| Show I rr FICTION M I FLOATING PERIL I I P PHILLIPS By I I I CHAPTER Hamer alighted from the Paris blue train at the Care Garc de Lyons on on the following morning morn morn- morning ing and held out his hand to the bespectacled young man who hurried hurried hur hur- ried ned up tip to him Well Ned old fellow he greeted greeted greet greet- ed him This is a nice surprise to spring upon one What's all aU the fuss about Cant tell teU you a n single sincle thing Ha- Ha mer We only heard that the old man was on his way over when he was was half a day out of Cherbourg I expect ho had hard work dodging the newspaper men at the other end and those radio fellows We had Instructions instructions in instructions In- In to take the suite he ho used to have in the old days at the Meurice and to get you here hero at once The Tho suite was easy enough but you took a bit of ot moving I hate hale Paris anyway especially anyway especially at this time of oC the year Hamer confessed handing the tho ticket for his registered Ju luggage gaso to a porter I 1 think it would have done the thc old man nina good to haye have come down do to my part of oC the tho world and anyway I 1 didn't waste any time In ing There was a storm blowing south on Lyons around way and there were no planes leaving of any sort It It blew v hard here last night the young man observed The chief chiei heard from Le Bourget that no na plane would be leaving Cannes so sc he didn't expect you before it all about Hamer In in- It isn't a thing we talk much about but I know for a fact that he never meant to set foot in hi L France again as long ns as ho he lived We Ve were just as much surprised I L as you were Ned Foster answered as they made their way toward the exit So far wo we have not heard a i word of oC explanation Something to do with the newspaper newspaper newspaper news news- paper perhaps His companion shrugged his shoulders be surprised We have I to run the paper as wo we are told of course but we ve verun run it at a good good rn many millions of ol francs francs' loss because otur of ot o our ur politics I am never quite sure when I get down in the mornings t that hat I sh shant nt find the office blown u up p. p They stepped into the waiting automobile automobile au au- au- au t and drove off oft after a very b brief rief delay Hamer looked about h him im with distaste It was a grey morning but the air was heavy and o oppressive Well I hope he wont won't keep meong me l long ong he remarked fervently Iam I Iam a am m really having the time of my l life Ufe down there Ned I am doing my stunt of ot work for you fellows a and nd meeting some very interesting p people French people French politicians most of t tb them hem the by I have also just I b become engaged to the prettiest and s sweetest girl you ever saw out of t the he States or In them either cither for t that hat matter Ned Foster started Does Docs the chief chIet know that he be I a asked It lit wont won't be popular news I suppose suppose sup sup- ps p pose ose but ho ha will know as soon as I Isee Isee see s ee him the other replied I have n not ot had time to write yet What sort o of f a humour is he lie in 1 Dangerous I should say Dangerous Dangerous Dan Dan- g erous with a touch of the mys mys- t erious He is too amiable to be n no natural So far although he ho came o nu over ver on a fast boat and insisted u upon pon a special train from Cherbourg Cherbourg Cher Cher- b bourg he has done nothing but loll IoU a about bout in the sitting room smoking t those hose terrible cigars He has not b been een near the office and he doesn't want to see Jimmy Pollen until to to- to morrow I had hard work to keep J Je Jimmy away Hes He's afraid the governor governor gov gov- Ju e may have an idea of oC shutting u up p here I Is he out of bed yet yet the the governor governor gover gover- n nor or I mean Got up at 6 and had his coffee and roU rolls He went out last night in his ordinary clothes after having dinner In his room but he was back before midnight I think he was only having a look round the place Well I wish ho he had chosen choson another another another an an- other time for this surprise visit Hamer grumbled Im a dutiful son when it comes to the point andall andall and all nil that but I was just planning a cruise to Bandol and Toulon when I got your dispatch Living on that little boat of oC yours I 1 should say I am Sleep on deck most nights Its It's a good life You can get the same sort of ot thing at Palm Beach or Newport his patriotic friend reminded him Hamer shook his head No you cant can't he denied Too many people Too much to do Too many late parties Its It's so damned artificial at those places We Ve lead the simple life down my way Besides Besides Besides Be Be- sides sides you see see see- I understand the other inter inter- The sweetest and prettiest prettiest pret pret- I girl in the world outside the States States States-or or in them for that matter malter lives Jives lives there You can chaff chaft but you wait walt till tiU you see her Hamer laughed Luke Luko who was accounted account account- ed cd one of ot the most successful men in the world welcomed his son with witha a natured good smile and a hearty handshake He Ho was a tall taU look fine ing man with a good deal of oC his hisson's hisson's hisson's sons son's physique but with the tho worn lines Jines of coming age in his face and anda a touch louch of ot languor in his manner which some people thought