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Show H(S)ME) 7 AOAfTtDfltOHritE ALSEVMNES: jgf ,' WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR ! Fourteen- year -old Geoffrey I Braemer, an orphan who posed 1 mo Lord and aided his governess gover-ness in a jewel robbery, is sent A I to a welfare school to get a new I I outlook on life. At Russell-Cotes i he studies nautical training, but I remains aloof and superior. He becomes still more unpopular i when he counterfeits a faint I ing spell in order to be the first , I to look at the incoming mail, and j his deception is detected. "Thee moost go," chimed in AS bert "There'll be a grand fee Ice cream and cake, they say" I have my own ideas of a grand time," replied Geoffrey. rami Terry undaunted, rested a hand on his shoulder. nanJ n"The could all be Iikin' you Braemer," he said, "if you'd nroJj let them. Come along and be -fn-of the crowd." 06 ona aSitiS&f bere Per .?1JLnever be understand' vn m said Terry. "Yer'll always be wm! plainin' yer don't like the school and yet when yer can be free fS an evenin' yer won't take it" ' "Freedom!" muttered Geoffrow scornfully. "With an instructor Inl a half dozen guards watching us' "Indeed, not," said Terry "N on his own honor." This news was more than Geofc frey had figured on. A suddezj ith eooming over him, he rushed -to the little wicker basket contain! Ing his personal possessions, and put several things in his pockets yer goin' with us?" askwi Albert hopefully. . Ke Before a reply could be made, one. ' of the school instructors entered G?offreT- He StPPed ln front r Copyright 1938 by Loew' Inc. Chapter Seven The next morning Geoffrey was again the first to follow the postman post-man into the Administration Building. Build-ing. This time he waited nervously until Mrs. Briggs had made a series , ot alphabetical piles of the letters, ; then stepped up to her. i Is there a letter for me, please?" I he asked. !!? id'tn' noJLce she replied. She looked in the "B" file and shook the're" "N' tbere's nthing : "But there is," said Geoffrey stub-bornly. stub-bornly. "I know there is." He felt certain that by now Doris or Jim ; would have made an effort to com- j WHAT" HAS HAPPENED SO FAR Sent to a welfare home when ! his "governess" turns out to be an adroit jewel thief, fourteen-year-old Geoffrey Braemer drops . the title of "Lord" but still looks on himself as vastly superior to the boys in the school. He offers a bribe to Terry O'Mulvaney, popular senior student, to get special favors, and is censured by Captain Briggs, school head. OoprrigM i3 by Kww'4 inc. Chapter Six Crusty Jelks with Terry as an able assistant was teaching the novices at the nautical school the science of knots. With experienced hands he explained the intricacies of the round turn, the half hitch, the clove hitch, and the sheepshank' Finding most of the boys fumbling fum-bling around hopelessly, Crusty was surprised to see Geoffrey do a clean job with every knot, on the first attempt. "Post's read" every Soy fan" for his alphabetical position in the reception re-ception room. .."Abbott. . . . Acton. . . . Adams. . . . Adverse. . . . Barclay. . . Berry. . . . Bishop. . . . Bruce. . . . Cody. . . . Cawthorn. . . ." Geoffrey became aware that the "B's" were finished, and that his hope for a letter had vanished. Trying to crowd back his tears, he drew to one side. When the distribution of mail was completed, he automatically followed a crowd of boys who were tumbling out to the yard to start soccer practice. "Come on, Braemer, want to play?" one of them asked. "No, thanks, I don't care to," ha answered coldly. Wandering back to his room, he threw himself on his cot and waited for the call to the next lecture. Reporting to the navigation room, Geoffrey studied the models of life boats and steering appliances with more interest than he had displayed in anything else to date. Crusty called on him to box the compass, and he began to rattle off the thirty-two points that Jim had taught .."f1"' yur "berty is restricted re-stricted he said. "Mrs. Briggs wiU talk with you later." Geoffrey stood motionless for ai moment, as the instructor left the room. Then he rushed abruptly to the door. A minute later he had been admitted to Mrs. Briggs' nri-vate nri-vate office. 