and glanced at the compass. The wind had swung into the north-east and was blowing with increasing force. It had grown hazy during the preceding hours, but with the change of wind the mist was swept away, and, as Captain Waters looked, the faint outlines of a rugged coast showed against the northwestern horizon. " Keep her off a point," he said to the wheelsman. Mr. Morton slowly paced the saloon with his hands behind his back and his head bent forward, as in deep contemplation. In a short time Mr. Rockwell returned He gave Mr. Morton a ques- i: [it The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 206 ^ tioning look. In response Mr. Morton shook his head gloomily but said not a word. His companion showed no surprise nor did he evince much disap- pointment. Like Mr. Kent, he saw no hope for im- mediate relief, and had resigned himself to await re- sults. He selected a book from the shelves and read quietly until dinner was announced. Dinner was served at six o'clock. The weight of entertaining fell on Hestor and Vincent. While the latter gentleman had not yet been able to attract the attention of Mr. Carmody, he was satisfied that he would have an abundance of time in which to ex- plain his plans. Mr. Morton had acquainted his as- sociates with the failure which thus far had attended his negotiations. He yet held out hope, but it was faint. When coflfee had been served, Hestor arose and said : " Gentlemen, we are now not far from Cape Cod. During the evening I am going to send a man ashore with letters. You will-find stationery in vour state- rooms. I suppose that all of you wish to send word assuring your families and friends that you are alive and well. You can do so, but you must not enter into any particulars about this outing. You can in- form those in whom you are concerned that you are safe; that you will return to them after a reasonable length of time, or you may make any other statement not connected with business or with your present whereabouts. Hand me the letters unsealed, and I will examine them and have them mailed during the An OCEAN C R VISE ♦ 207 ^ night. I should have all of them in my possession before nine o'clock." " How about me? " asked Mr. Vincent. " You are included," said Hestor. There was no hesitancy in accepting this invita- tion. The thought that they could speedily commu- nicate with their loved ones lifted a great load from their minds. For an hour Hestor acted as censor on these letters. He made but few changes, and these of course rendered it necessary to rewrite the rejected letters. In the meantime the yacht had rounded Cape Co-i and dropped into the quiet waters of the bay. Shortly after nine o'clock the dinghy was swung out on her davits and lowered into the water. A young man in a business suit, sucii as worn for every- day service, by the average citizen, acted as mail car- rier. Propelled by the sturdy arms of a sailor, the little craft disappeared in the darkness. Two miles away the lights of Provincetown flickered in the dis- tance. To the south and north the two lighthouses on this side of the coast threw their warning gleam across the ' ay. The electric lights had not been turned on, and save for the usual port, starboard and stern lights the yacht was dark. She swung a long circle down the bay and at the end of an hour returned to the waters where the dinghy was seen in the darkness, and shortly after the " Shark " stood out to sea. At about one o'clock in the morning, when most ^^\- tfi The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 208 •^ of the passengers were asleep, the dinghy made an- other trip ashore, and returned without the mail mes- senger. He was landed near Boston, and on the fol- lowing n'.orning made a rapid journey to Springfield, Mass., and Albany, New York, thence to New York city and Brooklyn, reaching Philadelphia late that night. In these cities he posted the letters which, as has been told, were received with so much joy. The next day he left Philadelphia for Cape May; late that night a boat came in from the ocean, and an hour later he was on board the " Shark." From the time the sand dunes of Cape Cod faded away in the night until six days had passed, the passengers and crew of the " Shark " caught no sight of land. Many ships were sighted, but Cap- tain Waters so directed the course of the yacht that none came within signalling distance and generally remained hull down on the horizon. It was cloudy most of the time, and by the tem- perature alone was it surely known that a southerly course was being taken. Thursday night w load it on cars. These coal trains are then hauled at enormous expense, by winding and various routes to New York or Philadelphia; much of it comes through Philadelphia to New York. There are delays and switching charges. Some of the coal is lost in transit or is stolen. Then there are wrecks, in which both coal and cars are lost. It finally ar- rives in Jersey City, and must be placed in barges and hauled across the North river. Every move means sn added expense. It is then dumped into a coalyard in New York. What happens then ? " Mr. Vincent paused for effect. " I suppose the next thing to do is to sell the coal at a fair profit," said Mr. Carmody. " I do not mean that," Mr. Vincent continued, a little surprised that the capitalist had failed to point out the next item in the economy of his scheme. " They then have to send these cars back to the mines empty. Absolutely empty ! It is a dead loss. And they have to haul them up grade all the way. It is actually childish ! " " But how can you pipe coal? Coal is not a fluid like oil," interposed Mr. Carmody. " Let me explain," and Mr. Vincent unrolled his drawings. They contained a map of the anthracite fieldi! of Pennsylvania and a part of the states of New Jersey, Maryland and New York. From these A n C EAN C R VISE fields heavy straight lines extended to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Mr. Vincent took out a pencil. " The coal fields are from 1,500 to 2,500 feet above tidewater," he explained. " They are abun- dantly supplied with water. Now the specific gravity of coal is not great. The average grade of a straight line from the coal fields to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore is not far from fifteen feet to the mile. If you flush with water a one foot pipe having a drop of fifteen feet to the mile the velocity will be terrific. A drop of two inches to the mile produces a good current in a river. You can imagine the force which would be produced in a drop of fifteen feet to the mile. The coal would be swept along like shavings and would pour out in a steady stream into New York. We would lay the pipes along the bottom of the North river and deliver the coal at any place selected in the city." " Just think of it," continued Mr. Vit.cent, after a moment's rest, in which Mr. Carmody said noth- ing. " The water would cost little or nothing, and the force of gravity would be our motive power. The expense of keeping up the plant would be no more than that for a line of gas pipe. No cars to purchase or to keep in repair, or to replace when smashed up. The tliree great tidewater ports of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore are at your feet. From all parts of the mining section, branch pipes will lead into the parent stem. When New York wants i f ' y i ' I'i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 214 ^ more coal, turn a valve and shoot it into the city! What do you think of it, Mr. Carmody ? " "How about your pipes in the winter?" asked Mr. Carmody. " Would they not freeze? " " No more than any water pipes," said Mr Vin- cent promptly. "They would be underground of course. They would be just the same as oil pipes, but my plan is much simpler than piping oil The oil is piped up hill. Pressure must be furnished. Nature paved the way for my scheme. We furnish the pipes; the water and coal and gravity does the rest." Mr. Carmody handed the drawings to Mr Vin- cent and leaned his head back in the steamer chair. Mr. Vmcent rolled them up carefully, and turned to resume his conquest. Mr Carmody had dropped to sleep. ^^ " I have got him," said the undismayed promoter. " He did not say a word against it, and I have him going." And he looked at the slumbering million- aire with an air of proprietorship. Already he owned a yacht, compared with which the " Shark " was a naphtha launch. When Mr. Pence awoke about three o'clock Tues- day morning he was much alarmed. He was cer- tain that something serious had happened. An un- earthly silence prevailed. The engines had stopped, and save for the faint buzz of the electrical machin- ery there was no sound on the " Shark." The boat An OCEAN C R VISE ♦ lis ^ had lost all motion. It no longer rose and fell to the heaving of the seas. Mr. Pence hurriedly dressed and went on deck. A seaman was pacing back and forth on the after- deck. Mr. Pence looked out over the port side of the yacht. A huge wall of rock towered almost over his head. In the light of the nascent moon, the " Shark " seemed to rest in the center of a vast am- phitheater of beetling rocks and crags. Here and there he could make out the form of a palm, and to his ears came the distinct sound of falling water, as of a cascade. To the east the cliflfs threw a long shadow over the lake in which the yacht was an- chored. The moon had just scaled the highest peak, and the eiTect was of indescribable beauty. But the silence was oppressive. The heavy breathing of Mr. Vincent, as it penetrated from the deck below, was a relief, and aft^r one reassuring glance at the placid scene Mr. Pence went below and soon was sleeping the sleep of the just. MAROONED ♦ ai6 Chapter XV i li re « 221 ^ t y\?,' " he f aid, as they were seated at the break- fast table, but I practically discovered the place, and in common with many other explorers gave it my name. If you gentlemen do not like the name you can call it ' Haven's Haven,' or ' Rockwell's Reef,' or ' Vincent's Land,' or anything you choose. Its various topographical features are as yet not fully explored, and are unnamed. I am going to suggest that we honor Mr. Morton by giving his name to this beautiful body of water we are now on. We will call it ' Morton's Bay.' " " Thank you," said Mr. Morton. " I appreciate and accept the honor." " I have some surprises in store for you," said Hestor, when the meal was finished. " We will go ashore directly, and look on something more attract- ive than dead alligators or crocodiles — as Sidney in- sists on calling them. Ah, Captain Waters, has the tide turned sufficiently to make a landing ? " " There is now fourteen foot of water at the land- ing," was Captain Waters' answer. " We will have the gang plank on shore in ten minutes." The panorama unrolled before the gaze of the voyagers on board the " Shark," as she slowly headed for a shelving rock was one of surpassing beauty. Imagine a pear-shaped lake about a mile at its great- est width and a mile and a half in length, walled in by rocks and crags whose rugged slopes were softened by the splendid foliage of the tropics. Nature, in some fantastic mood, had created this spot, and then The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 222 ^ as if appalled at her work, had wreathed it with flowers and chastened its outlines with the harmony of fern, vine and palm. The narrow inlet leading to the ocean was guarded by two great rocks, which seemed to overhang and threaten the intrepid sailor who dared explore and ravish the beauties which nestled within. These rocks were fully four hundred feet in height, and unlike those surrounding the lake, were free from tree or verdure. Through the portal thus formed, the ocean with its deep and glorious blue, showed in contrast to the dark background of these crags. The surge of the sea came welling through this gate, but soon lost its power, and on the fu.ther shores of the lake its ripples came as but the flutter of the deep breathing of the sea. The shores were lined with boulders which had tumbled down from crag and peak. At intervals there were grassy stretches of meadow, deep enough to form a foreground to the darker beauties of cliff or ravine. Here and there a brook trickled from the heights, or found its tortuous way through un- known dells. And everywhere a lavish profusion of flowers. The base of one cliff was aflame with the red of some flower, the name of which was unknown to any of the party. To add to this riot of color there were flocks of parrots of many and brilliant hues, while of humming and mocking birds there seemed to be millions. Overhead, an eagle circled on heavy pinions, and the waters of the lake were dotted with flocks of water fowl. M ^ R O O N E D ♦ aaj ^ About a thousand feet from the southern shore of this sheet of water-which Hestor had named Morton s Bay "—was a small island. It was a gem of an island. Basaltic rocks reached up from the hquid depths of the bay, and at its northern end was a crag, probably one hundred feet above the sur- face of the lake. To the west it sloped gradually down, and at low tide there was a sand bar It was on the mner edge of this bar that Hestor had sighted the crocodile. Tall, slender cocoa palms, with their crowns of graceful leaves, nodded in the morning breeze. Caucho, camphor and dragon trees added their beauty to this tropical bouquet. The base of the rocks was hidden in giant pond lilies, ivy and other climbing plants, which festooned the sides of the cliffs, as if struggling to join the masses of tlowers which overhung th.e rocks above. But the water had treasures not less beautiful At a depth of fifty or sixty feet the bottom of the lake was clearly visible. Looking over the sides of the yacht, the voyagers who were now approa-hing the shore, saw swarms of fish whose sides reflected the colors of the rainbow. Color is born in the tropics. It dies at the poles. In the chill of the axial antipodes, black and white alone survive. In the warmth of the tropics all ob- jects, animate and inanimate, vie with each other to outrival the imagination of the artist and blunt the pen of the writer. " It looks like a big aquarium, don't it? " said L. iJi |s' ! The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '9' 224 <^ Sylvester Vincent, as he gazed into the water. ■' Look at the fish under those rocks! I'll bet those are angel fish — I saw some just like them at the aquarium down at the Battery in New York. Say, but there are some beauties down there! It looks as if it had been built for them. The rocks are cov- ered with moss, and there is a tunnel just like I saw in the aquarium. I thought at the time that the fish in New York had a pretty soft snap, but these fellows here have them beat ii. a walk. I wonder if they're good to eat?" The reflections of Mr. Vincent were cut short. By good seamanship Captain Waters brought the yacht alongside a jutting rock, which nature must have designed as a pier. Four sailors sprang ashore, and in a few minutes the lines were taut; the stumps of two trees acted as posts. Fenders were lowered to keep the sides of the " Shark " from rubbing against the rock, and it was possible to step from the gang- way directly to the natural stone pier. " Welcome to ' Hestoria! ' " exclaimed liestor as he leaped ashore. " Come on, gentlemen, and ex- plore the mysteries of the tropics. I want to show you something that will surprise you." Back of the pier there arose a rock which cut off the inland view. Hestor rounded this rock, stood in the open space, and waited for the others to join him. Mr. Pence was the last to quit the yacht and showed an inclination to remain on board. He left only when he found himself deserted. M A R O O N E D ♦ 225 ^ " What do you think of that? " Hestor pointed towards a grove of cocoa palms, in the center of which stood a large bungalow. It was an artistic blending of Moorish and Indian ar- chitecture. This building was an ell-shaped structure, the corner of which was two stories in height and rounded in a curve, forming at the front half a circle. From this as a base, there were two long wings one story in height, with sloping roofs, sup- ported at the front by pillars, within which were deep verandas. These verandas were each about sixty feet long and opened into the central part of the structure, which on its interior, as well as in its second story, was a perfect circle. Sidney Hammond looked at Hestor in amazement. " When did you build this ? " he demanded. " Never mind when I built it," responded Hestor, with a good-natured iaugh. " It's built all right, as you can see. As a matter of fact, old man," he said, addressing Sidney and looking carefully around as if in search of somethmg, " this is the first time I ever saw it myself. I had it built for my tropical residence. What do you think of it, Mr, Rockwell ? You are a judge of villas. Is there anything in New York that can touch it for the natural beauty of its surroundings ? " " It is very beautiful, but there are others I would rather look on just now," said Mr. Rockwell. "Well, we will give it a housewarming," said Hestor; calmly ignoring the melancholy note in Mr. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 226 ^ Rockwell's answer. " Let's see. The keys were to be left in a box under the second tree to the left of the big rock. Get us something we can dig with," he said, addressing one of the crew, who returned in a minute with a shovel from the furnace room of the " Shark." He dug at the base of the tree and soon struck a wooden chest, inside of which was an iron box with the key in its lock. Hestor opened the box and disclosed a lot of keys marked with labels. " Here they are," he said. " The world is ours ! " He led the way to the bungalow. There was an air of newness about the structure which told that it had but recently been completed. Scattered around were pieces of lumber, paint pots ar.d sawhorses, which showed that no tenant had occupied the structure. The first door was of wire screen opening on the veranda. The entire veranda was enclosed in a fine wire screen, as were all the windows. This was to exclude mosquitos and other insects. The door of the main building was next opened, and the party entered into a circular room about thirty feet in diameter. The floors were covered with matting, and the walls finished in burlaps. There was no furniture in this or in any other room in the bunga- low. In the center of the ceiling there was a light and air area extending to the glass roof above, the upper floor being supported from the roof. This area was a circle twelve feet in diameter, the upper floor constituting a nine-foot gallery around the room. i M^ R O N E D ♦ 127 ^ The kitchen and storeroom were in a building separated from the main structure. A wire netting passageway, with a protecting roof, connected tlie kitchen with the dining-room in such a way that com- munication was possible despite weather or insects, and at the same time the odors of the kitchen were avoided. A large cooking range was already in position. There also was an oil stove. " This is the dining-room, parlor and lounging- room," explained Hestor, as they returned to tlie large circular room. " I suppose it is really the dining-room, but we will use it in any way we choose. There are twelve sleeping apartments, all opening directly on the veranda. Here is one of them. You will notice that each has its own bath- room." " Where does the water come from? " asked Mr. Morton, as he turned a faucet. A clear, cold stream of water rushed out at great pressure. " We dammed up a brook on the hill back of here and made a reservoir," said Hestor. " The pipes lead directly to the building with a drop of one hun- dred and twenty feet." " All you need now is furniture and provisions," said Mr. Haven. " You won't kno'v the place by night," exclaimed Hestor. " You gentlemen make yourselves comfort- able as you can. Explore the surroundings, or do what you please. This is my busy day," and Hestor dashed away towards the yacht. It was then about i : I I h The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 218 ^ ten o'clock in the morning, and the sun was very warm in tlie open. Sidney Hammond, Mr. Carmody and Mr. Kent set out to explore the brook which rushed past the bungalow. Mr. Pence went back to the " Shark," and the other gentlemen wandered around or rested under the shade of the trees. In the meantime the hull of the yacht was dis- gorging an unexpected volume of boxes, barrels, chests and crates of all descriptions. L. Sylvester Vincent entered into the spirit of the occasion, and armed with a hatchet did wonderful execution. Be- fore his blows, brass bedsteads, chairs, sofas and various articles of furniture came to light and were borne away to the bungalow by the sailors. There were barrels of flour and crackers, barrels of oil, lamps and lanterns, and an endless variety of cooking utensils. There was also a barrel which Mr. Vincent handled tenderly, and that gentleman took special care of crates containing bottles of claret, beer and Burgundy, to say nothing of cigars, tobacco, sherries, cordials, brandies and liquors. Mr. Vincent ar- ranged these in order, and then stood and gazed lovingly at the imposing array. And still the sailors brought new treasures from the hold of the " Shark." There were library shelves, pictures, mirrors, bric-a-brac, a piano and the parts of a billiard table. There were guns, revolvers and cases of ammunition, together with rods and an as- sortment of fishing tackle. A huge chest contained 3 complete set of carpenter's tools. There were num- M yi R N E D «•• 229 «^ berless articles of necessity and comfort, including a variety of canned foods, jellies and jams, and smoked "nd ct'red meats, of which a grocer or market-man might have been proud. These were placed in the storehouse, which was provided with a huge cave which served as a cellar, through which a branch of the brook had been diverted to keep it cool. By one o'clock all of these articles had been de- posited, either in the various rooms or on the broad verandas. Luncheon was served on the yacht, and the crew returned to their task. Mr. Kent and Mr. Rockwell took a hand in the work; so aid Sidney Hammond and Mr. Haven. Mr. Carmody took charge of the arrangement of the pictures, while Mr. L. Sylvester Vincent devoted his time to the perfec- tion of the storeroom. Mr. Morton remained on board the yacht for awhile, and then rejoined the bub\ party. It was warm, but he entered into the spirit of the aiifair and was soon at work. " You will find in one of the boxes a great assort- ment of linen clothing and other wear suitable to this climate," said Hestor. " There are cork helmets and all of the devices to protect you from the glare of the sun. There is also a ga? engine and a small dynamo sufficient to run electric fans, which my men are now setting up in the powerhouse adjoining the storeroom. We will have it installed before night. Next year I am going to have electric lights, but this season we m\ist put up with lamps. We will have things in shape so that we can sleep ashore The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 230 ^ to-night. We will take dinner on the yacht this evenmg, and this will be your last meal afloat ior some time. Mr. Pence sighed deeply. Before six o'clock the effor s of the ,.,rty or more men had accomplished formed the rooms, and they were attractive in their arrangements Hestor seemingly had forgotten nothmg Before dinner was announced the elec- tncan had installed his plant, and the fans were m mofon. Sidney Hammond watched this work: i!?.r7 ""TT °' "'^ «le"tricians, and mas- tered the few details which were new to him r.n. ul""'' '^^ '''^' ^^'^ '° ^^' r'^'^^ded that Captain Waters made ready to drop the " Shark" mto deeper water. Hestor and his guests returned to shore, and the yacht glided out into the bay Its great searchlight, later in the evening, swept around the amphitheater and aroused a chorus from birds and a roar from prowling animals. Mr. Pence de through the palm trees, and was not at all reassured when Hestor informed him that it was nothing but a puma or mountain lion." ,, ''^'1*'^ f'f/' '°"""°" ^' '^^^'^^ around here," he sa,d. If you leave them alone they will not bother you They probably smell the meat in the storeroom. All were wearied from the day's work, and at a little after r-ne o'clock it was decided to retire for Mji R O O N E D ♦ 231 ^ the night. Hestor shook hands with all, and grasped Sidney Hammond's hand with an earnest clasp. He again expressed the hope that they would enjoy their visit, and bidding them good-night retired to his roo.m. At five o'clock the following morning the captives were aroused by a great outcry, and a hammering at the doors of their rooms. They found Mr. Pence rushing up and down the veranda, wringing his hands and moaning in terror. " The boat is gone! " he cried. " The ' Shark ' has gone away and left us ! We are lost ! We are lost I We are lost ! " " Oh, shut up ! " said Mr. Kent, and he wert back to his couch, and was soon asleep. Mr. Walter B. Hestor, owner of the " Shark," and special envoy and correspondent of The New York Record, was not in his room. There was no trace of the " Shark " in " Morton's Bay." The millionaires were marooned. ON SOCIAL ISLAND ^ aja Chapter XVI li: HAD a visitor dropped in on the eight occu- pants of tlie Hestor bungalou- at seven o'cldck that Wednesday morning of the Tenth day of May, lie would not have imagined they were marooned. Even Mr. Pence haut into the kitchen and in a few minutes returned. He stood in the open door and looked over the gentlemen who were variously engaged. " Mr. Pence," he called. Mr. Pence had sunk back in his chair and vas examining a book which Sidney left on the taole. He lifted his eyes over his steel-rimmed glasses and gazed languidly at Mr. Vincent. " You can come to the kitchen, Mr. Pence," said Vincent, " and pare the potatoes for luncheon." "What's that?" exclaimed the astounded mil- lionaire. Pare potatoes! Me pare potatoes ? Ab- surd!" There was a general roar of laughter. " I am on another committee ! " exclaimed Mr. Pence, " the committee on exploration." " You now seem to be on the escape committee ! " said Mr. Kent. " Take him along, Vincent." Mr. Pence looked at Mr. Rockwell appealingly. " I have nothing to do with it," Mr. Rockwell said, " unless Mr. Hammond urgently needs and de- mands your services on the exploration committee. If not, you will have to obey Mr. Vincent. He is General Superintendent, and you voted for him and his authority." Sidney said that he did not need Mr. Pence at On SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 243 ♦ present. That gentleman arose, and with a woeful expression followed Vincent to the kitchen. A few minutes later he donned a white apron and entered on his new duty. He proved an adept, and Mr. Kent looked in at a side door and regarded his work with approval. " He is the best man you could select," said Mr. Kent, addressing the General Superintendent, who was critically watching Mr. Simon Pence. " He can cut the thinnest paring you ever saw. The potato will weigh more when he gets through with it than it did when he began. He is a wonder. You ought to see him pare a dividend." " Make him go 'way," pleaded Mr. Pence. But Mr. Kent had disappeared. Mr. Vincent went in search of more help. He found Mr. Haven. " I shall have to ask you to chop some wood," he said. "Certainly," said Mr. Haven, with surprising alacrity. "Where is the ax? I was a dandy at chopping wood when a boy. How long do you want it?" In a few minutes the sugar magnate was hard at work, and at the end of three hours he had accumulated a goodly pile of wood and a ravenous appetite. During the day Vincent went about his duties in a most systematic manner. He took each member of the colony in charge, and showed them the mys- teries of the storeroom and kitchen, and the exact location of all foods and cooking utensils. ■n. KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES It began to rain during- the f -.^ was comDell-.r1 f„ . ^"°°"' ^"^i Sidney of*. difficult h, .„uM .„„„ ™ t.'.^tr Th, ™„ can,, d„„ in ,„ .„d r^S^'TS^' "°? "»«"•"' •' »•« for cl..„„g „„,w. '""°'- ™nnd,HeH,„„rr;,:;Lr„.^;Ht >s my first trip to the tropics, and I have for J. -y geography lessons as a school boy " ^ From the way it rains now," said Mr K-«,* he gazed at the descending flood'. " J'shfuM ^^''Z On SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 245 ^ it begins on May tenth of each year. It seems to be making up for a long drought." " The rainy sea.son usually sets in sometime in May or June," said Sidney. " T!-.ese months are not bad as a rule. The heavy rains come in August and September." Sidney Hammond was evidently in trouble. He examined book after book from the little libiary, but none seemed to yield the desired information. " What are you hunting for? " asked Mr. Kent. Sidney laughed. " I am trying to find the exact time of day the sun rises in New York on the tenth of May," he replied. " Why don't you look at an almanac ? " asked Mr. Pence. " There is none in our collection of books," replied Sidney. " I have read everything which should throw light on the subject, but am no better informed than when I started. Our books are of no use to us on this point, and I confess with shame that I can only guess at the moment of the sunrise in New York, and might be half an hour out o' the way." " I have not seen the sun rise in years," said Mr. Carmody. " As a boy I remember that in the long days in June the sun rose about half-past four in the morning." " I saw the sun rise one morning about two weeks ago in New York," said Mr. L. Sylvester Vincent. "What time was it?" asked Hammond eagerly. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES " I don't know," said Vincmt •> t «° pay any attention to i "t JmT '°° '^ decided it was ti^e to go to bed Tth ^i; '"' ' somewhere around five o^lock L \ u " ^" been la»,.r." ' ''"' " ""ght have Mr 3,„,on Pence had been thinking. bedritTe :S ' f,! ^'^' '^"^"'"^ ^^ '"w in n,y I an, afr'aid o urglars " mZT^ ! '"°^' "« bed and turn it ou nL . ^ '"'' ^ ^"' ""^ °f more in wSter than ' '°"''''' "^ ^^^ '''" « winter than m summer. Mv ras hill f„, sand feet Pirh,^. ^ *'-°5 a thou- the sunrile ffom ^seTg^::: -"'^"'^'^ ''' '™^ °^ the hs°rcasr *° ""^'"•"^ ""^^ '■- ■' -s gas'" asked cV ^"' "'' '"" '"'"^^ °"' the is proSet^ io?;,::.t:jt-'^ ^'^^^^'^^'^ ^"-^ mate. "itncate for an accurate esti- " No, I don't," said Mr. Pence •• t ,t the dock at night when I go told I we?'V'°P to run all nio-ht ti * "^^ars it out Cockande fakes m'ltrr"'.'" ^^"^^P ^'='™ Irr^^^u ""'^ at half-past SIX o'o'-ick Whpn 'swniin;re„;:t^m;^^"^^^*''— - Mr. Vincent regarded the speaker intently, and On SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 247 ♦ then went out on the veranda and talkea earnestly to himseh A long discussion ensued. They finally " de- cided " that the sim rose at 4 -.yo a. m. in New York on June 21, and the consensus of opinion was that the moment of sunrise on May 10 was about twenty minutes later, or 4 :5o a. m. Partly by chance, and partly by good reasoning, the marooned men came near the truth. The sun rises in New York on May 10, at 4 :48. The following morning Sidney Hammond watched the sun rise. According to Mr. Morton's watch — which timepiece Mr. Morton declared was absolutely accurate — the sun rose at four minutes past six o'clock. This was a discrepancy of seventy-four minutes. They allowed seventeen miles for each minute, and estimated therefore that they were 1,258 miles west of New York. Mr. Kent scoflfed at this calculation, and declared it might be from five hundred to a thousand miles out of the way. Sidney admitted that it was little better than a guess, but believed it would be found within two hundred miles of the truth. AN ♦ ^ ^ EXPLORATION Chapter XVII 34> storm. The air was fresh and cool from .n^. uu T"- ^"'"^y ^«« «P at an early hour It was Mr Kent s turn to get breakfast, and he did h n,self cred,t. I„ the meantime Sidn y had b^ looked over the stock of guns and selected a r,"e and a shot gun. He found these weapons in faklv f^d tes°tSoth"' °"1 ^"'^ '''''''' ^'^^ --'"'S^ served as a r.fle target, and while Sidney did n^ h.t h,m. he dropped a bullet within a few L of ?he end of the lake. Two revolvers also were tested and the hunting belts filled with shells ' HaveT'' these warlike preparations.^" asked Mr. "Mr. Kent and I promise you some fresh meat for dmner to-day," said Sidney. " We shall rnmK- . exploration with foraging kich :o';^'„7et venison or grouse? " preier, (■! 