El Diablo, Page 20

  CHAPTER XX

  PLANS FOR A SHOW-DOWN

  Shall the control of our fisheries pass into foreign hands?

  Riot among Legonia fishermen raises interesting question. Ex-service men contest forcibly with aliens for freedom of the seas. Show-down expected in the near future.

  "How does that strike you?" Hawkins grinned and shoved the copy of _TheTimes_ forward as "Exhibit A" for publicity. "Notice the date line," heexclaimed. "From our own correspondent."

  Kenneth Gregory read the news item carefully before replying. First camea true account of the fight with Mascola's men on the beach which hadended in the decisive victory for the service men. Followed, inchronological order, a review of past interferences suffered by theAmerican fishermen at the hands of the foreigners. And lastly, glowinglyoutlined, came his plans for meeting the opposition by a cooperativeorganization of one hundred per cent. bona-fide Americans. The articleconcluded:

  The public will watch with a great deal of interest the outcome of Mr. Gregory's fight to regain control of a lost industry in local waters. Should the young cannery owner succeed, it will mean much to the people of Port Angeles in reducing the high cost of living. For Mr. Gregory has already under way, comprehensive plans for supplying the public with fresh fish at a greatly reduced price, through his system of establishing cooperative markets and dealing direct with the consumer.

  Gregory's face was radiant with satisfaction.

  "You're there on that kind of stuff, Bill," he exclaimed, grippingHawkins by the hand. "You surely put it over in great shape."

  Hawkins frowned.

  "Fell down on one thing," he observed. "The city editor blue-penciled mydirect reference to your brands of canned stuff. Claimed it was slappingthe ad man right in the face. Say, I'll tell you what to do," he wenton. "Let me write you up some good ads for your stuff and shoot them inright away to the advertising department. That will put you in strongwith the paper and I can 'dead-head' a lot more dope through."

  Gregory gave Hawkins _carte blanche_.

  As Hawkins set to work, Dickie Lang entered.

  "Light haul all around," she announced. "The albacore are heading out.Looks as if we were going to have a little weather."

  Gregory's expression changed quickly at her news.

  "That means we've got to follow them up," he said. "We've got to havethe fish. We've been putting it over on Mascola for the past few weeksand we can't fall down now. The jobbers are watching us and we've gotto show them we can deliver the goods. In addition to that I am going toenter into quite an extensive advertising campaign and when it begins tobear its fruit, we've got to have the stuff on hand to come across.There are a lot of people looking this way right now and we've got tomake good."

  "That's the way to talk," encouraged Hawkins. Then he smiled at the girland nodded toward his friend. "Notice how I'm bringing him alive," heexclaimed. "He's quit 'shooting nickels' now. He's raised his sightsalready."

  They all smiled at Hawkins' enthusiasm. Then the girl's face becameserious.

  "You know what going out to sea means," she said quietly. "It just aboutmeans Diablo. That's where Mascola's boats went this morning and Ishouldn't wonder if they struck it out there. When they get back we'llknow."

  "We've got to know before that," Gregory averred. "Why not send a bunchof the boys over right away?"

  Dickie shook her head with great emphasis.

  "Haven't the gear," she objected. "It's liable to be nasty around theisland at this time of the year. We're shy on deep-sea hooks and heavyline."

  "We'll get it." Gregory turned to the telephone. "I'll order it byexpress," he announced, as he put in his call for the ship-chandlers atPort Angeles. While he waited for the call, he addressed Dickie Lang."We can send some over right away, can't we?"

  She considered. Then nodded acquiescence. "The _Pelican_ and the_Curlew_ are outfitted for that kind of work," she stated. "We could getthem moving in half an hour. They could go over and do the scouting.They both have the wireless, you know."

  Gregory made up his mind at once.

  "Will you give me a list of the stuff you need?" he asked. "As soon as Iget this call through I'll come out and we'll get them started. We oughtto get the stuff we need to-night, or early to-morrow. Then the rest canclear." His face brightened. "I'll have the _Richard_ to-morrow," hesaid. "Bronson's going to bring her back and stay two or three days toput me on to the ropes. We'll get him to take us to Diablo."

