closed, even the windows being heavily draped.  Some mechanics were evidently working below; there was a sound of hammering, and occasionally a fellow in overalls appeared at the hatch opening.  No one wearing any semblance of a yacht uniform was visible, although four or five men lounged about the deck, or close at hand on the pier, apparently connected with the vessel.  Two were well-dressed, rather gentlemanly appearing fellows, the others of a decidedly rougher class, although bearing no outward marks of being sea-men.  While an air of carelessness was assumed by all these, yet West, watching them closely, felt that they were very much on their guard, anxiously waiting an opportunity to depart.  No face among the party had any familiarity; he had encountered none of them at Mike’s Place the evening before.  Satisfied as to this, he left the table, and strolled out on to the promenade, joining the crowd watching the Lincoln Park boat get underway.  So far as he could observe this movement attracted no attention, although a moment later his eyes plainly caught a bit of drapery drawn slightly aside at one of the cabin windows of the Seminole, and, he felt convinced, the quick gesture of a woman’s hand.

There was a woman on board then!  This certainty of knowledge by evidence of his own eyes, set his blood leaping.  Whatever the purposes of these people he was again upon the right trail.  The uplifted curtain was immediately lowered, and, if any signal had thus been conveyed, there was no other evidence visible.  A little later one of the two better dressed fellows loafing on the pier, a rather heavily built man, with closely clipped red moustache, and a scar over one eye, slowly crossed the deck, and entered the cabin.  He came forth again a moment later, asked some question of the workmen below and then clambered back carelessly over the rail, joining his companion on the pier.

“A half hour yet; it was quite a job the boy’s had, but they are making time.  Come over here a minute.”

They walked forward, out of earshot from where West sat on a bench in the sun.  He watched the fellows closely, yet without neglecting the boat, but they neither glanced toward him, or seemed aware of his existence.  Convinced that they felt no suspicion, but were merely exercising ordinary precaution not to be overheard, the watcher soon banished all fear of them from his mind.  His whole thought centred on the early arrival of McAdams.  Until the detective came, there was nothing he could do but sit there quietly and wait.  But what if the necessary repairs were completed, and the Seminole sailed before Mac got there?  The fellow called Joe had mentioned half an hour, and he probably meant that was the time set by the mechanics for completing their job on the engine.  Beyond doubt, the intention was to depart immediately.  Was there any means in his power by which this could be prevented?  The only suggestion which came to him was the picking of a quarrel in