Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/272

Rh their spirit for a moment and was quite carried away by them; and when they got stuck in perfecting their scheme to use Manling to protect the ladies and still revive the smokingroom, I was able to help them out a little myself."

"You mean, Mr. Preston," the girl asked, "that you perfected Mr. Dunneston's scheme for interesting the ship?"

"Right! Why not?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing! But—what is that going on down there?"

"I guess that is our notice going up."

"What for?"

"Oh, the mass-meeting in the salon to-night! Haven't you heard? Come forward and see!" He led proudly.

They waited till the first groups of curious readers scattered to carry the word to the others down the decks, and then they read:

"In view of the alarming reports which have spread over the ship in consequence of certain occurrences in the first cabin last night, 246