6 F "I want to apologize, Mrs. Briggs, he said, in apparent humility. hu-mility. "I acted like a cad." ..MJ3Br.igg:s' wh0 believed his attitude at-titude to be one of genuine, remorse was touched. i . ' "I'm glad you realize how serious ; , , wun mm . . . perhaps take him out of this place. Mrs. Briggs looked at him in surprise. sur-prise. She was not accustomed to having her word doubted '?u mu3tn't contradict people, Geoffrey she said. "I said there was nothing for you." "How do I know you're telling the truth?" persisted the boy. Mrs. Briggs seemed to grow paler grimly hel" moutn were set "I expect you to withdraw that slowly.61 Geoffrey." se said "I don't know If you've get the beam to be a seaman," he said, with grudging approval. "But you've got the knack of lines and ropes." "I'd just as soon be a chimney sweep," replied Geoffrey. "Well, lad, that's as you wish" said Crusty, controlling his resentment resent-ment "As for me, I say there's no finer feelin' on earth than bein' one of a ship's crew when she noses out of port an' takes the blue sea in her teeth. I'd want nothin' better bet-ter than to be young again, and aboard the Queen Mary." Terry looked up and nodded assent. "I'd be givin' the last one of me stripes to be sure I'd be in her I crew," he said. Half turning as he caught a glimpse of a speeding bicycle, Geoffrey Geof-frey saw the postman spinning up nun, a year before. When the class was taken outdoors out-doors for actual first hand practice climbing the dummy masts and yardarms, Terry caught a glimpse of the postman completing his rounds across the quadrangle. "There goes the postman," he called lianteringly. "Do you feel another faintin' spell comin' on, Braemer?" "No!" cried Geoffrey, gritting his teetn. "But I feel a distinct desire to be where people mind their own business." Terry was one of the most agile and fearless of the boys at the school He felt as much at home atop a signal arm as seated on a dormitory cot He had always Joked with Crusty about the regulation I which made H necessary to keep a huge net spread out below. No J - ' C t - .-.- -j ! I ; - J V r ' I 1 J ' U ,ri i i . ' . - J : 1 "Tie lads could all be - f'fck-"-J, 1 likin' you, Braemer, ij I I, r : J you'd only let them." i i il 'L.i'..::.:.:. ' ' ' '" - ' ' II ' -. i' . x ' ,f v V - '.r " 1 . """? j? , ' asfc ' - -' ' ; S i - '. w.rt '.t.i'.A m. ... - . i1 a y. i pT3 fusty Jelks, with Tyry h I fe " - ' ifv C;: J as an able assistant, was I i ' . ' -vtV f.'i teaching the novices the ' " ", r science of knots. I if . 3?.,' il -x ramn mean you xoia a ne. You've taken my letters and kept Ithem. You were told to." "Braemer, that's all I want to hear from you," said Mrs. Briggs, her tolerance at an end. "You're 'being insolent." "I want my letter," said Geoffrey, Geof-frey, stamping his foot. "Give it to ,me, do you hear?" "Go to your room at once," ordered or-dered Mrs. Briggs. Geoffrey had no choice but to obey. Filled with bitterness and resentment, he walked blindly out the door and down the grass-bordered walk to his dormitory. Suddenly, Sud-denly, as he turned the corner, half a dozen hands reached out and seized him. The next thing he knew he was being bundled into a blanket held by a dozen willing Russell-Cotes pupils. While a pair of sentries guarded the yard back of the dormitory, dor-mitory, the rest of the boys threw Geoffrey vigorously into the air. When he came down and struck the blanket he was lifted again, higher than before. This time he got a harder bump when he fell, the blanket dragging on the ground. "How do yer like that height?" cried one of the hazing: party. your oenavior waa, "I wanted a letter so badly went on Geoffrey. "But that waa no excuse for the way I acted I hope you'll forgive me sometime." Out of the corner of his eye Geoffrey Geof-frey could see the bus waiting to take the boys for their evening's festivitie :. Mrs. Briggs evidently ; sensed what was on his mind. "Since you were manly enough! to own your fault," she said, "I'm going to forget the whole thing." 