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the only person that's been aboard her in years。〃
〃There was someone else；〃 persisted Heinrich。 〃Someone who was
talking to Abernethy。〃
The tall man mumbled something about having been a fool not to buy
her before this； Cleggett did not catch all of the remark。 Then the tall
fellow said：
〃We'll go aboard； Heinrich； and take a look around。〃
With that they advanced towards the vessel。 Cleggett stepped on deck
from the cabin companionway； and both men stopped short at the sight of
him； Heinrich obviously a trifle confused； but the other one in no wise
abashed。 He made no attempt； this tall fellow； to give the situation a
casual turn。 What he did was to stand and stare at Cleggett； candidly； and
with more than a touch of insolence； as if trying to beat down Cleggett's
gaze。
Cleggett； staring in his turn； perceived that the tall man； ungainly as he
was； affected a bizarre individualism in the matter of dress。 His clothing
cried out； rather than suggested； that it was expensive。 His feet were
cased in button shoes with fancy tops； his waistcoat； cut in the extreme of
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
style； revealed that little strip of white which falsely advertises a second
waistcoat beneath； but in his case the strip was too broad。 There were
diamonds on the fingers of both powerful hands。 But the thing that grated
particularly upon Cleggett was the character of the man's scarfpin。 It was
by far the largest ornament of the sort that Cleggett had ever seen； he was
near enough to the fellow to make out that it had been carved from a piece
of solid ivory in the likeness of a skull。 In the eyeholes of the skull two
opals flamed with an evil levin。 The man suggested to Cleggett； at first
glance； a bartender who had come into money； or a drayman who had been
promoted to an important office in a labor union and was spending the
most of a considerable salary on his person。 And yet his face； more
closely observed； somehow gave the lie to his clothes； for it was not
lacking in the signs of intelligence。 In spite of his taste； or rather lack of
taste； there was no hint of weakness in his physiognomy。 His features
were harsh； bold； predatory； a slightly yellowish tinge about the temples
and cheek bones； suggestive of the ivory ornament； proclaimed a bilious
temperament。
Cleggett； both puzzled and nettled by the man's persistent gaze；
advanced towards him across the deck of the Jasper B。 and down the
gangplank； hand on hip； and called out sharply：
〃Well； my friend； you will know me the next time you see me！〃
The tall man turned without a word and walked back to the taxicab；
the occupants of which had watched this singular duel of looks in silence。
In the act of getting into the machine he face about again and said； with a
lift of the lip that showed two long； protruding canine teeth of an almost
saffron hue：
〃I WILL know you again。〃
He spoke with a kind of cold hostility that gave his words all the effect
of a threat。 Cleggett felt the blood leap faster through his veins； he
tingled with a fierce； illogical desire to strike the fellow on the mouth； his
soul stirred with a premonition of conflict； and the desire for it。 And yet；
on the surface of things at least； the man had been nothing more than rude；
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
as Cleggett watched the machine make off towards an isolated road house
on the bayside he wondered at the quick intensity of his own antipathy。
Unconsciously he flexed his wrist in his characteristic gesture。 Scarcely
knowing that he spoke； he murmured：
〃That man gets on my nerves。〃
That man was destined to do something more than get on Cleggett's
nerves before the adventures of the Jasper B。 were ended。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER IV
A BAD MAN TO CROSS
The isolated road house on the bay was a nondescript； jumbled；
dilapidated…looking assemblage of structures； rather than one house。 It
was known simply as Morris's。 It stood a few hundred yards west of the
end of the canal which opened into the bay and was about a quarter of a
mile from the Jasper B。
The canal itself was broad； straight； low…banked； and about three…
quarters of a mile in length。 The town had thrown out a few ranks of
cottages in the direction of the canal。 But these were all summer
bungalows； occupied only from June until the middle of September。 The
solider and more permanent part of Fairport was well withdrawn from the
sandy； sedgy stretches that bordered on tidewater。
At the north and inland terminus of the quiet strip of water in which
the Jasper B。 reposed was a collection of buildings including bathhouses； a
boathouse； and a sort of shed where 〃soft drinks〃 and sea food were served
during the bathing season。 This place was known as Parker's Beach and
was open only during the summer。
Morris's was of quite a different character from Parker's Beach。 One
could bathe at Morris's； but the beach near by was not particularly good。
One could hire boats there and buy bait for a fishing trip。 In one of its
phases it made some pretensions to being a summer hotel。 It had an
extensive barroom。 There was a dancing floor； none too smooth。 There
were long verandahs on three sides。 That on the south side was built on
piles' people ate and drank there in the summer； beneath it the water
swished and gurgled when the tide was in。
The townspeople of Fairport； or the more respectable ones； kept away
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
from Morris's； summer and winter。 Summer transients； inhabitants of the
bungalows during the bathing season； patronized the place。 But most of
the patronage at all seasons seemed to consist of automobile parties from
the city； people apparently drawn from all classes； or elu