by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER III.
ADIEU TO THE BOOMSBYS.
Mr. Peverell, the bank messenger, called at the saloon on his way back.Doubtless he was not a little concerned about meeting the officers ofthe bank, after the loss of so large a sum of money. By this time theyhad heard the news, for it was flying all over the city. He looked verymuch troubled, as well he might.
"It seems very strange to me," said Peverell, after he had discussedthe robbery for a while. "Nobody came into the saloon while I was therebut Buckner. I saw him come in, but I took no further notice of him;and I hadn't the least idea that anything was wrong till I saw Nickleap over the counter. I can't see how anybody else could have takenthe package; and it is just as hard to tell what became of it."
"I haven't the least doubt but what he threw it into the river," addedNick Boomsby.
"I don't see how he could have done it without anybody seeing him,"replied the messenger. "There were plenty of men standing about thepier."
"There seems to be something the matter here," interposed Peeks, comingup to me at this moment with the telegraphic despatch in his hand. "Iam sorry to disturb you, Captain Alick."
"It is none of my affairs," I added, hoping the despatch contained nobad news from home.
"I have a message from Detroit informing me that my father is verysick," added Peeks, opening the despatch. "My mother wants me to comehome as quick as I can."
"I am sorry your news is so bad, Mr. Peeks; but there is only one thingfor a son to do in such a case," I replied, full of sympathy for oursteward. "I hardly know how I shall get along without you; but I cannotask you to remain under such circumstances."
"I am sorry to leave, Captain Alick, especially for such a reason. Myhealth has been entirely restored by this cruise, and I would not leaveyou if I didn't get a cent for my work, though I have been well andpromptly paid. My father has considerable property, and my mother isold and feeble. I am afraid I shall not be able to join you again, forif my father dies, as the doctors say he must, I shall have to look outfor his affairs at home. But I have no time to lose, for I must takethe train for the North this afternoon."
I paid him the balance of wages due him, and we parted with a heartyshake of hands. His going disturbed me not a little, for he was bothskilful and faithful, and his services had been invaluable, when I hadso many passengers on board the Sylvania. He left the saloon, and forsome minutes I forgot the exciting events of the day.
If we were to sail on our next cruise, as had been arranged, the nextmorning, I must look up a competent steward. But the Florida season wasover, and I anticipated no trouble in finding one.
By this time there was quite a crowd collected in the saloon, and forhalf an hour longer the robbery was talked over. Nothing new wasbrought out. Buckner had taken the package from the counter, Nick hadpursued him, and the money was not found. They could not get beyondthese facts, or beyond these apparent facts, for things are not alwaysas they seem.
Peverell left when he found he could get no further in hisinvestigation, and then for a time there was a lively business done atboth bars of the saloon. The negroes had come into the front room tohear what was said, and they could not leave till each of them hadimbibed all the cheap whiskey he could get into one of CaptainBoomsby's thick-bottomed tumblers. Nick was just as busy at the frontbar. I could not help looking at him as he dealt out the dangerousfluids--doubly dangerous after passing through Captain Boomsby's hands.I doubted whether he had any ambition to become anything better than abartender. He was about my age, but not half so robust, for, being anonly son, his father and mother humored him, and never compelled him todo anything like hard work, as they had me.
Nick was dressed in rather cheap, but flashy, clothes, and wore anenormous glass diamond in his shirt front. At the present time heseemed to be doing his dirty work in a very mechanical manner, asthough he were thinking of something else. He had to ask every customertwice over what he wanted, and even then gave him the wrong bottle.
But the rush of business was soon over. Captain Boomsby came out of thenegro bar, and Nick joined him in the rear of the front saloon. Thefather looked at the son, and the son looked at the father, and thenboth of them looked at me, as though they did not care to say anythingin my presence.
"I suppose I shall have to go to court, father," said Nick, "and Iguess I had better go up stairs and slick up a little."
"You look well enough as you be," replied the elder Boomsby.
"If I am going into the court, I want my best clothes on. Besides,father, you said I might go out this afternoon," replied Nick, whoevidently had other views in his head than the court. "Mother had justas lief tend bar this afternoon as not."
"I s'pose she had, but I don't want her in the bar when I can help it,"added the captain, whose marital relations had become decidedlyunpleasant, as I had learned from observation.
"Well, Captain Boomsby, I must say good-bye to you again," Iinterposed, not caring to wait for the father and son to settle thequestion between them.
I offered my hand and he took it; but I don't think he was inclined toweep at my departure. I thought that Nick looked at me with more thanusual interest, and when I took him by the hand to say good-bye to him,he pressed my hand warmly. Before, when I had met him, he was hardlydisposed to speak to me at all. He and his mother kept the old soresopen.
"I have never been on board of your steamer yet, Captain Alick," saidhe, with a sort of ghastly grin, which I could not understand. "Iwanted to get out this afternoon to make a visit to her."
"She can be seen by everybody who chooses to visit her, and I shall beglad to see you on board of her," I replied. "All hands are on shorenow, except Cobbington, who is acting as ship-keeper. He will show youall over the Sylvania, if I am not on board."
"Where are you going from here in her?" asked Nick.
"We shall run down the coast of Florida, then across the Gulf ofMexico, and then up the Mississippi," I replied.
"I wish I was going with you," added Nick.
I did not wish he was going with me, and so I said nothing. I had takenleave of the captain and his son, and was about to depart when Mrs.Boomsby came into the saloon from the front entry.
"You here, Sandy," said she, bestowing a look of disgust upon me.
"I leave early to-morrow morning, and I dropped in to say good-bye. Iwill say the same to you, Mrs. Boomsby," I added, moving towards thedoor.