348 An EX P L O RA T 10 N ♦ H9 ♦ " Both," said the sugar magnate. " I will be sat- isfied, however, with either." It was about eight o'clock when Sidney and Mr. Kent disappeared in the thicket through which the brook took its course. Mr. Pence had been detailed to explore the north shore of the lake, and from the expression of his face he did not relish the task. He refused to take a gun, and armed with a heavy club set out on what he regarded a most dangerous t rpedition. It was low tide, and the beach was clear of water to the frowning rocks which formed the gateway to " Morton's Bay." For the first quarter of an hour Sidney and Mr. Kent found it fairly easy to follow the course of the brook. A trail had been cut along the winding bank the preceding year, but such is the virility of tropical vegetation that already it was well-nigh closed. On both sides was a jungle so dense as to be impene- trable. Overhead flocks of birds chattered. The air was melodious with their cries as they greeted the explorers of their paradise. There were curlews, snipe, blackbirds, chickbulls, jays, orioles and scores of others belonging to species unknown to Sidney and to Mr. Kent. They made no effort to shoot these birds, ':he jungle being so thick that it would have been impossible to retrieve them. In a big tree about half a mile from the bungalow, a colony of small monkeys or marmosets jabbered in angry chorus. Mr. Kent paused and watched them for several moments. .; The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES 250 ^ " They make me homesick," he saiH ,„ u^ u u a bush aside and regarded them „i J.f '.%,! s ck s ir " r' "'^ ^" ^^<^*'^^ -b - e At th. .^'; ^ ""'' '""^ '^'"^ t° Haven." At the end of an hour's hard work they came to a cleared space and found where the dam^hadl^en bu.It across a gorge between two rocks tZ dam 7Z:^r:T ''''■"' '-''''■ Abovel'a? reservoir, a lake covermg perhaps twentv acre, nf ground, from which the timber had bSn'denu ed was trZ7 ° T '°r """"-^ '''' -*'«-'"' l^e Zed rf ^'■°'" *'' *''^°"^'' ^hich they had passed. It was more open. Instead of the jWle of chaparral, Spanish bayonets, and other formj o horny plants, brush and tree, the plateau on which h y now stood was a noble tropical forest-a veU ;ei7et„r"''^^"''"'^-^^'^'--^"--'-^^^^^ " This is more like it," said Sidney as they took a seat on a rock beneath the spreading branches oft mag^oha tree. " If the rest of the isfand ist i our task IS an easy and pleasant one " Their view was one to entrance a poet. They were at the edge of a glade covering about forty a^res Here and there a rock showed above the wa^ ng grass and flowers, but otherwise the vista wa Tn^ broken At the right was a grove of cocoa palms whose long slender trunks rose without a leaf from sixty o eighty feet, surmounted by bunches of droop- »ng leaves. At the far edge of the glade was a grove An EXP LO RATION ♦ 251 ♦ of cabbage palms — the most beautiful of all the trees of the tropics. Their trunks were less than six inches in diameter, and bare to the crown of leaves at a height of one hundred and twenty-five feet. For background to these stately palms was the dark foli- age of the caoutchouc or rubber trees, with their deep green leaves and masses of flowers. The air was heavy with the perfume of flowers. The brilliant scarlet of fuchsias, with their showy corymbs of drooping flowers; slender and delicate types of immortelles; stately hydrangeas, with their deep-lobed oaklike leaves, half hiding masses of white and purple flowers; fragrant hyacinths, with scapes bearing the purple bell-shaped flowers com- monly called the bluebell, grew in this spot in a size and of a beauty unknown in northern climes. Moss pink flox, rose and violet petunias, varicolored geraniums, rare specimens of purple and yellow zin- nias; strange forms of dahlias and gorgeous lilies formed a riot of color; a floral foregrornd for the nodding palms and the more umbrageous trees in the distance. " This is a superb spot," said Sidney. " Did you ever see such flowers and trees ? How tame the pro- ducts of conservatories seem compared with nature's work! There is a bunch of roses which would be worth a hundred dollars in New York. What kind of a tree is that?" Sidney pointed to a medium- sized tree about fifteen feet in height, with broad spreading leaves. h i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES *•" 252 ^ bits." ^"' "'^' '= "°^"^' ■* -^ '-'^ed with hunVfrl'^ir' °^ ''"'r '"'^ y'="°-black bananas like a aT of' r'"' "c'^ *' '"•"^^ '«-« ^P^«=ad like a stalk of celery. Sidney took out his knife pnri cut several from the bunch ^ Mr' Kem"'C ''^ '" ''"^"^^' ^'''^ ^^^ ? " -"^^^ Mr. Kent. Don't poison yourself." They certainly are," said Sidney, "and they mnr rf u- ""'^ '^" 8:et in New York is no more I,ke th.s than potatoes are like pears. They I«ck them green, months before they are ripe and sh.p them north to ripen in basements orfn ten" ment ^lK,uses. Did you ever taste anything so de- ^J^They are fine," said Mr. Kent. "Cut some They found scores of banana trees with bunches Of fruit in various stages of development. Thev knew that life can be supported for an indefinite period from the banana tree alone, and while they had no intention of remaining on the island, the thought was a comforting one "Look out there Hammond!" exclaimed Mr. Kent, as he jumped back and grabbed Sidney by the arm. See that snake ! " He raised his shot gun and aimed at a bunch of An EX P L ORATION ♦ 2J3 •«. " Don't shoot him," said Sidney. " Let's see what kind of a reptile it is." " Shoot him first and study him later," said Mr. Kent, but he lowered his gun as Sidney stepped quickly to the opposite side of the grass clump. A snake about three feet long ran out in front of Mr. Kent, but soon stopped. Sidney walked up to him and studied the reptile intently. It was a most peculiar looking snake. The body was about as thick as a man's forearm, and its size was uniform from the head to the extremity of the tail, which seemed chopped ofT like that of a gigantic caterpillar. " He's got a head on both ends I " exclaimed Mr. Kent. As he spoke the snake moved towards him. He made a motion at it, and the snake, without turn- ing around, moved in the opposite direction with equal ease. " Didn't I tell you? " said Mr. Kent. " He is i double-ender. He can run either way without tur ing around. What a great stock speculator he would make? " On closer examination the reptile was found to have but one head. Two spots at the end of the blunt tail looked like eyes. It had square scales, and Sidney declared that it had no fangs, so they decided to let him live. Sidney had no idea to what species the snake belonged, and promised to make a search for information in such books as the bungalow afforded. Later, when he did, he discovered that this snake is not uncommon in the West Indies and in ^^H . i; ^^1 i 4 ^^^k|l- -il|gffii ^^^^ml i H||r' ";r~R{ '. 1' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '*' 254 ^ Mexico and South America. It belongs to the family of amphisbaena, and can move with equal facility forward or backward. ' They returned to the brook and followed it in a north-westerly direction. For some time they had heard the sound of falling water, and soon circled a ledge of rock and had a full view of a beautiful cascade. The brook leaped eighty feet; not from the top of a precpice, but from a point fully forty feet betow the top. It came welling from a cavern and fell unbroken into a pool below. There could be no mistake as to this. On the crest of the rocks there were tra.lmg vines and ivy directly above the tunnel trom which poured the waterfall. " There is the end of our brook," said Sidney as he studied the view before him. " I remember now that underground rivers and brooks are common in these southern latitudes. There are lots of them in Mexico and especially in Yucatan. I wonder if I can scale those rocks ? " " I know that I cannot," said Mr. Kent as he sat down on a boulder. " Go ahead and I will stay here and watch you." It was a hard climb but Sidnry made it. He stood at last directly over the waterfall. Without stopping to admire the view spread out before him he plunged into the forest which sloped upward It r-ew thicker as he advanced. Suddenly he came to a solid mass of trees and brush, woven into a thicket so dense that no animal larger than a rabbit An EXPLORATION could penetrate it for a yard. Thousands of thorns bristled like an army of bayonets. Sidney walked along the edge of this jungle for half a mile or more, but his search for an opening was stopped by the fact that the vegetable barrier finally extended to the edge of the cliff. The explorer then selected a tall logwood tree, and after a hard struggle " shinned " up to the lower branches and climbed nearly to the top. From this elevation he had a fair view of this part of the jungle, but could only guess at its extent. He found that it continued unbroken to the top of a hill fully a mile away, and beyond he made out the outlines of other and higher hills, probably four or five miles away. So far as he could judge the jungle of chapparal and other thorny bushes and trees was continuous. Sidney Hammond was not unfamiliar with such jungles, having encountered them in the mountains of New Mexico, but those northern thickets were not to be compared to the tropical mass which now confronted him. He sat in the branches of the tree for some time. Suddenly he realized it was hot, and at the same moment the sound of two shots came from the valley. As Sidney scrambled down the tree he heard the faint snap of a revolver. He was fearful that his companion was in danger. Mr. Kent had selected the shot gun, hoping to shoot grouse or quail. These birds had been seen in abun- dance, but it had been decided to bag none until the time came to start for camp. In a few minutes t 'i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 2s6 ^ Sidney was at the bottom of the cliff. Mr Kent was nc, eo be seen. Sidney ran to where hfhad ,e tt^T'r^LV'^^"'^"^- «-^- ^e"ed at the' An answering call came from a ravine to the left S.dney ran m that direction. Mr. Kent was stand .ng under a tree, with the shot gun half ra^He wa lookmg mtently at a jagged pile of rocks a short distance away. At his feet was a dead deer. Hurry up!" said Mr. Kent as Sidney an- proached. "Do you see that fellow on thaTrSc over there? See him?" f„lM ■ ^T ""'"'^ ^' "'^ '■°'='^^- Stretched out at un length on a flat slab of sandstone was a lean l.the, dun-colored beast. He looked and acted like a head was lowered over the edge of the rock, and the anmal was mtently watching Mr. Kent and the erowl If- '"k' """"'' ' '^^'f-y^^'" -nd half- growl. Sidney brought the rifle f, his shoulder bdow rr w "' ''""' '°' " '^ ° 'he ground below The shot rang out. The big , at turned his -ead hke a flash and bit at his shoulder as "a bt had stung him. He gave a roar, leaped into the ai" and fell m a heap at the bottom of the rocks. Sidney advanced toward him slowly, but no caution was necessary. The mountain lion was dead K.J^"!'^' ^^^ ™°'''* ^^'^ ^ ^^^^ ^^." "aid M^. Kent. He made me nervous. I started up this An EX PL OR A T 10 N ♦ 257 ♦ ravine and had reached this point of rocks when that deer," pointing to a good-sized buck near the tree, "came dashing down the gully. He turned the corner of that rock and almost ran into me. I gave him both barrels and dropped him. He was not quite dead, and I put him out of his misery with a revolver shot. I thought it pretty good work shoot- ing a deer with No. 6 bird shot. As I stood looking at him, this ' painter ' jumped up from behind that rock and began to spit and growl at me. I know the brutes. I have shot 'em in California, and you want to kill 'em when you hit 'em. You see, he had been chasing the deer, and it made him mad when he found I had landed him. Still he was rather afraid of me. Chances are he never saw a human being before. No Rocky Mountain ' painter ' ever acts as this fellow did. He wanted to tackle me, but he kind of hesitated. He would walk around the top of that rock, lick his chops, growl, and then lie down and watch me. He kept getting bolder and might have come at me after awhile. If he had, I should have quit and let him have the deer. That was what he wanted. I am not hunting ' painters ' with bird shot or pop guns. He's a big one, isn't he?" " It seemed a shame to kill him," said Sidney, as he lifted one of his big paws. " He looked fine on that rock." " He didn't look so blamed fine to me," said Mr. Kent. i\ ! ! i ! The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES 958 ^ jci J . "'"" " py a comparison with thr,« ^^totslllT' r^ ^'''''' •^•^ ''^^ ^-^ -^ pawpaws. Cirsert;^sr; Sidney knocked two from a tree. They S the sue of a small pun^pkin. and the flavor'wls Lch the same as that of a nutmeg muskmelon. These ry\;rhC/-"'--"^-weresufficientTo romantic in n^y^si Jn Tnt'VlrLf tL"^^ sort of thing for a change. But on^t/a chang^ Lrri fa^saL"" "1-^"^^ *" ^ bungalow S Zf 1 t ^ ''°°'""^ '■^"&<=' than on a desert reef w,th a shot gun and a naked savage To mv -d. o,d Robinson Cnasoe was in S^.^JZl It would not do to leave the deer behind- there not reach the carcass, and it was agreed that Mr Kent should guard his trophy and aSmpt tt sh!;:t An EXPLORATION ♦ as9 ♦ some grouse, quail or other game, while Sidney com- pleted the search for an outlet through the jungle. Mr. Kent said he would take chances with a shot gun, and agreed to fire twice in rapid succession if he needed assistance. Sidney started for the cliffs and promised to return within two or three hours. He scaled the rocks and again stood on the height overlooking the valley. The blufif extended far as he could see, but as Sidney continued south he found that it gradually decreased in height until it finally came to the level of the " park." The edge of the jungle was irregular, but at no place was he able to penetrate it a distance exceeding two hundred yards from the edge of the clilTs. Gradually he worked to the east. Here the jungle was not so thick, but yet it was impossible to force a way through it. The trunks of the small trees and bushes were not more than six inches apart, and were matted together with clinging vines, most of which were covered with thorns. Much of this vegetation was flower bearing. Myriads of bees and other insects, inch ung the world-wide mosquito, swarmed and buzzed until the air was vibrant with their drone. Thus Sidney toiled along. At times he saw leer, and could easily have shot them, for they were abso- lutely fearless, and seemed devoured by curiosity. He was startled once by the sound of a snapping twig behind him. and turned only to see a splendid spotted deer not two rods distant. Sidney threw up his hands and " shooed " him away. The buck ran m M< m ' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONMRES ^ a6o ^ ^-uth of the brook rf I ^^'^ °^ "■* P^^"' "park" was an U ^'- "'""'""'"^ P°^"°"- The yiSdapaT4:^^;i;Vj-^ewhichwouM Kent, who proudly exh bited 1 '"'^"'"''^ ^^'■- Sidney told what he had leamerf ,„^ *u for the bungalow Thrh t ' *'"'>' ''*'"'«^ thebackof tSdIer It w.' r""' '""""^ ^""^'^ took frequent r^st V h f ,' anTlfa ?' '"' "''^^ and necks and cheeks ^'l^^Zt^rZZ't bungalow about five o'clock in th; afLo"; ''' The colony was in a furor of excitement Mr Mr RoT TJ ''"■' •' ^" ^-»- '^ -'^ht b defd ; Mr. Rockwell hurriedly explained what had h.^' An EX P L OR a6i T I O N started along the beach that he would not remain away later than noon, lie said he might be back sooner, since the chances were that the tide would rise so high as to render iiis later return difficult and dangerous. He c-l:il noi appear in camp at noon, and half an hour Liter M' Carmody ti ,,k the marine glasses and went to the biich. Out near the gate to the bay he saw Mr. Pei'ce standing on a rock, seemingly looking into ilie water. He saw Mr. Pence go ashore and disappear lor a time in a thicket. Then he returned to the rock and rema ined for nearly an hour. Mr. Carmody thoiniht from !iis motions that he was fishing, but it was learned he had take> no tackle with him. Mr. Rockwell, Mr. Haven a >i' others came down to the beach and watched i'',' figure across the bay. They were equally mystif u. At last Mr. Pence again disappeared. In a few moments he reappeared, and frantically waved a handkerchief on the end of a stick, as an evident signal of distress. During this time, those on the stone pier noted with alarm that the tide had risen, so that it was impossible to walk along the beach at the base of the cliflFs. It was at once decided to build a raft and rescue Mr. Pence. For some time he had not been seen, neither had the flag of distress been waved from the rock. Rough paddles were chopped from pieces of lum- be- td the raft was launched with Sidney Ham- ". ,1.1 Vincent, Mr. Carmody and Mr. Morton as . 1' 1 '/ The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 262 ^ the life-saving crew. The tide was strong against hen, and .t was half an hour before they ap^roShed he place where Mr. Pence was last seen Thy ca led h.s name, and were delighted to hear a faint r ponse from behind the rocks. The rescuers pad- dled around and found a crouching figure on a narrow ledge just above the steadily rising tide i>imon Pence was speechless with terror The Sidney observed that at low tide it must have been m mber of the Co.r,mittee on Exploration on the raft and a.ded by the tide made a quick voyage back to the camp. By thi ,^e Mr. Pence had p! tialj recovered, and under the stimulus of a glass of brandy told the story of his awful adventurf for Ir".' ^'"V^' '^'■'' ""'^ "^^P' ^ ^harp lookout for a hgators and things like that." said Mr. Pence Aothmg happened, however, and I went clear out o t ose b,g rocks by the ocean. There the sea comes nght in and you cannot get past. The rocks drop down mto deep wat.r, and there is no sign of a beach. I started back and decided to go out on that rock where you found me." Mr. Pence paused and shuddered at the thought tinn.H ■"'" T ''■°"' '^' '^°'' ^''^' ^ P''^'" he con- tinued. I went out at the end and sat down to watch the fishes. The water was clear as cr^staC and the bottom w«s white sand. It was cool in th^ shade of the rock and I enjoyed it. I noticed a An EX P L ORATION ♦ 263 <^ funny piece of quartz in the rock, and took out my knife to see if I could pry it out. In doing so I pulled out a coin and it struck the rock and bounded into the water. I could see it as it zigzagged through the water. A fish chased after it, and for a moment I was sure he was going to swallow it, but he didn't." Mr. Pence took another small taste of brandy to steady his nerves. " I could see where the nickel lay on the white sand," he said. " I knew it was a nickel, as I had but eleven cents and a bridge ticket when I left New York, and when I counted my money out on that rock I only had six cents. That proved it was a nickel ; and besides, it looked like a nickel. I went — " " You know what a nickel looks like all right," said Mr. Kern " Go on with your story. It grows interesting." " I did not propose to lose that money," said Mr. Pence, regarding Mr. Kent with suspicion. " I could see it as plain as I see you. It was in about ten feet of water. I went ashore and cut a pole about sixteen feet long, trimmed it up nicely, and went back. I reached down into the water and started to poke the nickel along towards the other end of the rock, where the water was shallow and I could reach it. It was slow work. Sometimes I would poke it into the sand, and one time I was sure it was lost. Vjut I dug it up again At last I got it around to the other side of the rock, but was astonished to find that the water was five feet deep there. Then I thought of P ■ i m Ill The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES "^ 264 ^ Ts^TLUr^^ *° *' °*''^'- '''''■ To my horror I saw that the water was three feet over the place I had crossed, and was running hke a n^illrace ! " " So •■''°"/f. "^ "''^'^^' • " ^^'^^'l Mr. Kent. w.th n,, handkerchief. The tide kept on rTs ng u"J could not stay on that side of the rock, so f re^ to the place where you found me. I exported eTeTv m-ute that an alligator, or a crocodile'" a shaS wouW conje along and get „e. It was awful." You should be more careful with your money S.mon," sa.d Mr. Kent. "You let me kerS bridge fcket for you. With your careless rTck e« d.spos,t.on in money matters y'ou will be so r^Sued -n circumstances when you reach New York that you will have to walk home." dnl'f .f'r '°°''''' "' '^^ millionaire operator doubtfully but said nothing. He reached into his pocket, produced the six pennies and the red bridg K:ket, and went to his room where he placed them in the inner recesses of a drawer During the absence of the relief committee Mr Kent dressed the deer with much deftness, and Mr' Waven had after some trouble, prepared three of the halt' and ^ H ^"^'.'"^ P^""' ^he range glowed with which had much of promise. The explorers had 'MtnsmmisKkL'! An EX P L ORATION ♦ 265 ^ brought back two dozen bananas, and these graced the table. Pawpaws were picked from a tree near the bungalow. In about two hours the table was set, with a huge joint of roast venison and browned potatoes as the pibcc dc resistance. This was flanked by a grouse and the gold-breasted trumpeter, which had fallen before the prowess of Mr. Kenc. Sidney had essayed some " baking powder biscuits," and had attained a culinary triumph. These served with jellies, some fine claret, and topped off with bananas, pawpaws and coffee completed a dinner which will not be forgotten by those who gathered around the board in that tropical bungalow. It was dark when the cigars went around the table, and nine o'clock before Mr. Morton and Mr. Car- mody had the kitchen in order and all were assem- bled in the clubroom. " I judge from what Mr. Carmody has told me, Mr. Hammond, that you are opposed to trusts," said Mr. Morton, as he leaned back in an easy chair and took a long pull at his favorite pipe. " Now, see here," said Sidney, looking up from a map of the West Inc ies, " I am not going to enter into any discussion with you plutocrats. I am just A plain, everyday millionaire, and my views are .so radical that I will make myself not only unpopular but a nuisance. So I am not disposed to burden you with views for which you have little or no .sym- pathy." " How do you know my views? " asked Mr. Mor- iemstm\x»m^jtmsKafia^mKrs xebsMw^-A'aw* m i'! i - The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 166 ^ ton. " I am sure I never have made them public. Perhaps I am as radical as you. I should like noth- mg better than to discuss some of these questions with you, and I think all will agree that we can spend an evening now and then in no better way. Don't be afraid of hurting my feelings. I have sur- vived years of fool editorials and political abuse and demagogy. Now why are you opposed to trusts? " Sidney glanced at Mr. Carmody and Mr. Rock- well. "Go ahead, Mr. Hammond," said the former. " The trust proposition is a most interesting one. I also should like to discuss it with you." " So would 1," said Mr. Rockwell. " I have some views on trusts myself," said Mr. Kent. " Go ahead and flay the octopus, Sidney. I will stand by you." " My views on trusts will probably surprise you," said Sidney. " In my opinion the trust form of in- dustry is the grandest forward step yet made in the history of civilization." " I supposed you were opposed to trusts," said Mr. Morton in much astonishment. " I gave you no reason to think so," replied Sid- ney. " The trust is common sense applied to indus- try. It is an evolution from barbaric competition to a rational, though imperfect form of cooperation. It is far from being an ideal system of production, and h a m.qkeiliift. hut it is immeasurably superior to that which it has misniaced. The trust is the cor- An EXPLORATION '^ 367 ^ ollary of the machine. It is a mechanism with which to use the machinery of production and distri- bution. It is n labor-saving organization of indus- trial effort. It is a shorter distance between two points, viz. : the producer and the consumer. It rep- resents the obliteration of the middleman. It stands for the destruction of parasites which for ages have fed on production. It is the abolition of tolls and tariffs levied on labor by the non-producing jobbers who have stood between the man who makes and the man who wishes to buy." "Magnificent!" exclaimed Mr. Haven. "You express my opinions exactly." " I thought you said Mr. Hammond was a radi- cal ? " said Mr. Rockwell, addressing Mr. Carmody. " He is," said Mr. Carmody. " The great mistake people make," continued Sid- ney, " is to consider this trust problem fr'/tir the premise that the existing form of trust is a finished product of evolution. It is not. It is a young plant which has but broken the imprisoning earth. It has not developed those characteristics which enable uf, to predict with accuracy the future." " I should say that some of them are plants quite well developed." said Mr. Kent. " They have strangled competition, controlled legislation, rule Wall Street and the money markets of the world. I should call them rather healthy plants." " It is very diffinilt tn ohf.Tin a prnper view •■^f the trust or in fact of any of our modern institutions," The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 268 ^ said Sidney. " We have nothing to measure by. In- stitutions which to-day appear fixed standards are to-worrow declared obsolete. The trust is not an institution, but rather the germ of an institution. We do not comprehend the age in which it is our good fortune to hve. It is the tropical age of prog- ress. It will be hundreds of years before the histo- rian appears who will put into language the record of this half century. We have no perspective; no unobstructed view-point. Our eyes are blinded by the light which burst from the gloom of the dark ages. All ages were dark but the present. " If we couid watch the procession of these cen- turies pass before us in review, how marvelous by contrast would be the appearance of the nineteenth century? Think of it! For six thousand years of recorded history the map of the world wa> unknown to its millions of inhabitants! For sixty centuries, swarming millions lived on continents in absolute Ignorance that other millions were on the same small globe. One hundred years ago the coast of Califor- nia had not been explored. The men who framed the Constitution of the United States did not know the course of the Mississippi river. When the Declaration of Independence was penned there were no railroads, telegraphs or telephones. There were no coal mines, no iron, .steel, glass, cotton, gas, matches, clocks, gold or silver, copper or lead pro- duced in this country. There was no sugar or coffee. There were no canals or steamships. Printing was 7.iiil«!f»i^e;'."ftt m An EXPLORATION ♦ 269 ^ in its infancy. Few living had read a book and there were no libraries. There was no city of 50,000 population. There were no trusts and no million- aires. There were no inventors and no machinery." " It seems incredible, but these are facts," said Mr. Carmody. " As late as 1864, with the century two-thirds gone, steel was almost unknown. In 1873 the United States produced less than 200,000 tons of steei. To-day we produce more than 12.000.000 tons. Industrial history has nothing comparaijie with this. Think of a civilization without steei ' " " The nineteenth century wa> not the heir to the wisdom of the ages," said Sidney. " It came as a giant who disdained and refused to accept '" gifts of the past. It tore aside the screen of igii,^rance and plundered the future of its heritage of wealth and knowledge. Invention was born and machinery followed. It was not until the middle of the century that our existing civilization had its inception. Since that time our progress has been so rapid that our view of passing events has been blurred. If we can- not comprehend the past, how much more difficult is it to understand tlie present! Our ancient land- marks are swept away. It is interesting to watch some of ciur modern philosophers and social students in their attempt to comprehend the problems of to- day. Their eyes are glued to the musty tomes of the past; their minds are warped by precedents which they believe must be followed, and they make sad but earnest attempts to measure the things of to-day i?«V.- •?*.r'; anra? The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 270 ^ with the ancient footrule, and to rule the quick by the traditions and superstitions of the dead. They n-n.te us laws framed by savages for the government ■ >r savages, and weep because To-day will have none . f them. They marvel that cobwebs do not bind this Gulliver to the ground from which he sprang. They cannot realize there is no past ; the Present is." " You are quite an optimist," observed Mr. Mor- ton. " Most students of modern society make all sorts of gloomy predictions, and indulge in threats against trusts, and those who have amassed wealth by taking advantage of their opportunities. I am afraid you are not much of a reformer." " I fail to see why a reformer should be a pessi- mist," replied Sidney. " There is little in the exist- ing state of affairs to dishearten those who are in- terested in the rapid growth of better conditions. Those who study surface indications may well im- agine that everything is going wrong, but the thoughtful man who analyzes causes and ignores the acts of individuals who may happen to I)e forced into the foreground, must take a hopeful \ iew of the fu- ture. Now I do not think that yon, Mr. Morton, or Mr. Rockwell, or Mr. Carmody, or Mr. Haven, im- agine for one moment that nature postponed this revolution in industry until such time as you arrived to take personal charge of affairs? " Mr. Morton laughed, but Mr. Rockwell frowned nrii! seemed annoyed. " It would be a remarkable thing," continued IVw 'JL4 K'lV ^aesMjiX- An EX P L ORATION ♦ 271 ^ Sidney Hammond, " if in less than a score of years so promising a youngster as the trust should attain to the vigor and stability of manhood. He has not yet reached the legal age of twenty-one. The word cannot be found in the encyclopedias and text-books of a quarter of a century ago. You gentlemen are but the pioneers in this movement. You have been given the privilege of making the preliminary inves- tigation and e.xperiments in the modern science of production and distribution." " They are doing very well," said Mr. Kent, with some sarcasm. " By the time they get through with their studies there will be nothing left to investigate." " That may be true." said Sidney, after waiting for the others to answer Mr. Kent's unkind remarks. " In fact I see no reason why a few , rpi .ration-; and interests should not own the greater pai t of all rhe wealth of the country within the next ten years. But that is nothing to be alarmed about. It is merely an incident, and an inevitable one. If we have a system of society or government in which new and advanced conditions, such as those caused by the sudden intr. Kluction of machinery, can be introduced only by massing the wealth of the country in the hands of a small percentage of the people, what mat- ters it how small the percentage? What difference does it make to 80,000.000 people whether five hun- dred men own seventy -fi\e per cent amass such a sum as you did. In the process, what will the remaining seventy million of the people do for money? And what will these economists do in order to save this money? They must work for it, of course. What would be their occupations? Not making clothes certainly. A few workmen could make all the clothes necessary for this provident ten millions. The thou- sands employ-id in producing the raw materials and those engaged in manufacturing such luxuries as cigars, tobaccos, liquors, candies, books, ornaments of all kinds including jewelry, picture frames, pic- tures, carpets, and the ten thousand things which enter into the life and comfort of the masses — these occupations would be gone. Where would the news- papers and publishers get their patronage? Who would buy books? The railroads could practically abandon passenger traffic, and see their freight busi- ness dwindle to almost nothing. Gas, electric lights and similar expensive luxuries would disappear in the interval when the scrimping people were getting rich by saving. Elevated trains and street cars A DISCUSSION of TRUSTS would run empty. The theaters would close. Res- taurants and hotels would be unknown. With whom and with what would the banks or the insurance companies do business? "As a matter of fact, the [ople of the United States," Sidney went on. " could not withdraw from circulation one hundred millif)ns in the way that Mr, Pence saved it withr stopping business and pro- ducing the most frightful panic ever known. The loss of a few million dollars in gold exported to Europe causes Wall Street to tremble. A dollar saved is a dollar destroyed during the time it is kept from cir- culation. When we know that th argest per capita of money ever in circulation in the United States was only slightly in excess of $28.00, and when we know that ev^ry dollar of it must be kept ir he banks or in circulation, what folly it is to advis. le people to save an average of two thousand, a thou- sand, a hundred dollars or for that matter any amount of money. And yet leading men of the Republic are advising the people to take advantage of prosperity and save their money against a pos- sible depression. They do not realize that our so- called ' prosperity ' is the result of spending, and that it will end the moment the people are unable or un- willing to keep money in circulation. Under our financial system the man who saves money is a selfish traitor to the best interests of his country, and the man who spends every dollar he can get hold of is a patriot and a financier." •; iil I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 286 ^ Mr. Carmody laughed good-naturedly. " There is much of truth in what you say," he said. " But you must confess that those who make these self-denials are the ones who best succeed. I venture the assertion that most of us here laid the foundation of our fortunes in this way. I know that I did. and so did Mr. Rockwell, Mr. Pence and Mr. Haven. Mr. Morton had a better start in life, and was not compelled to be so economical." " No man can save a fortune from what he earns," said Sidney. " It took ten of the best years of Mr. Pence's lite to save two thousand dollars. At that rate he would not have had $200,000 when he was one hundred years old. He is not yet an old man, and I suppose, Mr. Pence, you are worth at least $50,000,000. You did not save all of that, did you ? " '' Every cent of it," said Mr. Pence, stoutly. " I imagine your money did most of the work," observed Sidney, with a smile. " There is some dif- ference between saving money from wages and drawing compound interest on money. In the former process your powers decline with age, in the latter they immeasurably increase without the slight- est effort on your part. A fortune once started grows of itself if invested in interest-bearing securi- ties. Your wise financier ventures on no enterprises. He promotes nothing. He takes no chances. He deals in nothing but money, and if he is ordinarily wise he cannot fail. But in the very nature of things jit A DISCUSSION of TRUSTS ♦ 287 ^ there can be few such persons. There is not money enough. The masses cannot save. They are too busy paying interest in ten thousand ways When the World's Fair was held in Chicago, in 1893, the people all over the Central West saved money for eighteen months in advance of the opening of the Exposition. Their sudden spasm of economy ruined thousands of retail merchants. The theatrical and amusement enterprises which ventured West walked home. In the panic which followed, most of the people lost all they had saved, and neither they nor the^ Exposition profited in consequence." " I do not agree with all you have said " re- marked Mr. Morton, "but the wise man is willing to listen to both sides of a question. I hold that conditions are steadily improving, and that while certain evils exist we shall be able to meet the prob- lems as they arise." "The condition is so grave that you belittle it when you term it a problem," said Sidney. " It is a permanent crisis. We are to-day sustaining the impossible. We, as millionaires, are asking a people with votes in their hands to perpetuate a system in which their advancement is hopeless, and in which the inequalities are so vast as to be ridiculous. We know that less than 40,000 persons own two-thirds of all the wealth in the country. This fact is beyond dispute. These 40,000 own each on an average .