  "Count me in on that too," exclaimed Hawkins. "I've got it coming.Haven't had a breath of salt air since I've been here."

  The girl completed her list of the required gear as the telephone rang.Gregory turned to the instrument and gave the order.

  "What's that?" he concluded. "You'll have to have the cash? Thirty daysis customary on that kind of stuff, isn't it? Well, I've got to haveit.--All right, go ahead and draw on me if that's the way you feel aboutit.--But send the stuff." He turned wrathfully to the girl. "Therobbers," he said. "They have me in a hole and they know it. We have tohave that gear right away though Heaven only knows where I'm going toraise the money to pay for it."

  The problem of raising approximately three thousand in cash before teno'clock the following morning presented its difficulties. Gregorydecided to tackle the matter without delay.

  "I'll try the local bank," he declared. "And give old Rock a chance tomake good on his promise."

  Dickie strove to dissuade him.

  "Keep in the clear of that old hypocrite," she cautioned. "If he letsyou have it at all it will be only with strings which will tangle you uplater on."

  Gregory was on his way to the door.

  "A man needing money like I do at present has to get it where he can,"he answered. "Will you see to getting the _Pelican_ and _Curlew_ startedas soon as possible?"

  She promised and he hurried out.

  Gregory found Rock in his private office at the bank and was welcomedwarmly by the financier.

  "Growing more like your father every day you live," was the president'sgreeting. "How happy we would all be if he could have been spared tothis community."

  Gregory lost no time in preliminaries.

  "You told me if I ever got into a tight place, you'd see me through," hebegan.

  Rock nodded and the corners of his thick lips turned downward.

  "I sincerely trust you have met with no business reverses, my youngfriend," he purred. "However, if such is the case, feel perfectly freeto make me your confidant."

  Briefly Gregory stated his case, to which the old man listenedattentively. When he had concluded, Rock's eyes were on the ceiling, andhis soft white hands caressed the desk noiselessly.

  "If you will accept a word of advice from a man old enough to be yourfather, and one who is entirely disinterested in you, save in a personalway as the son of my old friend, you will----"

  "What?"

  Gregory cut short his rambling.

  "Stay away from Diablo Island."

  Rock's advice carried a mandatory note which was not lost upon hisauditor.

  "Why?" Gregory asked quickly.

  Rock searched the far corners of the room for the answer to thequestion. At length he replied: "It is an extremely dangerous place,particularly at this season of the year. Storms are prevalent aboutDiablo and by making the venture at this time, you place not only yourcapital in jeopardy, but the lives of your men as well."

  Gregory realized he had little time for argument.

  "I've asked for a loan of three thousand for ten days, Mr. Rock. It's upto you. What will you do for me?"

  A slight frown passed over the bank president's forehead at the youngman's insistence. For a moment he gave his entire attention to theblotter on the desk. Then he said:

  "I will let you have the money you desire on one condition. That youconfine your operations to coastal waters. Your security will then becomparatively safe and----"

  "You forget, Mr. Rock, tha
t I am not taking my cannery with me to ElDiablo," Gregory broke in. "Don't you regard the plant and the cannedproduct on the floor as sufficient security for a temporary loan ofthree thousand dollars?"

  Rock nodded. After a moment's silence he said: "Then there is anotherthing. This is a time to speak plainly. Otherwise I would make nomention of it. But as you are seeking a favor at the hands of this bank,it is my duty to inform you that we do not wish to countenance orencourage, in any way, your policy of stirring up trouble with our alienpopulation."

  Gregory rose angrily.

  "There is no use of my taking up your time or mine any further," hesaid. "My business is my own. And while we're on the subject I'll saythat I intend to run it as I please. Neither myself nor my men areseeking trouble with Mascola's foreigners. But I'll tell you here andnow that we are prepared to fight, if need be, for what the law says wecan have. We want only a square deal, Mr. Rock, and you can take it fromme we are going to get it."

