“What happened?” demanded Farnum, eyeing the whip curiously.

“As soon as I can get through with telephoning the chief of police, I’ll come back and tell you.”

Chief Ward responded in person.  He examined the whip, then declared: 

“I know the fellow this whip belongs to—­Claridy, ‘the fox,’ as his admiring friends call him.  He’s a bad character.  See; here is a fox’s head engraved on the whip-stock.  I’ll do my best to find Claridy, and, in that way, I may find the fellow, Radwin.  But you were wise, Benson, in not trying to enlist help from that hoodlum gang.  Our hoodlums are as bad and lawless as are to be found anywhere in the United States.”

CHAPTER XXIII

A COWARD’S LAST DITCH

In the morning the Somerset House was favored by two rather distinguished guests.

One was Rear Admiral Townsley, the other Congressman Simms.  The two had come down together from Washington on the night train.

While the admiral communicated at once with Captain Magowan, Congressman Simms sent his card up to John C. Rhinds.  The latter, all a-quiver, now, and showing a haggard face in which smiles fought for a chance, received his visitor.

“Well, Rhinds,” was the Congressman’s greeting, “the country is all stirred up over this submarine incident out at sea.  So is the Navy Department, which is bound to respond to public opinion in such a case.”

“I’m glad you’ve come,” replied Mr. Rhinds, eagerly.  “I look to you to save me from a most unpleasant, most unmerited charge.”

“No charge has been made against you—­yet,” replied the Congressman.

“I should have said a suspicion,” replied Rhinds, tremulously.

“That suspicion seems to be pretty general,” answered the member of Congress.  “Have you anything to smoke here?”

Rhinds, with an almost childish eagerness, brought forth a box of cigars, adding: 

“I’ll ring and order breakfast served for you here, while we talk.”

“Thank you, no,” responded the Congressman.  “I’ve got to move fast to-day, for I can’t spend much time here.  I suppose you don’t know, yet, that Admiral Townsley is here—­sent by the Secretary of the Navy to investigate and report on this matter.”

“You’ll see him—­you’ll make him understand, won’t you?” demanded Rhinds, eagerly.

“You can’t make Townsley understand anything but facts,” replied Mr. Simms, dryly.  “I know the man.  He’s a hard-headed truth-seeker.  You see, Rhinds, when I received your telegram, I hurried over to the Navy Department to say what I could for you.  The Secretary told me that of course he didn’t want you injured by any unjust suspicions.”

“Of course not,” quivered Rhinds.

“At the same time the Secretary made it plain to me that public sentiment demands that the whole case be brought past the suspicion stage.  He advised me to come down here with Townsley, and see, for myself, just what I ought to believe.”