$1 - 500,000 worth of property. Then there are 40,000!- cxx) persons who have average possessions of $750, i -I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '*■ 288 ^ and there are 36,ocx),ooo who own nothing or less than nothing. Talk about miracles! This is the miracle of the ages! Do you imagine such a condi- tion is to be permanent? It has been brought about hi less than forty years, and we calmly discuss it as if it had been handed down to us from the ages. It is brand new. It is the result of an economic acci- dent, and not of any evolutionary design. Evolution never produces such a condition, except as a freak. There are no inverted mountain ranges. Water does not run up hill except on rare occasions. Gross inequality never long exists by consent of the sup- pressed majority. This is a matter for the 40,000 to discuss. The people do not discuss things. They act. They do not think out a remedy. They feel out a remedy. I look at this question from the cold- blooded standpoint of a millionaire who is anx- ious to maintain all of the advantage which the majority will surrender. I can frame no defense for the billionaire. How will he justify himself? " " There are no billionaires in this country," said Mr. Rockwell. "The tendency of you social re- formers is to exaggerate the wealth of individuals and the magnitude of corporations." " I do not think so," replied Mr. Kent. " I am not much of a social reformer myself, but the people do not yet grasp the extent of the power wielded by a few men in this country. Less than ten men now own or control 125,000 of the 180,000 miles of rail- roads in the United States. The railroad giants of A DISCUSSION of TRUSTS ♦ 389 ^ twenty years ago could not get an audience with the railroad magnate of to-day. A few men meet and decide to buy 21,000 miles of railroad, and complete the transaction with as much ease as a woman buys ten yards of calico. Thirty thousand miles of rail- road west of the Mississippi, which hundreds of thousands of men massed their earnings for years in order to build, are now in the hands of six men, and they can buy what remains whenever they choose. The men who own the railroads of a country will in time own the country. They can make and unmake cities. In combination with the banks— and they own the banks— they can ruin any man who dares oppose them. Everything is in their hands. They can be as rich as they choose. Why not the billionaire? Hammond is right. If the billionaire is not here, he will come." " There is nothing to stop it," said Sidney. " We have permitted a few men to obtain possession of all of our natural resources, or to be in a position where they soon can do so. They now own the coal mines, the iron and copper mines, the timber lands, and in fact most of the resources from which raw materials are obtained. These facts are more dazzling than are the wildest predictions of the future. It seems strange to think that one corpora- tion should own all the timber from which paper is made; to realize that two or three men own or control the entire anthracite coal region of the coun- try; thai the same men own the iron mines, in a M' 1 n The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES *•• 290 ^ country and at an age when iron and civilization mean the same thing. They not only own these properties, but they have secured possession of all or nearly all the machinery of production for which they serve as raw material. Such competition as re- mains is menaced by their railroads and their banks. And more than all that, the so-called independent property of the country, yet nominally in the hands of the middle-class, is mortgaged to the banks. If the banks and the allied money interest care to bring about certain conditions of money stringency, they can foreclose most of these mortgages. They have the power to lock up the money of the country at any time. Money rates are high or low as they dictate. Wall Street quotations are determined in advance; the speculative public merely attempts to guess what has already been decided upon. Why should they not be billionaires? They have but to absorb the smaller millionaires. They have but to crowd to the wall the smaller banks. This is an easy matter. The process is well under way. The small bank has not the slightest chance. The day of small things is past. One corporation is to own everything, and practically does to-day. It has no name. It is a ' gentleman's agreement.' " Mr. L. Sylvester Vincent generally took no part in these discussions, but he was an attentive listener. He wisely decided to enter into no controversy with the millionaire magnates but he realized that he A DISCUSSION of TRUSTS ♦ 291 ^ could not afford to remain silent. He believed that an occasional noncommittal question would not menace his interests. ^ " What I cannot understand," said Mr. Vincent ' IS how a few men or a few interests ever obtained such an advantage. There must be some reason for It. What I mean is, that they must have had some commandmg advantage over other persons. I have read all kinds of theories. Some say that interest is at the bottom of it; others say that excessive profit IS the reason. I should like to find out." " I think I can answer your question," said Sidney Hammond. "All money is supposed to draw in- terest, and all production is for profit. So we must look elsewhere for a specific cause. As you say cer- tam persons must have had, and do have yet some exclusive advantage over all others. Is there one in- stitution in the country to which you can trace ninety per cent, of all our great fortunes? " " Yes," said Mr. Kent. "What is it?" "The banking system," answered Mr Kent promptly. " There is not a fortune in the country' that I know of. not directly or indirectly associated with the banking business." " There are exceptions, the most con:,picuous of which are land owners who have become rich from the steady and inevitable increase in the value of land due to the increase in population, and again m, « 1 1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES <^ ' 292 <^ where certain men were wise or fortunate enough to purchase or preempt some great natural product," said Sidney. " You will find that in most cases there was a bank back of them," said Mr. Ker' " I will admit that to-day nothing can be done without a bank," replied Sidney. " But fifty or sixty years ago men were permitted to take to them- selves the vast areas of the then unknown West, and they became rich because they could not help it. But at the present time the bank is the thing. The reason is very simple. The bank deals in money. Now any one can deal in money if he owns it, but the bank does not have to own money. It deals in other people's money. Would I bore you gentlemen if I recited a parable?" asked Sidney. " Go ahead," said Mr. Morton. " You have us out on an island, and you can lash the octopus all you wish. I will get even with you when we get back to New York. Go ahead, Hammond, give us your parable." " It is the best answSr I can give to Mr. Vin- cent's question," said Sidney. " I call it the Parable of the Bank. Here it is : " THE PARABLE OF THE BANK." " Once upon a Time the People of the world v -re oppressed by reason of Famines and Wars. They were Taxed by Kings and Nobles who ruled over them, and who took from them a large Share of that A DISCUSSION of TRUSTS which their Labor had Created. Now this country was thiciily populated, and there was no Land for these People. It came to pass that certain sailors discovered a New Country, and brought back word saying that it was a goodly land of Fields, Forests, and Streams, and gifted with all the beauties of Na- ture. After sacrifices and privations, many of the oppressed People took ships and sailed to the New Country. They went to work with great zeal and tilled the Fields and produced by their Labor that which was needed to support life for themselves and their children. Ihey had few Tools, and though the soil was good and the extent of the Land so great they could not find the end of it, they were forced to work with much Energy in order to supply the things which were needed. Those who lived in towns and cities and existed by trading in the Pro- ducts of others were few, and most of the People toiled in the Fields. " Now these People had brought with them from across the Sea a system by which no Trading could be done except by the Passing of Coins made of Gold and Silver. There being no other way by which Things could be Exchanged, and no Gold or Silver being found in their Fields or Hills, they shipped to their former Country the Fruits of their Soil and obtained in Exchange the Bits of Metal known as Coins or Money, whereby they might Eat and Wear that which they had Produced. And these Coins passed among the People, and each man saved i!,( i I i 'P'i m ii hi The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '*' 294 ^ hi! Stofe '""fr .^^'"y °«y' ^"d on his death willed h,s Store of Corns to h,s children. Now these Coins accounToT ^"^'^ ^"f ^"'' "' ^^' Value, not on account of any special merit in themselves, but by eason of the fact that they were Scarce and difficult o Locate, the same as is the Four-leaf Clover. So they were called Money. "And some there were who Loaned their Money and received m Return more than they Loaned, and this Excess was called Interest, but there were few who borrowed Money, as most of t>. People worked in the Fields and loathed to enter into Debt And thus these People lived in this Country and none was very Kich and none was very Poor. Those who were ,n the Cities and Traded in the Produce of others were the more Prosperous, but not so much so as to cause Envy or Heart Burning. And the Coins passed among the People and most of them were Happy. " Now in after years, when these People hid fought a War with the Country from which they came, and had won their Liberties, there arose a class of men called Inventors, skilled in the art of designing shrewd devices for saving Labor, and they conceived most wonderful Machines, by means of which one man could do with the Machine that which formerly took the Labor of ten or an hundred men. And the People were much pleased thereat saying among themselves, ' Lo, the day is at hand when the Machines shall Produce all that we desire A DISCUSSION of TRUSTS '*' 295 ^ We shdl have all the Comforts and Luxuries of life and do .,0 more Labor than it is a pleasure for us to do. ■'And the Inventors waxed yet more Ingenious, and designed Railroads and Locomotives, and the Factories were filled with Machines so wonderful that they could do all but Think. "With the Coins scattered among the People none was Rich enough to build the RaMroads or to construct the Factories and the Machinery, and the People were much Puzzled. Thereupon, several men combmed their Stores of Metal, anc! said to the Peo- ple, to-wit : ' Ye know us to be men of Good Repute who have ever been Honest and Fair in our Dealings with our Fellow Men. We have formed a Bank Give to us your Money, and we will hold it on De- posit, and give you a Check-book, and you can Sign your Name when you desire back any Portion of your Money. It will be a great Convenience to you.' And the People believed them, and esteemed it a Wise Plan, and these men were called Bankers or Finan- ciers. Some of these Financiers offered to pay In- terest on these Deposits, but they Failed when the People demanded their Money, and the Discc-'- was made that there was no Profit to be hid in Paying Interest on Money. " Now the Wise Financiers who paid little or no Interest on the Money the People had given them said to them that wisheo to build Railroads, Fac- tories and Houses and to improve their Lands, and ('-' I 1 1' i ^!! The KIDNAPPED MILLION. IIRES ♦ 296 ^ spake saying. ' The People have Faith in Us and have Given Us their Money. Come ye ante sand wnthed in the up pour of bubbling springs. In these arenas were myriads of fish, float .ng as m space, their sides reflecting the tints of the ra nbow. Agam they would dart like flashes of color mto groves of corinoidea or into tremulous masses of sea fern. I„ these crystalline depths, sea £LT '■'"''"■ """' ""^ '^"""'^^ their A plateau covered with variegated forms of water cress, term^mated in a precipice, adown whose sides grew fern-hke plants, deepening in color until swal- Z^ Z '« u^" ^'"""^ '''"^ °^ ^""^ unfathomed depth. The fish and shell life of this submarine vista was m harmony with the hues of forest hill crae and ravine. Species of the ch^tondon dar'ed here and there their sides stippled in blue, green, and yellow^ There were others of a silvery shade mottled with blue and striped with brown bands fadmg mto green. In a glade whose slopes were covered with gorgeous sea fans, was a school of balloon and puffer fish, while the next valley was thronged by a multitude of angel fish. No words car The HU RR IC A NE 309 can paint the colors of these coxcombs )f the sea. They were proud in coats of vermilion, blue, gold, violet, emerald and iridescent tints which glowed like fire. They formed a piscatorial revel in cast and shade, and outrivalled plan and flower in vivid ap- parel. Hydroids and strange forms of jelly fish took on the tints of their surroundings, and were like sea chameleons in their changing colors. Squids and cuttle fish emitted brilliant flashes; the argonauts, with shells delicate as paper and dainty as mother of pearl; rare forms of scollop fish, ammonites, razor fish, sting rays, hermit and fiddler crabs, skates, sea cucumbers, porcupines and ravens, nautilus, anemone, urchins, winkles, and the innumerable species of fish and shell, revealed their beauties or their weirdness to the four men who flodted over their abiding place. There was a swirl in the water ahead of the raft. A school of fish darted away. A ten-foot shark swept beneath the voyagers, anc' with open mouth rushed into a swarm of pike and bass. His white sides gleamed in the sunlight. The wide-opened jaws, the beaoy eyes, the dorsal fin and the long, powerful tail, gave an impression of ferocity which well nigh overpowered Mr. Pence. " You are not afraid of sharks, are you ? " asked Mr. Kent, as the reluctant explorer jumped to the center of the raft. " Yes, I am," said Mr. Pence frankly. "They are perfectly harmless," said Mr. Kent. ii !■ ' 1 I t i ! 'l I' 1 \ il fS The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 310 ^ The raft was now approaching the southeast shore of the bay. " That shark was more afraid of us than we need be of him." " He probably would not touch you," said Mr. Pence, " but I am afraid of shariis." Sidney laughed. Mr. Kent looked at Mr. Pence doubtfully for a moment. " Why wouldn't he touch me ? " Simon Pence grinned. " He probably knows you," he said. " You be- long to his family." " You are getting to be quite a humorist," said Mr. Kent. " Don't you worry about sharks. They won't touch anybody. All the people killed by sharks died in novels. I have been looking into this matter. There is no case on record, that I can find, of a man being bitten or eaten by a shark. They are afraid of a man. I would not hesitate to go in swimming among a thousand sharks. There are millions of them on the coast of Florida and in the Bahamas, and the hotel men have a standing offer of one thousand dollars for an authenticated case of a person being bitten by a shark. At Palm Beach and other places people go in swimming with sharks all around them. When fishermen get drowned, as they often do in the storms along the coast, their bodies are washed ashore through shoals of sharks who do not dare approach even the dead bodies." " I don't care," said Mr. Pence, " I am afraid of them just the same." The H U R R I C A N E ♦ 3«i ♦ " Do you know how they kill sharks? " said Mr. Kent. " Shoot them, or catch them with hooks, I sup- pose," said Mr. Pence. " That is too slow," said Mr. Kent. " Some day we will try it in this lake. They make them kill themselves." Mr. Pence looked incredulous. " They take a pig on board a ship," explained Mr. Kent. " and put a strap around him and suspend him out over the water from the boat boom. I suppose any animal would do as well as a pig. We could use a rabbit or a small deer. Well, the sailors use a pig. They drop him down so that he is about four or five feet above the water. He kicks and squeals, and the sharks gather around. They can't reach him, but they think they can, and they keep on trying. They swarm around the water below the pig, stick their heads up and snap at him, and sooner or later one of them is sure to get hurt. You see they are all mixed up like men trying to sell Sugar in a bull market on the Stock E.xchange. One of them gets bit or scratched in this riot and it is all over with him. The other sharks see the blood and they tackle and eat him. They are so hungry and impatient, that in devo ''ng this fellow some mere of them are bound to get hurt. The same thing happens to them —they get eaten. Then the sailors take back the pig ard let nature take its course. I never have seen it done, out they tell me that in less than an ^11 life ■: The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES "* 3>a ^ hour the sea will be covered with shark blood for miles around. " ^ '^""■' l^l'eve it," said Mr. Pence ^_ " A sea captain told me aU.ut it," said Mr. Kent I never knew a sea captain to tell a lie " They haout tha wt' "f, ^ -^" t° >t reared its crest D^ri, m F'% feet away above it rose unS ittt T' ^''"^ ™ "Dive into it. " cried c' '"'^'• cosher hroke into drin';tSe^^''^^--'>^'''e which seemed minutes hTs 1 ' ^'^" =^°"ds, crash of waters The ^ , ""''' '^"'^ ^^'"^ the as if he wer a strli *'°^P""«d him down of tons was holdi /him dow^ h': '' ";^ "^'^''' stroke he came to the suTfa e K ' ''''''' ' '"^'^ -' ?nu-s eyes and loo" JforSrS^'r^^'^^ not in sight ! ^^"t. He was Sidney raised himself out of th. . possible and searched L/ . "'^*'' ^= ^igh as succeeding wave swe '„ t'^^'^^'^ ''''^- ^h^ swept over h,m. Like all good The HURRICANE swimmers, he kep his eyes opo-. when under water. To the right he saw t- le dark o .tlines of some object, and struck out for ii. As Sidney came to the surface the second time, he saw Mr. Kent only a few yards away. He was conscious and was struggHng desperately but wildly to keep afloat. In a moment Sidney was by his side. The next wave did not break and both had a breath- ing spell. " Throw your left arm across my back and hang to my shirt," said Sidney, as he passed his arm un- der Mr. Kent's chest. "Keep cool; we are all right." Mr. Kent did not for a moment lose his nerve or his self-control. He did as Sidney directed, grasp- ing his shirt with a firm hold and using his right hand to aid in swimming. Three times they went below in the boiling surf, but they made slow yet steady progress towards the inlet. Mr. Kent did not reply in answer to Sidney's reassuring words, but devoted all his energies to keeping above water. At last they passed the danger point, and reached the quiet waters, where the shattered surges rolled with a gentle swell. Mr. Kent glanced back and re- leased his hold. " I'm all right," he said. " Much obliged." Mr. Kent struck out for the raft, which was bob- bing up and down in the water a few rods away. Sidney swam at his side and soon climbed aboard the raft. He helped Mr. Kent to his feet, and then 111 I " I.' 1 ll ii: on the raft. ''"^ "''™ ^^ was again safe "Are you all rieht Mr i? .-,„ -^ he grasped the hand oThis c '^'^' "'"''-y' 't earnestly. °* ^'' companion and shook " I am all right, except that T ., •"ore of salt water in my stom. h - ' ' ''"^'•' °'- -ho seemed more chagnnTthan h"" ''^- ^^"'' lucky thing for me that J '""*• " ^^ *« a I could nofhaveT pt up ' y "' ' '"^'"^ ^-™'ner. ™. I don't know how tcTT "^ '"^' «^'"- th>ng like that." '^ "'^"'^ y°" for a little a-n gXl.'^Cl'it i'iuS' 'r''"^ ''^^^'"^- " I " Like a fool, I d dl ttt °" ''' " ''^PP«' ? " '■" t^e," said Mr. Kent 't?"".''"*^^ ^"'^ ''-« ride that wave, and so I tolk al *' '■^'' -°"'d squarely over, and when TL, . '^ ^' "PP^" slipped. The raft cime ol 1° ^""P "^ f°o' -'d for a momen I "as I' "!,'' '"'■ ''^ °' '"e. how long I ,,3 undetrr'th V°"'* '^-- remember was when you ydS' ; J'^ '^"^ ^'''"^ I enough to do as I was tJlH r ^ '^'■- ^ ''"ew helped persons out oT the it "^ '™^' ^ '«- 6-otten the rules. The next ' ' ""'"' "°' ^°'- "e. I could not get mv 11!."' T"''^ '^^^^ ^^d strength." ^ "^ '''"^'h, and was losing my They soon were nn oi,„ The HURRICANE of a tree until their clothing was dried sufficiently to wear. Mr. Kent would listen to no proposition involving an immediate return to the bungalow, and stoutly declared he was as well as ever. After an hour's rest they proceeded to climb the slope of the rock which formed the north portal of the gateway. It was a long, hard struggle over rocks and through brush and briars. But they kept on and at last stood on the summit of the crag, four hundred feet above the ocean. The view before them was inspiring. They stood at the verge of the cliff, on a jutting rock overlook- ing the inlet. To the west was the lake or bay with its palm-crowned island. Through the cocoa trees they saw the roof of the bungalow. Beyond they traced the sinuous course of the brook, ana caught the sheen of the reservoir where the foliage was broken. Yet beyond was the jungle which Sidney had vainly tried to penetrate, and back of that was a ridge of hills so high that they could be dignified with the title of mountains. "Look at that!" exclaimed Sidney. He pointed in the direction where there was a cleft in the ridge of hills to the northwest. There showed the faint outlines of a distant giant moun- tain peak; a pyramid whose top was white with eternal snow. " See that mountain peak ! " he exclaimed. Mr. Kent's eyes were not so good as Sidney's, but he soon made out the outlines of a mountain. US' ill The KlDN^pp^n MILLIONMRES looks like a via" o I '' ""' '^''^ '"i'^' It of sn.oke ab:: T Wi ZT ' "" "^ ^ '^^•""" -ke the mainland in ' da/^T^ "'"' "^ ^^" can build a boat and „,* f " «^''^^t- We 'ess than two;iratCZt^'" ^'''■^^^'-^^" They studld the C'oft no answer to Mr Kent's^„«. "T' ''"* '' 8^^^ «hore curved slow^ t tr l^" J° ^•'-°«h the tall cliff; the last nf , f ' *^™'"at.ng in a spur of tLe western riH ''"'^^" ° ''"' ^'^''^^ ■■«" ^s a ern shore wis he "a 'f Vt I"' °"^"- ^"^^ -"th- the fourth byThe 00 !n F " 'T'^ ""^ ''"'^ ^"^ was apparent n'^eXtifnTf tl^TrV low was possible P„. "°'^e from be- at the for f the ^17 a'7 ''^ ''^ °^^^" >-* their sides. I„ places the ^"^ '*' '^^^^ ^" "P worn caverns £Z d^rrr? "^^" ^^'^ make an attempt to reah the ."""''* '° hills by skirtin^'he brow of the r^ f" "'^^ "^ --"--w,:r^T?i:r;':;r:^r^r The HU R RIC AN E appetite, and luckily found a spring of clear, cool water bubbling from the crevice of a rock. " Simon Pence is a queer character," observed Sidney, tossing a banana skin over the cliff. " I suppose he means well, but he is what some people call a little ' near.' " " Did you ever hear of the time the committee Vi^ailed on him to get a contribution for some char- ity?" asked Mr. Kent. Sidney had not. " It was decided to raise a sum of money for some dese.-ving charity," continued Mr. Kent. " I have forgotten what it was,— there are so many of them. At any rate, the paper went the rounds, and they called on me among others. I signed for a sum, and glanced over tlie list. Morton was down for two thousand, Rockwell had signed for twenty-five hundred, Carmody had pledged three thousand — he is very libeial and charitable, as he can afford to be — Haven was down for something, and there was a lot of others. I noticed that Mrs. Simon Pence was on the paper for fifty dollars. Well, the com- mittee called on Pence. They were admitted and explained their mission. He sighed and looked at the list. He read it up and down, and suddenly came upon the name Mrs. Simon Pence. He picked up his pen and wrote something. The committee was all expectation. He handed it back to them. What do you suppose they saw ? " " I am sure I annot guess." r The KlDN^pp^n MTLLIONMR. 320 -ay to beat hi Lt' uT'"'^''''^- '^"ere is . Th» J -^ets be moving-." Tl.ey faceS the a4Tun;, ,'°,"'' ^° "° ^""he tered to the we ^f""?! ^'^'"^'^ '»" ^een cncour •"i'e. it was evid nt to t ""^ "" '"^^ '°' Jungle around thrii iT .•^°"''""°- ""h th again stood on the roclfr'TV^'^^'^P^''''^: Bay "and the ocean °^^^''^'<'"? "Morton-: an^UmeroTttTsrVh'' ^^" ^" ^«'-^'- showed clear on the eastern T"''^^^"«^ °^ ^ ^^ip huIIdownonthersteoftL T' "^"^ ^'^^ ^^^ they ga^ed at the dl a,T /°' "^^'^ ^" ''°"r The ship wa- heLed , t'"'' °^ '"^^'^ ^"^ sails. Progress^n^hett ;XhtdT "^^'"^ ^°°^ noon. " "^"^ sprung up since "e^2"^^tg2:^\rsr-"-^^- " one ship paL: .Te aTe itV"'"/ ''' '^y- come near enough to see IZ , ' ^"'^ '°"^ '"^y " Look at tho^e Zr " a d MrT "^ ^■^"^'■" -rnes your storm. Whai time'ist. ^^"'^ " ^^^^ cbud?"/;trsaw^t°"r '■^^^'^^•''^ -^-^ --3 get our rl.— -----.£ The H U R R I C A N E ^ 321 ^ Pence are wise they will come back at once. We are going to have some wind." In the southeast a murk-y rainbow ol clouds ex- tended over a quarter of the horizon. The crown of this arch reached about thirty degrees abovi the sea line. Its upper edges were gray, with flecks of white. Then it shaded into a blue, and lower into a band of darker gray. Below it was saflfron blending into a murky red at the horizon. Before Sidney and Mr. Kent had reached the raft, the breeze had died away. Forest and jungle were vociferous with the cries of birds and of animals. Herons, pelicans, sea- gulls, and other large birds swung on heavy pinions and disappeared in the west. It seemed as if every living thing were attempting to leave the island or seek shelter. A pack of monkeys was frantic with excitement, and kept up an infernal chattering in company with parrots and cockatoos. Slowly the dun arch ciimbed the heavens. It was three o'clock when the raft reached the place which had been agreed upon. Sidney fired his rifle twice as a signal ; and both yelled at the top of their voices. There was no response, and they both fired, and again shouted. Sidney climbed up the rocks. He called repeatedly, but there was no reply. There was a moaning sound in the air which seemed to come from the sea. Everything was bathed in an unearthly rcddi^h-yellow light. The trees were motionless as if cast in bronze. Ten rods The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 322 ^ away a crocodile lifted his jaws from the water and emitted a hoarse bellow as if in fear. " See how fast the tide is rising! " exclaimed Mr. Kent. " You can see it rise. Look at that ! " He pointed towards the inlet. A dark ridge rose out of the lake. On the opposite shores was a mov- ing line of white. " Jump ashore I It's a tidal bore ! " cried Sidney. The wave came rolling towards them like the smooth billows in the wake of a steamship. It lost its force as the lake widened, but it was strong enough to hammer the raft against the rocks. They pulled the raft as high up on the beach as they could. The water rose at the rate of a foot a minute. The roar of the surf beyond the cliflfs was like sullen thunder. And as yet not a breath of air. Across the bay they saw men on the stone dock beckoning them to return. It was half-past three o'clock. They had promised to have the raft on the south shore at five. Both agreed that they must wait for Vincent and Pence. It seemed strange they did not appear. The arch was overhead. It looked like a mass of writhing snakes. The moan in the air took a higher key. The lake was shrouded in a darkening pall. Sidney felt a puff of hot air on his face. The moan from the sea became a roar. Three hundred feet above, the crown of a palm tree bowed to the west. "This way, Mr. Kentl" shouted Sidney. He The H U R R IC A N E grabbed the older man by the arm and they dashed to the shelter of an overhanging rock. And not a moment too soon. The hurricane broke on the island with a fury which seemed incarnate. A tree which had with- stood the storm blasts of generations was torn from the heights above and went whirling across the lake. In a moment it was dark as night. From where the two men were sheltered they could judge of the storm only by the tumult. It came from the southeast and passed over their heads. From above there came a torrent of water and a shower of rocks, stones and logs. It did not seem possible a human being could survive such a storm for a minute. There were occasional flashes of light. The sky became treitiulous with its sickening flicker. Gradually this became more intense. Then there was a glare as if the universe had burst into flame. The hills seemed to rock in the explosion which followed. Those who grow frightened at the puny manifestations of nature in a northern thun- derstorm, cannot afford to cavil at an apparent ex- travagance of language essential to a word picture of a tropical hurricane. As night came on the storm increased in fury. In the flashes of lightning they saw the lake lashed into foam. The rain fell in such sheets that they could not descry the bungalow, but they feared for the safety of its occupants. They gave Vincent and Pence up as lost, and never expected to see them i. f I'M k'jii < ! The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * 324 ^ LT f 1 '""' '■"""'^- """ °f thunder the Iash,ng of the rain, and the srKCacle of a skv Irtame v.th w„t ,„, skeins of Hghtning .ado .. .