waiter was stationed to head off reporters or other curious
people who might attempt to interview the submarine diners. So the meal
proceeded in peace, though it was rather late when the diners finished.

"Whew! Nearly nine o'clock," muttered Farnum, glancing up at a big
clock on a near-by wall. "And I haven't been out to the hospital,
to-day, to see how Dave is coming along."

"Would it do to telephone, and ask the hospital people to let Mr.
Pollard know you had inquired?" suggested Hal.

"Don't just like that idea," replied Mr. Farnum, shaking his head. "It
doesn't sound just like using Dave Pollard right. I'll tell you what,
however. I've been the only one to go out to the hospital, so far.
Dave always asks after the rest of you. Jack, suppose you take a hack
and make the trip out. If they won't let you see Dave at this hour,
then inquire how he is getting along, and leave your card to be sent in
to him. But, if you can see Dave Pollard, he'll be delighted to have
a look at your face. There's a cab standing out in front of the hotel,
and it won't take you but a few minutes to get out to the hospital."

"Where'll I find you?" asked Jack, rising at once.

"We'll wait in the lobby of the hotel until you get back. Use the cab
both ways."

There was, as Mr. Farnum had said, a cab outside the hotel. That cab,
in fact, had been hanging about since just before dark.

Most of the time it stood drawn up at the curb on the opposite side of
the street.

Three or four times, during the early evening, different persons had
tried to engage the use of this cab.

Yet, to each prospective customer, the driver had shaken his head,
uttering the one word:

"Engaged."

So the cab still waited, the driver occasionally moving to a somewhat
new position, though always keeping well in sight of the hotel entrance.

As Captain Jack Benson stepped out through the broad doorway, however,
on his errand of friendship, the driver, throwing away a half-smoked
cigar, suddenly whipped up his horse, driving close to the entrance.

"Cab, sir" hailed the driver. "To any part of the city."

"You know where the hospital is?" inquired Jack Benson.

"Oh, yes."

"How long will it take to drive me there?"

"Ten or twelve minutes."

"All right. And I shall want you to wait there, a little while, and
then bring me back. How much will that be?"

"Dollar and a half, sir."

"Go ahead," directed Jack, springing inside and pulli