"Of course," admitted the reporter, honestly.

"I'll tell you the best I can do, Hennessy. You keep your eyes and ears
open for us, and I'll give you this news story before I give it to any
other newspaper man."

"You surely will?" demanded the newspaper eagerly.

"I will."

"Then I'm here to help you"

As the lieutenant commander had predicted, the ladies at the hotels were
in a flutter of excitement that evening. Every one who heard of the
projected trip on the submarine boat, it seemed, wanted to be invited.
By the time that Mr. Kimball's list was made up it consisted of three
men and nine women, these in addition to the lieutenant commander
himself and Mr Featherstone.

As Jack paced the far end of the veranda that evening a girlish figure,
only poorly concealed under a light wrap, stole after him. As the
young woman reached him she threw back a light veil, revealing the very
pretty face of Mlle. Nadiboff.

"So, my Captain," she cried, "you would forget me when you are getting
up a party to take a cruise on your wonderful craft?"

If young Benson felt anything as he looked, he was staggered by this
amazing bit of effrontery.