^^Z sion on their minds never to be effaced Dnven before the hurricane the water of the bay teaddy rose until it threatened to drive then^ frZ he.r place of safety. But at five o'clock therTw " -T rr S' b,as""\r"^^"^^ ^'^^^^^ ^^ °- broke through the cloud A "h"'"'' '''^ "^''' ugii tne Clouds. As by magic the hurri eeze^'Sfrdd'''^, "'"' '''' '° ^ -^^X Dreeze. Of a sudden, the foliage on the ridges across the bay was radiant with sunshine terfng"rIk"'Tte ^"' ""^f '""^ '^'^■"'^ '"<= ^^el- ering rock. They presented a sorry sight Their TwateJ anr.'; '''^,''""8^-°- shouted acrosf tn^ M Z ^"^"'^' ^"^ ^^- '^^"t y^'led in re- turn. Mr. Morton, Mr. Can^ody and his compa„ The HUR R IC AN E * 325 « ions speedily built and launched a new raft and were soon rowing to the relief of the missing ones. "Where are Pence and Vincent?" shouted Mr. Morton, as the raft neared the shore. "They did not return," said Sidney. "I am afraid they were lost in the storm." Sidney would not listen to the proposition that he return with Mr. Kent to the bungalow. Though wet and hungry, he joined Mr. Morton and plunged into the forest to find the missing men, dead or alive. He was glad to 'earn that the bungalow had sur- vived the hurricane with small damage, and that none of the occupants were injured. A '■■ : J : MR. PENCE ♦ ^ DISCOVERS GOLD Chapter XX 3^6 WITH much difficulty Mr. Simon Pence scaled the heights overlooking the bay fh. . ^ ^"''' """"^ ^^ ^'"'=«="'' fi"3"y "-eached 7i "^^ °"^ lingering look behmd, and fol- lowed h.s young and sturdy companion into the half- jungle wh.ch lay before them. They found it pos- sible, by fo lowmg the cliflfs along the ocean, to make fairly rap.d progress. Their march was hindered by frequetjt gorges, but these were negotiated, and they di°eSn "°""^ ''"' "'"'^''^ '" " ^°""'"="' Vincent entertained his companion with the de- scription of a plan he had designed to supersede prinklmg carts m large cities. Mr. Pence was busy ooking for snakes and did not gi^e close attention to Mr. Vincent s ingenious scheme. The inventor and promoter did not notice this abstraction, and for an hour expounded his plans in those intervals when hfrn^'dowT' ^""''"^ ""' '^"'"'''' "P ''"' °' ^"'P'"^ .1 °^'JuT' ^^''"" °^ ^^*«^""& streets is foolish and childish," said Mr. Vincent as they paused to 326 ( if Mr. Pence DISCOVERS GOLD ♦ 327 ♦ rest on a boulder, wliere they could watch the surf dash against the cliffs three hundreil feet below. "Just think of it! We have water mains running along every important street in our cities. It is piped into every house and to every room in houses if necessary. What would you think if, instead of run- ning pipes into a house, we should draw water from a hydrant in pails and carry it into the various rooms? That would be foolish, wouldn't it? " Mr. Pence looked nervously at a four-foot iguana — with horny scales and lizard-like tail — which was crawling along a nearby ledge. "What's that?" he said, as Vincent waited for a reply. Vincent repeated his proposition. " Are those things dangerous ? " asked Mr. Pence ns hf \..:tched the reptile. " Look at his teeth. Let's u;"! tl I will die first!" He brandished the club defianHv ,„j blow at Mr. Morton, who sLptd i and n"""^ -' evaded it. "^Hpet 'ack, and narrowly "vorsi";;,rT "■'''■"^''«"™■■"■l■ he was eairer to Chapter XXI MR. KENT was the first to awake. It was noon when he shook off the drowsy god and plunged into a bath. He emerged feel- ing better, and soon dressed and entered the club room. He found that none of his fellow castaways were awake. After a search in the store-room he provided himself with a rod, reel and a complete fishing equipment. Armed with a dip net he went to the brook, and as Sidney had predicted found no difficulty in catching a pail full of minnows. A few minutes later he was drifting over the bay on the raft. It was not long before he located a school of pike and bass, the latter much resembling the north- ern weakfish. Before the minnow had been lowered ten feet, one of the bass made a rush for it. He struck hard, and for three minutes Mr. Kent was a busy and a happy man. The reel sang a cheery song, for the bass was game and did not tamely surrender. At last he was in the landing net and from thence he went into the willow basket. In less than an hour Mr. Kent had caught a dozen L; 1 '1 ' 1 ( ;■ II k ^ * 1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES 342 ^ bass and pike, which averaged four pound, Tf joined by Mr Havpn -r I "^ ^^^ wanna about ten years a^o an^ „. Wall street ag-ain." ^ ^ "'^'^ ^^^'^'^'^ °" " Yes, I remember him," said Mr. Morton " I never knew what became of him, nor did Tever hear any toss story about him. What was it ? " Pratt was a great fisherman," said Mr. Kent He had? "'"'■ " ""' ^'' ' "'-^ - ^he suject He had bass suits, and trout suits, and more fishS tackle than you could load into a freight car S! was a member of the Tarpon Club in Florida and had fishing and hunting lodges in Maine, New Yorl Wisconsin. Colorado, Washington, and other stat s He had caught salmon in Washington, black tro t m Colorado, pickerel in Minnesota, black bass i„ PLANS for ESCAPE *•• 343 ♦ Wisconsin, mucallonge in Michigan, trout in New York, blue fish in Florida, tarpon in Texas, tuna on the Pacific coast, and shark off the shores of Maine. He had joined a fishing crew and risked his life for cod on tlie banks of Newfoundland; he knew every bass hole in the Potomac; the mud cat of the Missis- sippi was his personal friend; and he knew the sheeps- head of the Gulf of Mexico as you know Broadway. He had fished for tunny in the Mediterranean, for sword fish in Indian waters, and had defied pirates in order to despoii the Chinese seas. From the fiords of Norway to the coves of Cape Colony he cast his lines and not in vain. " Then Pratt became hlasL He had caught every- thing worth catching. He had harpooned a whale and vanquished a basking shark. There were no more fish worlds for him to conquer. Sad at heart, he returned to America, and from sheer force of habit went to Wisconsin. His favorite fish was the black bass. It was his belief that a black bass had more game in his make up, ounce for ounce, than any other fish. He held the record on black bass. Pratt was the only man in America who ever landed an eight pound small-mouth black bass. Mounted, this monster rests in the Smithsonian Institute in Wash- ington. " Well, Pratt went to Wisconsin. He had a lodge on a lake which was full of black bass. The lake was about four miles long and from one to three miles v/ide. In all it covered about ten square miles, The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * 344 ^ and was surrounded by timber and farming lands Pratt sat out in front of his lodge and looked at the lake. He knew every place where bass could be found. He knew that he could catch a dozen in two hours. What was the use? He hated life. Its fishy glass had been drained to the dregs. " He gazed languidly at the lake. A bass broke from the water not a hundred yards away; his black scales gleaming in the sunlight. The ripples ran in a widening circle. Pratt had a thought. He jumped to his feet. _" ' By thunder! I will do it,' " he exclaimed. He went to the nearby village and found a real estate man, and instructed him to buy every foot of land around the lake. This took a month, and cost him about $300,000. Finally he had every front foot of the thirty miles of shore. The lake was his It had but a single outlet and was fed entirely by springs. At great expense Pratt drained this lake. " He drained it and took from it every fish. All save one he dumped into the stream below, which was yet fed by the springs. He let the sun beat on the former bed of the lake, and by the aid of chemi- cals killed every germ of life in it. In the mean- time the one bass he had saved was in a big tank he had built. Late in the fall he dammed up the head of the stream and let the lake agai.i cover its bed Before snow flew it was again at its normal depth. Pratt then took that one black bass from the tank and put it back into the lake. PLANS for ESCAPE ♦ 345 ♦ " 'Anyone can catch bass when a lake is full of them,' he said, ' but it takes a blamed good man to catch the only fish that swims in ten square miles of water. I will spend the rest of my life trying to catch that fish.' " The next day it turned cold," continued Mr. Kent, " and the lake froze solid. Pratt was too fair a fisherman to drop a line through a hole in the ice, so he would walk or skate around the lake and wonder where in the dickens that black bass was. It was a long winter, and it seemed as if the ice never would melt, but at last it did, and in the spring Pratt got his tackle and bait into shape and rowed out ir.to the lake. He had frogs and minnows and worms, and fished with all of them. All day long he fished up and down, but neither saw nor felt a sign of the bass. Day after day he fished with the same result. Spring merged into summer and noth- ing happened. " Every one in the little country town knew about old Pratt's scheme and they were much interested. They thought that a man who would spend $300,000 for the sake of catching one six pound bass was a hot sport — and he was. " One day Pratt came into the village tavern. He walked up to the bar and pounded it with his fist. " ' Give me a drink and send for every one in town,' he said. ' It is my treat, and I am going to make it a good one.' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONMRES 346 ^ . b.rdcgjri boy „« d„„ » t :d"''r *«e atom a mile way. Hecmanni.. Wckory >r„ and ,M I „"!" T p™ I """1 .. .h. boy. b„, b. p.id „„ .„il"- tX tS idic yeiiea at hitn ae-am and starf.^ to row across the lake Wh»„ i , '^° <1red .ards fro. s£re^ Joo Jr^:;^: ^n fr " r; *;/ ^'^,'^-' a big black bass tr^e ak/ The lad threw h,m over his head and the l.ne calght PLANS for ESCAPE ♦ 347 ♦ in the branches of a tree and the bass hung there. " Pratt gave one look at the bass and the boy. He did not say a word. He threw his tackle into the water, rowed across the lake, set fire to his house, and has not been seen since." " Like all fish stories, I suppose this is a true one," said Mr. Carmody. " I anticipated, when you had outlined the story, that Pratt would catch that bass the first time he went fishing. That would have been almost as great a disappointment as the one which happened." " Some of the villagers deny that a boy caught the bass," said Mr. Kent. " Bill Briggs, the town blacksmith, is authority for the statement that the bass was not caught at all. He says that old Pratt had a strike, and after a fight with a fish that lasted half an hour, he landed him. It was a twelve pound catfish. Pratt was so mad that he threw everything overboard and left the lake never to return." All adjourned to the veranda, and Mr. Carmody brought up the subject of building a boat with which to escape to the mainland. Sidney Hammond said it was useless to continue the exploration of the island. In his opinion it was about ten miles long, running north and south, and probably four or five miles wide. The snow-capped mountain undoubtedly belonged to the range forming the backbone of Mexico and Central America. It was sufficient to know that they were not more than one hundred and The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 348 ^ fifty miles from the mainland. Sidney suggested hat a man be detailed to watch the ocean each day from the gateway to the bay, and volunteered his services for the morrow. It was decided to erect a flagstaff at this point and float a white flag from It as a signal of distress. " We will begin the building of a boat or raft to-morrow," said Mr. Carmody, the chairman of the Committee on Escape. " I have my plans prac- .cally completed, and I will submit them to you now for approval, rejection or modification. My sugees- t.on is that we build a raft in the form of a house- boat. I doubt if we have the materials with which to construct a lifeboat, with pointed bows and stem Agam, such a boat is not nearly as safe as a raft From what Hammond has learned, I am of the opmion that any number of ships pass to the east of us at a distance not exceeding twenty-five miles. While our objective point is the mainland, we must calculate on the possibility of being blown to the east. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea are thronged with ships of all kinds. It is likely that this island lies a little off the regular course of traffic but we are certain to sight some vessel in short order' Therefore I favor a craft which will have more of safety than of speed." " That is my idea exactly," said Mr. Morton " I believe we will be picked up inside of forty-eight hours at the most. We must con.stn,ct a raft or houseboat which can survive any ordinary storm PLANS for £ SC AP E ♦ 349 ♦ Even if the waves do beat over it occasionally, our plight will be much better than if our boat were capsized in the first heavy sea." " No ordinary wave will beat over the raft I have planned," said Mr. Carmody, producing a rough sketch of the plans. " I propose a craft forty feet long and fourteen feet wide. It will be square at both ends. We will frame the hull out of solid timber. I notice that there are some tall, straight trees back of the bungalow which will serve admir- ably for our purpose. I do not know the name of the tree, but the wood, though light, is as tenacious as yellow pine. I have built many ships and barges, and we have the tools and materials to do a good job. The best plan will be to frame the hull on shore, and then take it apart and put it together again in the water. Of course we could build the raft complete and launch it from the stone pier, but it will be safer to build it from the water." " Then you will build a house on this foundation, I suppose," said Mr. Rockwell. " We will build a house or cabin eight by twenty- four feet," said Mr. Carmody. " It will be high enough to stand upright in. There will be three staterooms, each with two sleeping bunks. Then there will be a combined kitchen, dining-room and storeroom. This cabin will be braced in every direc- tion, and I have worked out a plan by which no ordinary sea can cause serious trouble. In a very severe storm we can take refuge on the roof of I,; The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 350 ^ the cabin^ A raft built like this will ride the waves safely. People have lived for months on a flat raft and have survived awful storms. We should be able t^C^^ '" ^ ''^ '^'^ ^'^'^ ^ well-constructed Mr. Carmody's plans also provided for six oars or sweeps and a rudder. Through the roof of the cabin two masts were stepped, each carrying a boom and a thre,scornered sad. He had found a pile of canvass awmngs wh.ch had not yet been put in place orthe wmdows of the bungalow. These promiL to make excellent sails. For two hours the houseboat wa discussed, and the plan suggested by Mr. Carmrdy was adopted It was decided to begin work on the ^rT/:L^" '^"°"'"^ '"°™'"^- ^"d Mr. Carmody pred.cted that the eight members of the colony wouW complete the task in a week, or at the ouLrL ten days. There was a large amount of lumber p.Ied up back of the storehouse, and it was no thought likely that it would be necessary oTst"; any part of the bungalow in order to obtain extra building material. ^ While Mr. Carmody and others went to select the hTm" ? '""^ ""^"^ °^ *^ '^""-•-^t. Sidney and Mr. Kent .owed across the bay and took an observation from the rock overlooWng thltlet There was no vessel in sight, though Sidney thought he could trace a line of smoke at the edge of fhe southeastern hori.on. They felled a tall pine t ee and trumned it for a flagstaflf. Early the following iU PLANS for ESCAPE ♦ 35> ♦ morning five of the men raised the pole on the rock, having first provided a flag which they nailed to the top. Sidney and Mr. Kent watched the sun as it dropped behind the western ridge of hills. The air was remarkably clear, and the snow-capped moun- tain peak showed plain in the purple distance. " This island is a great mystery to me," said Ham- mond. He was looking at the mountain. Its base faded away as the sun declined, but the top glowed like a pearl where the light yet reflected from the dazzling snow. " There are few peaks like that on the American continent," said Sidney. " I have been looking up the subject of high mountains along the American coast. We surely are more than a thousand miles west of New Vork and we are in tropical waters. The coast of South America swings away east of New York, so we cannot be there. I can find but two places which coincide with the time indicated by our watches." "What are they?" asked Mr. Kent. " The Caribbean Sea along the east coast of Yuca- tan and Balize, and the east coast of old Mexico along the Gulf of Mexico," said Sidney. " There are no such peaks as that visible from the east coast of Yucatan, to say nothing of from islands yet farther east. Cape Catoche, the east point of Yuca- tan, is in just the same longitude as Chicago. We are west of that. The only waters west are those of the Gulf and the Bay of Campeachy, a part of the The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '*' 3S^ ^ Gulf forming the northern boundary of Yucatan and l"^Tc peaks of the volcanoes Popocatapetl and "Do you think that is one of them? " asked Mr Kent, ookmg at the mountain, whose very top vet showed white and pink in the last rays of the sun. •' " "That mountain is Popocatapetl, unless I am much mistaken, sa.d Hammond. " But there is no island on the map east or southeast of it. An island the size of this should show on a good map of Mexico hbra J^"' ^'' *'^° '"°'*^'" ^"'^ ''''""'"' °""* '" °"'- __ " It is too deep a problem for me," said Mr. Kent It .s getting dark. Let's be getting back to camp." They reached the bungalow in time to partake of a light repast, including some excellent berries which Mr. Haven had found on the edge of the south jungle. It was a cool and pleasant evening, and after work was done chairs were placed on the veranda cigars lit, and a general discussion followed It was that part of the day when The night-eyed insect tribes Waked to their portion of the cycling hours." Tree and thicket were sparkling with myriads of fireflies. Bats and vampires circled on dark pinions and various night birds and animals sounded their PLANS for ESCAPE notes in the depths of the tropical forest. The muffled boom of the surf came in from the ocean. When the cigars were lit, Mr. Carmody renewed the discussion which started on the evening preced- ing the hurricane. Space does not permit more than a brief synopsis of these debates. Mr. Carmody ls d^ecfon. Mr. Carmody watched the craft .ntently and ate his luncheon. The ship was now percepfbly nearer. With the glass he s'aw that h was a br,gantme; square rigged on the fore mast and schooner rigged on the main and mizzen masts Then the craft took a long tack out to sea and nearly disappeared, but it turned again and rapidly headed .n a northwesterly directior,. Mile by mik it ap- heTlcks' ""'" ^''^ ""' ^'''' ^' ''^ '^' ^^''^" -^ ''They must see the white flag on this cliff' " he sa.d to h.mself. They were not three miles awav Mr. Carmody stood on the highest point and waved H i'"f u • ^^'^''' ""'^ "^^^^■- ""^e the ship. He fired the nfle again and again. Could they see h.m? Would they understand' He plainly saw the Jfebcats and the chart house of the oncoming vessel Her masts rocked gracefully in the swell of the ocean' LIFE in the BUNGALOW ♦ 365 **• He saw the jibs flutter in the fresh breeze. The bow swung to starboard; the long hull of the ship stood for a moment broadside to the shore; the huge sails flopped in the wind as she " came about; " they flat- tened as the ship obeyed the rudder; tlie masts careened and steadied; the foam showed white at her bows, and the ship stood away to the northeast on a starboard tack. Mr. Carmody saw the wheelman without the aid of a glass, and could see the faces of the sailors as the ship stood broadside the moment before she again went out to sea. " They are scoundrels to pay no heed to a flag of distress I " he said aloud as the ship swiftly receded, and at last became a mere speck in the northeastern horizon. It was a sad awakening from a happy dream. Alas! how often we sail proudly by the fluttering rags of distress ! Life's marooned are on islands in every metropolis. The battered hulks of humanity go down in sight and hearing of prosper- ous voyagers. Storm-tossed sailors, unable to breast life's tempestuous seas, perish on society's coasts, and no lifeboat puts out from shore. The wrecker burns his false lights along the rocks. The indignation of Mr. Carmody was shared by his companions, but they regarded it as ? hopeful sigfn that two ships already had lieen seen from the rocks. This proved beyond doubt that these waters were frequented by traffic, and there was a chance that some genoroi's skipper might recognize their flag of distress. ■' J < III ' 366 formed. In the Zt housekeeping was per- v^^'-d the;;L?r;,urr.r ,''^' ^"^ bananas On the preceding ay Mr ^ H '"A°' a fine deer, and the S.m,!, i^ "" ''^'^ ^hot Mr. Rockwell read aloud .', ""'' "'"^ '=«'="-"t. and made a shon ad °e f ntrhV"" "" ^-'"^• reason to thank ProWdencet h ' "''' '"^^^ '^^'^ them in many oerils on i! , / ^"'"^ Protected with an earnest p aver , "^'^ '''■ "^ '°"°wed to God for h rniL: "m •"' '" ^""'•"^'^ '''anks --einthr^r^Si^r-^"""^ ^^ebr?aVlnr'^rKor:f -2:----e:dif;-t„tS;-- should return to the^ttv ^ "°* ^^'"'" "^^^ ^e manufacturers and ySdlT''"" '"'"^^" =-" Clemen, the trusts C^erflT T' "" °"' '"'^- society. You claf r fh,. ^{^""""""ed a service to trusts'are no^ s r'nsif T"^ °^ ^"^^ -nous industrial pro^r L " i '°""""^"<^- °f the they wouldTE't o a trr"""'' '"' P^^''" '''^^ thing happens to l^a g iTsr'f"-''^ 'J^- ness. You assert that tru!t;;trrsrC^^^^^ LIFE in the B U N G A L O IF ♦ 367 ^ an overproduction of manuiactured goods is certain to be created; follo^ved by a general shut-down of shops and mills. You also claim that workmen nnnot save nwney to protect themselves against hard times, and that any general attempt on the part of the people tu hoard money will precipitate a financial panic. You believe that the banks, by con- trolling money, have a commanding advantage, and that they are responsible for the larf,'-c fortunes' now owned by a small fraction, and assert thai eventually they will own everything. You say that no law to suppress trusts can be enf I lii The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ^ 368 ^ ''.What would you suggest?" asked Sidney I do not belreve in any cure-all; any general pan- acea for bodily or social ills," said Mr. Rockwell. J",u\\1 P'^'"' *' '™''' '^^^^ "°' monopolized an the fields of endeavor, and never will. There are thousands of specialties in which competition yet IS strong, the very nature of which renders their consolidation impossible. Those men who are dis- placed m the fields now occupied by trusts, will seek and occupy these undeveloped avenues of industry The spur of necessity will give rise to new indus- tries. There thus will be found a wide opportunity for new capital and new labor. Then there is the enormous agricultural class. They are not menaced by trusts. In fact, they are aided by them. They are enabled to buy the products of the factories at cheaper prices. Thus I claim that the trust will and should continue to hold control of certain industries and certain sources of raw material, which by nature are fitted for general ownership by a single corporation. Policy will dictate to such trusts a continuance of low prices and good wages. The men who work for them should be allowed to invest their savings with the trusts. They should be per- mitted to withdraw such savings at any time. Thus when an overproduction happens, the workman is represented by surplus earnings, and the trust by a surplus product. Both labor and capital will have a financia interest in that surplus. The savings of the workman will be absolutely safe; since back of LIFE in the BUNGALOW ♦ 369 <»• them are the overproduced goods which caused the shut down. Let a law be passed that the workman's claim shall constitute a first lien on the corporation. He will be amply insured, and can withstand any ordinary siege of depression or hard times. " In .he matter of the corruption of officials." continued Mr. Rockwell, " I have reason to believe it is on the decline. The big trusts need no more favor- able legislation. Naturally they will resist measures intended to cripple them. That is the law of self- defense. The trust has become a necessary institu- tion, and anything which menaces it menaces the entire industrial community. If, as you say, the trust is to be held responsible for the general wel- fare of the people, the people should see that the in- terests of trusts are not endangered by adverse legis- lation. I am unalterably opposed to government in- terference in private or business affairs. These are functions beyond the legitimate province of a gov- ernment. The development and management of in- dustries must be left to private initiative. If the government ever threatens to go into competition with trusts or railroad companies, it will disturb values, and perhaps precipitate a panic. The value of every stock and bond will be menaced. Thou- sands will be ruined. Trusts cannot compete with a government selling its products at or near cost price." "Then you regard the government as a very dangerous competitor ? " said Sidney. i;' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * 370 ^ "Most antagonists to governmental mdustries base their opposition on the charge that the grv^rn- rnent is not capable of competing with private indus- Sl r ^ ^'^- " ^°" ""'^ ^ """"ber of others take the opposite view and claim you cannot com- pete against the govermnent. Those of us who favor government ownership and operation of industries cannot induce the opposition to unite on an argu- ment against us. Some say the government will fail ■ hence government ownership is a bad move. Some say the government will succeed; hence government ownersiiip is a bad move. Surely one of these propo- sitions 15 wrong. If the government is doomed to failure, why should private interests tremble? If It IS destined to succeed, why should the people hesi- tate? Mr. Rockwell has stated the trust argument fairly and frankly. There is much to be said in favor of his proposal. So far as the men in the employ of the trusts are concerned, their interests are better conserved than under the competitive era which has passed away. Their positions are more secure- their pay is as high, or higher, and Mr. Rockwell's sug- gestion of a method of saving money is immeasur- ably better than a savings bank. But how about the people who are not interested in trusts, either as stockholders or employees ? Have they anything to say about it? Are they to be consulted? You tell LIFE in the BUNGALOfy ♦ 371 ♦ them no. You advise them to turn their attention to other industries. You inform them that for all time your corporation has assumed charge of a cer- tain industry, for which you own or control the raw material and the machinery of production and distribution, and you tell them you will tolerate no competition. You have made a satisfactory alliance with your workmen, and you promise the public that you will not charge it more than is necessary to yield reasonable profits. Have I stated your position correctly ? " " Yes," said Mr. Rockwell. " You have enunciated a pure example of atav- ism," said Sidney Hammond. ion are defending a reversion to feudalism. The -ncient barons ruled by combined force and kindness. They convinced their cubjects that without the institution of feudal- ism and vassalage the mass of the people would perish. As modern barons of manufacture and com- merce, you propose to conciliate two classes of sub- jects: your employees, and your customers. You promise to be kind to your employees, and give them work when it is possible or profitable to operate your shops. You promise your customers — the entire public — that you will impose on them only such terms, taxes and tariffs as are necessary to support your new feudalism. You therefore place these profits at as high a point as the public will stand without rebellion. This was exactly the policy of the barons of old. They Lad the right to call on their 1., lilt ii ii The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 372 ^ vassals to bear arms; not only for the defense of the barons and for the perpetuity of feudalism, but for the alleged self-defense of the vassals them- selves. Our modern barons call on their subjects for votes, and make the same pleas, the same argu- ments, and the same threats as did the barons of old. " The old barons insisted that the interests of feudalism and vassals were identical," continued Sidney. " To-day we say that the interests of trusts and labor are identical. All of our fine platitudes and schoolbook shibboleths are swept into the rubbish heap. The 'independent voter;' the 'free-born American citizen;' the ' wi.'l of the untrammeled electorate; ' the ' calm verdict of a free people '— these are meaningless phrases. If the new feudalism be right, our voting system is wrong. Since this form of industry will best thrive if trust owners are permitted to formulate and execute their plans with- out interference, why should we go through the form of voting? Since trusts have assumed the responsi- bility for the welfare of the people, why should labor be asked to pass on measures for its own good ? Why should the public be permitted to have a chance to pass a law which may cripple trusts, and distress all who are dependent on trust prosperity ? I submit in all candor, and with no desire to be sarcastic or unfair, that if the trust system of industry is to become a permanent institution, that the legislative and executive heads of our government must take LIFE in the BUNGALOW no further legal steps against the interests of those who own these trusts and give employment to tht people." " The people are not going to tolerate any such system," said Mr. Kent, angrily. " I admit that the trusts have no difficulty in persuading or intimidat- ing their workmen; but as I have said before, the average workman is a fool and not worth discussing or saving. If he ever had any independence, he has lost it. He is afraid of his job. He looks up to the man who owns the shop as if he were a god. But there are millions of people in this country who do not work for trusts. They are getting pretty hot about this thing. They are the people who own their own homes, and who pay about all of the taxes. They are the great middle class. They always have run this country and always will. They are getting the worst of it from all sides. They have money to invest and no place to put it. Do you think .ve are going to permit fifty or sixty trusts to run this country ? Not in a thousand years ! I am in favor of smashing all trusts ! " " I am not in favor of smashing anything," said Sidney. " The trusts won their present position through successful competition. They can be regu- lated or displaced only by successful competition. Let us look at this thing calmly. The true statesman is the man who advocates some law or plan which the people are certain to adopt. Now, the people are not fond of reform. They do not like to pass laws. ?r Hi III iff The KIDN.,PPED MILLIONAIRES They hate to think of legislation. They will s.,ff for years under adnmted ills rather tt '' overthrow them. The inert a ofTh "'' ""'^ thing prodigious. Once rtej Its'^ ""°" " """ vast as to be -calcula e. TheiTeTT" "." sions by the Droce« nf „i- ■ ^^^^ ^^^''^ =°"cl"- and there beXee or a d"""''"" " ^" '-' --*" will be adopted LthlT- '""''^'« ^°'- "• "°»« decrease. PaJiat.C s I.V '""""^' "'^ ^^'"«'''« effective, are ScarHeH <^ °"^' """"^ '^"^'^ l^" avenues ^f/entraretsed-f'f °" ''"^ P^^''"' dies remain, the p one it • / ° '^''''''" ^^'"^- 'ess. Close one of hi "" '"^^'•"'ed but motion- mains. The mas, t ' '° ""^^ ^ ^'"^'^ remedy re- thefoundlro?riTr/r"^^^'^''-'- way. "* ^="h stand not in its BrhiS monarchy ;::;: 1"°" °^ "^^^ '" -"-'' '''e colonies. The Loo^ '''' "P^^^^^^ the American They had no Z' ht o7"!f '' ^'^ '^^°"^^- dreamed not of revoU aga-Lrttrd"". ^''^^ eignty of England Fv.M ^''"""^d ^°ver- faction centered its ene '""'''' ''"* "° ''"'"'"ant spectfuiiy hun::;r:nrd"r:d"'°™'r - one the gates of reliefwee hatred o"-- °"^ "^ liberties were encroarh^r r °"' "^ °"e their LIFE in the B U N G .J L O fT ♦ 375 ^ Not until independence by force of arms was the only thoroughfare, did the people irresistibly move toward the goal. "The greed and inhumanity of our ancestors planted slavery on American soil. The cowardice of the framers of our Constitution engrafted human bondage in that document. The avenues of escape from slavery in 1787 were numerous. The people recognized the evil but made no move. The slaves were few. Our forefathers dreamed that the insti- tution would disappear. They could have liberated the sL-.ves and recompensed the owners. Slavery grew with the years. The invention of the cotton gin established it as a seemingly necessary institu- tion. The South rejected all compromises. One by one they closed the gates. War was precipitated. There came a time when no alternative remained There was but one remedy for slavery— freedom by force of arms. The people adoptea that remedy. Slave property was confiscated. " You may trace the history of every great move- ment in history," continued Sidney, " and the same rule holds true. Do we learn nothing by experience ' Is wealth to lock the last gate and invite destruc- tion? Year after year those who control the wealth of the country have been closing the gates. We have closed the free trade gate. We have locked the coinage gate. We have barred up the competitive gate. We have slammed the income tax gate in the faces of the people. Our turnkeys stand guard at the liij.l The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '*' 376 ^ legislative gate, and none hut those with Wealth's coum.rs,gn can pass through. Ue enunciate fo first fme m h.story the doctrine of the ahsol me supren^acy of „,assed capital, and pron^ise waVst^ justice to those who will not dispute our rule T ' p:oiisef r '''^" ^^^- '''^' "^ "- "-' o promises. Two gates yet remain unlocked, though r:g;:rs;r^^''- ^^--p'---^-£ •'I suppose that the gate you reter to is govem- men compeftjon with trusts," said Mr. Carmody. " IS, replied Sidney. ^ " What is the other gate.? " "^Confiscation of wealth,' 'said Sidney Hammond, Mr. Cai.nody had given close attention to Mr Hammond s arguments. He paused for a moment' and then spoke with much earnestness vol'r^H°r'^' ""^"^ '""^''' ^'''°'y '^^ dissent from your deduction that co.flscation has been made the ast resort of those who, rightly or wrongly, have deemed t emselves oppressed," said Mr. Carmody Through tlie ages the word ' confiscation ' has been scrawled across the balance sheet. Every propert^ title of to-day rests on confiscation, if we tLe r bade enough, and in most instances we have not fa to go. Every foot of land in England, France and Germany has been confiscated again and again At this moment the question of confiscating church t.on of the hour. And in most cases confiscation LIFE in the B U N G A L fV "^ 377 ♦ 1.1S been accompanied by the destruction of life and property. Have we advanced far enoi-gli in •;!,Mliza- tion to find a substitute for so drastic a remedy? I confess I do not know. Personally, I have recog- nized tlie fact that wealth has a commanding advan- tage, and I am attempting to distribute my fortune in such a way as to promote the intelligence and gen- eral good of the people. But my course is voluntary. There can be no law enforced to compel men to be charitable or philanthropic. Do not understand me as taking any credit to myself for such disburse- ments as I have made or may make. I do not offer it as a remedy, though it may have some merit as a pallia 've." " No wealthy man can distribute his wealth to better purpose than you have," said Sidney. " You have endowed many public institutions and are en- titled to the gratitude of the people. But looking at this matter in a purely impersonal light, is it not a remarkable condition of affuirs when the people look to private charity for the endowment of public institutions? Wh should it be necessary for you, Mr. Carmody, to found public libraries and support ''hools? When and how did the American public tcome a mendicanv, glad to subsist on the alms of one or more of its generous citii-ens? No self-re- specting man -iccepts gifts save from his equals. We do not rea'ize how grotesque is the sight of i representative of a proud American city, standing as a beggar at iht palace oi a generous millionaire, ml! beseeching money with whirh .