Like lightning his mind grasped the situation. He stepped to the desk, took up the ’phone that stood there, and asked for the Waldorf-Astoria. With the receiver to his ear awaiting a reply he turned to her, calmly. “What sized yacht is the _Wizard_?” “About seventy tons.” “And her crew?” “I think, fifteen men.” “Thank you.” Then he spoke into the ’phone: “Ah, is that the Waldorf? I’d like to speak to Mr. G. A. Webster, if you please.” While the connection was being made with Webster’s apartments, Kenyon said to the girl, quietly: “Take the ’phone book, and find me the name Schmelzer.” She nervously took up the book and began to flutter the pages. Just then Webster called: “Hello.” “Hello, Garry. This is Kenyon.” “Ah, still on the quest?” “I want you to meet me at the foot of Twenty-third Street, East River, as soon as you can get there.” There was a snort of astonishment at the Waldorf end of the wire. Then Webster demanded, excitedly: “What’s doing, Ken?” “There promises to be plenty.” “All right,” exultantly. “I’m with you.” “Good; ring off, and call an auto. You can’t get there too quick.” Kenyon hung up and turned to Dallas. “Well?” he inquired. “Here they are.” She laid the directory before him and indicated a list of names. He ran his finger along this, and then gave an exclamation of satisfaction. Schmelzer, who kept the pool-room in Pell Street, also possessed a telephone; so in a few moments he was talking to the ex-divekeeper, Gypsy Brady. “What do you want the men for?” asked the latter, after some talk. “A tough job, perhaps. And I want tough men. The pay will be large.” “I’m your man,” answered Brady. “The large pay is the thing that counts. I’ll be at the place with the bunch as soon as you will.” Calmly, and without the slightest indication of hurry, Kenyon called up a neighboring garage and ordered a motor-car; then he had himself connected with the information-desk of a popular newspaper, and received much concise information upon the subject of power-boats and where they were to be had. Person after person was summoned over the humming wire; then he hung up, finally, with a satisfied air. “I think I have done about all I can do in the way of precaution,” said he, smiling. “If the matter stands as you think, I will be ready to offer some sort of opposition to Mr. Forrester’s departure.” “You are wonderful!” she said. And then she threw back her head and laughed. It was as though all her anxiety and fear had been dissolved before the sudden rush of his thorough personality. In an instant he had assumed all her cares; she felt herself strangely at peace and weakly willing to allow him to bear the weight of everything. His masculine grasp and sharp military decisions had wonderfully comforted and soothed her. Kenyon as he looked at her gathered some of this, and his heart beat swiftly. It was the sort of thing that tells heavily with a woman; and he had progressed.