The Yacht Club Part 26

"Don John, you had a great success in the launch of the Maud to-day,"

said the nabob; but as the same thing had been said half a dozen times before since the boat-builder entered the room, it was hardly to be regarded as an original idea; and Donald was satisfied that the launch was not the business upon which he had been sent for.

"Yes, sir; we got her off very well," he replied. "I was sorry I couldn't launch her with the mast stepped, so as to dress her in the colors."

"In that case, you would have needed the flags of all nations. I have them, and will lend them to you any time when you wish to make a sensation."

"Thank you, sir."

"I have here the white cross of Denmark," added the captain, holding up the mended bill.

"A fifty-dollar white-cross," laughed Donald. "I have seen it before."

"This bill?"

"Yes, sir; I paid it to Mr. Leach for the Maud's sails since dark,"

answered Donald, so squarely that the nabob could not help looking at his daughter and smiling.

"He said you paid promptly, which is a solid virtue in a business man.

By the way, Don John, you will be out of work as soon as the Maud is finished."

"I hope to have another yacht to build by that time, especially if the Maud does well."

"I wanted to say a word to you about that, and tell you some good news, Don John," continued Captain Patterdale, as calmly as though he had no interest whatever in the mended bill. "I had a long talk with Mr.

Norwood this afternoon. He says he shall give you the job if the Maud sails as well as the Skylark or the Sea Foam. He don't insist that she shall beat them."

"But I expect she will do it; if she don't I shall be disappointed,"

added Donald.

"Don't expect too much, Don John. I thought you would sleep better if you knew just how Mr. Norwood stood on this question."

"I shall, sir; and I am very much obliged to you."

"Do you think you will make any money on the building of the Maud?"

asked the nabob.

"Yes, sir. I think I shall do pretty well with her."

"You seem to have money enough to pay your bills as you go along. Did Mr. Rodman pay you this bill?" inquired the captain, as he held up the cross again.

"No, sir; he did not. I have had that bill in the house for some time,"

replied Donald.

"Are you so flush as that?"

"Yes, sir; I had considerable cash in the house."

"Your father left something, I suppose."

"Yes, sir; but he never had that bill and the other two I paid Mr.

Leach," replied Donald; and he could not help thinking all the time that they were a part of the sum Laud Cavendish had paid him for the Juno, under promise not to say where he got it, if everything was all right.

Though the boat-builder was a square young man, he could not help being somewhat embarra.s.sed, for his sense of honor did not permit him to violate the confidence of any one.

"If it is a fair question, Don John, where did you get this bill?" asked the captain.

Donald thought it was hardly a fair question under the circ.u.mstances, and he made no answer, for he was thinking how he could get along without a lie, and still say nothing about Laud's connection with the bill, for that would expose Captain s.h.i.+vernock.

"You don't answer me, Don John," added the nabob, mildly.

"I don't like to tell," replied Donald.

"Why not?"

"I promised not to do so."

"You promised not to tell where you got this money?"

Poor Nellie was almost overwhelmed by these answers on the part of Donald, and her father began to have some painful doubts.

"I did, sir; that is, I promised not to tell if everything about the money was all right."

"If you don't tell where you got the money, how are you to know whether everything is all right or not?" demanded Captain Patterdale, in sharper tones than he had yet used.

"Well, I don't know," answered the boat-builder, not a little confused, and sadly troubled by the anxious expression on Miss Nellie's pretty face.

Perhaps her father, who understood human nature exceedingly well, had required her to remain in the library during this interview, for a purpose; but whether he did or not, Donald was really more concerned about her good opinion than he was about that of any other person in the world, unless it was his mother. He was conscious that he was not making a good appearance; and under the sad gaze of those pretty eyes, he was determined to redeem himself.

"You ought not to make such promises, Don John," said the captain; and this time he spoke quite sternly.

"You have that bill, sir. Is there anything wrong about it?" asked Donald.

"Yes."

"Then my promise covers nothing. Laud Cavendish paid me that bill,"

added the boat-builder.

"Laud Cavendis.h.!.+" exclaimed Nellie.

Her father shook his head, to intimate that she was to say nothing.

"Laud Cavendish gave you this bill?" repeated the captain.

"Yes, sir, and six more just like it; only the others were not mended. I paid Mr. Leach three of them, and here are the other four," said Donald, producing his wallet, and taking from it the four bills, which he had not returned to their hiding-place in the bureau.

Captain Patterdale examined them, and compared them with the two in his possession. They looked like the bills he had deposited in the tin box, when Hasbrook paid him the thirteen hundred and fifty dollars and interest. Twelve of the bills which made up this sum were fifties, nearly new; the balance was in hundreds, and smaller notes, older, more discolored, and worn.

"Laud Cavendish paid you three hundred and fifty dollars, then?"

continued the nabob.