message it conveyed.

The moment De Cadenet entered the hotel he hurried to

the room where the impatient Mr. Ward awaited him.

"Quick!" he cried. "We must bundle out of here posthaste.

They sail tomorrow morning. Your duties as valet have been

light and short-lived; but I can give you an excellent recommendation

should you desire to take service with another gentleman."

"That'll be about all of that, Mr. Theriere," snapped the

first officer, coldly. "I did not embark upon this theatrical

enterprise for amusement--I see nothing funny in it, and I

wish you to remember that I am still your superior officer."

Theriere shrugged. Ward did not chance to catch the ugly

look in his companion's eye. Together they gathered up their

belongings, descended to the office, paid their bill, and a few

moments later were changing back to their sea clothes in the

little hotel where they first had engaged accommodations. Half

an hour later they stepped to the deck of the Halfmoon.

Billy Byrne saw them from where he worked in the vicinity

of the cabin. When they were not looking he scowled maliciously

at them. They were the personal representatives of

authority, and Billy hated authority in whatever guise it might

be visited upon him. He hated law and order and discipline.

"I'd like to meet one of dem guys on Green Street some

night," he thought.

He saw them enter the captain's cabin with the skipper, and

then he saw Mr. Divine join them. Billy noted the haste

displayed by the four and it set him to wondering. The scrap

of conversation between Divine and Simms that he had overheard

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