Ruth Fielding Homeward Bound Part 9

"Hope just as hard as you can, Mr. Dowd," she replied merrily. "Yes, I want all my friends to _will_ that the shoulder will get well in quick time. I haven't the natural patience of the born invalid."

He laughed in return, and turned to get into step with her as she walked the deck.

"You lack the air of the invalid, that is true. Remember, I have had much to do with invalids in the time past. Although now we do not see many of the people who used to think there was something the matter with them, and whose physicians sent them on a sea voyage to get rid of them for a while."

"Yet you do have some queer folks aboard, even in war time, don't you?"

she asked.

"Why, bless you!" said the Englishman, "everybody is more or less queer-'save thee and me.' You know the story of the Quaker?"

"Surely," rejoined Ruth. "But now I suppose most of your queer pa.s.sengers may be spies, or something like that."

She said it in so low a tone that n.o.body but the first officer could possibly hear. He gave her a quick glance.

"Meaning?" he asked.

"That I am afraid I am going to make you place me right in the catalogue of 'queer folks.'"

"Yes?"

His gravity and evident interest encouraged her to go on. Briefly she told him of what she had overheard that morning at daybreak. And this time she did not refuse to identify clearly the woman pa.s.senger who had talked so familiarly with the flaxen-haired stoker on the afterdeck.

CHAPTER X-WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

Ruth Fielding was not a busybody, but the peculiar att.i.tude of the woman, Irma Lentz, toward America's cause in the World War and what she had overheard on deck that morning, as well as the advice the Red Cross officer had given her, urged the girl to take Mr. Dowd, first officer of the _Admiral Pekhard_, fully into her confidence.

He listened with keen interest to what the girl had to say. He was sure Ruth was not a person to be easily frightened or one to spread ill-advised and unfounded tales. Useless suspicions were not likely to be born in her mind. She was too sane and sensible.

The chance that there were actually spies aboard the _Admiral Pekhard_ was by no means an idle one. In those days of desperate warfare between the democratic governments of the world and the autocratic Central Powers, no effort was neglected by the latter to thwart the war aims of the former.

To deliberately plan the destruction of this ship, although it was not, strictly speaking, a war ship, was quite in line with the frightfulness of Germany and her allies. Similar plotting, however, had usually to do with submarine activities and mines.

That German agents were aboard the _Admiral Pekhard_ with the intention of bringing about the wrecking of the ship was, however, scarcely within the bounds of probability. Notably because by carrying through such a conspiracy the plotters must of necessity put their own lives in jeopardy.

No group of German plotters had thus far shown themselves to be so utterly unregardful of their own safety.

Ruth believed Irma Lentz to be quite bitter against the United States and its war aims; but she could not imagine the self-styled "artist" to be on the point of risking her personal safety on behalf of America's enemies.

These same beliefs influenced Mr. Dowd's mind; and he said frankly:

"It may be well for us to take up the matter with Captain Hastings.

However, I cannot really believe that German spies would try to sink the ship, and so endanger their own safety."

"It does not seem reasonable," Ruth admitted. "Nor do I mean to say I believe anything like that is on foot. I do think, however, that the woman and that seaman, or stoker, or whatever and whoever he is, should be watched. They may purpose to do some damage to the _Admiral Pekhard_ after she docks at New York."

"True. And you say there is a third person-a man named Boldig? His name is not on the pa.s.senger list."

"That is so," admitted Ruth, who had read the purser's list.

"I'll scrutinize the crew list as well," said Mr. Dowd, thoughtfully.

"Of course, he may not use that name. I remember nothing like it. Well, we shall see. Thank you, Miss Fielding. I know Captain Hastings will wish to thank you in person, as well."

Ruth did not expect to be immediately called to the captain's chartroom or office. Nor was her mind entirely filled with thoughts regarding German spies.

She had, indeed, one topic of thought that harrowed her mind continually. It was that which kept her awake on this first night at sea, as much as did the dull ache in her injured shoulder.

Had she expressed the desire for her companionship, Ruth knew that Helen Cameron would have broken all her engagements in France and sailed on the _Admiral Pekhard_. Her chum was torn, Ruth knew, between a desire to go home with the girl of the Red Mill and to stay near Tom. As long as Tom Cameron was in active service Helen would be anxious.

