United States or Tanzania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Suddenly he made a dive forward, shooting his hands down close to Miss Peddensen's well-booted feet. "That same old ship-rat!" exclaimed the submarine boy. "I'll catch the beast before he goes under your skirts, Miss Peddensen." At the mention of a rat so dangerously close young woman almost shot out of her seat in anxiety to get away.
Trotter looking keenly into the Englishman's face. "What d'ye mean?" demanded Drummond. "Miss Peddensen turns out to be a well-known military and naval spy, though she hasn't operated in this country before in five years," replied Mr. Trotter, coolly. "However, she has been caught trying to steal the secrets of the submarine boat, and she's under arrest.
"Here's the one I mean," replied Trotter, opening the book, which proved to be an album, and turning the pages over rapidly. He pointed to a photograph. "That's Miss Peddensen," cried Jack, looking up at Lieutenant Commander Kimball for confirmation. "Well, Peddensen is one of the names she has used," smiled Trotter. "What foreign government does she serve?" demanded Benson.
"Now, you halt and stand right where you are," retorted the Englishman, nervously handling a heavy walking stick that he carried. "I don't know whether it's going to be a good evening for you, or not, young man. Do you know that your cursed meddling has resulted in the arrest of a most estimable young woman?" "Who?" asked Jack, coolly. "Miss Peddensen," replied Drummond, angrily.
All of the visitors must be aft of this curtain." The extreme after end of the cabin had been rigged with a heavy curtain that could be dropped into place. "Why, I feel as if we were all being penned up here and held for the slaughter," gasped one American girl, in a tone of fright. "Yes, indeed!" protested Miss Peddensen. "This is going too far."
"Yes, and a very smooth and slippery little spy that Jap is," declared Mr. Trotter. "He steals all kinds of secrets, from the details of sixteen inch guns down to the method of dyeing a blanket in a mill." "Are you going to do anything with the Peddensen woman?" inquired Lieutenant Commander Kimball. "Ain't I, though just!" answered Mr. Trotter.
It wasn't many moments ere Jack noted some thing about the young Swedish woman that caused the young skipper to turn, every now and then, for a swift though hidden glance in her direction. "What on earth is Miss Peddensen doing?" wondered the submarine boy. "Hang it, I believe she's up to something that she ought not to be doing!"
As Captain Jack turned and went back, Kimball also sauntered along, although he did not appear interested in the submarine boy's movements. Yet it was not long when both appeared before the young Swedish woman. "Miss Peddensen," murmured the lieutenant commander, "may I see what you are writing?" The woman looked up, her face composed, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Why, surely, Mr.
Do you feel like sending Nadiboff to Cuba, in that fashion?" "If it suits her, we'll do it," Jack replied quickly enough. "It may be very bad for her if it doesn't suit her," replied Trotter, grimly. "Well, hurry along and see if you can do it. Drummond and Miss Peddensen are going north to-night, also." As the submarine party left the house they met Packwood and Hennessy coming along.
There was something so compelling in the look that flashed briefly in the naval officer's eyes that Miss Peddensen lost color, and stammered: "No-o-o, certainly not; if such silly things interest you." "They interest me very much indeed," murmured Kimball, thrusting "composition" and sketches inside his blouse.
Word Of The Day