In
another instant it stopped alongside. It contained Mr. Farnum and his
chauffeur, besides three naval officers.
"What's wrong, Andrews?" called the yard's owner. "Why, that's Jack
Benson! What has happened to him?"
Hal and Eph stood supporting their comrade, almost holding him, in fact.
Jacob Farnum leaped from his automobile. Lieutenant Commander Mayhew
followed him.
"Liquor, eh?" exclaimed the naval officer, the odor reaching his nostrils.
"No such thing," retorted Farnum, turning upon the officer. "At least,
Jack Benson has been drinking no such stuff."
"It was only a guess," murmured Mr. Mayhew, apologetically. "You know your
young man better than I do, Mr. Farnum."
"There is liquor on his clothing," continued the shipbuilder. "It looks as
though someone had assaulted the lad, laid him out, and then sprinkled
him. It's a wasted trick, though. I know him too well to be fooled by any
such clumsy bit of nonsense."
"A stupid trick, indeed," agreed Lieutenant Commander Mayhew, but the
naval officer did not quite share the shipbuilder's confidence in the
submarine boy's innocence. Mr. Mayhew had known of too many cases of naval
apprentices ruined through weak indulgence in liquor.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61