„ of public utiUty ThL^ "f '°™ ^*'"«"^« •-'ong to the new feSalism"^" '"'"°"'^"^' ^''^^ exist'^hrtrt^'llT''-' ''' '"'"^^ ^^"'^h Morton. "YoucaLT '''™''"'"'" '^'■" ^^^• you, that unless wt^n dev™"""'' " ' ""^^'•^'^"" '-" competition Tat wet ;>T'"' "'^ '° ^"''^'^- "y a revolt which ii re 1^„T''"? "^^"^"^ P'-operty by process o al o n h' '°"''''^'"°" "^ your idea?" "^ ""^ otherwise. Is that '' We^h'eZirprlSl^""'^'"^-'' -■'^ Sidney. ti-.h,,„, n.a„?i;;rp;x'°itr^^''''''- ^° Po.=?.ble that the people wHl ""^^ "°' =««='" subjects of trusts wSo.t ^ K?"''"' '° ^°'"'= 'he seek a competitive 1° '1 I ' ''™^^'^- " '^ey government " ^'''^' "^"^ •""«' 'ook to the embaTrinrsine"?" as^ mTT'"* ^°'"^ '° various trusts and railroad ^°'''°"- "^he capitalization of twenT'fiTl-r'''"'" '"'^P'-"^'" a own the iand and th'tt „'' ""v ' t""^' ^''^^ strated that the banks abo"tT' ''""' ^'"°"- of the country. Ho v , ? T^ '°"'^°' '^e money the land for Lv materia '^.^T"-^"' obtain 'he money.. You m T ^ a 1"'' ""' '' ^^' trusts nor banks will vok n ,"^ '''" "^"'her vantajre which they pol^, ' '""^"''^^ ^"^ ^d- " They Will not be asked to surrender any advan- II LIFE in the BUNGALOW ♦ 379 ^ tage they possess," responded Sidney. " The gov- ernment will exercise the acK .iitages which it pos- sesses, but which it has not used. Thus far tlie trusts and banks have taken advantage of their charters. The gov iment has not. The govern- ment has a franchise more valuable and sweeping than anv yet issued by the state of New Jersey The government can legally acquire, by means of tax- ation, every dollar's worth of pro erty in the United States. If it is legal to tax w) ' " Every banker who knows the facts, believes that an?bankr'^",'°°'":=^" '''" *«= ^-^^ S-ncier and banker, calmly as if expressing an opinion on he market value of a bond. " Gold was made th^ standard because it was scarce. Years .go it wa a rare metal, and the production was h.nited. T^dav I'n TT";'""^ '^''^ ■' "PP"^""y ''° "'"it to the amount wh.ch may be produced. The people do not reahze what has happened. In 1850, aUgoFd hTj been produced for thousands of years, the total amount m the civilized world was, according to th most hberal estimate, $2,800,000,000. Of this amount, $787,000,000 had been produced since 1800 fil?y™rs? '^ '°" '"''°'' ""' ^'°'^'''"^ '" '^' "«* Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ♦ 389 ♦ No one answered. " Nearly seven billions of dollars," said Mr. Mor- ton. " One-half of a century has produced nearly three times as much gold as all the ages which pre- ceded it. And we have only begun to mine gold. From 1881 to 1885, inclusive, we produced half a billion. From 1896 to 1900, inclusive, we piOduced nearly three times that amount. Next year we will produce half a billion. I am told by electrical and mining experts that with the machinery and pro- cesses now in use, an annual production of a billion dollars is in sight. Inasmuch as all values and all debts are based on gold, the creditors of the world are face to face with a situation compared with which the overproduction of silver is nothing. It will be easy to pay debts when a man can take ten thousand dollars worth of mining machinery and chemicals and collect from the earth a million dollars worth of gold in a year. If the gold standard pre- vails twenty years, it will result in the practical re- pudiation of all indebtedness." " V/hat do the monied interests propose to do about it ? " asked Sidney. " The only thing to do is to stop the coinage of the stuff," said Mr. Morton. " What becomes of our bullion theory, and our ' melting pot ' test? " asked Hammond, with a smile. " We will abandon them," replied Mr. Morton. " Seriously, I see no remedy in sight. The gold mines are pouring in a flood of more than a million ■It i H The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES 390 ^ dollars a day. We cannot digest it. All values are ilnlrH T? '°""' '"''' ' '"'-■'=" '^ ^-thless as a w 1? ot I^ 7"'^ '^' "°* y^' ^«''" it. «>"' they r„ „, 7 '^ 7' prosperity and boom in prices, is entirely due to the increased outpour of gold. You a bushel and railroad and industrial stocks now at or around par will be quoted in the hundreds. By va X T' r'^ '''^^''"' '" ^°''' "■" ^ ^'"ost no trn^M d°^™-trodden farmer will then have ate result of th.s uncontrollable gold production will be the b^gest boom in land and real estate values he world ever has seen. The wise men are putting «.er money ,nto land; the only property in the worM wh.ch cannot be destroyed, and the only one which cannot be overproduced." "The coming downfall of the ridiculous metallic system of money, is but another triumph for the ma chme," sa,d Sidney Hammond. "The machine s he .ncarnat,on of revolution. It has or will result on th,s earth. It has revolutionized learning, art tut.on. It will annihilate barbarism. It laughs at traditions and scorns precedents. Law and govern ment alone have withstood its influence. So you Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ^ 29 '* imagine that the machine can long be choked by the dusix parchments handed down to us from the dark ap' .' It will grind them into pulp and print school- books on them. The product of the machine is the only standard. All things must conform to it. All things must be measured by it. " But let us return to our government banks. These will be the same as our present banks, except that they are conducted for convenience and not for profit. Where default is made in repayment of loan. , the government will realize on its securities the same as banks do to-day. I see no reason why eventually interest charges should exceed one per cent. Of course, if the Tovernment established this rate, pri- vate lenders could secure no higher rate. The man possessed of idle money to the amount of a million dollars would draw an income from it of $10,000 a year. If he wished to spend more, he would be com- pelled to draw on his principal. Money was made to spend and not to work. Interest allows a man to eat his cake and keep it. The man who has more cakes than he can eat, should not covet the bread of others." " The general taxative policy of the government," continued Sidney, " should be in the direction of im- posing the entire burden on those best able to pay taxes. This is the exact reverse • existing sys- tem. All indirect taxes should be ' .shed. Wealth and not necessities should pay money into the gen- eral treasury. If bounties are necessary, let them go The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES to the poor and not to the rich Ti,. «,• . 'he world is an income tax n the Sup " T '" constitutional in Eneiand Fr=>no- T ^ ' '* should be a mduatSTn ' '"'' ^'""""y- I' with the eStS of z;: '"Thr-'"^ '" "'• .an has the higher rate7r;esh?slTp^^^^^^^^^ S a« ^spuf O '" ^r^"°"- ^ -P^^'""" right a he oTh"r ^h' '°""""°" " ""^ '"'"^ *° "« at^ inJ: ttfa. n^o hir 'xr ' "'^ ^"^' operation abroad, and tierrucceslttr^^ot^ answer to all objections. emphatic " Every man should be his own assessor H. ■., make a statement of just what nrnrl!! u """ 'ands, farms, houses tends to T^- ''' °^"^' '" other forms of prope trH. u « T^'' '"^ "" on his property He wHl .^^ T" '^^ *"' °^" ^^'« various'piL'of "o^n/ ^^'J^'^^ ^™" '''"e be favo^ u- • ^' P°" *"'* oasis he will oe taxed. His estimate of a r<.rtD;„ Tha. ,. te only ,.i, ,,„^ „, ,^|.^^ ^j ^^._^ Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN I have heard," said Mr. Kent. " There would be no way tc evade it. That is all right, Hammond. You can put me down as in favor of it." " Every man his own assessor? " mused Mr. Mor- ton. " His statement to constitute an option ? Ah-um-um. Rather severe, but effective, I should judge." " It is not severe that a man should pay taxes on what he owns," said Mr. Hammond. " It would compel honesty, and abolish the sin of perjury among tax dodgers. The system is ideally simple. No cor- poration could haggle about its value, and bribe as- sessors. It says what it is worth, and takes a 'hance of being bought out at its own price. What o^iec- tion could be raised? Business men and corj,ora- tions know or should know how much property they own. Let them say so, and pay taxes accordingly. If an outsider desires the property at a higher figure, the owner should be pleased to learn that he is richer than he supposed." " An excellent system," said Mr. Carmody, " an excellent system. There should be modifications in respect to homestead property, where old associa- tion.s render such property invaluable to an owner. But the general plan is perfect. Where did you get the idea, Hammond? " " It is a modification of the tax system of New Zealand," replied Sidney. " In that country a num- ber of squatters claimed possession of the best por- tion of the island. A few men asserted title to thou- I i IJ. If The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * 394 ^ sands of square miles of farm land. The govern- ment did not openly dispute the claim. It awarded each of the owners one thousand acres as a home- stead and told him to fix his own valuation on the re- maining land. This valuation constituted an option to the government, or a basis on which taxes were levied. Since most of the land was undeveloped, the squatters were obliged to surrender possession at a fair figure, or pay taxes on unproductive land. As a result the government acquired this land at a rational figure and opened it to settlement." "Well, let's see," said Mr. Kent. "You have planned a system of government banks in which in- terest is reduced to a minimum. The government now holds the money formerly in possession of the banks. You have a system of taxation in which wealth cannot escape its full share of the burden. I suppose you also will have an inheritance tax on all estates over a certain amount ? " " Yes, I would," replied Sidney. " A few states have such a tax now. It should be a national tax. Nothing can be fairer than an inheritance tax. 1 he near future will challenge the right to transmit im- mense estates from father to children. Inherited wealth, inherited titles, and inherited thrones all stand on the same footing. If one is right, all are right; if one is wrong, all are wrong. As Emile Zola recently wrote: ' In fact, it is more absurd that a young Vanderbilt or a Castellane with a possible commercial value of $25.00 a week should inherit Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ♦ 39S ♦ millions, than it would be to pertnit the sons of Loubet or McKinley to rule us because their fathers did.' " But it is not necessary to abolish inheritances. A reasonable tax upon them, and such a curtailment of their earning power as will compel the heirs to spend a part of what is bequeathed to them, would suffice to check the further abnormal growth of transmitted fortunes. A limit should be placed on the amount bequeathed to an heir. It should be five million dollars or less. At one per cent, such a fortune will yield an income equal to the salary of the President of the United States. No man can spend five millions for legitimate comfort or enjoyment. Such a law should meet no opposition. " Thus far we have considered financiering and taxation," continued Sidney. " Let us now take up transportation; the most important industry in the country. It is a debatable question whether or no the government should buy the existing systems of railway lines. It certainly should not buy them for the amount of their capitalization and bonded indebtedness. This aggregates about twelve billions of dollars. The government --an construct roads im- measurably better for less than half the sum. In any event, the government should at once proceed to con- struct forty or fifty thousand miles of road to be used exclusively for mail, express and passenger service. From ocean to ocean, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, there should be r The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES **' 396 ^ mlhZef'""'' "^'^'^ '°' ^--1 -d safety, ot o day Neither speed, comfort nor safety can be secured on crooked railroad tracks. There are few good tracks in this country A, :, n,l» m roads fo.,ow the tortuous c:4so?or;VerW heirp'aTh "it :T ^'^ "'^ '''' "-^'^^ ^'-''^ tral The '^°- °" ^ P^P^'-'y constructed rack the journey can be made in ten hours, or at he outside, m twelve hours. You cannot ru.^ hL peed passenger or mail trains on tracks used by ml? WiTh' 1° ''-' '' "-- ^"°- *o SoaJ men. With modern methods of excavation and tunnehng, the government can build and eq^p fo "tj «^ousand miles of road exclusively for^J^^ rnail and express service, and make it the modefo the world, at an expenditure of fifty thousand dollar a mile or a total of two billion of dollars. Th fZ the'irV'^ ^ T"" °' ^'^''^ -^^^ ^"'4 from the Atlantic to the Pacific, combined with ten south Tr ' u y"'^' "'^'^^ ^"""-"^ -rth ^" south. It would be sufficient to connect all centers of population with straight-track, trunk-line r"ds Passenger rates would be reduced to such a point tat the traffic will yield profits. The express syS of such a system would yield enormous revenues. The folly of our railroad managers in the matter of passenger rates is beyond comprehension. Ihe charges are practically prohibitory. When Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ♦ 397 ^ you consider the population of the country, the amount of travel is absurdly small. Once in a while the railroads offer low excursion rates, and the peo- ple patronize them. Then the railroads make money. Thereupon the -ut up the rates and force the peo- ple to remain ?c home. Everywhere, the world o. :r, low passenger rates mean profits, and high rates mean loss. The railroads charge twenty-five dollars to carry a one hundred and fifty pound man from Kansas City to New York. The man takes care of himself. He gets on the train, feeds himself, and unloads himself at his destination. And the company charges him twenty-five dollars for a seat. That same company will carry a three hundred pound hog from Kansas City to New York for two dollars and a half, or less. It will load th( hog on the car ; feed and water him for a week or more en route, and unload him in New York. The hog is a constant care. The n takes care of himself. Pound for pound, the .nan pays twenty times as much as the hog. As a result of this railroad folly, the company carries so few men that it loses money on its passenger business, and so many hogs that it makes money on its freight business. I sometimes think that railroad genius is confined to stock ma- nipulation. A quarter of a cent a mile is enough to charge for passenger service. This is a rate of $2.50 from New York to Chicago, and less than $io.oo from New York to San Francisco. " But of more importance is the economic effect i<: • ■Jl'ii . , I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '*' 398 ^ which will follow the installation of reasonable rail- road rates, continued Sidney. " Think of an ex- press serv-ice which in ten or twelve hours will place New York or Chicago. At present, both time and excessive express rates conspire to render the South a foreign country. The sea-food of the Atlantic oast W.11 reach Omaha as fresh as that which now comes to New York. Such a system of expr«^ iTeT:; '"' *'; "'" ^°""'^^ '" communication with every garden spot. Things now esteemed luxuries, w.ll be within the reach of all ?S amount of traffic will increase tenfold. Millions o people now massed in cities will find new avenues of employment. Travel as a recreation or for educa- K.n w,ll become possible. To-day, not one person n ten m the great middle West ever has seen the At- lantic Ocean, or ever expects to see il. The scenic wonders of the Rocky Mountains a..d of the Pacific slope, are but a dream to the herded millions of American people. No man can be a true patriot unt, he has traveled. He remains narrow, insuUr bigoted and prejudiced until the end of his days in- capable o recording an intelligent vote on questions affecting the national welfare. "No school child should pass the fifteenth year without having made a thorough tour of the United States, asserted Sidney. " Tr.-.vel should be made a part of our public school system. The child should visit Boston, and the historic points of interest in Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ♦ 399 ♦ New England. Our school children should study the life of the great metropolis, New York, and with their own eyes obtain a grasp of the problems of urban civilization. They should visit Philadel- phia, Baltimore and Washington. In that latter city they can learn more in three days than in a month at school. They should visit the principal cities of the South, and then explore the Pacific coast, the grand West and the Northwest. How can boys or girls comprehend a country which to them exists only in school books? Such trips would be possible if the government owned its railroads. Our people would become citizens of a nation, and not the provincial denizens of a village or a metropolis. Can you put any money value on such a service to a people ? " " What a grand thing that would be! " said Mr. Carmody. " That is the best suggestion you have yet made. Such trips would in a generation revolu- tionize our national character Travel destroys the littleness and meanness in one's nature. ThinK of the splendid effect on the mind of a child ! " " With every part of the country accessible, labor will flow to the places where it is in demand," continued Sidney. " Let us now turn to freight business. It alwavr has been a question in my mind whether the gov tvX should purchase the exist- ing roads or corn. - competing lines. The exist- ing lines will not be sufficient to handle the future uafific of the country. A competition between gov- I iifr ■ r 1 /!.' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ** 400 ^ ~;:rt- """"^r^'^ -"-ad trust would be uperb. S.nce both will be supplied with un- >>m.ted capital, the competition w«i be for cam petent officials and skilled workmen. The "over ment would conduct the roads so as to derle a ^" enable profit, with which to meet the ex^s J o^ u remunerative branches of administrative'Ter'ce bmce the government would conduct all its enter pnses except banking on the same plan, we will cLt Zo:Zr'''- ""^ '^ ^ general' outllJa plan for government competition with trusts the Con,".Vr- """Z^ ^'"^ '''' "^^'^ -^""ferred by the Constitution, the government will proceed to engage in such enterprises as will best con Tei^e the 2. the / ''' '"' '^""^^ °^ '°='" and L Pos.^ the government will become the repository of al money not m active circulation. On b^hal enterprises Possessing power to levy taxes the 7z:::::rr7 '""''' ^-^ 'y ^^ or the country. It will proceed to construct a rail road system, and to erect steel mills, suga pllnl and the various factories needed to compete' tith tnist-manufactured goods. We may consider the sufficient funds to engage in any reasonable under- t^mg; a capitalist who is tempted into competition by the large profits amassed by those who have been able to monopolize the market. He believes he can Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ♦ 401 ^ employ his capital profitably. He is a popular capital- ist. His credit is excellent. When a young man, he became involved in a war, and was able to borrow without security more than six billions of dollar.'. He has been a manufacturer, and has never made a failure. The time has come when there is a larger field for him as banker and manufacturer. With no desire to ruin any competitor, he becomes a can- didate for the patronage of the people. He has on hand, or at his command, a cash capital exceeding a billion dollars. " Our government capitalist," continued Sidney, "plans a system of railroads, mills and factories to cost a total of twenty-five billions of dollars. He purposes to borrow no money. Being a banker it is not necessary. The money of the people is de- posited with him, and he is going to invest it for them. The average protluctive power of the Ameri- can workman, aided by modern machinery, is con- servatively estimated at $2,500 a year. He now receives in wages about $450 of this,— the bal- ance being absorbed in profit, and by various interest charges. Our government capitalist must make a profit in order to complete his twenty-five billion dollar plant. He has no interest charges to meet. He decides while building this plant that one hun- dred per cent profit is enough to charge labor — which shows him to be a remarkably liberal em- ployer. He therefore pays his men $1,250 a year as wages. He employs 2,500,000 men. Their 1 ^ i * The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ** 402 ^ pay roll amounts to $3,125,000,000 a year, and our P.tahst .ncreases his plant by just that extent each >ear. In e.ght years he has a railroad system and a manufactunng plant worth $25,000.000000" well '• h!,.". t"^ ""'^ °" ^^^'" ^^■'l M'- Rock- well but It m.ght not work out so well in practice " _ It would work out even better than my figures indicate," replied Sidney. "The private banS. •nterests which have been permitted' to con rol hf money of the county, have done this very thing n the last forty years. There is no theory abouf >t. We know what labor can do. It has created every dollar of value in this country We Cw what labor get, and where the profit^goef Ther" .s no guesswork about it. If I had a billion dollall and the confidence of the people sufficient to ^Z were fortified with the power to levy taxes on my competitors, and had none to pay myself, I wo^J embark on such an enterprise with confidence " Hammond's figures are all right," said Mr Morton, who had been making a calculation. '■ The government could build such a plant in eight years I suppose your scheme includes the purchase or con- demnation of raw materials now controlled Ty t^ '7!'^^?"'"'"""' ^^^"''J ^ compelled to exercise no hardship, nor work injustice. It would pay a fair price for such lands. Raw material has no real Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN '^ 403 ^ value in itself. Labor gives it a value. Our soil contains the coal, iron, copper and lead for all the peoples who will inhabit this continent in the next ten thousand years. A private monopoly in such materials is as impossible as one in air. It should not, and will not be tolerated." "What margin of profit would the government charge for its railway service and for the products of its factories ? " asked Mr. Carmody. " For a time it would charge two per cent profit," said Sidney. " That would yield a revenue of $500,- 000,000 a year on its investment of twenty-five bil- lions. Naturally the trusts would have to compete against this rate. If they can produce cheaper than the government, or excel it in any way, they will pay larger dividends." " Private corporations could not earn two per cent dividends on their preseni capitalization," said Mr. Morton. " The railroads and all of the trust companies are now capitalized and bonded at about twenty-five billions. They can be reproduced for half that amount." " The other half is water," remarked Mr. Kent. " Water, obsolete plants and discarded machin- ery," said Mr. Morton. " The government would start in with a new plant. It would have no bonds or interest charges. The trust plants would be worth only the amount at which they can be repro- duced. They could earn two per cent on that basis against the government. They might earn two and ■r The KIDNAPPED MILLIONMRES 404 ^ a half per cent on their bed-rock value nt » - a n,atter of conjecture but I bdte th^t n"?""' corporations in competition v ,h ^ '^"^**' would show greateTea nTn. government dollar V„n/ ^ capacity, dollar for plants as the government now oTlTl U ^■-:?^:^e^£E--- TT/taieTsm^l^V --^Iri^ as i? IZt P'""' '"^ '■"'^'•«' '" their work as If their own capital were invested As , /i however, private industries would show , , ' profit at the end of the year Prnh k^ ^'^^' cent more." ^ P'-°bably one-half per " I belie^•e that to be true " sairl Mr n fmits of cooperation and emulation Let ,„ " u much private capital would receive as a ... "^ such competition. I think, Mr. Morton hit °' have Placed too low an estimated th" b^rS Hammond OU^rL/ATE^ a PLAN ♦ 40J ^ value of existing railroad and trust stocks, bonds and securities. I should say that fifteen billions of dollars was nearer the truth than twelve. Accept- ing fifteen billions as the working capital, these con- cerns would yield to their owners, at two per cent, total dividends of $300,000,000. At two and a half per cent, the di.idends would be $375,000,000. How much do these corporations now pay in divi- dends and interest charges ? " " There are probably ten billions in bonds draw- ing interest averaging four and a half pet cent, and fifteen billions in stocks averaging four per cent," said Mr. Morton. " That makes interest charges of a billion in round numbers. Hammond's scheme would reduce trust profits by more than two-thirds." " There could be no reasonable complaint at that," said Sidney. " The ten billions of bonds you speak of represent all the money originally invested. Your private capitalist would yet receive nearly four per cent on the original investment. This is more than money is worth. He now receives from ten to one hundred per cent, and sometimes more. He is able to make such abnormal profits by reason of the fact that he ' -is abolished private competition." " How about the innocent holders of these stocks ? " asked Mr. Rockwell. " In many cases they would lose everything. These companies could earn no ' jre than enough to pay interest charges on bonds. The stocks would be worthless." " Does a trust consider the interests of stock- i m The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES "*" 406 ^ holders when it absorbs a company, or beeins a ruin ous competition with a rival?' as'ked S" ■ L us cons,der this matter fror. a purely busines sunc^mt. What constitutes the vLe I'TZI oTaLn /"'"'' ^°"''- Ninety shares out of a hundred now on the market are water There -s no real value back of them. The bonds represt ThMT f .""'"^ "^'P^^'y ">' '^^ corpLiot Th. value of the stocks is fixed by the hopeld faith of the,r owners. It is hoped to tax the t,eoDle enough to have a surplus with which to payTv dends on stocks. Every time a bill is intrc i ced i„ greed of the corporations, stocks go down. Every .me corporations debauch Congress, or state lerislZ tfres and obtain some criminal advantage sfoks that the corporation issuing the stock will defraud dividend. There are exceptions, but this is the rule Let the stockholders look out for themselves The government need not stop in this enterprise because certam private interests have issued fifteen billion of printed certificates which purport to have a value Let them prove their value. In any reform .some one IS sure to be financially injured. The govern- ZL'^nT T"' '"" ""''''' '"'^^^^^^ « dollar's worth of real property. It does not disturb the immense fortunes nn.v in private hands. It »c^s into business as an honorable competitor It has Hammond OUTLINES a PLAN ♦ 407 «^ nothing to do with stocks or bonds, and should de- cline to meddle in the affairs of its competitors. It does a strictly cash business. It jiays in wages, all but two per cent of what it receives. It is in the field for the best men the market affords. If it con- siders the services of a certain man worth $50,000 or $100,000 a year the government will not hesi- tate to pay such a salary. It searches for skilled workmen and for trained executives." " Now, let's see," said Mr. Carmody. " There are a number of men in this country who are worth $100,000,000 and more. Such men would enjoy an income of $2,500,000 a year even .igamst govern- ment competition. Does it not occur to you that this is a large income? " " You have forgotten that we have an income tax and other taxes," said Sidney. " The government would annually raise half a billion dollars from its industries. It would yet have to raise by taxation a billion dollars from other sources. I should say that if the government permits your man with a hundred million dollars to retain this incredible sum during his lifetime, that he should be satisfied with a $500,000 income. Let the balance go to the government. No individual should own such an amount of property. This would force him to scatter it during his lifetime. If inheritances are limited to five million dollars, we will reduce the income of the next generation to $125,000, and an income tax will yet further reduce this to $100,000. This is ii.i fj- I 1 'M > I 1 1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES 40» ^ By gradually reclucing- the maro-in ^f i: wh,-ch the government reJde;: sTEes o/sS; iS products .- said Mr. Hammond. "The tL l ^ ^e caJ; X^a^^fT^^^^'-^^^-^^^P-^- soleUy heexcessoT L'effi ^' ""' "^ "P"^^"'^d SaSid^^:?'--r:s-'"-!