“If it had been some really urgent matter I might have helped you out, but as it is, I’m afraid I can’t do anything. You’d better try one of the stations ashore.”
The red-faced man scowled; but an instant later he assumed what was meant to be an ingratiating manner. He drew out a wallet and tapped it meaningly.
“I’ll make it worth your while,” he said.
“Sorry, but I can’t do it,” was Joe’s rejoinder.
“I’ll make it right with you, kid,” urged the other.
“Nothing doing,” said Joe firmly. “Sorry you’ve had this trip out here for nothing, but you’ll have to go back again if you want to send a cipher message to any ship.”
The ferret-eyed man came close to his companion.
“Bill, you do it yourself,” he whispered, but not so low that Joe didn’t hear him.
“Oh, I’m too rusty. Haven’t tapped a key since I was fired for selling information on that Wall Street pool.”
“Oh, you can do it all right enough,” insisted the other.