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“Well, I’ll be…” said Bell, half aloud

He shoved open the cabin door and strode inside

Farley Kent juarded the tall detective with an expectant gaze

“Welcome aboard, Mr Bell When I learned the terrible news from Camden, I hoped you’d find your way here”

“What is Hull 44?”

“Better to ask why Hull 44,” answered Captain Lowell Falconer, the Hero of Santiago

He offered a hand that had lost two fingers to shell splinters

Bell closed it in his “It is an honor to make your acquaintance, sir”

Captain Falconer spoke into the voice pipe “Cast off”

13

FEET POUNDED ON DECK A LIEUTENANT APPEARED AT the door, and Falconer engaged hiht as well get back to your loft” The architect left without a word Falconer said, “Please wait here, Bell I won’t be a minute” He stepped outside with his lieutenant

Bell had seen the Reuterdahl painting of the Great White Fleet on the c

over of Collier’s azine last January The fleet lay anchored in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro A native boat was rowing toward the bright white hull of the anchored flagship Connecticut, waving an advertisement that read:

American Drinks SQUARE DEAL at JS Guvidor

Smoke and shadow in a dark corner of the sunny harbor scene obscured the sleek gray hull of a German cruiser