“Or how Miss Frome helped pull him aboard just in time to save him from the crimps?”
The reporter's eyes gleamed. “What's that?” he snapped quickly.
“And all about the race from the schooner to the Bellingham, It was the most exciting thing I ever saw.”
“Great guns! What's the matter with Jeff Farnum? He didn't say a word about that—missed the cream of the story.”
Alice smiled. “I thought perhaps he might have.”
“He said he saw a chance to swim across to the Bellingham. That made a pretty good story. But sharks—and the shanghaiers chasing him—and a young lady helping to haul him aboard to safety—and that young lady Miss Alice Frome! Say, this is the biggest story that ever broke in Verden. If I fall down on it I'm a dead one sure enough.”
“You think it will help Mr. Farnum's fight for his bill?”
“Help it. Say, I'd give fifty dollars to see James K. Farnum's face when he reads the World tomorrow morning. The town will go right up in the air. Hundreds of telegrams are going to pour in to members of the assembly from their constituents. We'll make a Yale finish of this yet.”
“It's lucky Miss Frome recognized Mr. Farnum. Otherwise I suppose he would have been sent back to the Nancy Hanks.”
“Oh, Miss Frome recognized him? Jeff said one of the passengers did. He couldn't remember who.”