^ would yield an income of $2= 000 on fin- ' dollars TTn,i» u *25.ooo on five millions of Z n u '"'■' ^ '^''"" *°«^ who enjoy laree ncomes will be men of just such character aThofe I now have the honor to address. Your t-^e^ ! would command enormous salaries <; , will rest not on wealth, b^: orSity'°^ ? r;^ be valuable as a medium of exchange and not as an interest-accruing commodity. Wages a J J -'■take the place of profits' GraS; l '^'^ production will approach so near the selling p ice of manufactured articles, that consumption JirZ pace with production. Do I make myself clear"^ Carmodv « V "^ ^°" P''"'^"'>''" ^^'^ Mr. Carmody. You are attempting to provide a sys- Hammon.i OUTLTNES a PLAN ♦ 4C"; ^ tern of finance and industry which recognizes the unfairness of existing methods. Instead of at once revolutionizing that system, the government gradually enters the field as a competitor. The most radical immediate effect will be to wipe out specula- tive values, and to reduce the interest rates on future mortgages and loans from six to two per cent with the government practically the sole benefi-iary in all future extension of credits. By handling money at cost, the government speedily becomes the banker and a money power of commanding influence The present debtors must meet their obligations to exist- ing creditors. Mr. Morton asserts that the rapidly increasing production of gold will render this a com- paratively easy matter. The government makes each man his own assessor, and imposes income inheritance and other direct taxes, such as land taxes and taxes on corporations. The government recognizes all existing titles to property, except to such lands as contain raw materials. These it will purchase or acquire under the right of eminent domain. The annual income of present holders of large fortunes will be limited to half a million dollars, and the incomes of their heirs to $100000 The government selling price of commodities will fix the margin of profit possible to competing trusts This gradually will be reduced until invested money will earn dividends not exceeding one-half of one per cent. The income of the wealthiest idle million- aire will not exceed $25,000 a year, but much larger iiil i J] The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 410 ^ annual salaries will be paid to those capable of di- recting the energies of trusts or government indus- tries. The actual producer or workman, will steadily receive a larger share of what he creates, until a time comes when he obtains all to which he has a valid claim. This is your theory as I understand it. Have 1 stated your plan correctly? " ,, .",^°".''^^«'" answered Sidney. "What do you think of It ? •' I would prefer to give the subject careful study before expressing an opinion," replied Mr. Car- mody. " Of course ary such plan will be subject to modifications when put into practice. In my opinion men of vast fortunes are more likely to give ear to such a plan than those of moderate wealth. It is your man with a few thousand or a few hundred thousand dollars, who imagines that every proposed reform is aimed at him. The man who has ac- quired a hundred million is likely to take a more philosophic view. His ambition as a money getter is satiated. He is more apt to perceive the grotesque side of the system than is the man who hopes to surpass his record. In many instances his wealth is a burden. No credit is given him for generosity. Personally, I do not see why any man should wish to possess such an abnormal amount of money. I am gn'ing mine away, and am glad to get rid of it. I would give it away faster if I could readily con- vert my property into money. Every time I attempt to turn any considerable portion of my property into Hammond OUTLINES iPLAN '^ 411 ^ cash, the financial community has a chill. The banks hesitate to advance me the money. It is iust as Hammond says. The banks have seven billions of dollars on deposit, but they tremble when called on for a paltry twenty-five or fifty million dollars,— less than one per cent of what they are drawing in- terest on. What do you think of Hammond's plan, Mr. Morton ? " For a moment the great financier did not reply. All eyes were turned in his direction. " I am opposed to government competition with railroads," said Mr. Morton. " I do not believe it would be practical. I do not believe the existing railroads could compete with a government system. Moreover, I do not believe that there should be competition in railway service. It is a public func- tion, exactly the same as the postal service. The railroad is as much a public utility as a city street or a country highway. Our highways were developed by private enterprise and were made to yield reve- nues as toll roads. When they became an indispensa- ble factor in civilization, they passed into the hands of the government. The railroads are following the same course. They are passing into the hands of a few corporations, popularly called trusts, and the men at the head of these corporations are wise enough to recognize the trend of events. When the time comes they will sell this property to the govern- ment. The government can afford to pay a liberal price for these railroads. It can afford to pay much If The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ■* 412 ^ more than the cost of reproducing them. It Js fair and just that the present ownerf should rece ve a We th yV ^'^^^^""'™^ ~-P«^'"ion would force hem to sell at a loss, but it should be possible to fix a figure mutually satisfactory to all inte^sts. Han!™ iT'^^ '■"P"'"'''^ ^'"^ the system which Hammond has outlined for government participa- tK)n m manufacturing industries," continued Mr ettbn"- f "''^ *'^ ^'^'^"^^"^ -''' --l^ dehb- eration. It was greeted with looks of surprise bv Mr. Rockwell, Mr. Haven, and Mr. Pence " PrT vate compeft.on has proved a failure. The avarice of .nd.v.duals is such that no fair agreement ^ tween compet.ng mterests has been found effective Owners of factories or industries have refused to be content w.th reasonable profits. From greed or distrust of r,vals, they have reduced wages.lowered xLSt? t 'If'' '"'■'''' ""^'^^ ''' ^ '-^^2 expedients to obtam an individual advantage Of course their rivals imitated this policy, and as a result every interest has suffered. The consumer has labor" T°r."' ''"""'''' P™"""^*^ ^--^ °" him; labor has had its wages reduced; capital has re^ pea edly ove reached itself and created an overpro- duction, and m the collapses which have followed all were losers. The only remedy for this indus- trial anarchy is consolidation. Honorable competi- tion, based on a fair profit is found impossible We now have the advantages of combination, but have surrendered the benefits which come from a healthv Hammond Of77'I,/A'"£5 a PLAN * 413 ^ competition. Hammond proposes an honorable competitor— the government. In view of the pres- ent volume of money and the certain increase in gold production, two per cent profit is a reasonable figure. At the start the government would not be a serious competitor and the prevailing rate of earnings would not be immediately changed. Hammond's plan is entitled to the serious attention of all capitalists who realize that in the very nature of things some compromise will be forced upon them. Civilization n.ay be defined as a more or less effective compro- mise between naturally antagonistic but not neces- sarily inharmonious forces. It is a balance of powers. It is the flywheel which stores and regu- lates the dynamic energy of the onward forces of society. It is the field between the positive and nega- tive currents. When new forces are introduced, and this flywheel or field is unable to serve as a compro- mise, a revolution follows in which the delicate mechanism is damaged or ruined." "I am surprised at your statements," said Mr. Rockwell. "I had no idea you entertained any such radical ideas." "There is nothing radical in such ideas," said Mr. Morton. " It never occurs to some persons that ?n existing condition may be wildly radical; and that a so-called radical suggestion for a change may be the embodiment of conservatism. Sureiy exist- ing conditions ,ire not conservative. We have the greatest disparity of wealth and social conditions i'Hf In The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES *•* 414 ^ known in history, and it continues only by the con- sent of those who are the sufferers by It. 'l am ^ot bhnci to that fact, on account of the amount o money I have amassed. Neither is Mr. Carmody, and I do not beheve you will long remain so Mr. Rockwell. Here is Kent, who wishes to smash ^.ngs by law. He imagines that he is conservattJe because he proposes to go back to the old competitive era which prevailed when he was a boy. There is a taction .n this country, and in all other countries Th Tu° ^°^' '''''^' ■" '"''"^""g o"^ steps.' Ihey call themsdves conservatives. They pine for the good old days of our forefathers. You cannot go back without destroying. You cannot go ahead without upbuilding Does Hammond propose to destroy anything? Does he propose to confiscate anything? Does he propose to introduce anv un- tried expedient? He does not. He proposes to re- habilitate competition; to acknowledge the legiti- mate titles to e.xisting property; to advance by stimulating production; to fix profits and interest rates by the law of supply and demand. Wr have repealed the law of supply and demand, and have abolished competition. We have done so under the forms of law. Hammond proposes to reinstate them by law. and to protect all the property which has been acquired in the interim. 1 consider his plan a fair, honorable and scientific compromise, which wealth can afford to weigh and accept with such modifications as experience will dictate." "D THE BUILDING OF ♦ .,, THE JUMPING JUPITER Chapter XXIV I ID Robinson Crusoe ever have the tooth- ache?" Mr. Kent asked this question as all were seated at the breakfast table the following Monday morning. He rubbed his left cheek tenderly, and looked glum and downcast. 1 do not remember of reading of any such calamity m the history' of DeFoe's hero," said Mr Carmody. " Why do you ask ? " " Bicause I've got the toothache," said Mr. Kent testily. " Those castaway fellows in romance en- countered all sorts of perils, mishaps and hardships except the common everyday ills of humanity. Old Robinson Crusoe, Robert Penford in ' Foul Play ' the Swiss Family Robinson outfit, and the rest of them, had all sorts of trouble except a cold in the head and toothache. Of course I suppose such things are not exciting enough to put in a story but let me tell you that for pure human interest there is nothing in the world so thrilling as a plain old- fashioned toothach^at least to the man who owns the tooth. I am that man. I had an appointment I^ Km:: "t I s I i . I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 416 ^ with a dentist for the afternoon following the day we started on this excursion. The tooth has been grumbling for a long time, and now it is jumping What am I going to do with it ? " Sidney explored the medicine chest and found some toothache powders,, but they had no eflfect on the tooth. As the day progressed, it grew more painful, and Mr. Kent's face began to swell. Sid- ney again examined the medicine chest in hope that he might find a pair of forceps. But there was none. In the tool-chest he discovered a pair of nip- pers. With a file he reduced the outer edges so that they were better fitted for dental purposes. Mr. Kent watched him gloomily. " Do you think you can pull it with that thing? " he asked. •' I can pull it if you can stand it," replied Sidney. " I can stand it all right," said Mr. Kent. " I can stand anything better than toothache." Sidney found a small vial of cocaine. Late in the afternoon the operation was performed in the presence of all the members of Social Island Colony. Mr. Kent braced himself in an arm chair. Sidney applied the cocaine, raised the gums with a sharp penknife, took a firm grip with the nippers, and the next moment the tooth was out. Mr. Kent looked up in amazement. " Did you get it? " he asked. " Certainly I did," replied Sidney. " One dollar, please." The Building of JUMPING JUPITER *•" 417 ^ "Did it hurt?" asked Mr. Pence Not a bit •■, ail Mr. Kent. " Not a bit. Ham- mond you are the best dentist I ever saw. P„I1 a 00th or Mr. Pence. Pu„ one of his wisdomt^ „ a^iiriTr;-;."^'^^-^^^'^^^-^''^-"^'-"- But Simon Pence declined. In a few hours Mr. Kent had recovered from the effects of the operation and resumed his wonted serenity P-^raiion Under the supervision of Mr. Carmody the founda atV""w^;^°.' ''^ "^' "^^^ ^^"^'^ and'rolfe^ to Ihe flat ock which served as a pier. His theory was to tZ H ' 'f "■* ^ ="^'^'"'"^ Power'of fi e housand pounds. The buoyancy of the timber wl carefully tested, and an allowance made for the loL L theT". °' Vr- "^"^ -P"™-'s showed that he timber did not possess the proper specific gravity to sustain the weight of a cabin.^asts and Ihn t/r^"" ''■"^ '""^"^''^'^^ - -change of plan and the construction of air-tight compart- ments. They therefore built a framew-ork of bgs forty feet m length and fourteen feet in width and so mortised and pinned it together that it could with- stand any ordinary strain. Every five feet it was braced with cross timbers. This framework was constructed on logs which served as rollers. They floored It over with the seasoned timber which had been found back of the storehouse. The cracks were caulked with fiber from the cocoa palm and smeared if 4t 'M irr I U . i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 418 ^ with pitch, which was found in abundance in resin- ous trees. Upon this foundation they erected the frameworic for a hull five feet in depth, and then rolled the structure into the lake. I.. Sylvester Vincent solicited the honor of nam- ing the boat. He argued that he was the youngest member of the party and the most innocent. His request was granted, and he took his position at the forward end of the craft. In one hand he held a quart bottle of mineral water, while with the other he clung w, one of the uprights. At a signal from Mr. Cari..ody the blocks beneath the rollers were knocked out and the scow started down the in:line. There was a four foot drop from the rock to the water. With increasing momentum the structure rolled down the slanting surface. When the center passed the edge of the rock, the forward end dived. At that instant the alert Vincent smashed the bottle against the upright. " I name thee ^Jumping Jupiter ! " The bow went fifteen feet under water and L. Sylvester Vincent went with it. In the yeast of wave and foai , Mr. Vincent arose to the surface, near the center of the raft. He was badly disor- ganized, and for a moment spluttered and gasped for breath. But he was soon on his feet and was game to the core. The raft was a hundred yards from shore. " Talk about your tobog'-^n slides ! " shouted Vin- cent, as he raised the broken bottle in the air. " That ( h The Building of JUMPING JUPITER ♦ 419 ^ beats Coney Island. I name thee 'Helen Car- mody ! ' " " Hold on there ! " yelled Mr. Kent. " You named that boat ' The Jumping Jupiter ' before you went below. Stick to your first name, or you will queer the ship. ' The Jumping Jupiter ' is a good name." Mr. Carmody laughed uproariously. " You gentlemen planned to pay my daughter a compliment, and I thank you for it," he said. " It is just as well. There is a yacht named after Helen. So we will stick to the name which Mr. Vincent first selected. It is an euphonious title, and I hope it will bring us good luck. Let's go out and help Vincent tow ' The Jumping Jupiter ' back to the dock." Day by day " The Jumping Jupiter " grew in size, if not in beauty. Her hull was divided into eight compartments, and these were sheathed and made as air-tight as possible. On top of them they built a twenty-four foot cabin with a storeroom and some rude bunks. From opposite ends of the cabin arose two short masts. At nighi they worked on the sails, and finally produced two triangular ones, sewed together from the window awnings which had been found in the bungalow. These were rigged lateen wise, with a long yard fashioned from a bam- boo pole. It was decided to abandon the lookout on the rock, and to concentrate the entire working force on the boat. A long oar was pivoted at the rear to serve as a rudder, and an extra one was made for use in case of accident. On the bow they It p f s J f " I have made a special compartment for them in my stateroom," said Mr. Pence. " We will put them on board to-morrow morning." " So the good ship ' Jumping Jupiter ' is to be a treasure ship, is he ? " said Mr. Kent. " How about that, Mr. Carmody? Who owns 'The Jumping Jupiter'? In my opinion, we all own an equal share. Now, this gold shipment is purely a business proposition. ' The Jumping Jupiter ' was designed solely as a passenger boat. Any one could tell that by looking at him. It is a great risk to ship fifteen hundred pounds of gold. We should charge heavy freight. I should say that we should be justifitl in The ESCAPE from SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 439 ♦ charging not less than twenty-five per cent of the value of the cargo as freight. If Pence and Vincent can use our boat to carry a lot of heathenish idols, I want to carry an equal weight in bananas. Ham- mond is also anxious to ship some rare wood he has found. Each of us is entitled to at least seven hun- dred and fifty pounds of freight. ' The Jumping Ju- piter ' cannot hold any such burden in addition to our common store of provisions and other necessi- ties. What are we going to do about it ? " Mr. Kent winked solemnly at Mr. Carmody. " I have thought of that," said Mr. Carmody. " I have found some beautiful marble, and would like to take back some of those carvings from the ruined temple. It certainly is not fair to let two men mo- nopolize the carrying capacity of 'The Jumping Jupiter ' for their private gain." " That is right," said Mr. Morton. " We must be fair in this matter. I think that twenty-five per cent is too loiv a rate. It should be at least thirty- three and a third per cent. The gold is worth $360,- 000, as near as we can estimate, and this will make the freight charges $120,000. This will be divided equally among six of us, or $20,000 each. Mr. Pence and Mr. Vincent will have $240,000 to divide between them. As a matter of equity, we all have an equal share in this gold, since it was discovered by these men in the performance of a common duty. But we will waive that. I insist that $120,000 is not tu) much to charge for freight." m The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 440 ♦ " That is fair," said Mr. Rockwell. " In fact, it is liberal. In my opinion, it should be fifty per cent, but " " Hold on, gentlemen," said Simon Pence, in great alarm. " If you keep on you will confiscate my property. I " "Your property?" exclaimed L. Sylvester Vin- cent. " Our property, my dear Mr. Vincent; excuse me," said Mr. Pence. " I will admit that we should pay some freight charges, but these rates are extortion- ate. I should " " Not from Social Island to New York," said Mr. Kent. " Fifty per cent is the regular rate." " I think ten per cent is enough," said Mr. Pence. " Be fair, gentlemen, be fair ! " " ' The Jumping Jupiter ' has an absolute monop- oly of this business," said Mr. Kent. " It is not cus- tomary for shippers to fix rates. If you and Vincent do not like our way of doing business, transfer your trade to some other firm. This is not a matter of sentiment. As a stockholder, and as a man who made the masts of ' The Jumping Jupiter,' I move you, Mr. President, that we accept this freight risk for thirty-three and one-third per cent of the value of the gold, and retain the merchandise as security until such time as proper settlement is made." " I second the motion," said Mr. Haven. " All in favor say aye." said Mr. Rockwell. Six men roared " aye ! " The ESCAPE from SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 441 ♦ " Those opposed say no ! " " No! No! " sliouted Simon Pence. Vincent did not vote. Mr. Kent had nudged him to keep quiet. " It is an outrageous rate, and I will never pay it I " said Mr. Pence. " Why do you fix such an unheard-of rate? " " ' The Jumping Jupiter ' is a trust, and we need the money," said Mr. Kent. " I am afraid those grinning idols will hoodoo us as it is. I move that we leave them behind, Mr. President. The best we can get is a lawsuit." " I will pay the rate! I will pay it! " exclaimed Mr. Pence. " I was only joking." " Draw up an agreement, Hammond, and have it properly signed and witnessed," said Mr. Rockwell. Sidney did so, and Mr. Pence and Vincent signed it. Early the following morning the idols went on board " The Jumping Jupiter." Tuesday morning broke fair and clear, with a steady but freshening southwest breeze. Never had the island looked lovelier than on the day set for the departure of the castaways. It seemed as if the feathered denizens of the tropical forests had sur- mised their plans, and had gathered to bid them God- speed with a noisy chorus. Their brilliant plumage glistened in iridescent hues through the foliage around the bungalow. The chattering bandar-logs watched the preparations with curious interest. One very bold monkey ventured so near, that Vincent, by a sudden rush, covered him with a large wicker it.. if The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 442 ^ basket. After much maneuvering, he succeeded in clampmg a chain over his neck and triumphantly led him captive to the deck of " The Jumping Jupiter." " Here is our mascot! " he exclaimed, as he fas- tened the chain to the windlass. " He is ugly enough to stand off all the idols." The monkey made a dash for Vincent's leg, but missed it by an inch. Vincent named him " Socks," on account of his white feet, and " Socks " was duly accepted as a masccJt and a passenger. There was a final survey of the bungalow to see if any necessary article had been overlooked. The win- dows were closed and barred, and the keys deposited in the box under the tree where Hestor had found them. The big triangular sails were raised, the ropes cast off, and "The Jumping Jupiter" slowly crawled away from the stone pier. " We're off ! " said Mr. Kent. " Good-bye, Social Island! I have had a mighty good time, even if we were kidnapped." " So have I," said Mr. Morton. " It has been a pleasant vacation, br.t an expensive one for me." The monkey made frantic tugs at his chain, and set up a yell, which was responded to by hundreds of his brethren on shore. " Keep quiet, you fool ! " said Mr. Kent. " You will not be lonesome or homesick. You are poine to New York." But " Socks " was not to be consoled. He jab- bered and fought until exhausted. Later in the day The ESCAPE from SOCIAL ISLAND * 443 ♦ he became calmer, and seemed to be resigned to his fate. By unanimous consent, Sidney Hammond was made captain of " The Jumping Jupiter." He ac- cepted the position, and promised to discharge the duties to the best of his ability. He admitted an un- familiarity with craft of " The Jumping Jupiter " class, but was confident that " he " would prove sea- worthy. Once away from shore, they caught the benefit of tide and breeze, and swept out towards the gateway. Mr. Pence took one long look towards the rock where he had spent three awful hours. As they approached the outlet of "Morton's Bay," Sidney gave his first order. He glanced at the white breakers and shouted: " Man the oars ! " Six of the men stood at the long sweeps. A criti- cal moment was approaching. They were headed straight for the surf. Sidney saw that there was a heavy swell rolling in. He stood by the tiller, and issued his instructions in a calm voice. " When I give the word, bend to your oars and row as hard as you can," he said. " There is not any danger, but we must help counteract the force of the surf. We shall make it readily enough. All ready? Row!" The bow of " The Jumping Jupiter " rose slightly as the first incoming roller struck the raft. Mr. Pence was the only one not at work, and he looked at the foaming combers ahead with eyes lifted in The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 444 ♦ terror. There was a strong breeze between the diffs, and to Sidney's dehght the boat was under good headway. The men pulled vigorously at the sweeps. The bow of " The Jumping Jupiter " sank in a way that was sickening to Sjmon Pence. The next mo- ment a green wall of water fell with a crash. " Socks " gave a shriek which was smothered as the water rolled over him. The raft groaned from end to end. There was a sound of breaking glass. " Row ! Row hard ! " shouted Sidney. For an instant the boat wallowed backwards. Then a strong gust of wind filled the sails, and everyone bent to the oars. The next wave did not break. " Once again ! " shouted Sidney. There was a big wave coming. It towered overhead, but broke before it reached the boat. There was a smother of foam and a roar like that of Niagara, but " The Jumping Jupiter " was not to be stopped. In a few seconds they were past the danger line, and out in deep water, where the swells rolled in regular lines broken only by ripples caused by the breeze. The oars were taken in, and fastened to their places. A che<;'' went up when they saw that inimeu, ite danger was past. Vincent went to the rescue of " Socks," who was dripping with water and chatter- ing with fright, but entirely subdued. " You are a mascot, all right, all right ; ' Socks ' old boy ! " said Vincent as he loosened the chain so that the monkey would not choke to death. " This beats climbing trees, doesn't it ? " The ESCAPE from SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 445 ♦ Mr. Carmody and the others made an examina- tion of the hull of the boat. The strain had caused a slight leak in the third compartment, but they had no difficulty in stopping it. The kitchen was some- what disarranged, and a number of dishes broken, but the damage was not serious. "The Jumping Jupiter " had successfully withstood its baptism, and thus far had justified the hopes of the builders. For half an hour Sidney held his course straight out to sea. Then he headed to the north. The big lateen sails were pulling splendidly, and though the craft responded slowly to the tiller, there was no trouble in holding her to the course. They now had a clear view of the coast. "Where is the gateway?" asked Mr. Carmody, who had been looking intently along the shore for some time. " I cannot see it." " I can see it," replied Sidney, " but I would never suspect it was an inlet unless I knew it to be a fact. From any point at sea the rocks look solid and con- tinuous. The gateway is just south of our flagstaff. Do you see it now ? " It was as Sidney said. The coast was so formed that no inlet showed. Half a mile from shore there was nothing to distinguish the entrance to the bay from a score of ragged indentations in the black clifl's. As they proceeded they came to the ridge of rocks which formed the north horn of the crescent. This they imagined to m.qrk the north boundary of the island, but as they neared it they found it was 1 1 ■' lil iiiif I 'I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 446 -^ but the south end of a bay which seemed to be twelve or fifteen miles across. " This is a pretty good-sized island, Hammond," remarked Mr. Kent, as this new panorama spread out before their view. There was a puzzled expression on Sidney's face. As Mr. Kent spoke, the massive outlines of the snow- white peak, which had been seen from the island, slowly came into view above the hills along the coast. The land now opposite them was low and fairly flat. The big rock on their port side was seen to be the end of a spur of small mountains which came down to the ocean. " I do not understand it," said Sidney. " There is no such island as this on any of our maps ? Where can we be? This island is at least forty miles long and perhaps longer. That must be the northern end of it." Sidney pointed to the cape perhaps fifteen miles away. It was now two o'clock in the afternoon, and Mr. Rockwell and Vincent announced that dinner was ready. They stretched an awning over the after- deck and set a table beneath it. Sidney lashed the tiller in position, and all proceeded to enjoy the re- past. A haze was stealing over the ocean and the wind dying out. For a time " The Jumping Jupiter " had been making four or five miles an hour, but the breeze, as it came heavy with perfume from the shore died down until it was barely strong enough to straighten out the striped sails. The ESCAPE from SOCIAL ISLAND ♦ 447 ♦ " Well, Captain Hammond, what do you think of it? " asked Mr. Morton as he lit a cigar and leaned back in his chair. " There is but one thing to do," said Sidney. " We must keep on this course until we round that cape. At this rate it will be dark before we make it. We will stand well out to sea, so as to have plenty of leeway in case of an east or northeast wind." The big mountain peak was now almost exactly to the west of them. " If that is old PopocateptI, as I think it is," said Sidney, pointing at the huge purple mass, " Vera Cruz is only a little northwest of here. When it gets dark I will hold her north, and take no chances of running ashore on this island." As the afternoon wore away, the haze settled and slowly blotted out the shore line. They crawled along at hardly two knots an hour. It was exasper- ating progress, but there was no help for it. In the evening the haze lifted and showed the cape still in the northwest. This proved that the tide was pull- ing against them. The wind died away to a breath, and the sun sank, a huge red ball of fire in a bank of orange clouds. At ten o'clock the wind swung into the southeast and freshened, but the haze yet hung over the sea, and Sidney held his course to the north. All but Sidney and Mr. Kent retired to the bunks and slept soundly as if on an ocean liner. Save for the bank of fog, it was a perfect night on the water. The raft swayed gently to the deep breathing of the Ill 1 ii ii The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 448 ♦ sea, and the masts groaned in musical cadence to the rippling of the water. At midnight Mr. Kent took the tiller, and Sidney stretched himself on a steamer chair and enjoyed two hours of untroubled slumber. He awoke and relieved Mr. Kent, who then took his nap. Twice during the night Sidney turned the boat to the west, and held that course until the hollow thunder of the surf warned him to stand out. At about three o'clock the breeze quickened, and a twenty mile breeze sprang up, coming straight from the west. This compelled him to cease any more landward ex- periments, and " The Jumping Jupiter " rolled along at a five-mile-an-hour rate. " It is a satisfaction to know that we are going somewhere," said Sidney to himself. " We must be past that cape by this time. If the fog lifts with this breeze, daylight will show where we are." As he spoke there was a faint glow in *.he eastern sky. Mr. Kent awoke with a yawn. " Where are we at ? " he a3ked. Sidney shook his head. " We are headed north," he said. THE RESCUE ♦ Chapter XXVI 449 REPRESENTATIVES of TLe K-w York Record watched every European port for the arrival of Walter B. Hestor and the steam yacht " Shark." According to all calculations the yacht was due at the Azores not later than May I2th, but no word came from these islands. Day succeeded day with no news of the famous million- aire correspondent. In the meantime the detective staflf of forty pick, d newspaper men under Jack Stevens was indomitable m zeal but barren in results. Mr. Chalmers was steadily losing faith, but by no word or action did he disclose his loss of confidence to Miss Carmody. He prepared the leader for an article to be published in The Record on Wednesday, May 17th, in which was set forth the discoveries which had been made pointing to Hestor as the prime mover in the con- spiracy. This was in keeping with his promise to Miss Carmody. In the meantime Editor Van Home had sailed for New York, but was not due until the 22d or 23d of th. month. In a cipher cablegram Chalmers had .lei his superior the essential facts conceminc t' ' ^^o' The reply of Robert Van Home '■• •.« ml t i| 1 1 1 1 il i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 45° ♦ was prompt and decisive in instructing Chalmers to make public the facts. The inference was plain that Mr. Van Home had no hesitancy in sharing his managing editor's suspicions. Mr. Chalmers therefore prepared a four page article, and awaited for the day fixed for the disclosure. Miss Carmody ordered the steam yacht bearing her name put in commission, and her captain an- nounced that he was ready to weigh anchor on an hour's notice. At three o'clock Tuesday afternoon a cablegram was handed to Mr. Chalmers. It was in the cipher which had been given to the reporters working on the mystery. Translated it read a : follows : "Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, May i6. To William Chalmers, New York Record : Have solved mystery. Col. John Mclntyre of Havarr., built Hestor bunga- low year ago. Hestor designed it. Located nine hundred miles southwest of Havana. Mclntyre will act as guide. Mclntyre is in Havana with me. 1 saw the ' Shark ' Sunday in Gulf. Wire instructions to Hotel Pasaje. Also wire $500. Claim special re- ward of $50,000. Bernard Seymour, " Envoy Extraordinary." Chalmers dashed into Jack Stevens's room with the cablegram. "Can we rely on that?" asked Mr. Chalmers. " Seymour was deceived once. He may be wrong again. What do you think ? " " I think he has found our man ! " said Stevens without a moment's hesitation. " That cable sounds The R E S C U E ♦ 45' ♦ like business. It explains Seymour's silence. He is the luckiest reporter in the country. I would stake my life he is right." " We will take the chance," said Chalmers. " Do not say a word. We will leave for Havana to-night. Be ready to start at seven o'clock. You will go by rail." Chalmers issued a few instructions to his assist- ant and hurriedly explained what had happened. A few minutes later he was on his way to the Car- mody mansion, having first ascertained that Miss Helen was at home. In a few words he explained what had happened. The young heiress was radiant with joy. " I knew you would find them I " she exclaimed. " From the moment you said we could not fail, I was sure of success! Oh, isn't it splendid I I could cry for joy! " " This is no time to cry," said the practical Mr. Chalmers. "We must start for Havana at once. How soon can you be ready? " " I can be ready in an hour," said Miss Carmody. " Mrs. White is here. She is going with me. Can you go, Mr. Chalmers ? " " Certainly I can go," said that gentleman. " You did not intend to leave me behind, did you ? " " Why, of course not," said Miss Carmody, " but I am so excited I do not know what I am saying. Will Mr. Stevens go with us ? " " He will go by rail and boat, and we will meet i . J i. