sman. Now he
determined to find and interview him.

He inquired concerning him of the hotel clerk, who, like all Washington
clerks, was a walking edition of "Who's Who at the Capital."

"Congressman Everdean?" repeated the all-knowing young gentleman. "Yes.
He's in town. Has rooms at the Gloria; second hotel on the right as you
go up the avenue. Only a short walk. What can I do for you, sir?"

The Gloria was an even bigger hotel than the one where the captain had
his "berth." An inquiry at the desk, of another important clerk, was
answered with a brisk:

"Mr. Everdean? Yes, he rooms here. Don't know whether he's in or not.
Evening, judge. Nice Winter weather we're having."

The judge, who was a ponderous person vaguely suggesting the great
Heman, admitted that the weather was fine, patronizing it as he did so.
The clerk continued the conversation. Captain Cy waited. At length he
spoke.

"Excuse me, commodore," he said; "I don't like to break in until you've
settled whether you have it snow or not, but I'm here to see Congressman
Everdean. Hadn't you better order one of your fo'mast hands to hunt him
up?"

The judge condescended to smile, as did several other men who stood
near. The clerk reddened.

"Do you want to see Mr. Everdean?" he snapped.

"Why, yes, I did. But I can't see him from here without strainin' my
eyesight."

The clerk sharply demanded one of the captain's visiting cards.
He didn't get one, for the very good reason that there was none in
existence.

"Tell him an old friend of his dad's is here on the main deck waitin'
for him," said Captain Cy. "That'll do first rate. Thank you, admiral."

Word came that the congressman would be down in a few moments. The
captain beguiled the interval by leaning on the rail and regarding the
clerk with an awed curiosity that annoyed its object exceedingly. The
inspection was still on when a tall man, of an age somewhere in the
early thirties, walked briskly up to the desk.

"Who is it that wants to see me?" he asked.

The clerk waved a deprecatory hand in Captain Cy's direction. The
newcomer turned.

"My name is Everdean," he said. "Are you--hey?--Great Scott! Is it
possible this is Captain Whittaker?"

The captain was immensely pleased.

"Well, I declare, Ed!" he exclaimed. "I didn't believe you'd remember me
after all these years. You was nothin' but a boy when I saw you out
in 'Frisco. Well! well! No wonder you're in Congress. A man that can
re