The sun., 1891-07-12

jacket was all motted and glittering with
snow crystals. Laughing loudly. he shool
himself like Newfoundland dog. and kicked
the snow from his boots before entering tn,
little lamplit rsem,
Heotor Spurling's profession - written n
every line Of his face. The cloau. shoven liz
and chin. tho little fringe Of side whisker. ths
straight. decisive mouth, and the hard. wealth
er-tanned checks. all spoke OF the Royal NAVY
Fifty suoh faces may be seen any night OF the
year round the msss table OF the ROYAL Naval
bear closer resemblance to each other thar
brother docs commonly to brother. They are
all cast In q common mould. the products OF a
system which teaches early self.rellance. hard.
thood. and manliness. q fine type. upon the
whole less refined aud less intellectual. per.
haps. than their brothers OF the land. but full
Of truth and energy and heroism. In figure he
was straight tall. and we'll knit. with keen
gray eyes, aud tho sharp. prompt manner OF .
man who has been accustomed both to com.
mand and to obey.
You had my note?" he said as he entered
the room. Il have to 60 again. Laura Isn't
It beastlyP Old smithers is short.handed and
wants me back at once"
He sat down By the girl and put his brown
hand across her white one. 1T won't be a
very large order this time" he continued
TITS the flying squadron business. Madeira,
Gibraltar. Lisbon. and home. shouldn't " on
der II we wore back In March"
1T seems only the other day that you Ian l.
cd. she answered.
Poor little grill But 1t won't be long. Min d
you take good care OF her. Robert when am
gone. And when come home again. Laura,
It will be the last time. mindl Hang the money! I!
There are plenty who manage on lesa We
need not have house. Why should we? You
can got very nice rooms In Southsea at two
pounds week. McDoueal. our pnymaster.
has Just married. and he only gives thirty shil-
lings You would not be afraid. Laura?"
mo. indeed"
The dear old governor is 50 awlully eau.
tious. Walt. walt, wait-that's always his cry.
I tell him that he ought to have been in tho
Government Heavy Ordnance Department.
But I'll speak to him tonight. I'll talk him
round. See II don't! And you must speak
to your own governor. Robert here will back
You up. And here are the ports and the dates
that we are duo al each. Mind that you have
q letter waiting for me at every one."
He took slip OF paper from tho side pocket
Of his coat, but instead OF handing it to the
young lady he rsmsined staring at it with the
utmost sstonishment upon his face.
We'll never!" he exclaimed. Look here.
Robert. wha. do you call this?"
Hold It to the light! Why. its a fifty pound
Bank OF England note. Nothing remarkable
about It that can see"
"On the contrary. It's the qussrest thing
that ever happened to me. I can't make head
or tail OF It,"
Come then. Hector" cried Miss McIntyrs.
with challenge in her eyes. "Something
very queer happened to mo also today. I'll
bet pair OF gloves that my adventure was
more out OF the common than yours. though
have nothing so nice to show at the end OF it."
Come I'll take that and Robert here shall
be the Judge"
state your cases." Tho young artist shut
I'D his sketch book and rested his head upon
his hands with face OF mock solemnlty. La
dies first! Go along. Laura. though think I
know something OF your adventure already"
1t WAS this morning. Hector" she said.
"Oh. BY the way. the story will make you wild.
I had forgotten that. However. you mustn't
mind. because really the Door follow was per-
fectly mad"
What on earth was it?" asked the young
ofllcer. his eyes travelling from the bsok note
to his fiancee.
"Oh 1t was harmless enough. and yet you
will confess that 1t was very queer. had gone
out for walk. but as the snow began to fall
took shelter under the shed which tho work.
men have bnilt at the near ond Of the great new
house. The men have gone. you know. and the
owner Is supposed 10 be coming TO morrow.
but The shed is still standing. I was sitting
there upon packing case when man came
down the road and stopped under the same
shelter. He was quiet. pa!e-faced man. very
tall and thin. not much more than 80 should
think. poorly dressed, but with tho look and
bearing OF gentleman. He asked ne Que or
two questions about the village and the peo-
pIe. which OF course answered. until at last
We found ourselves chatting away in tho
pleasAntest and easiest fashion about
all sorts OF things The time passed
20 quickly that forgot all about the enow
Until he drew my attention to it's having
stopped for the moment. Then Just rs was
turning to go what In the world do you sup
pose that he did He took u step toward me.
ooksd In . sad. pensivs way IN my face and
said: Il wonder whether you would care for
mo II ! were without O penny Wasnt IL
strange? I was 30 frightened that whisked
put OF the shed and was OF down the road be-
lore he could add another word. But really.
Hector. you need not look so black. for when
ook back at II can quite see from his tone
and manner that he meant NO harm. He WAS
thinking aloud without tho least intention OF
being Offensive. ! am convinced that the poor
elbow was mad"
Hunt There was somo method In his
Madness It seems to me" remarked her brother.
There would have been some method In
NY kicking" said the Lieutenant Gavagely.
mover heard OF more outrageous thing In
my life." 4
:" Now said that you would be Wild" sho
aid hnr white hand upon the sleeve OF his
.ough frieze JACKET. 1T was nothing. shall
,ever SEQ the poor fellow again. He was evil
iently o stranger to this part OF tho country.
But that was nay little adventure. Now let Us
lave yours"
The young man cracked tho bank note be- |
wen his finger and thumb while he passed
A., other hand over his hair with the action OF |
} man who strives TO collect himself.
1T Is some ridiculous mistake" he said. |
must try and set 1t right. Yet don't know
low to set about 1t either. was going down
o the village from tho vicsra9e Just after |
Iusk when found u fellow In trap who had |
rotten himself into broken water. One wheel
lad sunk into tho edge OF the ditch, which had |
been hidden by the snow and the whole thing |
vas high and dry. with Q list OF starboard |
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