e exact truth. Naked
truth, he had found, was ofttimes a more valuable artifice than
Munchausen artistry of the most consummate craft! The longshoreman,
apparently befuddled in his bearings, wandered toward the dock, which
protruded into the river, a part of the club property. He staggered,
tumbled and lay prostrate on the snowy planks.

Then he crawled awkwardly toward one of the big spiles at the side of
the structure, where he passed into a profound slumber. This, too, was
a conventional procedure for the neighborhood! A man walked across the
street, from the darkness of a deserted hallway: he gave the somnolent
one a kick. The longshoreman grunted, rolled over, and continued to
snore obliviously.

An automobile honk-honked up Twenty-third Street, and then swung around
in a swift curve toward the dock. The investigating kicker slunk away,
down the street. The limousine drew up at the entrance to the tender
gangway. Accompanied by a portly servant, a young man in a fur coat,
stepped from the machine.

"Give them another call with your horn, Sam," he directed. "The boat
will be in for me, then."

This was done. A scraping noise came from the hanging stairway of the
dock, and a voice called up from the darkness: "Here we are, sir!"
Howard Van Cleft leaned over the edge and looked down, somewhat
nervously. A reassuring word came up from the boat, rocking against the
spiles.

"You was a bit late, sir. You said three, Mr. Van Cleft, and now it's
ten after. So the captain sent us in to wait for you. Everything's
shipshape, sir, steam up, and all the supplies aboard. Climb right down
the ladder, sir. Steady now, lads!"

This seemed to presage good. Van Cleft turned to his butler.

"Take down the luggage, Edward. Goodbye, Sam. Keep an eye on the
machines. The folks will attend to everything for you while I am away.
Good-bye."

The butler had delivered the baggage and now returned up the ladder,
puffing with his exertions.

"Good-bye, sir," and his voice was more emotional than usual. "Watch
yourself, sir, if you please, sir. You're the last Van Cleft, and
we need you, sir." The old man touched his hat, and climbed into the
automobile, as Van Cleft climbed down the ladder. The machine sped away
under the skilful guidance of Sam.

"Steady, sir, steady--There, we have you now, sir,--Quick, men! Up the
river with the tide. Row like hell!--Keep your oars muffled--here comes
the other boat."

All this seemed natural