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 4ja ♦ him in Havana," said Chalmers. " You had better send word to your captain at once. Tell him I will be on the yacht by seven o'clock. Please warn him to keep the destination a secret. Do not forget to take along lots of wraps; it may be cold on the ocean." Miss Helen laughed rtierrily. " You talk just like Papa, and order me around as if I were a little girl," she said with a smile which showed no displeasure at this tyranny. " But I will obey." "That's right," said Chalmers with a sad sort of a smile. " I am afraid that my authority is nearly ended. Perhaps this is the last time I shall have the pleasure of meeting you beneath the Carmody roof." "It will be your own fault," said Miss Helen, her cheeks mantling with a blush. " Do you think Papa is an ogre to drive you away? But I must be busy with my preparations for the journey. I will be on the yacht before seven o'clock." Chalmers returned to his office, and for an hour was busy with instructions to his assistants. He issued orders that The Record should give no hints of pending developments, and selected a special cipher to cover new possibilities. He then proceeded to the pier and boarded the yacht. Miss Carmody and Mrs. Isabel White had arrived, and the latter was in a flutter of excitement. Miss Carmody was charming in a traveling gown of blue. The yacht swung on her keel and headed down the East River '«:vjr'>9«aiB'-9 The R ESC UE ♦ 453 ♦ and out into the bay. Before twilight had faded, the " Helen Carmody " was well out to sea and making for Havana with a " bone in her teeth." The " Helen Carmody " was a fine specimen of marine architecture. She was fitted with every con- venience and luxury. She was larger than the " Shark," having more staterooms and more power- ful engines. While more comfortable and staunchcr, she was not so fast as the " Shark." Mr. Carmody had sacrificed speed for room and artistic effect, yet there were few yachts that could show a wake to the " Helen Carmody." The following morning was cloudy, with a half gale from the southwest. It increased in force as the day went on and was a full gale by night. Luckily all were good sailors, but they found the cabin more comfortable than the decks. Cards and music served to lighten the hours, though Chalmers and Miss Car- mody found endless topics of conversation. Witn the gale at its height. Miss Helen put on a water- proof wrap and insisted on watching the storm from the forward deck. Chalmers found some " oil slickers," and they ventured out towards the bow of the yacht. It was blowing fifty mi.es an hour. Occa- sional flashes of lightning in the southwest threw a glare over the dark waters, showing crests blown into ribbons of foam by the gale. A huge wave loomed black against the sky. The next moment the bow of the yacht shot into the depths. There was a warning cry from the bridge. I it ^'u! 3 Ml I''' >i i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ■♦ 454 ♦ The lurch of the yacht threw Miss Carmody forward, and she almost fell. Chalmers picked her up in his arms. There was no time to run. He threw one arm around an upright supporting the bridge. There was a crash as tons of water fell upon the deck. A wave dashed over the bulwarks and all but swept Chalmers from his feet, but he had a firm grip and held his fair burden above the rush of waters. Miss Carmody screamed in excitement and de- light. " That is lots of fun, but it is a little too rough," she said, as Chalmers placed her on her feet. " I should say it was rough," said Chalmers. He was wet to his knees. " This is more like surf bath- ing than yachting. Let's go in before it happens again." It blew all night and most of the next day, and the " Helen Carmody " made slow progress. To- wards dark the storm moderated, but the seas were high and slow speed necessary. Friday was clear and calm, and the yacht began to make up lost time. It was late Saturday afternoon when the frowning heights of Morro Castle were seen across the waters, and it was nearly midnight when they dropped anchor in the harbor of Havana. It was decided to remain on the yacht until morning, so the " Helen Carmody " lay within easy distance of the shore. Sunday morning a yawl put out from the Havana docks. It had as passenger a sma'l man with a " sandy " moustache, and hair which could be classed The RESCUE ♦ 455 ♦ under no color other than red. He sat straight and looked dignified. He wore a natty suit of gray, with a large carnation in the lapel of his coat. This was an important event in the life of Mr. Bernard Sey- mour, but he felt equal to the occasion. There was a subdued twinkle in his blue eyes, which no assump- tion of dignity could entirely offset. He critically watched the perspiring Cuban at the oars. Then he looked at the " Helen Carmody." " Smart looking yacht," he mused. " I may de- cide to buy her. Glad I sent Bender back to New Orleans. This is too swift a game for Richard. I will have to stake him after this is over. He doesn't know a thing about what has happened. Is Mr. Ber- nard Seymour a great detective? The best ever. They say it is luck! Let them guess again. Fifty thousand cold plunks, and a generous slice of that million ! Not bad, I don't think. Will Papa take a vacation? He will ; he will. Here we are." The yawl came alongside the brass-railed gang- way. Captain Baldwin of the " Helen Carmody " stood at the head of the gangway. Mr. Bernard Seymour saluted him with an impressive gesture. " Good morning. Captain ! " Captain Baldwin bowed but said nothing. " I am Bernard Seymour ; special commissioner of The Record," said Mr. Seymour. " Present my card and my compliments to Miss Carmody and Mr. Chalmers." Il * m^ ■ rt; ■I , ' i« •1r > ' i 1 ■^■i*** m 1 kUL The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 456 ^ " Come aboard, Mr. Seymour," said Captain Bald- win. " I am glad to meet you." " Ah, is this Seymour? " said Mr. Chalmers, who now appeared. " Glad to meet you, old man. Ac- cept my congratulations. I hope you are not mis- taken in your man." " I never make but one mistake on the same case," said Seymour, shaking hands cordially with the managing editor. " When can I pay my respects to Miss Carmody?" "Here she comes now," said Chalmers. Miss Carmody came forward radiant in a yachting cos- tume of white broadcloth, trimmed with gold braid. " I have the pleasure of presenting Mr. Bernard Seymour," said Mr. Chalmers. " I am delighted to meet you, Mr. Seymour," said Miss Helen as she extended her hand. " I have heard so much of you it seems as if I knew you. I am glad to welcome you aboard the yacht." Mr. Bernard Seymour bowed profoundly. He had framed a speech, but it had eluded him. He feilt that he n.ust say something. " You can't lose me. I am glad to meet you. Miss Carmody. The pleasure is all mine." There was a twinkle in his eye which was irresisti- ble, and Miss Carmody laughed until the color came to her cheeks, and she looked more charming than ever. She took Mr. Seymour in charge, and induced him to tell the story of how he came to solve the mystery of the Hestor bungalow. Mr. Chalmers -msm^s^ms^ms^^mm The RESCUE ♦ 457 #» listened to Mr. Seymour's carefully prepared narra- tive. " When I received Mr. Chalmers's telegraphic ad- vices," said Mr. Seymour, " I made up my mind that the first place to search was along the lumber docks. I thought it all over, and said to myself, it is like this : If Hestor has built a house in tropical America the lumber probaWy came from New Orleans, which is the great lumber market of the South. The con- tractor might hail from any place, but naturally he would ship his material from New Orleans. It was nearly dark when I arrived in the city. I went to the hotel, looked at my mail, and went from there to the docks. I questioned stevedores, dock-wallopers, sailors and levee men of all descriptions. I went finally to a resort frequented by such men. There were probably fifty of them in the room. I picked out a smooth-looking colored boy and told him I would give him five dollars if he would ask every man present if he ever helped load lumber for a man named Walter B. Hestor I told him all about Hestor; that he was a newspaper man who owned a yacht called the ' Shark,' and that he was eccentric, and liberal with his money. " He was a bright coon," said the veracious Mr. Seymour, " and he wanted to earn that money in a hurry He got on top of a beer keg and made a speech. Once in a while he would misstate a point, and I would correct him. When he was through, a darkey, with a face as black as the ace of spades The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 458 ^ came forward and asked me how much I would give to know what boat that lumber was shipped on. I did not want to appear too anxious, so I offered him two dollars. We went to one fide, and he told me that aoodt a year ago a man arli^ed in New Orleans with :. yacht called the ' Shark,' and that the owner supermtended the loading of a lot of lumber, doors wmdows and stuff on a schooner called the ' Sani Walker.' He described Hestor to a dot. He said Hestor's chief amusement was to throw money to the negroes along the levee to induce them to sing and dance. He would stand on the ' Sam Walker ' and throw coins by the hour, until the levee was black with darkies. I knew he had the right man. I gave him the two dollars and promised him ten more if he would locate the ' Sam Walker ' for me. At about midnight we found that the schooner was at Lake Pontchartrain, and was going to sail the next morning. I paid my colored friend and started for the 'West End.' I found the 'Sam Walker.' I wanted to get the information without exciting sus- picion. I learned that the first mate was ashore m some of the drinking resorts at that place. Then I ran across a friend of mine who was mucii intoxi- cated. I used him as a tool. Early in the morning I found the first mate. From him I learned that the schooner was going to Havana. He was pretty full, and I bribed him to let me go aboard the schooner. There was no way to shake my friend, whose nan.e is Bender, so we took him along. The RESCUE '*' 459 ^ " The next day I became acquainted with the cap- tain a man named Parker, and found him a mightv good fellow. By leading the conversation gradually up to contractors, and to my friend Hestor, I learned hat Colonel John Mclntyre was the contractor, and hat he lived in Havana. It seems the schooner was loaded with lumber for Colonel Mclntyre. That was a 1 I wanted to know from Captain Parker, and I aid doggie.' The second day out it turned in and blew a gale and carried us away off our course to the southwest. It was late in the afternoon when we passed a steam yacht, which seemed to be headed for New Orleans. She passed us to starboard. Captain Parker sized her up through a glass and said : There is that yacht you were talking al)out Seymour. That is the '• Shark." ' " He was positive about it. The first mate also said It was the ' Shark.' She was about a mile and a half away, and they could not make out her name Both men knew the 'Shark' well, and were dead sure they could not be mistaken. Captain Parker said he could make Hestor out on the bridge- but of course I don't know about that. I never sa.v Hestor and am not able to judge whether it «as he or not' The man they said was Hestor seemed to be dancing a clog step on the bridge of the yacht. " The gale set us back so much that we did not reach Havana until Tuesday morning. Colonel Mc- lntyre w^s not at the pier, aii.i i had considerable trouble finding him. He lives out on Vedado Street, tjr!yK»«sar» Mi 1 1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES '^ 460 ^ and I jumped into a carriage and went out to his house. He had just left to go into the country. I went after him. It was noon before I stood him up." " Where is Colonel Mclntyre now? " asked Chal- mers. ^ "He will be here soon," said Mr. Seymour. " Jack Stevens has gone out to his house for him. When we found you were in the harbor, Jack went for the Colonel, and I came to pay my respects to Miss CarmoJy. I am never looking for the worst of it." Mr. Seymour raised his hat and saluted Miss Carmody. " But to my story," continued Seymour. " I found Colonel Mclntyre a gruflF old dog, and he tried to stand me off. He said it was none of my business whether he had built a house for Hestor or not. I saw it was no use trying to ' con ' the Colonel. He was too wise. So I told him the whole story. You should have seen his eyes stick out. At first he wouldn't be'ieve a word of it, but finally he changed his mind. He said Hestor was such an erratic fellow that he would not put anything past him. Then he thawed out and told me everything." " What island is the house on ? " asked Miss Car- mody with suppressed excitement. " It is not on any island," said Seymour. " It is on the coast of Mexico, south of Vera Cruz. From Colonel Mrlntyre's description, it is a place you The R E S C U E ♦ 461 ^ would not find in a thousand years. The Mexicans and Indians never go near it. They imagine that it IS haunted by the ghosts of some old ruined city which is said to be near there. There is a small inlet' openmg into a bay. You cannot see this inlet unless you are close to the shore. There is only one pilot except Captain Waters of the ' Shark.' who knows the way m through the rocks and shoals. Any boat drawing more than five feet of water would be smashed to pieces. Here comes Jack Stevens and Colonel Mclntyre." The new arrivals were welcomed on the yacht Colonel Mclntyre was a thick-set, broad-shouldered man, with an immense black moustache, and a com- plexion almost as dark as that of a mulatto But his fierceness was all external. There was little to his story which has not been told. Hestor had con- tracted with him to build a bungalow on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico south of Vera Cruz. Hestor had prepared the plans, which, when slightly modi- fied by Colonel Mclntyre, were sufficient for the purpose. He purchased the lumber and materials in New Orleans, and sailed with three carpenters for the site selected. Extra workmen were secured at Vera Cruz. The three carpenters were then working tor Colonel Mclntyre in Havana. " Can you take us direct to the place, Colonel Mc- lntyre " asked Miss Helen. " I can take you there, but we could not take the yacht in without a pilot,' said Colonel Mclntyre. i Rnn •xwa MCROCOrY lESOlUTION TEST CHA>T (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 gis 1^ ^= ^1^ 12.2 1.1 i.-^is _^ APPLIED IM/1GE Inc Sr 1653 East Main Slre«l 7,^ Rochailer. New York 14609 USA ■■^X (716) 483 - 0300 - Phofi* asa (716) 288 - 5959 - Fo. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 462 ^ "The surf is very heavy, and it is dangerous for small boats. We had a pilot from Tampico. My ad- vice IS to pick him up on the way down, and then we will have no trouble. When will you start ? " "Just as soon as you are ready, Colonel," said Chalmers. " We must take on coal, but that will not take long." " I am all ready," said Colonel Mclntyre. " I am a very busy man, and have some contracts on my hands which require my constant attention, but when Mr. Seymour told me about this I dropped every- thing. I am entirely at your service. Miss Car- mody," said the gallant Colonel. " I do not know how to thank you. Colonel Mc- lntyre," said Miss Carmody. " It is not necessary for me to assure you that we shall not permit you to suffer any financial loss on account of your kind- ness." Early in the afternoon the " Helen Carmody " glided swiftly out of Havana harbor, and took a course almost due west. It was night before the ragged coast of Cuba faded in the eastern sky The day was warm, but it was pleasant under the awnings and the six passengers thoroughly enjoyed the after- noon. Miss Carmody was happy in the thought that every turn of the propeller brought her nearer to her father. That she would find him she had not the slightest doubt. Colonel Mclntyre gave her a minute description of the beauties of the country adjoining the bungalow; though he admitted that he himself Th, RESCUE 463 rounded it. H,s men, he said, haa told him it was an .mpenetrable jungle and that the only way to aL proach It was by tlie sea. / vvay to ap bay Ind !t"f '"' ■"''?• '" '°"' °^ '^^^"^= ^b°"' the bay and ,ts surroundings," said Colonel Mclntyre and you could not induce a Mexican or an Indian bfut":" I ■ ^:i ' ""''■'' ^''--' -^^'^-^ -4 about ,t. It ,s the most beautiful spot I ever saw The water is like crystal and is ful.'of fish The« a e aihgators or crocodiles along the south sho e of the bay, but they did not bother us. Ther are jnonkeys parrots, deer and other animals and bird probably had a good time. Don't you worry a bit Mr. Seymour told some of his newspaper experi ences and kept the party in laughter and'go d spfr In the eyenmg Mrs. White took her place at he p.ano, and persuaded Miss Carmody to sing Her vo.ce was smgularly sweet and sympathetic Cap- tarn Baldwin and several of his officers stood in the doorway and enjoyed the musical treat. Then Mrs White played some familiar airs, and all joined „ the chorus. Here was where Mr. Bernard Seymour efforts tha he volunteered to sing a famous - Chest- nut Song, composed for a Bohemian Club of which he was a member. III.! ^f The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 464 ^ Mr. Seymour hummed the air to Mrs. White, so that she could favor him with an accompaniment. He cleared his throat, struck a professional attitude, and sang the following verses in a voice somewhat un- certain in key, but lacking nothing in confidence or volume. Mr. Seymour prefaced his efforts by stating that this song was used when guests of the club were so indiscreet as to inflict an ancient story or joke on the assembled throng. It had been sung with great effect to Senator Chauncey M. Depew. Mr. Seymour said there were several hundred verses of which he remembered three. He called this effort the "Rameses Song!" " THE RAMESES SONG "In the (Jays of old Raine;«s; Are you on? They to'd the same thing; they told the same thing; In the ciays of old Rameses That story had paresis — Are you oi; ? Are you on ? Are you on ? " " You must all sing in the chorus," explained Mr. Seymour. " The second verse goes like this : " It was told in ancient Florence years ago ; They told the same thing; they told the same thing; When they told that tale in Florence It was held in great abhorrence- Are you on? Are you on ? Are you on ? They told that tale in Sodom, loot ago; Th( R E SC U E 465 They told the same thing; they told the same thing; In that city of the plain The story caused them pain- Are you on ? Are you on ? Are you on ? " Mr. Seymour acknowledged the applause; bowed and returned to his seat. He could not be persuaded to sing again. It was the tirst time he ever had re- niembered the words of a song, and he preferred to rest on his laurels. The crescent of a new moon hung like a silver sickle in the southwestern sky. A gentle breeze from the south was just sufficient to flutter the awnings. It was midnight when the voyagers retired to their rooms. The weather continued fine the following day, which passed without incident worth recording. Mr. Chalmers seemed to have no difficulty in mo- nopolizing most of Miss Carmody't ae. This did not escape the attention of Mr. Seymour. " That nill be the next kidnapping case," he re- marked to Jack Stevens as Chalmers and Miss Car- mody promenaded past them. " They make a fine looking couple, don't they? Ah, love's young dream ! Here is Papa with a wife and six children I I sent them a cablegram yesterday which will make them the happiest colony in Chicago. I am an old man; a very aged patriarch." He did not look it. Tuesday morning the snow-capped peaks of Mexico lifted their crests out of the ocean, showing faint and purple in the distance. It was late in the afternoon when the yacht dropped anchor in Tarn- rS ^^b' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 466 ^ pico haibor. Colonel Mclntyre, Seymour and Stevens went ashore in search of the pilot, and Mr. Chalmers escorted Miss Carmody and Mrs. White through the streets of the quaint old Mexican town. Colonel Mclntyre made th; discovery that the pilot had been in Vera Cruz, and would not return until late at night. There was nothing to do but wait. It was midnight when the schooner on which the Mexican pilot had shipped, dropped into the harbor, and to the delight of all he was found on board. Colonel Mclntyre explained what he wanted, and when Chal- mers offered the necessary financial inducements the pilot consented to make the trip. It was three o'clock in the morning before the " Helen Carmody " was headed in the direction of Vera Cruz. An early breakfast was served Wednesday morn- ing. The pilot announced that they should be at their destination between eleven and twelve o'clock that forenoon, and all were excited. Miss Carmody was pale but composed. The hour was fast approach- ing when her hopes would be crushed or her happi- ness made complete. Her heart throbbed at the thought that all her hopes might crumble into noth- ingness. There was no positive proof that Hestor had taken his captives to the bungalow. The tears came to her eyes several times, but she checked her emotions, and laughed at some of Seymour's char- acteristic remarks. The yacht was running almost due south, and was about fifteen miles ofif shore. There was a faint haze The R E S C U E 467 over the water, but it was lifting in the quicicening west breeze. Mr. Seymour was seated near the bow of the yacht. " Loolc at that for a schooner yacht ' " he ex clamed, pointing ahead and a little to starboard of he.r course '• That is a beauty! Look at those sails! Wouldn t they stop you! Captain Baldwin what is the technical name for that class of ship> It is not classified in my marine books." Captain Baldwin was studying the strange-looking craft through his glasses. He did not answer Mr beymour s questions, but stepped to where Chalmers and Jack Stevens were standing. "Do you know the missing men by sight?" he asked. " I do," said Chalmers. " Look at the men on that boat through this glass, ihey are signalling to us." Chalmers took one long, searching look. They were rapidly approaching the odd-looking craft The men on board of it were frantically waving handker- chiefs and cloths. " It's them ! " said Chalmers. " I recognize Sid- ney Hammond and Mr. Kent ! " Chalmers rushed to where Miss Carmody and Mrs. White were seated abaft the rear deck house. " I think I have good news, Miss Carmody," he said. His face bore evidence more eloquent than words. " Do not get excited. I think we have found Mr. Carmody and his companions. Come along." •11' 1 w The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 468 ^ Miss Carmody turned pale for an instant, and al- most staggered as she started to rise. She took Chal- mers's proflfered arm and walked rapidly forward The whistle of the " Helen Carmody " sounded a long, shrill blast. The motion of the engines ceased, and the yacht swung to port. As it did .•<> the raft came into full view, not a thousand feet away. Eight men in yachting suits were standing on the roof of a low cabin, waving their arms and yelling like In- dians. An answering shout went up from Seymour, Stevens and Colonel Mclntyre. Again the whistle sounded its welcome note, and the screw churned the Gulf as the signal was given to back water. " There's Papa! " exclaimed Miss Carmody. Her hand tightened convulsively on Chalmers's arm, but she did not faint or go into hysterics. This was not a Carmody trait. "There he is—God bless him!" she exclaimed, as Mr. Carmody waved his hand and shouted : " God is very good to us; they are all safe I " The sun broke through the haze, and every figure on the raft showed sharply in the flood of light. At the forward end of the craft a monkey tugged at his chain and jabbered in excitement. Sidney Hammond and Mr. Kent were cutting away the lashings of the dingy. The raft was now so near the yacht that Captain Baldwin gave the order to go si ,wly ahead, so as to avoid collision. The boat-boom swung into place, and the gig was lowered. Four sailors leaped into the boat, and with Th RESCUE 469 lusty strokes were speeding to the raft. There was mg The Jumpmg Jupiter." But in a few minutes Mr. Carmody, Mr. Rocicwell, Mr. Haven and Mr Morton were on board the dancing gig and on their way to the yacht. As the gig neared the " Helen Carmody," the crew and >ts guests lined up along the rail and gave cheer after cheer. A stalwart seaman helped them to a firm foothhold on the gangway. A moment later a big, sunburned man held in his arms his btave beautiful daughter. ' " Oh, Papa, are you sure you are not hurt, or sick or anything? " asked Miss Helen rather indefinitely' as she stepped back for an instant and through joyous tears looked into her father's rugged and happy ^^ " Do I look sick, my pet ? " laughed Mr. Carmody. I never felt better in my life. We are all in splendid health. This seems too good to be true." " But it is true, Papa; it cannot be a dream, even though It seems like one," said Miss Helen, her voice crembling with rapture. " Oh, Papa, I was afraid I should never see you again. I could dance for joy But, Papa dear, we must not be selfish. You must meet these splendid men who have woAed so ear- nestly for your rescue." " So you do not take all the credit for the discovery of your old Papa. Eh, pet ? " " Not a particle of it ! " exclaimed Helen. " All I i< a,i 1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * 470 ^ did was to hope and pray and trust that God would be good." ^^ " Yon are a brave little girl," said Mr. Carmody. To whom are we indebted for this splendid serv- ice? Ah, here is Mr. Chalmers! How do you do Mr. Chalmers? Am I to thank you for this reunion with my dear daughter? " " Not at all," .aid Mr. Chalmers, as he shook hands cor-'ially with the great capitalist. "You may thank the lucky star which influences the des- tmies of The Record." " Mr. Chalmers is too modest to tell you the truth about what he has done, Papa," said Miss Helen, givmg the young journalist a look which made him supremely happy. " He has worked day and night. When all looked dark he never lost hope. He thought of everything, planned everything, and everything has happened just as he predicted." " You are very kind to say so," said Mr. Chal- mers, the blood mounting to cheeks seldom flushed by emotion. " But Miss Helen gives me too much credit. It was my good fortune to hold a resoonsible position on ;, paper which bdieves in ' doing things ' and this is one of them. Let me introduce you, Mr Carmody, to the gentlemen who share with me the pleasure of having been able to unravel this mystery. Mr. Carmody, this is Mr. Bernard Seymour. Permit me also to introduce Mr. John Stevens." Mr. Carmody greeted these gentlemen heartily, and was introduced to Colonel Mclntyre. Mr. Rock- The RESCUE well, Mr. Haven and Mr. Kent joined the group. In tlu democracy of joy or peril, formal introductioas are unnecessary. Every one talked anc" laughed at once. Mr. Rockwell so far forgot his digmty and the polite conventionalties as to hit Mr. Carmody a vig- orous blo-v on the shoulder-a liberty not in the least resented by that gentleman. It was a glorious transition from perils, fears and hopes Ion- deferred. Like the clearing skies abov. their clouds were chased away by the sunlight It seemed good to live; to he again in touch with the great pulsating world; to feel beneath their feet the sturdy deck of a staunch vessel, and to clasp hands with their fellow creatures. In such moments na- ture break"! down the puny b..rriers erected by wealth pride and position. These mighty magnates, who wielded the power of kings, became as children. They tasted of a pleasure money cannot buy, and enjoyed themselves with an abandonment delightful to witness. Mr. Haven proposed three cheers for Miss Helen Carmody. As the sturdy yell was given, there came an answering cheer f cm " The Jumping Jupiter." Captain Baldwin ordered the sailors to dress the yacht in flag.s and bunting in honor of the occasion, hat I want to know is this," said Mr Rock- well as they watched the gig approach the raft. What IS the name of that island over there? " Mr Rockwell waved his hand to the west. The haze was lifted so that thi- shore was clearly visible ■m The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES * 472 ^ "What island do you mean, Mr. Rockwell?" asked Captain Baldwin. " The island we have been occupying for the past two weeks," replied Mr. Rockwell. " We tried all yesterday afternoon to run around it to the north, and when we woke up this morning it was still to the west of us." That is a pretty large island," said Optain Baldwm. " It is nothing more nor less than the North American continent. That is the Mexican coast over there. If you look sharp you can see the cathedral towers in Vera Cruz to the southwest. You must have run past Vera Cruz in the night." Mr. Carmody laughed heartily. " Sc we have been on the mainland all the time, have we? "he said. " Well, that is pretty good. But we might as well have been on an island. A rabbit could not get to ' Morton's Bay,' unless he knew how to swim. Well, we had a good time if we were kidnapped. Here comes Mr. Kent, Mr. Vincent, and Mr. Pence. Sidney seems bound to stick to ' The Jumping Jupiter ' until the last minute. I suppose they are taking the gold oflf." Mr. Carmody ex- plained the discovery of the gold idols in the old ruined temple. Mr. Carmody formally introduced L. Sylvester Vincent to Bernard Seymour. They shook hands. " Glad to see yru on board the yacht," said Mr. Seymour. " I did not catch the name exactly." The R E S C U E ** 473 ^ "Vincent^L. Sylvester Vincent, of Chicago '• Mr. Vincent replied. v-nicago, last w«k."' ^°" '" "" ■"'" ' ^"'^'•'' '" St. Loui, Seymour then explained to the astounded Vincent Mr. Caimody informed Captain Baldwin that there was a quantity of valuable ..