" he said, "I commit my destiny and my honor."

CHAPTER IX

ARMITAGE CHANGES HIS VOCATION

Half an hour after the incident at Trinity, Armitage hurried from the
little ferry boat which had just landed him at the Torpedo Station and
made his way to the house of the storekeeper, who was out, of course.
He had gone to Providence, his wife said, and would return about four
o'clock.

Armitage took the key to the shops, only to find when he entered that
the storekeeper's books were in the safe, the combination to which he
did not know. This by no means improved his temper and he began to
blunder about the office in a dragnet search. Finally, when he found
himself kicking over chairs which were in his way in his aimless
course, the humor of the situation came to him. He sat down upon a
tool chest and laughed aloud.

Clearly, there was nothing for him to do in the absence of
Jackson--except go to his dinner; which he did. A few minutes before
three o'clock, he went to the office again and sat down to wait for
Yeasky. He gave the man half an hour overtime and then nodded grimly
and dismissed any lingering notion he might have entertained concerning
his honesty.

When the storekeeper appeared some time later, Armitage was still at
his desk idly drawing diagrams on a pad.

"Mr. Jackson," he said, "I hate to bother you to-day, but things have
happened which seem to make it necessary to check those parts now--"
Armitage arose briskly.

The storekeeper waved his hands.

"Oh, I checked them up this morning," he said.

"Everything straight?" snapped Armitage.

"Why--yes," Jackson fumbled in his desk. "Here is the sheet."

Armitage seized it and glanced up and down the various items.

"Bully work, Mr. Jackson!" He looked up with a sigh of relief.
"Everything seems correct. George! That takes a load off my mind.
Let's see." He went down the list with his finger. "I understand you,
don't I?" he said, handing the sheet to the storekeeper.

"Understand?"

"I mean, this is a list taken from the tally sheet of parts, all of
which you have found to be in the office? In other words," he added
rapidly, "everything that appears on this sheet is now, at the present
time, inside this office?"

"Yes--everything, except--" the storekeeper paused an instant, looking
at Armitage with sudden doubt.

"Except what?" cried the officer impatiently.

"Why, that special core of the magnetic control. You have that,
ha