Kenneth Robeson - The Pirate of the Pacific

"Positive," Doc told him. "The records disclosed that. Jong, or Tom Too, undoubtedly bribed Captain Hickman to sign him on the Malay Queen as first mate."

Mindoro ran a finger inside his collar and squirmed. "Words seem very flat when I try to express my thanks to you. I shall ask the Luzon Union government to appropriate a reward for — "

"Nix," Doc said.

Mindoro smiled, went on: " — a reward which I think you will accept."

Mindoro was right, for the reward was one Doc found entirely satisfactory. It consisted of a simple bronze plate bearing the plain words, "The Savage Memorial Hospital."

The plate was embedded in the cornerstone of a structure that cost millions. Other millions were placed in trust to insure operation of the hospital for years. The institution was to operate always under one inflexible rule — payment from no one but those who could afford it.

The laying of the cornerstone was accomplished with ceremony before Doc and his men left the Luzon Union.

Monk, uncouth in high hat and swallowtail coat, perspired under the derisive gaze of the dapper Ham throughout the ceremony. He was glad when it was over and they got out of the admiring crowd.

"Fooey!" snorted Monk, and made a present of his high silk hat to a brown-skinned, half-naked street urchin. "It'll take a good fight to get me feelin' like a human being again!"

Monk was going to get his fight, even if he didn't know it.