And did Helen know now what Ruth feared was the truth-that Tom had got into serious trouble with the flying ace, Ralph Stillinger-she would be utterly despairing on her brother's account.

Ruth read over and over again her letter from the ambulance driver, Charlie Bragg, in which the latter had spoken of the tragic happening on the battle front-the accident to Ralph Stillinger and his pa.s.senger. Of course Ruth had no means of proving to herself that the pa.s.senger was Tom Cameron, but she knew Tom had been intending to take a flight with the American ace and that the active flying men were not in the habit of taking up pa.s.sengers daily.

The American captain who had been lost with Ralph Stillinger was more than likely Tom Cameron. Ruth's anxiety might have thrown her into a fever had it not been for this new line of trouble connected with the artist, Irma Lentz. Or, was she an artist?

The news that had reached Ruth just as she boarded the _Admiral Pekhard_ had been most disquieting. Had her pa.s.sage not been already arranged for and her physical health not been what it was, the girl surely would have gone ash.o.r.e again and postponed her voyage home.

This would have necessitated Tom's sister learning the news in Charlie Bragg's letter. But better that, Ruth thought now, than that her own mind should be so troubled about Tom Cameron's fate.

All manner of possibilities trooped through her brain regarding what had happened, or might have happened, to Tom. He might not, of course, have been the pa.s.senger-captain of whom Charlie Bragg wrote. But this faint doubt did not serve to cheer Ruth at all.

It was more than likely that Tom had shared Ralph Stillinger's fate-whatever that fate was. The American ace's airplane had been seen in battle with a Zeppelin. It had been seen to fall. Afterward the wreck of the airplane was found, but neither of the men-either dead or alive-was discovered.

That was the mystery-the unknown fate of the flying man and his pa.s.senger. The amazing fact of their disappearance caused Ruth Fielding anxiety and depression of mind.

She even thought of trying to get news by wireless of the tragic happening to the flying man and his companion. But when she made inquiry she learned that because of war measures no private message could be sent or received by radio. Such wireless news as the naval authorities considered well to distribute to the pa.s.sengers of the _Admiral Pekhard_ was bulletined by the radio room door.

Later Ruth was sent for to attend the captain in his office. She found the commander of the ship to be a tight, little, side-whiskered Englishman with a large opinion of his own importance and an insular suspicion of Americans in general. This type of British subject was growing happily less-especially since the United States entered the war; but Captain Hastings was not so favorably impressed by Ruth Fielding and her story as his first officer had been.

"You know, Miss Fielding, I don't wish to have any hard feelings among my pa.s.sengers," he said. He verged toward a slight c.o.c.kney accent now and then, and he squinted rather unpleasantly.

"This is a serious accusation you bring against Miss Irma Lentz. I have seen her pa.s.sport and other papers. She is quite beyond suspicion, don't you know. I should not wish to insult her by accusing her of being an enemy agent. Really, Miss Fielding," he concluded bluntly, "she seems to be much better known by people aboard than yourself."

Ruth stiffened at the implied doubt cast upon her character. Here was a man who lacked all the tact a ship's captain is supposed to possess. He was nothing at all like Mr. Dowd.

"I have not asked to have my status aboard your ship tested, nor my reputation established, Captain Hastings," she said quietly but firmly.

"Had I not thought it my duty to say what I did to Mr. Dowd, I a.s.sure you I should not have put myself out to do so. But as you have-either justly or unjustly-judged the character of my information, you cannot by any possibility wish to know my opinion in this. There was scarcely need of calling me here, was there?"

She arose and turned toward the door of the chartroom, and her manner as well as her words showed him plainly that she was offended.

"Hoighty-toighty!" exclaimed the little man, growing very red in the face. "You take much for granted, Miss Fielding."

"I make no mistake, I believe, in understanding that you do not consider my information to Mr. Dowd of importance."

"Oh, Dowd is a young fool!" snapped the commander of the _Admiral Pekhard_. "He is trying to stir up a mare's nest."