the blank sheets on the floor.

"Perhaps you can tell me if these are what you brought.".

Captain Wass stared long at Mayo, at the girl, and at the incensed
magnate. Then he looked down at the scattered papers and scratched his
head with much deliberation.

"Why don't you say something?" demanded Marston.

"I'm naturally slow and cautious," stated Captain Wass. He put on his
spectacles, kneeled on the soft carpet, and examined the blank papers
and the broken seals. He laid them back on the carpet and meditated for
some time, still on his knees. When he looked up, peering over the edge
of his spectacles, he paid no attention to Mar-ston, to the latter's
indignant astonishment.

"Vose and others are waiting for us at the hotel," he informed Captain
Mayo, "and it's important business, and we'd better be tending to it
instead of fooling around here."

"No matter about any other business except this, sir," cried Marston.

"There can't be much business mixed up in a lot of blank sheets of
paper," snapped Captain Wass. "What's the matter?"

"I have lost valuable papers."

The old skipper bent shrewd squint at the angry man who was standing
over him. "Steamer combination papers, hey?"

"You seem to know pretty well."

"Ought to know."

"Why?"

Captain Wass rose slowly, with grunts, and rubbed his stiff knees.
"Because I've got 'em."

"Stole them from the package, did you?"

"It wasn't stealing--it was business."

"Hand them over."

"I insist on that, too, Captain Wass," said Mayo, with indignation.
"Hand over those papers."

"Can't be done, for I haven't got 'em with me. And I won't hand 'em over
till I have used them in my business."

"I shall have you arrested," announced Marston.

"So do. Sooner the whole thing gets before the court, the better." His
perfect calmness had its effect on the financier.

"What are you proposing to use those papers for?"

"To make you pirates turn back the Vose line property and pay damages.
As to the rest of your combination, the critters that's in it can skin
their own skunks. I guess the whole thing will take care of itself after
we get the Vose line back."

"You are asking for an impossibility. The matter cannot be arranged."

"Then we'll see how far Uncle Sam can go in unscrambling that particular
nestful of eggs. I'll give the papers to the government."

"Haven't you any influence with this man?" Marston asked the astounded
Mayo.

"No, he hasn't--not a mi