Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/286

Rh now vociferous cheers of approval of the Englishmen had died down, "and each may write upon a slip, yes or no, as he accepts or declines this proposition. Mr. Manling, as evidence that he is here and accepts, will put upon his ballot, besides, the monogram which was upon my purse which he took last night. And as Mr. Dunneston and I lead, please all file by and drop your ballots into the hat here!"

"Mr. Manling is present! He has agreed!" the young American cried almost immediately, as he sorted over the slips of paper.

"And the gentlemen have all voted yes," the captain concluded. "I thank you for having taken away from yourselves, in this strange but effective way, the more embarrassing possibilities of the extraordinary situation which confronts us. As long as the thief plays fair, I shall see that the officers and servants of the ship shall play fair, too, and in the spirit of this agreement, give him his chance at the pools. Is it the sense of the gentlemen that this agreement binds at once?"

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