The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-04-28
4 The Middy'S Captive

QLobbEhlNG won't DO any good;
IL you had better report the mat
ter to Capt. Wilson at once,' said
the navigating lieutenant of her mai
esty's ship Triumph, as he gazed quiz
zlngly down at the chubby-faced mid
shipman who stood in such comical dis
may before his superior officer. ''Come
with me; I'm going to his stateroom
now the speaker added, not unkindly,
as he noted the lads evident distress.
I'm not blubbering, and I don't care
it he does stop my leave!" Indignantly
responded the youngster, drawing him
self up to his full height.
what is it., STUART" inquired the
captain, as the twain entered his cabin.
II merely wish to say that we are
ready to get under way whenever you
please, sir; but Robson has a report to
make,'' said the lieutenant.
Not seasick yet, I hope?" ejacu-
lated Capt. Wilson, ironically. "Well,
I'm Gstening."
"Please, sir, it's the First Lord; he's
bolted! He ran off while we were
shipping the soft tack-I mean the
bread!" incoherently stammered Rob-
son.
'The First Lord bolted with the soft
tack!" exclaimed Wilson, in astonish-
ment. What does he mean, Stuart ?
Who's the First Lord?' Is the boy q
raving maniac?''
Lieut.. Stuart had perforce to explain
that the cadet, being in charge of a
boat sent ashore to ship provisions, had
lost one of his men-an able-bodied sea-
man answering to the name of West,
but who was, by reason of his superior
bearing, nicknamed by his companions
1.-THE First Lord of the Admiralty"
Charley Robson meekly endured the
reproach of his commander, who was
stern martinez, and made no allow
ance for youthful inexperience. But
at any rate unused the young fellow,
when he was at length dismissed, ''he
said nothing about stopping my fur
lough." And then his volatile spirits
threw off the recent discontinue as
only youth knows how to, while his
thoughts wandered far away to that
pleasant country home in Surrey, with
all it's attendant attractions, from
which he had been separated for one
long year. And if among the dream
faces conjured up there was one which
eclipsed all others, the fact should not
cause undue surprise.
The usual steps taken to secure the
arrest of the deserter were of no avail.
His description was circulated by the
police throughout the country, and all
the majesty of the law invoked to cap
ture the runaway, but the man disap-
pearel as completely as if the earth
had opened and swallowed him up. He
was OF strangely reserved nature,
mike d but little with his companions,
and had evidently once occupied a far
superior station in life.
There was one person, however, who
did not forget the runaway. Robson
often in imagination ran the scoundrel
to earth.
Little did Charley Robson imagine
as at the commencement of his long
deferred leave he 1ounged in a first
class smoker on his way to Guildford
how soon, or under what strange cir
cumstances, he would meet the villain
of his melodrama.
"And you have come home. Alice
will be able to resume her interrupted
country walks" said the mother of the
youthful sailor next morning. But, of
of course added she, addressing the
girl, Charley has not heard of your
latest admirer. I don't know whether
the girls nerves are out of ORDER" con-
tinued Mrs. Robson, ''but she declares
that strange man has been following
her about during the last few weeks,
although no one else has ever caught
a glimpse of him.
IL sha'n't be afraid of any loafers
while Charley is with me- responded
the maiden. I'm proof of which, he
shall convoy me for a walk now" And
Alice Westerne, buoyantly danced off
to array herself for the proposed
jaunt. E
The eyes of mother and son followed
the girl with a wistful look as she quit
ted the room.
II suppose nothing has been heard
of him?' queried the latter.
ENC! Your father thinks there never
will lie. Doubtless Sir Richard died
abroad. believing to the end that he
was Eaurderer!"
"And Allie is still ignorant Of her fa=
theirs sad history e. queried the lad.
eyes. We have decided not to say
anything to her until she is Of age, un-
less some contingency should arise,
sucl, as gour obtaining sublieuten-