  Walking out of the bank president's office Gregory observed a familiarfigure leaning idly against one of the grated wickets. And though theman was dressed in the extreme of fashion, he had no difficulty inrecognizing him. It was Leo Bandrist, the lord of El Diablo. Gregoryreturned the islander's nod and hurried to the street. As he walked tothe cannery he found it hard to concentrate his thoughts on the problemof raising the desired funds. Rock was a royal old hypocrite. Of that hewas sure now. The financier had used his influence among the jobbers tosome purpose. He had knocked him through his local paper. And now he wastelling him, almost threatening him, to stay away from El Diablo. Hismind flashed again to Bandrist. What brought the man to Rock's bank?Business, no doubt. But what kind? Was Rock backing Bandrist? Were thetwo men in cahoots with Mascola's gang? If so, for what purpose?

  The questions multiplied with astonishing rapidity. When Gregory arrivedat the cannery he had decided upon a definite course of action. He wouldwire Farnsworth, the estate's attorney, to sell his bonds at a sacrificeif need be. They should bring enough, added to his own personal account,to pay for the equipment he desired. After that, he'd go to Diablo andcall Rock's bluff, whatever it was.

  It was late that evening before he received an answer from the lawyer.Farnsworth had regarded the instructions of his client as sheer idiocyand had taken no pains to conceal the fact. But he had sold the bondsand was forwarding the money. Close upon the message from the attorneycame one from the ship-chandlers at Port Angeles. They were shipping thegear in the early morning. Gregory heaved two great sighs of reliefwhich adequately expressed his feelings at the contents of the tworespective messages.

  The day had ended better than he anticipated. The _Pelican_ and the_Curlew_ were at Diablo by now. He should hear from them any minute.While he was waiting there was much that he could do. He took up hispersonal bank-book and began to balance it. A low rap at the office-doorinterrupted him.

  Dickie Lang entered with McCoy and Hawkins.

  "We've been out for a walk," she announced. "Thought we'd stop in andsee if you'd heard anything from the boys yet."

  "Not yet," Gregory answered. "I'm going to keep a man at the key allnight. We should have heard before this. They got a fairly early startand with good weather should have hit the island in time to get a goodline on things before dark. I just got a wire from the ship-chandlersand they are shipping the stuff the first thing in the morning."

  As the talk turned to Diablo, Hawkins listened attentively though hesaid but little. At length the party rose to go.

  As Gregory was bidding them good night one of the radio men entered witha message. Gregory glanced at the meaningless jumble of words and shookhis head.

  "Too much for me," he announced. "I haven't savvied the code out wellenough yet to read this one."

  The operator again took the message.

  "Haven't been using it long," he answered. "But one of the boys droppedon to a little rig on one of the cliffs a little way from here, so wethought it was just as well to be careful."

  Gregory nodded and the company drew closer to the operator as he bentover his work. When the message was decoded it read:

  Off Northwest Harbor El Diablo

  From: Launch _Pelican_.

  Albacore tuna running close shore this end. Slipped round Mascola's boats by running round south shore. His fleet off Hell-Hole Isthmus. Spotted them hour ago. Don't think he's wise we're here. Can load up fleet if they get here quick and can dodge by Mascola. What shall we do?

  The message was signed by Tom Howard.

  Dickie beamed at the news.

  "I know right where he is," she said. "When you get them that close inat this time of the year it means they are running in bunches andthere's pretty apt to be some weather."

  She glanced at her watch.

  "Not much sleep for me to-night," she announced. "I've got a lot to dobefore morning. Guess I'll be on my way. It will mean work to clear byto-morrow noon and every minute is going to count."

  "It will mean a scrap with Mascola too, unless I miss my guess," put inMcCoy. "When he finds we are hitting into his territory there's liableto be trouble."

  Hawkins' eye brightened at the possibility. "That will mean a story forme," he contributed.

  "It will mean more than all that," Gregory said slowly. "It means thething we need most--money. Fish in car-load lots. A chance to show thejobbers we know our business. It may mean a show-down with Mascola. Andif it does, we've got to be ready when it comes."