ubtful, I would," says I.

"Eh?" says Mr. Robert. "You mean-- Well, I'm not sure but that you're
right. I'll do just the opposite, then--suggest that he'll not like
cruising, and remind him that the Corrugated has a critical season
ahead of it. By the way, what sort of a boat has he chartered?"

"At last accounts," says I, "they hadn't found one that suited. You
see, Auntie won't stand for a gasoline engine, and--"

"Do I understand that Mrs. Hemmingway is going, too?" gasps Mr. Robert.

I nods.

"She's one of the partners," says I. "Kind of a particular old girl,
too, when it comes to yachts. I judge she wants something about half
way between a Cunarder and a ten-room flat; something wide and
substantial."

Mr. Robert grins. "They ought to be told about the _Agnes_," says he.

"What about her?" says I.

"Why," says he, "she's the marine antique that Ollie Wade inherited
from his uncle, the old Commodore. A fine boat in her day, too, but a
trifle obsolete now: steam, of course, and a scandalous coal eater.
Slow, too; ten knots is her top speed. But she's a roomy, comfortable
old tub, and Ollie would be glad to get her off his hands for a month
or two. Suppose I--"

"Would you mind, Mr. Robert," I breaks in, "if I discovered the _Agnes_
for 'em? I might boost my battin' average with Auntie; and maybe I
could work Ollie for a commission."

"Here!" says Mr. Robert, shovin' over the desk 'phone. "Make him give
you five per cent. at least. Here's his number."

So that's how it happens I come to be pilotin' this trio of treasure
hunters--Auntie, Old Hickory, and Captain Rupert Killam--over to a
South Brooklyn yacht basin and exhibitin' the _Agnes_. You'd never
guess, either, from the way she's all painted up fresh, that she was
the A. Y. C. flagship as far back as the early nineties.

"What a nice, wide boat!" says Auntie.

"Beam enough for a battleship," grumbles Rupert.

"I do hope," goes on Auntie, "that the staterooms are something more
than cubbyholes."

"Let's take a look," says I, producin' the keys.

Ollie had mentioned specially the main saloon, but I wasn't lookin' for
anything half so grand. Why, you could almost give a ball in it. Had
a square piano and a fireplace, too.

"Huh!" says Old Hickory. "Quite a craft."

It was when we got to the two suites, one on each side of the
companionway 'midships, that Auntie got real enthusiastic; for, besides
the brass beds and full-size