^ores on botd The Jumping Jupiter." The nap ha launch was owered, and several sailors detailL to transfer a, articles worth saving from the raft to the yach. M Vmcent returned to "The Jumping Jupiter" a -' rescued ' Socks." who was vote'd a mas' o of ! : ceptional ability. When Sidney Hammond came on board the yacht he was given a reception which brought a blush of pleasure to his bronzed and handsome face "his'^'^'fati"™'''"^ ^"''*''" ^"^ «l«ndoned to HOME AGAIN ♦ 474 Chapter XXVII J HJlt 1 '^M i <( H OW far are we from Vera Cruz, Captain Baldwin?" "About twenty-five miles, Mr. Car- mody." " You may proceed to that harbor, at once," di- rected Mr. Carmody. Mr. Carmody then called a conference in the Social Hall of the " Helen Carmody." There were present Palmer J. Morton, John M. Rockwell, R. J. Kent, Simon Pence, Hiram Haven, Sidney Hammond and William Chalmers. " We will be in Vera Cruz in an hour," said Mr. Carmody, when all were seated around the center table. " It is now half-past nine o'clock. We will be in telegraphic communication with New York by eleven o'clock, Vera Cruz time — which is one o'clock New York time. It is unnecessary to disguise the fact that our return to civilization is a matter fraught with much importance from a business stand- point. I am not speaking for myself, as I have no in- terests which have been seriously menaced by my absence, or which will be affected by my return. This is not true of some present. They have been HOME AGAIN **■ 47J ^ made to suffer financial loss by their detention. It is but fair that they shall have the right to recoup some of their losses. Now, I am not unacquainted with newspaper men, their methods and ambitions. I am going to ask Mr. Chalmers to waive his rights as a journalist for an hour after our arrival in Vera Cruz in order that we may send the news of our safe return to our families, and that we may then notify our business associates, and forward such instructions as shall protect our interests as investors in =tocks and securities. I am aware that we are under many obligations to Mr. Chalmers and to The New York Record, but I assure him that neither he nor his paper will suffer by granting this favor." Mr. Chalmers was on his feet the moment Mr. Carmody ceased speaking. " I am only too happy to grant that request " he said. " Through no fault of The Record, or of its editor, Robert Van Home, we are implicated in this affair through the unaccountable acts of a man who has been one of our correspondents. Although this IS the most important piece of news in recent years and one in which the paper is entitled to a fair share of credit, I recognize that you gentlemen have in- terests which are paramount. I will send no mes.sage to The Record until the Stock Exchange is closed m New York. Our paper will take its chance .vith the others. After that hour, I shall expect the thor- ough cooperation of you gentlemen, so that we may be able to place on the wires the complete history of 'ijl H The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 476 <^ this case, with such acknowledgment of the part played by the paper as you choose to authorize." " That is the way I like to hear a man talk, Mr. Chalmers," said Mr. Morton. "That is business. I will say to you that I will break xny rule and write a statement which you can use if it has any value. Your representatives will find me ready to talk on any subject connected with this aflfair." The same promise was made by the other mag- nates. " Mr. Seymour and Mr. Stevens are experienced and discreet newspaper men," said Mr. Chalmers. " It takes time to write and put on the wires a story like this. I ask that they be allowed to begin work at once, and I will be responsible that not a word is telegraphed which can appear on the streets of New York before three o'clock this afternoon." "They shall have every opportunity," said Mr. Carmody. " We will turn this room into a news- paper office right now. Send for Mr. Seymour and Mr. Stevens, and we will get to work." " You can draft me as a reporter," said Sidney Hammond. " I can help out on some of the incidents on the island." " You see me about Hammond," said Mr. Kent. " He is too modest to tell you the truth about him- self." Seymour and Jack Stevens were sent for, and they proceeded to their task with the tact, rapidity and system of experienced newspaper men. They speedily HOME AGAIN ♦ 477 ^ obtained the framework of the story. Upon this hey bu.l, .ncident by incident, the tisl^e and" a well-rounded narrative. Mr. Chalmers became a reporter for the first time in years. He suggShe b^.s of e.ght signed statements-L. SylvLr V „! cent was not excepted. By the tin.e the "Helen armody was anchored in Vera Cruz harbor. Mr Chalmers had the story well in hand. He weni ashore w.th the rescued magnates and with them to the telegraph offices. Chalmers found the manager and arranged for the use of all available wires on Tm after one o clock. Mr. Morton and his companions fiM telegrams to relations and business as^i.tes and once more was in touch with New York After a conference with Mr. Chalmers, it ». agreed not to leave Vera Cruz until late in the ove- nmg. It was planned to steam direct to New Or- gans, go from there by special train to New York Mr. Chalmers insisted that he have all the time necessary to prepare and forward his story At 12:40 Chalmers filed his first news bulletin, and from that moment until ten o'clock at night a corps of telegraph operators was busy clicking the greatest beat ever recorded in the history of modem journalism. wilT ^ ™"''°"«' in pacing that the receipt in New York of private telegrams from the missing millionaires, was followed on the Exchange by enor mous buymg of stocks. There were no rumors to account for the consequent rise in prices and for some The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 478 ^ time the market stoutly resisted the advance. Then quotations began to rise; slowly at first, but with increasing momentum. Something had happened I What was it? The news of the Wall Street boom came over the telephone to the newspaper offices. Mr. Sharp, the acting editor of The Evening Record, was on the alert. In a fever of excitement he awaited the ex- pected word from Mr. Chalmers or one of his assist- ants. The rival paper, The Evenin^' Gazette, was out with an extra containing a rumor that the lost mag- nates had been located in South Africa. Mr. Shtirp could stand it no longer. It was two o'clock, and the market was soaring, but Wall Street was as mys- tified as ever. For a week Sharp had held in type the most startling headlines ever designed in the office. He had been advised that the " Helen Car- mody " had sailed from Havana and he knew her destination. It was the day for news from the ab- ducted men. Sharp decided to "take a chance." The following was his first effort in headlines, which covered the front page, and crowded the title of the paper into small type in the upper left hand comer : HOME AGAIN 479 RESCUED BYJTHE RECORD!!! ^^hV^r '^^.°'''' ''*'*^°'"^ Accomplishes the Greatest Achievement in the Historyof Journalismlll RESCUES THE MIS^MiluoNAIRES I ! ! Crmody. R J. Kent. Simon Pence, and Hiram Haven ^^^^'^^ M^^^ITooast byanBxpodl. tlon Fitted Out bytheNew York Record I ■ 7 WALL STREET ,N A FLURRY OF EXC.TEMEKT.M The brief article which followed contained no in noTt ," "' T^ '■" ^'^ "«"''■"«■ -'i there was" no date hne at the head of it. Mr. Sharp was blv prepanng a second and n,ore circumsfant i "n i^halmers. A few mmutes later the second Record extra was on the street. It read- « record ^New York Record, has effected ti.e rescue of Palmer The KIDNAPPED MILLIONMRl ♦ 480 J. Morton, John M. Rockwell, Andrus Carmody, J. Kent, Simon Pence, Hiram Haven, Sidney Hai mond and L. Sylvester Vincent. The kidnapping , these distinguished financiers is the most sensation crime in history. On the evening of May first, sev< of these men were lured on board the steam yacl ' Shark,' owned by Walter B. Hestor, the famoi amateur newspaper correspondent. Hestor planne the crime and executed it with the cunning of maniac. He invited Messrs. Morton, Kent, Rockwel Carmody, Haven and Pence to join him at a dinne on board the ' Shark,' at which time an importan busmess matter was to be discussed. Mr. Sidne Hammond was invited as legal counsel for Mr. Hes tor. L. Sylvester Vincent was present to discus another business matter with Mr. Carmody. Ono out in the Atlantic, Hestor refused to return hi' guests to New Vork. He permitted them to senc ashore the letters which were received by their rela tions, and then steamed south. He landed them or the coast of Mexico,— on the sixth day,— at a poini south of Ver?. Cruz, on a spot which he stated was an island. Here Hestor had fitted up a bungalow on the edge of a lake, connected by a narrow inlet to the Gulf of Mexico. That night Hestor sailed away m the ' Shark.' ' " By indefatigable eflfort. The New York Record traced this crime to Walter B. Hestor. Its detective force, under the charge of John Stevens, ]■ ated the bungalow. Special credit is due to Bernard Seymour, HOME AGAI 481 N found .,e conJLrit .^hTt; I'r Colonel John Mctntyre of Havana. OnTuesd;7 Isabel White, sailed for Havana. William ChalnJl, t-me the marooned n.en had not S^id. T eThTd constructed a seaworthy boat and were out „ S Gulf, about thirty miles northeast of Vera Cruz where they were picked up by the " Helen CalS" and taken to Vera Cruz Th«, "^len Carmody " and their ^^^^^S^lltrZ^^^r^ i7tr^^ Th'1 r. *'"" '° ^^^^ York by spe- wUh h' °"°^'"«^ ^'^^d statement is f^- warded by request of the rescued men. announcefur'^ar ;etSt?"-T--^^ ^^'^ *° S^^kf^XS^^eJ^-j;--^^ The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 482 ^ half by The New York Record, to whose executive ability and foresight is due our rescue from the dangers of the sea, and our safe return to shore Our gratitude is especially due to William Chalmers, Ber- nard Seymour, and John Stevens. In our opinion, this forced detention was the act of an irresponsible mdividual, and not a conspiracy for any rational purpose. (Signed) Andrus Carmody, Palmer J. Mortok, John M. Rockwell, Hiram Haven, Simon Pence, R. J. Kent, Sidney Hammond, L. Sylvester Vincent. ' Vera Cruz, May 24.' " Late that memorable Wednesday night, the staunch steam yacht " Helen Carmody " left the lights of Vera Cruz twinkling in the distance, and started on her nine hundred mile journey to New Or- leans. All were fatigued from the excitement and toil of the day, and it was late on Thursday morning when they met again around the breakfast table in the spacious dining cabin. It was a merry and a contented party. There were fourteen around the board— just enough to escape the fatal thirteen— but Bernard Seymour, being superstitious, counted three times before he was satisfied. Miss Helen Carmody presided as hostess. Never did she look more charming. Simon Pence came in for much raillery about his HOME AGAIN * 483 ^ stand to his agreement tL'm"' ''"^ ^' ^°""^ check for $,23 .00 Bvl f ' ^""""^^ ^is deposited to M'r^ince„r""!, '^'"'"^■"' ^'^''^ -« share in ^^^c^oi'^;;^"^'^'''''. ''' '°'^' of the idols as curios a^fi ? f ""'"^ °^ "«"y possessi.o,aC;;://.ro:L^^^^^ weat.a"?;„^SXer/rrr-^ Louisiana crept up out'ofT^c XT' °' was a vessel which looked i;t» . "'^ ^^=* '•n a diagonal dirLtio'a' to'ruTa" '"'.'' '"'^-^ of the " Helen Carmody " '"°'' "'^ '=°"^« we«^o„r^trf;eck"^'- r ^^^ ^^^'-" to observe the yacht *""" ^"^ ^"^ ««* " There is a problem which sailors have to solve." '1,1 The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 484 ^ he Mid. "That boat is headed across our course. Will she cros^ our bows, or will she go to the stem, assuming she keeps straight ahead? What do you say, Mr. Carmody ? " " She is a bit faster than this boat, I think," said Mr. Carmody. " In my j-idgment, she will pass at least half a mile ahead of us." " I do not think so," said Miss Helen. " I am loyal to our yacht. We will beat her. Don't you think so, Mr. Chalmers ? " " I think one of us will have to change our course," replied Chalmers. At this moment Captain BaJdwin approached, and called Chalmers aside. " That boat to windward is the ' Shark,' " he said in a '• w tone. Chalmers took a quick look at the steadily approaching craft. " She is going to cut us ofif," continued Captain Baldwin. " You had bet- ter pass the word among the men folks, and send the ladies below. I don't know what the intentions of that fellow Hestor are, but he is not going to inter- fere with the ' Helen Carmody ' without a fight." Chalmers returned to Mr. Carmody and Miss Helen. " That yacht is the ' Shark,' " he said quietly. "Captain Baldwin has recognized her. He does not anticipate any trouble, but he suggests that Miss Carmody and Mrs. White go below for awhile." " I do not wish to go below," said Miss Carmody, her eyes dancing with excitement " I am not afraid. They cannot hurt us, can they Papa? Let HOME AGAIN 485 ^ prepare for trouble. That manS ^* "* Whtreare the rifles?" ' '"'^'' '"'^<=hief. Mr. Kent. Mr. Morton and Mr P«,« joying an afternoon nap but thev ''' *"" aroused and informed otfesilt^Jn^ T" "o""^ Mr Kent. n^^^^S^^l^^^^^ -^:p;:t;h:j^-°^-;£2^ There were twenty rifles aboard the vachT In anticipation of possible trouble Captain R.M u. purchased a dozen guns at Vera ct T e!'" ' distributed among the men and thTcrew Sid";' -sS^:Sch:-zri-,f^ nh. ■ i f ■ ill. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 486 ♦ The faces of the men were a study. Hardly a word was spoken. Their faces were flushed with anger, rather than pale with fear. In plain sight was the yacht which had held them captive for weeks. They viewed the " S.;ark " as a pirate. Not a man doubted that Hestor was on board, and that he meant mischief. How trim and sleek the " Shark " looked as her prow cut the waves of the Gulf ! Her brass work glistened like gold in the afternoon sun. On her forward deck was a glint of polished steel. Mr. Kent recognized it. " There is that rapid-fire gun," he said in an un- dertone. Mr. Morton bowed but said nothing. Bernard Seymour examined his gun methodically He ran his eye along the sights and studied the ad- justment for distance. He spoke quietly to Sidney Hammond, . eceived a nod of approval, and went for- ward, taking a position near the bow of the boat. CapLain Baldwin whistled a signal that he would go to starboard. There was no answer from the " Shark." Again the " Helen Carmody " blew a warning blast. In answer the " Shark " ran up a flag signal asking the " Helen Carmody " to " lay to." Captain Baldwin hesitated a moment. He then gave the word to the engineer to go ahead full speed. They had been running half sp'^ed, so as to avoid any chance of a collision. Captain Baldwin gave a blast to indicate that he would pass the " Shark " to leeward. The " Shark " slightly changed its course, HOME AGAIN * 487 ^ ^^i:^.:r^^;):^:'Z "?r " ^^^ -^ - Carmody " could 11 r 'T-^' „ " °" "'^ " "«'«" instantly r/co^z d Wa te'rT H 21""^ k '■''"'' Captain Baldwin. " ''"''''^- "'as the reply of "She is not!" shouted Hestor. --^T^.S" :Sp"r" ""-*'- , oiun^y, tftat I must have the olea^nr^ „( i' . J i The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 488 ^ college chum, L. Sylvester Vincent ! How are you, old chap! You look like the real thing! No non- sense about this, Sidney ! Stop your boat, or I will stop her for you ! " "You keep off our course!" shouted Sidney. " These gentlemen do not care to see you. Go your way and do not molest us. You will do so at your peril. Captain Waters, that man is insane. You should put him in irons and take him to New Or- leans. Are you the captain of a pirate ship? This is Mr. Carmody's yacht, with ladies aboard. We demand that we be allowed to proceed, and request you to do your duty and turn that man over to the authorities. He is a criminal or a lunatic." " I am, am I ! " shouted Hestor. He dashed the megaphone to the bridge and leaped to the lower deck. Like a flash he jumped to the rapid-fire gun. Captain Waters yelled an order. It was not finished when there came a spit of fire from the muzzle of the gun. Three of the crew dashed at Hestor. The same instant there was the crack of a rifle from the bow of the " Helen Carmody." A dozen bullets tore through the glass and mahog- any sides of the forward deck house. Sidney Ham- mond fell to the deck. The " Shark " swung sharply to the starboard, and in a few seconds was speeding away to the east. It all happened so quickly that with one exception the men on the " Helen Car- mody " were too dazed to make a move. The wheelsman sent the yacht hard to port. HOME AGAIN '*' 489 ^ Mr. Kent was the first to reach the side of SMn Hammond. There wa, =■ cf,- /"^,^"'* °f Sidney for a moment and jumped to his feet breath ".r'"^-"?^ ^=^'^' ^^ f^^ took a long breath. It .s merely a flesh wound. The shoi dazed me for a moment. I am all right " blood'ZXltmV^" r -^"^ ^"^ ^''^ yacht steward-who'r.'^L"^'^''-'^- ^''^ ^wou. an Sf .rS";;- -V---- =^^ Sn:°uur as d,sappearmg " Shark" during tW ope t! ;rmhifHpr"^''^"''^"'^"°*^^-"-ped The dining-room was strewn with broken ^lass and sphnters. Ragged holes had been torn i„ the decorations, and one shot played havoc wi/h n chma closet. Miss Carmody' ca'me 7L t.ow Her face was pale, but she did not seem i„The talt alarmed. She proceeded to act as nurse for q^H and would not listen to his decLdoTt "a 'S gomg on deck. Chalmers regr^^ted he had not J^n In the meantime the "Shark" continued on its eastern course, and the "Helen Carmody " near d the mouth of the Mississippi. It was sevL o'cS .n the evening when they took a pilot. Sidn^ytS IJ;. The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 490 ♦ moved to the forward deck, and all gathered around him to discuss what had happened. " That was about as rapid a bit of work as ever I witnessed," said Mr. Kent, who had been slightly cut in the hand by a flying piece of glass. " Who fired the shot from our boat ? " asked Sid- ney, with a slight grimace of pain as his shoulder twinged where the ihot had lacerated a muscle. " It was the last thing I heard." " I fired it," said Bernard Seymour. " And I got your man Hestor all right. Did you see him drop?" " I did," said Mr. Morton. " His hands went up and he fell into the arms of two of the crew who were rushing forward to grab him." " Did any one hear the order given by Captain Waters?" asked Mr. Carmody. " I heard every word he said," replied Miss Helen. " You did ! " exclaimed her father, a frown dark- ening his face. " I asked you to go below, Helen, and supposed you would obey me." " I went below. Papa, just as you told me to do," said Miss Helen contritely. " But you did not tell me I could not look out. I opened the port hole in the saloon, and saw and heard everything that happened on the ' Shark.' When Mr. Hestor jumped from the bridge and ran to the gun, Captain Waters shouted, ' Stop him I Hold him ! ' Then he yelled ' Star- board ! ' to the wheelsman, and rushed down the steps to the deck. But before the men could stop HOME AGAIN 491 ^ Hestor, he had commenced firing Then h. .u his hands up in the air an,I tl,« ^ ""■^"' he fell backward I th "..'"'" '""^''' ''*'" =>= his face." '''°"^''' ^ '^""'d ^ee blood on " This probably terminates He,. u j take a crack at the cantain R . t "'''''' ^"^ Sioux Indians and u e7 ^ Ir^ ''^^°^^- ^"^ before the battle of Woun K e'lVn'™"'^ shootm, e^ is all right yet. ^'l^t T^Z kill him. The poor fellow is dotty He is wm arbXg:;rhirte'''T,^^^^-^^-^'' thing toL'i„"abo„t a minuter "\?'^'^ '"""f ^ rutToiT'---".--r;to%Tpa°%:r? i I. i! ( I The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 49a ♦ now understand what is meant by the 'ubiquitous reporter I ' " At midnight the " Helen Carmody " steamed up to New Orleans, landed near Canal street and discharged her passengers on their native soil. They at once proceeded to a hotel. Mr. Chalmers so man- aged the arrival and disposition of the party as to evade the alert reporters, and once in the hotel no one was allowed to disturb them. A surgeon was called and made a careful exami- nation of Sidney's wound. He confirmed the diag- nosis made by the yacht steward. He dressed the wound carefully, and advised Sidney to remain quiet for several days. It was late before Mr. Chal- mers and his assistants had forwarded to " The Rec- ord " an account of this incident. Mr. Bernard Seymour arose bright and early the following morning, and after a stroll around the Lee Circle returned to the hotel and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. He purchased the morning papers, and selecting a comfortable chair on ti:e veranda pro- ceeded to combine the luxury of a cigar with a perusal of the journals in which his name figured so conspicuously. He was studying a three-column portrait labeled " Mr. Bernard Seymour, the Famous Newspaper Detective," when someone tapped him on the shoulder. " Haou are ye. Mister Seymour ! I swan, I'm mighty glad ter see ye! Kaou de ye dew I Haou de ye dew ' " HOME AGAIN * 493 ^ milV^'L^'''*''" ^"''"■•' T''^ P'«'"re is all mine .' How are you, Cantain ? h„ • , ship, the ' Sam Walker ''•' "°"' '^ '"'' ^"^ great man; a n't ve? Vrv>ir ,,,,.. ■ ' ,""' ^^ "^ ^r papers. Well, well well- T ^ " '" "" ^''^^ -UanyeP WHo'ia^lklrSyrjIlr tnunk It, I never would a thunk it! And ye write wn get tooled. Had a man working fer me onrt -. wS.wer;'^^;i^rer^l?.^'-- -s-t^tJ:in^s::^.^--:s water wagon; and on it to stay. I h.fve l^out l, foammg and exhilarating beverages w^^w you have. Captain? This is en me. cTve mrl The Captain insisted on purchasing the clears e"em dV;r' '^ '^^ ^^^^"'^^- ^^^^-^ X seemed to have somethmg on his mind. Once or twee he cleared his throat as if to make some mportant announcer- Finally he took a 1^:^ pull at his cigar ani ■ • *" " Mister Seymour, ..cii.,. as how ye air a news- ill The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 494 ♦ paper man— though I never would a thunk it — dew ye suppose ye could get my name in the papers about tliis 'ere matter ? I don't care a blamed thing about it myself, but my old woman is just plum crazy ter see my name in the papers. Darned if I don't believe she would be willin' ter have ther ' Sam Walker ' wrecked if it would get my name in ther newspapers. Fact! Dew ye suppose ye could fix it?" " Sure, sure thing," said Mr. Bernard Seymour. "It's already in The New York Record. I sent more than a thousand words about you and the ' Sam Wall ;r ' from Vera Cruz. I also sent a description of you, and they will probably have your picture. All the papers will copy it. You had better get me a photograph of yourself for use in a more consecu- tive story I am now writing." The delight of Captain Parker was beyond expres- sion. He nearly fractured Seymour's hand in his joyous clasp. " The old woman will be tickled plum ter death I " he exclaimed. " I have been sailin' thirty years an' nothin' has happened worth printin' until now. Haou much is a thousand words? A column! Great Sc(»tt ! Have another segar. Have a box of 'em. This is the greatest thing that ever happened ter the Parker family." Mr. Chalmers was asleep when a bell boy aroused him and presented a card. He rubbed his eyes sleep- HOME AGAIN * 495 ^ ily and rebuked the boir in „„ Scrawled on a card wa^ ; " "° ''^""°'=^' '-'^"age. *•«« "9HAHK." "Ten him Chalmers. -"^""nltX^-;- reentered captSr;ss'::.;r':s-r''^-r,"said "Mr. Hestor is in holi IT ''^ T"""\"'"^^'^^- He is shot and crazy, f "am t^M, '" ' ^' "'^• happened. I worked forT ^ . ^°" ^""^ ^^^' HesavedmyliranHT \^'l^^'^'' before him. I have kno Jn Walt sirl " '" ''™ "' ^'^ -"• has been acting qut H old"" M''' "^'''^ ''' political prisoners. I am S To oh°" '"" ""^ and having them obeyed t Va" on7'"^ "'^ I- The KIDNAPPED MILLIONMRl ♦ 496 back to the place where we left these men. Of cour I know now what he was after. He intended meet you and stop you. Just as I was about take matters in my own hands, we sighted your bo; I thought I would humor him. I intended to cor to New Orleans and give him up, and stand trial I have done wrong. He jumped from the bridge, you saw. One of your men shot him in the hea and he is likely to die. He has not been right sin we left New York. I tell you this so you will knc the truth. I am going to give myself up to t authorities." Before Chalmers could say a word, Captain Wat« opened the door and went away. It was as Captain Waters said. Hestor was in hospital. A bullet had plowed its way along the li side of his head, barely missing the temple. T skull was slightly fractured, and there had been hemorrhage from the brain. When conscious, t patient was wildly delirious. Chalmers left instrv tions that everything should be done for his comfo: The hospital physicians gave little hope. Chalme secured the best medical talent in New Orleans, ai wired the facts to a famous New York special! He then rejoined his companions at the hotel. The afternoon papers contained accounts of t tragedy, and related the story of the surrender Captain Waters. Before leaving for New York, conference was held in Sidney Hammond's rooi It was the consensus of opinion that Captain Wat« HOME AGAIN ** 497 ^ r«tPrI r^tc ',"' ^'^^ a' $S.ooo each for the ar- Sirs »Tir- tt:? "• T- th5°'°„"1 ^t" ^'^"'^'■'^ ^^^ "'^ «>'- passenger on forts and out ,nto the Gulf of Mexico. In his bl leather pocketbook was a check bwrin^ 1 ^ ture of Andrus Carmody The " "^'" ♦iV«i.. i- i- ^•'■^iii'J'^y. I he amount was en- t.rely sat.sfactor, to Colonel Mclntyre. was an ern?"'"^ °' ''' "^■■°°"«' '"""^naires was an event never to be forgotten by those wh. I-arfcpated in or witnessed it^ It b gan a^New Orleans A special train fron, New York contain mg hundreds of relatives and friends dashed IX who have followed the events portr^ved in thej pages can .magine the Joy of the greeting between { «'^ tl ll 'l'\ [ ':\ ( 1 '"; j y The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 498 ^ the lost ones and those they loved. Great crowds surrounded the hotel, and would not be satisfied until the principals appeared on the balcony. The Mayor made a speech and introduced each man in turn. Sidney Hammond received an ovation as he stepped forward; one sleeve of his coat hung vacant at his side. Nor was the greeting to Bernard Seymour less cordial. There were repeated calls for Miss Carmody, and when that young lady appeared on the arm of her father, the demonstration reached its climax. In a remote part of the city, white-robed nurses hovered over a man whose staring eyes showed no gleam of sanity. His head was in bandages and he muttered incoherent phrases as he tossed in a fever of delirium. Among those who greeted the returned castaways at New Orleans was Robert Van Home, editor of The Record, who arrived in New York in time to take the special train south. Mr. Van Home did not retum to New York with the happy throng. He brought with him three of the most famous spe- cialists in the country, and soon stood at the bedside of Walter B. Hestor. Mr. Van Home alone knew the recent history of the man who now hovered be- tween life and death. He gave the physicians the essential facts in the case. A year or more before, Hestor had been injured in China. While conducting an expedition into the interior of that country, his party had been ambus- I HOME AGAIN "^ 499 ^ knocked senseless by a blow on the forehead, deliv- The a tackmg Tartars were driven off. The imme- diate effects of the blow were slight, bnt several months later Hestor had a severe attack ^f ac ute trau- matic meningitis, from which he apparctly fully to Mr. Van Home that his head troubled him He explamed some strange symptoms and was much worried. Acting on Mr. Van Home's advice Hes- tor consulted a specialist in brain diseases. He was mformed that in all probability a clot of blood from a ruptured blood vessel had formed, and was pressing against the brain tissue. Hestor agreed to submil to an operation, but postponed it, and went on an- other cruise. He suffered no further attack, and the incident was forgotten by Mr. Van Home It was vividly recalled when Chalmers wired his suspic- ions. "^ An examination at the hospital disclosed the fact that the Seymour bullet had plowed its course past the point where Hestor had sustained the blow some fourteen months before. Without going into details of surgery, ,, s sufficient to say that the gun-shot wound exposed and partially relieved the blood clot •' the existence of which had been suspected It was successfully re- ,ved. For a month Hestor hovered on the border line, and then slowly moved away trom the danger point. Sidney Hammond and Mr '' The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 500 ♦ Van Home alternated in remaining in New Orleans until he was on the road to recovery. Hestor had no recollection of events subsequent to the Chinese expedition. In his deliriiun he im- agined himself at the head of his men in that far- away Celestial Empire. When he awoke from this fantasy, clothed in his right mind, he recognized Sidney Hammond and greeted him with a pleased but mystified smile. " How came you here, dear old fellow ? " he asked as he reached out a wasted hand. " What are you doing in China? What is the matter with me? Ah, I remember now! That pig-tailed beggar hit me on the head. But where did you com*, from, Sidney?" Sidney made a non-committal answer and warned Hestor that he must not talk or disturb himself in any way until he regained his strength. During the period of convalescence Hestor's curiosity was too great to be denied, and Sidney evolved a wonderful fabrication, which gave a rational explanation of how Hestor happened to be in New Orleans, rather than in some city of the flowery kingdom. It was apparent Hestor did not believe or understand this statement; but like all invalids, he was compelled to accept with the best possible grace what was offered him. The physicians in charge of the case prepared a statement in which it was set forth that Mr. Hestor had been suflFering from a clearly-defined attack of HOME AGAIN ♦ 501 ^ amnesia preced..d by a period of mil 1 dementia. It possessed many remarkable features, but was by no means unprecedented. "As a matter of cold truth," said Dr. Brown the famous pathologist, in a conversation with Sid- ney Hammond, " there is no such thing as precedent in the science of mental phenomena. Every case is sut generis; or, practically so. We know that certain causes will produce an effect on that wonderful tissue we call the brain. But when we attempt to forecast this effect, or to account for it, we are as helpless as a neophyte. We have been able, after centuries of study, to analyze the functions of the mechanical part of the brain ; the .seat of the organs o^ volition and sensation; but we know little more of the secrets of the convolutions of the cerebrum than we do of the flora of the planets. These convolutions are the mys- terious agency of the intellect, reasoning and instinct • of memory, sentiment, love, religion, hope, fear and the myriads of emotions which make each human being an individual in the true sense of the word We can no more comprehend such a structure than we can grasp the infinite. Had your friend Hestor been injured in another spot, his dementia would have taken another form. The lesion produced a condition which set in motion a train of ideas. His actions were complicated by his environment, by suggestions, by habits, by events, by his physical condition, by his instinctive ambitions, and bv a thousand other factors, all acting on tissues and The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 502 ^ convolutiors which are not alike in any two human beings ever born on this earth. Qitot homines, tot sentcntentia. His amnesia may be but temporary or it may be permanent. By this I mean that at some future time the. events of the past twelve months may come back to him, or they may remain a blank. These delicate plates, which form the neg- atives for mental photographic impressions, may have been destroyed or they may be blurred by a film which good health will remove." " Do you believe his recovery a permanent one, doctor? " asked Sidney anxiously. " Quicn sabcf " replied Dr. Brown. " There is no reason why it should not be a permanent one. The cause is removed, and Hestor is now apparently in full possession of his faculties. He is a strong, healthy man, and there is no taint of insanity in his family. The truth must be kept from him until he has entirely regained his physical strength. He should take a long ocean cruise, in company with some one in whom he has complete confidence. That means you." When these facts were explained to Mr. Morton and his associates, they were unanimous in a decision to take no legal steps against Mr. Hestor, or against Captain Waters. They were satisfied to await Hes- tor's complete recovery, and were confident that he would make honorable amends when acquainted with the facts. One afternoon Sidney informed Hestor that the H O M ,: A GAIN Phys.c.ans had ad- isod an oce.m cruise, and that he would be permittee: ,; ^. on board the " Shark " in about two weeks. Hestor urged that he should go to New York and attend to certain business affaifs This was not listened to. and it was finally arranged hat Hestor g.ve Mr. Hammond power of attorney to look after such matters as required attention. Mr Van Home took Sidney's place while the latter was m New York. All of Mr. Hester's property was in ii:terest- beanng securities, and these required little or no attention. Mr. Chalmers had not made public his suspicions concerning Hester's Wall Street opera- tions, neither had any statement been made by Mr Morton or others. Sidney found a record of the vanous transactions in a safety deposit vault He then called on Street & Rogers and presented his credentials. Their books showed that Walter B Hestor had a credit of $32,000,000. He had orig- inally purchased 700,000 shares of stock, and had issued instructions which had been strictly carried out. The money was due from various banks, trust companies, commission and brokerage houses. Street & Rogers had decided not to force payments fearing to disturb the money market. Mr. Ham- mond endorsed this course and instructed them to gradually convert the credits into interest-bearing securities. Thus it happened, one fine September afternoon, that the steam yacht " Shark " sailed down the river The KIDNAPPED MILLIONAIRES ♦ 504 ^ from New Orleans, destined for the waters of the South Pacific. On board were Walter B. Hestor, Sidney Hammond, L. Sylvester Vincent and Ber- nard Seymour. Mr. Vincent and Mr. Seymour were present at Mr. Hammond's invitation, and Hestor was delighted with his new acquaintances. Vincent had a wonderful venture on hand which demanded his presence in Southern waters, and Mr. Seymour proposed to gather the materials for a book, which, he asserted, " would make them all sit up nights." And on the deck of the "Shark," with Captain Waters once more in command, this narrative will leave them. The later events in the lives of these characters must be relegated to some future chapters. It may be said in closing that the doors of the Carmody mansion were not closed to Mr. William Chalmers, managing editor of The New York Record. dIRES rs of the Hestor, ind Ber- our were 1 Hestor Vincent emanded Seymour :, which, nights." Captain live will laracters It may larmody lalmers,