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BRAVE AND BOLD. 29
to get around the world in less time than she-and I'm
going to do it.”
Capt. Kingsley stared at Tom at first, then he burst into
a fit of laughter.
“You must be crazy, young man.”
“I guess not.”
“You’re not likely to beat Nellie Bly.”
.“I think I am if I reach San Francisco within forty-
elght hours. That will bring me in a good while ahead
of her, I imagine.” K
The captain looked puzzled.
"That's so,” he said: “but I-I don‘t half understand
all this. How came you here, anyway? VVhen did you
leave New York?”
‘ “On the Augusta Victoria--the same vessel that Miss
Bly sailed on.”
“What?”
“I know what I’m talking about, captain.”
“Well. I’ll be hanged if I do! Come into my cabin, and
you shall spin your yarn.”
So Tom accompanied the captain, while poor Pat,
whose old complaint had returned, was conducted to
quarters in another part of the ship.
Tom gave Capt. Kingsley a truthful account of his ad-
Ventures; but when he had finished the old tar wiped his
eyeglasses, shook his head. and said:
“I wouldn’t advise you to try that yarn on many
people.”
“You don't believe it. eh ?" asked Tom, composcdly.
“Did. you suppose I would?”
I didn’t know; but it is the truth. I can prove that
I left New York at the time I say‘. and if you admit
that much, I don't believe you could think up any more
lilftlisible reason for my being adrift in tliese waters to-
night than the one I have given you." p
“Maybe not; but I never did take any stock in flying
machines.”
HVVEII, you’d have taken stock in the Nellie if you'd
seen her, captain,” said Tom. half sadly, as he thought
of the beautiful airship and her unfortunate inventor.
“Humphl Well, I've no more time for talk now.p Nly
place is on deck, for we're going to have a I1I!St)' “Hillt-
It was a nasty night, but in the morning the sun rose
gloriously. .
Capt. Kingsley was civil enough to Tom. but our hero
could see that, as he said, he “took no stock" in his stor)’
of the flying machine.
He therefore resolved to repe
board. reflecting that he would
in a disagreeable position by so t
be easy enough to prove the truth
proper time came.
San Francisco was reached even so
Kingsley had predicted.
It was four o'clock on the afternoon of the -“‘C0”‘I
day after our hero's rescue that the .-lrlmllu Cams‘ t0
anchor in that beautiful harbor.
Poor Pat dragged himself to t
than alive. as usual.
“Misther Tom." he asked, with tears in his eyes. “ETC
there any more says bechune this an‘ New York?
“Not one," said Tom, cheerfully; “so brace up and
at it to no one else on
only be placing himself
loiiig, and that it would
of the story when the
oner than Capt.
he deck, nearer dead
have a little style. Look around you. Isn't San Fran-
cisco a handsome city?"
“Begorra. ye‘rc roight, sorr; an’ there seems ter be
lots 0' payple in it. But who's that on the dock wavirr
their handkerchiefs to ye, sorr?"
Tom glanced in the direction indicated, and to his
amazement saw Dr. Haughton and his pretty daughter
Alice.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
A few minutes later Dr. Haughton and Alice stood on
the deck of the Arbutus.
"Well," was the doctor's greeting as he warmly shook
the hand of our hero, “how the mischief does it happen
that you are here? IVhy, you're actually ahead of Nellie
Bly!"
“Of course I am."
“ ,’-ut how did you get here? Did you fly ?"
“That's it exactly," said Tom, as he took Miss Alice‘s
tiny, outstretched hand in his own.
“Eh?"
“It's a long story,” laughed Tom. “and I'm almost
afraid to tell it for fear you will discredit it, as others
have done."
“Indeed, I shall not, my boy." said the doctor, warmly.
“Nor I, Mr. Pinkney." added Alice, timidly.
“But you. too, must have flown," said Tom. “Else how
did you get here ?"
“Oh," said Dr. Haughton. “that is very easily ex-
plained. Thc day after you left us at Southzunpton, I
was recalled to the United States, much to my disappoint-
ment. on account of some very important real estate trans-
actions which (lc1nan(I<rd my attention.
“There was no alternative-I was forced to go. I
came directly to San Fraiicisco. and I have been Iw“v‘- o'er
since. My business is, however, now completed, a1":l I
shall return to New York at once. I have, in fait. de-
layed my journey a few hours in order to meet my old
friend, Capt. Kingsley. before my departure. But I little
expected to find you on his vessel."
Just then the captain came up, and welcomed Dr.
Haughton warmly.
I-Iis manner toward Tom cliangcd when he found that
the boy was an old friend of the (I:ictor's.
“Tom I‘inl;uey is one of the best fellows that ever trod
shoe leather," said lilr. lIIIII.‘,"Illllll, enthusiastically. when
he saw how the land lay: “and I can tell you that what
he says goes every time."
“Indadc. an' it docs." addcvl I‘:1t, coming up at that
moment. and unable to hear his master praised without
“joining in."
But he par‘-sctl ha:=I1fi‘.lIj.' as Miss Alice shot him a glance
from under her dark laslics.
“Whom have we here .7" laughed Dr. Haughton, good-
naturedly.
Explanations followed.
Tom again told his story. this time in as few words as
possible.
“I7.very incident that I Imve rel:1tc(I," he said. in ("tI‘.'
clusion. “istI1cirutI1."
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