Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-03-28
"A Girl. z GRIT
BY MAJOR ARTHUR 6RfFlThs
copsrisht FsnnoA to
By MAJOR ARTHUR GRlfFlTHs.
cOpsrisht, 1900, ~ R. l. rsnno 4 Ga


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war cruiser. British. and Mr.. Aston
says she must be steamihg % knots an
hour
She's after those papers, Captain
Shearborne. unless I'm much mistake
en- put in, with little laugh of sat
isfaction. Perhaps there will be some
one on board who knows rae.'
The captain glared at me, but his
eyes fell before my STEADY glance, and
could read his thoughts plainly. the
growing doubts. the fear that he might
be al in the wrong. the trouble that
might come upon him Y he misused me
without clearer proof. Yet he carried
1t with high hand 10 th.s last.
"Ill settle with you later, my fine
Fellow, and handsomely. You shan't
bluff me-
II 1 might suggest. Captain shel.-
borne, your place is on your bridge.
don't presume to teach you YOUR duty,
but man is apt to forget it-when he
loses his temper and his self control.
We can square our little matter later.
But warn you against using end vio-
lence. I may have friends in that ship
I could see fresh rage gathering in
his face at my words. but he restrained
himself. and with no more than part
ing oath and an order to cast me loose
he floundered out OF the cabin.
went on deck without furthart1et or
hindrance and took my situation by
the fore companion. I was much inter-
ested in what went on around Every
one was excited at the approach of this
splendid warship. The rumor that she
had some business with US had already
run like wildfire around, and 1t was
strengthened by the many colored flut-
tering bunting with which she con-
Increased when orders We're given to
slow down. Any change in steamers
progress always attracts attention on
board, and our decks fore and aft We're
crowded with passengers. could see
those Of the first class talking eagerly
together, gesticulating and pointing to
the warship. Many glasses were level.
ed at her. and I could gather that her
interference with our voyage was not
taken in good part. In these days of
record passages across the ocean fer
ry' the delay even an hour is a ser
ious matter.
Now the butcher of the Chattahoo-
chez Joined me where l stood, some
what apart. He was an acquaintance
through Roy, somewhat surly and I'M
communicative, but / found him sud-
denly quite garrulous and friendly. He
was an old man-of-war's man, and his
spirit was stirred at the sight of the
white ensign.
IT'S grand, yon. Grand to see that
iron kettle, 10000 toms displacement,
riding triumphant like a wee birdie on
the surface Of the mighty waters. 1t
means mans conquest of nature
science and knowledge and above all
pluck. There's a SIGHT my man! The
finest and newest cruiser afoat-H. NJ.
S. Victrix"-
You know her. then?''
Aye, laddie. My own sisters third
was all over her not week syne when
she lay in the Solent. She was under
orders then for the China seas. Dell
ha' me If know what brings her into
midatlantic."
Some special order, suppose?'
'Wor mayhap. These are fearsome
times, laddie, and read in the papers
there was erouble brewing. What If
she is. sent to warn our-shipping?"
I'VE shall soon know. See, she has
lowered a boat, and We're going now
under easy steam to take them on
board.'
The victrix lay half mile off, and
her boat looking like a bookshelf
compared to her great bulk as 1t left
her side. came bravely along, lifted
over the long Atlantic swell by the we'll
CdllGNGeu. SlIOkG OI 1O OdIS. LII ILle
stern was a group of three, and as they
got within range of my glasses l saw
that one was a naval officer, no doubt
in command of the boat, and two other
persons in plain clothes.
One was my colleague in the intelli-
gence office. Swete Thornhill. The 9TH
er-yes, there was no mistaking that
rosy, scorbutic visage-the other was
Snuyzer. the detective. / decided then
and there what should do. saw
that is was possible by acting promptly
yet preserve my incognite. So I slip
ped down into the second saloon and
wrote him a half dozen words.
Dear Swete-I got the papers and have
thrown them overheard. Don't let on
the skipper bring you and snuyzer down
here. forward, for q few words private
talk in my own cabin or anywhere ont
OF earshot with others. ] have strong rea-
son for still lying low. Yours,
w. Wood.
I took this to the purser's cabin and
was lucky. enough to find him there
porting over interminable and volumi-
nous accounts of victualting. They in
terested him far more than what was
going on above.
into the captains hands at once"
said very peremptorily. 1T is for one
OF the gentlemen who are now close
under our quarter in the man-of- wars
boat"
He took the letter and read it's super
scription with some surprise, not to say
alarm. 1t was: ION her majesty's
service. To Major Swete Thornhill, d.
S. o., r. A. C. o. Captain Sherborne of
the S. S. Chattahoochee. Confidential
and almost Immediate"
Certainly, sir" said the purser his
whole manner suddenly changed. and
then returned to my post Of observa-
ton on deck to wait events.
| l saw my friend come on board, the
naval lieutenant first, who raised his
hat to our captain as he received them
at the gateway, then introduced his
companions, after which the whole par
ty quickly and silently passed through
the crowd of passengers, who We're dy-
| ing to hear what it all meant, and en-
tered the captains cabin.
4 l had not long to wait for the next
act. Within "a minute or two 1 was
hailed by the second cabin steward.
who told me little abruptly, but he
knew no better, that was wanted by
the captain below.
Halo, Master Willie" began Swete
Thornbill after brief shaking hands
all round. You've led us pretty
dance and no mistake. How the mis-
chief did you get here, and are you GER
tain about the papers?'
"All that will keep, man. AS to the
papers. ask Captain Sherborne. He
knows what became of Them
II will not be party to this. saw
you throw certain papers overheard
which l still believe you stole
Captain Wood will answer for that
to the proper persons, and SO will you
as to the charges you bring" interpos-