"You needn't trouble yourself to say good-bye to me, for sakes knows Idon't keer whether I ever see you again or not," replied the amiablelady, with a frown on her countenance which was enough to prevent mefrom saying anything more. I bowed and moved towards the door.
"I s'pose you think you are mighty grand, sailin' about in a steamyacht; but you'll come to a bad end yet," continued Mrs. Boomsby.
That was just what her husband had said to me, and I concluded they hadtalked the matter over again. I did not wait to hear any more. Ientered the saloon on a friendly mission; I had forgiven my worstenemies,--I could conceive of none worse than the Boomsbys,--and I wasnot willing to have any words with the most virulent one of the family.I walked out of the saloon. I heard some further uncomplimentaryallusions to myself as I closed the door behind me; but I believed thatwas the last I should ever see of any of the Boomsby family.
I walked up to Colonel Shepard's house, and found all the family, aswell as Owen there. They were evidently engaged in the discussion ofsome topic of interest when I entered. I had come up to press theiracceptance of the invitation I had given them to continue the yachtingexcursion with me up the Mississippi; but before I had time to sayanything about it, Owen told me the Shepards had concluded to declinethe invitation. I was rather taken aback by this announcement, for theparty were exceedingly pleasant company, and I knew that Margie Tiffanywould enjoy being with her friend, Edith Shepard.
"You have treated us exceedingly well, Captain Alick, on board of theSylvania, and we shall all be grateful to you as long as we live, forall
the pleasure you have afforded us," said Colonel Shepard.
"I shall be greatly disappointed, sir, if your family do not go withus," I answered, wondering at his decision. "We can accommodate youvery well, and the more the merrier, you know."
"You forget that I am the owner of a steam yacht like the Sylvania,"continued Colonel Shepard, smiling. "I expected to send her to NewYork, but I concluded not to do so until we were ready to goourselves."
"I knew that the Islander was still here, and she can take you anywhereyou wish to go as comfortably as the Sylvania; but I should be veryglad to have you continue to be our passengers."
"As you have your father with you now, I think you will get along verywell without us," laughed the colonel. "I only wish I had you and yourcrew to run the Islander for me."
"Thank you; you are very kind, sir. I am afraid we shall not be able toleave the Sylvania. But where are you going?"
"It is still an open question whether we proceed directly to New York,cruise awhile in the vicinity of Florida, or go with you. I am notquite willing to leave the State until I have pulled in a few morered-fish, black bass, and other fish such as we caught in IndianRiver."
"I suppose you don't propose to take Captain Boomsby with you ascaptain of the Islander. You remember that he came to Florida incommand of her," I added.
"I don't propose to take any such person. I retain the captain and crewI engaged to take the Islander to New York," replied Colonel Shepard."Captain Blastblow has seen service in a yacht, and has commanded asteamer."
"I have no doubt he is entirely competent."
"I think he is, or I would not trust my family to his care. While wewere up the St. Johns, he put the Islander in first-rate condition. Hehas had her boiler and machinery overhauled, and declares she has thebest engine he ever saw in a steamer. I went down to see her as soon aswe arrived. He has engaged a steward, waiters, and others, and I thinkwe shall be ready to sail as soon as you are," continued the colonel.
"We are off early to-morrow morning," I added.
"Captain Blastblow told me at noon he should be ready to sail to-night.I expect a letter to-day from New York, and that will enable me todecide where we go."
I soon took my leave, for I had to engage a steward before night. I wasamazed at the decision of Colonel Shepard, and I could not helpthinking he had some motive for his course which did not appear on thesurface. I decided to call upon my father on my way to the wharf, forhe was staying at the Carlton with the Tiffanys. I had gone but a fewsteps before Owen caught up with me.
"I want you to understand, Alick, that I am not concerned in thisbusiness," said he, in a deprecatory tone. "I had no idea what thecolonel intended to do until I went to his house this afternoon."
"O, I don't blame you for it, Owen," I replied.
"But I think they would have gone with us if I had held the charter ofthe vessel as before," he added.
"I think that need make no difference. I suppose you will go in theIslander now," I continued, laughing, for I did not think he would beable to break away from Miss Edith.
"I don't know, Alick. To tell the truth, I have had no invitation to goin the Islander; and without one I surely shall not go in her."
This seemed to me to be a little odd, and I was thinking of it when wecame to the Carlton, where I found my father on the piazza. We told himthe whole story. To my astonishment, he said he was glad to hear it. Itold him Owen had no invitation to go in the Islander.
"And he will have none," added my father, bluntly. "Owen, if you acceptany such invitation, should one be given, the Sylvania will partcompany with the Islander as soon as we get out of the river."
"That is very odd, uncle Bent," answered Owen.
"I have a very great respect for Colonel and Mrs. Shepard; and what hehas done, probably by the counsel of his wife, removes the only doubt Ihad of him. Owen, you are a perfect spoon! It is not quite proper thatyou and Miss Edith should be spooning all the time, night and day; andto my mind, Colonel Shepard has decided to go in his own yacht toprevent this thing, as well as to retain his own self-respect. I daresay he is no longer willing to be the guests, with his whole family, ofAlick or yourself. That's the whole of it. It is better for you tovisit the young lady occasionally than to spend weeks or months withher in a little steam-yacht."
I thought my father was rather severe upon my cousin, and I determinedto speak to him about the matter when we were alone. I told my fatherthat Peeks had been obliged to leave, and that I must look up a stewardat once.
He told me I need not go far to find one, and recommended me to givethe place to Cobbington. I had not thought of such a thing, and Ihastened on board to consider the matter.