Willie moved about through the throng, looking for Simonski. Mr. King had given him a very clear description of the man, and Willie had no difficulty in recognizing him when at last he found him. At least, he saw a man who answered the description exactly.
If Willie had hunted a week to find a word to describe the man, he could not have found one that better described Simonski than the Chief’s term, “slick.” It fitted the man in every particular. He had black, piercing eyes. His hair was carefully cut and slicked down as though it had been oiled and brushed tight to his scalp. He had had the cleanest of clean shaves. His hands were spotlessly white, and his nails were carefully manicured and highly polished. An enormous diamond sparkled on one finger. His clothes were loud. He wore a black and white checked suit, with a white edging about the vest, and a flaming purple tie, which was ornamented with another flashing diamond. A black, curved handled cane hung from the crook of his left arm.
But what instantly riveted Willie’s attention was the expression on the man’s face. The shining eyes gave an impression of almost uncanny penetration. The nose was of good size, and slightly hooked. Coupled with the mouth, which was as straight as a slit and as tight as a steel trap, it indicated unusual force of character. The mouth itself was as hard as the diamond that glittered beneath it. It was pitiless. Everything about the man’s make-up indicated a cold, hard, selfish, unscrupulous, and able nature. As Willie moved about in the throng, studying the man’s face, now from one point and now from another, he became more and more certain that the man was not only utterly unscrupulous, but also daring to a high degree and clever beyond belief.
With every moment the excitement on the boat increased. The detention at Quarantine had been brief, and the great ship was now close to her pier. Every one was making a final collection of wraps and hand baggage and saying good-bye to shipmates. Stewards and cabin boys were bustling about more busily than ever, with bags, suit cases and other hand luggage. As the ship drew close to the pier, Simonski pushed his way roughly toward the gangway. A cabin boy followed hard on his heels with his umbrella and bag. While they waited for the gangplank to be swung into place, Simonski drew forth a huge roll of bills, and peeling two of them from the outside of the roll, ostentatiously handed them to the lad with the bag. Evidently he had used his money to good effect in other quarters as well, for among the few trunks that had been hoisted to the deck, for quick delivery ashore, was a steamer trunk that Simonski now pointed out to the cabin boy. It bore a label marked with the letter S.
“You stick close to that trunk,” said Simonski. “I’ll get an inspector at once and bring him to the trunk. I want to get my stuff passed as quickly as possible. I don’t want to have to hunt for you and my bag when I’m ready to go. Understand?”
Simonski shoved his way closer to the gangway, and was one of the very first persons to set foot on the pier. He went directly to the line of inspectors waiting at their desks. His paper was taken by an inspector, who glanced at the paper and then at Simonski. Willie was close by. He saw by the inspector’s look that he knew he had before him the man they had been warned to watch. The inspector’s lips set hard. Willie fancied he saw an answering glitter in the eyes of Simonski. But the traveler was as cool as ice.
“Everything is correct on this declaration, is it?” asked the inspector.
“Absolutely,” replied Simonski.
“Then sign here,” said the inspector, indicating the place for the signature.
Simonski’s hand was as steady as Gibraltar as he slowly and carefully put his signature to the paper.