The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-06-15
The Middy'S Captive

DLUDDLtlNH won 90 any gOOQ;
D you had better report the mat
ter to Capt. Wilson at once" said
the navigating lieutenant Of her mai
esty's ship Triumph, Us he gazed quiz
zingly down ut The chubby-faced mid
shipinan 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 blubber'ng, and don't care
II he does stop my leave!" Indignantly
responded the youngster, drawing him
self up to his full height.
what Is 1t, 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 report to
make" said the lieutenant.
"Not seasick yet HOPPER ejacu-
lated Capt Wilson. ironically. swell,
I'm listening"
"Please. sir, it's the First Lord; he's
bolted! He ron of while we were
shipping the soft tack-I mean tho
breadl" incoherently stammered Rob
kAcn.
"The First Lord bolted with the soft
tnck!" exclaimed Wilson, In astonish-
ment "What does he mean, Stuart?
Who's the First Lord?'. Is the boy q
ruving 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
"the First Lord Of the Admiralty"
Charley Robson meekly endured the
reproach Of his commander, who was
n stern martinez, and made no allow
ance for youthful inexperience. "Dut
at any rate" mused 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 Us
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, tho 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 tho law invoked to cap
ture the runaway, but the man disap-
peared as completely as If the earth
had opened and swallowed him up. He
was of strangely reserved nature,
mixed but little with his companions,
and had evidently once occupied far
superior station in life.
There was one person, however, who
did not forget the runaway. Robson
often in imagination ron the scoundrel
to earth.
Little did Charley Robson imagine
as at the commencement of his long
deferred leave he lounged in q first
class smoker on his way to Guildford
how soon, or under what strange cir
cumstances, he would meet the villain
of his melodramn. .,....s
"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. / don't know whether
the girls nerves are out of order," con-
tinned Mrs. Robson, "but she declares
that q strange man has been following
her about during the last few weeks,
although no one else has ever caught
glimpse of him."
Il sha'n't be afraid of any loafers
while Charley is with me-" responded
the maiden. "In proof Of which, he
shall convoy me for o walk now" And
Alice Westerne buoyantly danced of
to array herself for the proposed
jaunt.
The eyes Of mother and son followed
the girl with . wistful look ns she quit
ted the room.
Il suppcqe nothing has been heard
q HI tho lhtte@.
n - 1l11hers pevsr