was waS affectation af at- but which he had possessed possessed possessed pos pos- all aU h his lif To T-To wn notwithstanding the the heat ith with great t formality and he had apparently been dictating letters to one ono of ot his typists who left leCt the room and hurried hur bur ried ned away at the entrance of the two visitors Well VeU young fellow you hated coming away I suppose he remarked remarked re remarked re- re marked pushing his chair farther tarther away from the table and crossing his legs I So would you sir if you had been In my place his son replied Its no weather for Paris I wonder wonder won won- der you can stand that suit I have an early appointment with the president Sr explained and you know we Americans Amer Amer- have havo the reputation of overdoing overdoing over over- doing the right thing for fear of oC doing th the wrong What do you say about it Ned Before midday sir even in diplomatic circles a certain negligence negligence negligence gence of costume is permitted in August Hear him his chief chuckled Hes a walking He will viII suggest your first proper re remarks remarks re- re remarks marks when you are introduced to toa toa toa a fashionable cocotte a princess ora ora or ora a crowned head I dont don't know what I should do without Ned Thank you sir the young man replied I hope you will never have havo occasion to Apt you see as usual To return re- re turn lurn turna to the tho subject of or my ray black coat I think that I 1 am one of those people who ho oho are proof against these changes of climate perhaps because I am of a sedentary turn of life Ufe You must have some coffee after aCter your journey Hamer Order petit de de- de- de in the smaller salon Ned for Hamer I will ring up your room room when I want anybody or any any- thing See Sec that a car and servant are ready at past half-past eleven for lor my visit After Atter that time you and Hamer Hamer Hamet Ha Ha- mer met can fade away for tor lunch somewhere somewhere somewhere some some- where If you want to I am invited b by the president Father and son strolled Into a smaller room and Ned hastened away threw himself into an arf easy chair and lit an atrocious- atrocious looking cigar cisar Hamer followed suit with a So you you are having a good time a are re you young fellow I like liko it Hamer confessed It would not suit you sir but then Iwas Iwas I Ivas was vas never so fond of action as you youre a are re I dont don't know that I am arly l fond of ot action his father meditated On the other hand Iannot I ct cannot annot c see how anybody finds any t ime time for dawdling with only 30 or 4 40 0 years of actual life I suppose one develops even when one dawdles Hamer Namer reflect reflect- e ee id cd d. d I have not been utterly lazy Jazy e eb ea either ither I have written two articles a week for the paper read a good b bit it and I have the outline of ot a novel ready to start upon I like Jike working all aU right but I like working In i n my own way and at my own t time ime I should hate an official post f for or instance with all an its responsibilities responsibilities and complications and I s should hould never be able to manage manago an i Immense organization like yours ii with all your stuff to keep in their places Incidentally sir I was gong going gong go- go i ng ing ng to write to you in a few days to tell you that I am engaged to be married His father raised his eyebrows Better be careful he advised This is France not America You are arc supposed to be in it for tor life when you start that sort of thing thins over here I hope I shall shaU be Hamer de de- do- do dared When you have seen my young woman you will vill hope so so too for my sake Confident young oung fellow tellow arent aren't you How old are you Hamer Twenty six sir A year ear older than I thought Well VeU WellIm WellIm Im I'm glad that you are not one of oC these crazy super-sportsmen super any any- way vay You look as though you took plenty of exercise I swim three times a day Hamer Hamer Ha Ha- Hamer mer said play tennis most days a little golf golt now and then and enough h canoeing to keep my muscles in ordot order or- or or or- der dot every evening Well Vell well his father said tolerantly tolerantly tolerantly tol tol- it ft is not every man who Isborn Is Isborn Isborn born ambitious I am not really sure he went on that to be am am- bilious unless unless it is a very definite e and worthy form of ot ambition Is is es ec s not a n sign of ot weakness Tell m me c about the young lady I am afraid d that she must be French She is sir Innkeepers daughter or princess ch eh Halfway between the two I 7 sup pose posCo I believe her family is quite quit e good They own the chateau close to where my boat is moored Her name is Montelimar de Very pretty his father observed approvingly The name sounds fa fa- fa Her Hc father the Marquis de do Mon- Mon has been French ambassador dor dot In several European capitals I believe Hamer confided I X think you will like liko him For a Frenchman Frenchman Frenchman French French- man he has quite a broad outlook I If it becomes necessary I shall shan of course be prepared to make the acquaintance of the family Luke said after aCter a moments moment's hesitation You are aware however however how how- ever over of course of ot my ray prejudices I have no great friendship for the French as I think you know Tell mo me about this boat o of yours Ha Ha- mer To be continued Copyright 1935 for The Telegram |