1 "Oh, Mrs. Briggs," exclaimed Geoffrey, with all the charm he could command, "that's so generous : t of you." He looked significantly out of the window. "Would you like to go with the-liberty the-liberty party?" asked the school' mistress. "I don't think I deserve it," answered an-swered Geoffrey, averting his eyes. "If I can punish you for doings wrong," said Mrs. Briggs, "I can reward you for doing right. Run' along and have a nice time, Geoffrey." Geof-frey." The bus was filled with laughing,, carefree boys as Geoffrey ran out to take his place. Albert gave a whoop of joy as he saw his roommate room-mate arrive. Through t.hp rnM tliof Hie path leading to the Administration Administra-tion Building. Quick as lightning he decided he must break away. He must be on hand when the mail was left, before anyone tried to intercept a letter from Doris or Jim. Clutching at his heart and giving a sharp cry, Geoffrey sank to the ground. The expression on his face was as natural and convincing as the one he had assumed the day he helped Jim and Doris maneuver the theft of the necklace. Waving the boys back. Crusty bent over him. "Better go to your cot and lie down a bit," he advised. "If you don't feel top-hole in half an hour, I'll take you around to sick bay." "Thank you, sir," said Geoffrey, apparently very appreciative. "I'm one would ever tumble Into it, he said. "Keep your eyes aloft, bovs, and you'll have no trouble." This was Crusty's advice to the beginners as they started in the direction of the shrouds and sails. "I'll loove this," exclaimed Albert as he started up. "My father was steeple-jack." Geoffrey's spirits sank as ho looked upwards. He had always disliked heights. Nervously he tried to discount his feelings by turning with a forced laugh to Crusty. "There are no sailing ships left,1 he remarked, "and one doesn't climb rigging any more." "Ye might drop a line to the Board of Trade," rejoined Crusty. rf 'msure they d be glad to know that Every other boy was now on his way up the masts. As Geoffrey held back. Crusty gave him a shove. "Go ahead, Braemer," he called. "Up with you." Geoffrey still pulled back. It was not cowardice on his part, but only a marked distaste for, scaling high places. He was too proud to try to explain it he knew Cnusty wouldn't understand it anyway. Now that he was finally forced to make the ascent, he tried to think only of the foot of space in front of him. He tried not to look down, but suddenly his eyes betrayed be-trayed him. Once he had caught the panorama spread out below, he grew pale and began to sway dizzily. diz-zily. Albert who was descending from above, sensed the reason for his feelings. "Look 'oop, lad!" he called. "Look 'oop!" Terry and a group of three other "That'll cure yer of yer dizziness." The sport miirht have kept up indefinitely, except for the chance arrival of Terry O'Mulvaney. His word was law with the rest of the students, for he was easily the most : popular boy in the school. "That's enough," ordered Terry. "Let him down." Geoffrey, released but deeply hu- imiliated, doubled up his fists and seemed ready to strike out at all !his antagonists at once. ! "It's no use doin' that, Braemer," I counseled Terry. "You can't be whippin' the whole lot." "I'm not afraid of you I'm not afraid of any of them!'' cried Geoffrey Geof-frey wildly. "Dirty . . . filthy . . . low-born . . . orphans?' The last word was pronounced with all th.e venom that Geoffrey ! could muster. The barb struck home, and several of the youngsters young-sters rushed forward with upraised hands. bright English moonlight they sped. On arrival at their destination the Russell-Cotes group was welcomed by a dozen neighborhood boys and girls. The great hall and reception room of the home was decorated with fresh floral garlands. Every boy in the party was made as welcome as if he had lived all his life under; that particular roof. In a few mi- , .Is a srame of charades was started, and jubilant, happy laughter laugh-ter went billowing up to the rafters. Geoffrey did not take part in it. Nor did he accept the invitation to play cards. He sat by the wall, his mind apparently far away from the evening's gaiety. When the hostess announced that I supper was served, everyone gath- i ered around the buffet trays thatj were being wheeled into the room. This was the moment for which Geoffrey had hpsn railing - sure I'll be quite all right." "Maybe I'd better send O'Mulvaney O'Mul-vaney along," said Crusty. "Oh, no, sir," Geoffrey answered, I alarmed at the chance of interference. interfer-ence. "I can make it alone." i Doubtfully, Crusty looked after I him while he hobbled off. I Once he had reached the dormi-j dormi-j tory, Geoffrey ducked out of sight and ran madly toward the rear entrance en-trance of the-Administration Building. Build-ing. The mail was on the long centre table. Geoffrey began to run frantically through the pile of several dozen letters, cards and papers. He was so intent on his task that he failed to note the approach of Mrs. Briggs. She, in turn, thought there was something very strange about this harried, over-excited manner. "What are you doing, Geoffrey'" she asked. "Oh! I thought there might be a letter for me." "Probably there Is, but you'll have to wait your turn with the rest." "Couldn't I sort them for you Mrs. Briggs?" the boy begged. "Thank you," she replied, a bit suspiciously, "but I've been doing it so many years, I'd feel lost if I missed a day. You may go back to your class." Chagrined and despondent, Geoffrey Geof-frey slowly paced down the corridor cor-ridor of the executive building. He stopped in one corner, lost in thought, and gave vent to his feelings feel-ings by kicking away at some imaginary im-aginary obstacle. He was oblivious of the fact that Crusty Jelks and some of the boys had entered through the opposite door. "Braemer! Come here!" called Crusty sharply. Sheepish at being caught, Geoffrey Geof-frey slowly obeyed. "Got over yer faintin' spell mighty smart" said Crusty. "That'll oo a black mark against you " T still feel weak, sir," said Geoffrey, Geof-frey, ut I thought a breath of fresh air would do me good " I "Ana Is the air fresher In the ' Administration Building than hit i to h'outside? That'll cost you an other black mark for lyin' " i Mrs. Briggs had finished nr'lnc (ha maa. ad. whma aha called 1 "No, lads, no," insisted Terry, holding them back. "He's been havin' his lacin'. Never mind what he says. Remember' he's an orphan i too." ; A "liberty party" had been arranged ar-ranged for that evening, one of the special events on the school calendar. cal-endar. All boys of good standing were permitted to attend a social .gathering arranged by a family In the vicinity. It was a welcome ' break in the monthly routine, and ; everyone looked forward to it with 1 the greatest eagerness. ' Finding Geoffrey sitting sullenly on the edge of his cot Terrv gnml- ! naturedly turned to him "The liberty partv'll ho v-r in fifteen minutes" hp ' r. planning. Quietly he slippsd toward the front door. There was no one thera except Albert, who had gone out ' to catch a breath of fresh air. Guiltily, Geoffrey draw back. : "Braemer, thee be not runnln' away?" asked Albert. "If I am." said Geoffrey In a Jaw, , tense voice, "don't be an infonner like O'Mulvaney." "Oh. noo! I wouldn't!" whlspeead i Albert. I "-rn g.0 back, and kaep stm," . ' ' a:r1 Or-nffrev. Til send you uma th!-r frnm I,ondon." A'hrt watched him vaolsb wb n s'nkuit h-nrt f boys, watching from a neighboring mast, paid no attention. They felt it was merely another camouflage. But Geoffrey was not fooling himself him-self or anyone else, this time. Trying Try-ing desperately to keep his balance, he felt everything reel in front of him. His hands slipped from their insecure hold, and he went spinning through space. Crusty was right at his side when he landed in the big net below, slightly winded but otherwise unhurt. un-hurt. The bo'sun was really disturbed. dis-turbed. "There's nothin' the matter, lad?" he asked. "You're not hurt?" "No, I'm not," said Geoffrey gruffly. gruf-fly. "But it's no thanks to you." "Climbin' riggin's one thing yon don t learn out of readin' a book." "I see nothing wonderful about climbing. Even monkeys can do "Monkeys are purty smart," said Crusty. "Anyway, there's worse hurts than a bruise, or even a broken bone. Shirkin's one of Jji' nd you saved yourself from -- frey grumpily picked himself : i wu stnrted away, while mutters c: r.:-r pr. p.vs came from tha ban 1 S il l.-en watchlujs. |