Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-03-07
"A Girl. E GRIT
BY MAJOR ARTHUR 6RiFFitHS
Copyright R F. Co.
Copyright, 1900. b, R. F. Fenno q Co

tUR 6RiFFi-rHS. +
R f. Fenno q Co.
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when he did appear he showed up as
a high-falutin' jack-a-dandy whom /
thought no better than dude. But
was wrong there. and will say at
once that I cottoned to him some be-
fore we parted.
My instructions came in letter. 1t
was addressed to me, Endorsed .imme-
olate. In an envelope marked ION Her
Ma1esty's Service" which am not, as
you know, and don't want to be, being
q freeborn loyal subject of Uncle Sam.
The letter inside was headed with the
royal arms and signed Charles COL
lingham. major general" 1t was to
inform me that the steam tug Jacob
Silverton had been secured for par
ttcular business. and would be found
pierhead. with fires banked ready to
go to sea at q moments notice.
The letter went on:
understand from Lloyds, and II
mas been calculated from the admiral-
~ charts as the basis of her speed and
the progress she has made, that the
yacht Fleur-de-Lis should be abreast
TO a. m. tomorrow. If the tug leaves
plymouth before midnight, she can
gain such position by daybreak as to
meet the Fleur-de-Lis and cross her
course. II you do not sight her at once.
you must lie to, waiting, for she CAM
not we'll have passed.
When you have intercepted her, as
you surely will, she will be boarded by
an officer Of my department, who will
accompany you and who carries the
necessary authority from the lords of
the admiralty to detain and search
her. He Is empowered to use force If
necessary, and a certain number of po-
ice and coast guardsmen will be ON
beard the tug.
Major swete Thornhin, r.. A., the
bearer of this letter, will travel with
you to Plymouth. He is friend of
captain Woods and brother staff off,
Ger and will be glad to cooperate in
the rescue and render any assistance"
l found a tall, military looking gen
tleman at the door in hanson.
Hop in" he cried pleasantly. only
Just time to catch the express
preferred to travel with Joe, but we
my gentleman had secured compart-
ment, and we started to talk over our
business right away.
Hang that fellow Willie Wood!" be-
gan the major. Wish he was at the
bottom OF the sea. l was due this very
night at a big feed at the Charlatan
club, and I've had to spend 1t in the
train; Got me a jawbation. too. from
the chief, for we We're all out at lunch
when he came in, and as was the first
back had to take the rough edge of
his tongue and came in for this ugly
job. Is it all true bill? Have they
really got Master Willie in tight
place? Mean to make him walk the
plank and all that, ch?'
told him the whole story from the
beginning, at parts of which he
laughed and parts looked very grave.
Always was a garden ass, Willie
Wood, but good chap-good as they
make 'em. He'd give you the shirt off
his back and always ready to do all
your work If you'd let him. Now, I'll
do my level best to pull him out of this
mess IL can. What chance have we?
Let's see how 1t stands"
With that he pulled small chart out
of his pocket and a pair of dividers.
We went over the points one by one,
and he took them all in a clear, quick
way that was beautiful to see. 1t was
the first time I'd had to work with a
British officer, and IL they're all like
this major they're a spry, smart lot,
and don't you forget It,
as he marked a cross upon the chart
and, after running out few more fig
ures. went on:
That's where the Fleur-de-Lis ought
to be by daylight, three or four miles
to the westward, steaming at the rate
we know of, not necessarily gaining,
but possibly with better speed in hand
II she wants It. Now. where shall we
be? That will depend upon how our
hooker steams, and for that we must
wait till we get on board"
We found her, the Jacob Silverton.
with her steam up, lying alongside the
wharf iii the Millbay docks, and, as
they expected us, we were soon under
way. 1t was then close on 1 a. m.
Now the major made anxious inquiries
as to her speed, and we found the best
she could do was about nine knots.
There We're no more than three hours
to daylight, and then we should have
covered bare thirty miles.
It'll be near thing said the ma
jor. However, let's get forty winks
while they crack on all steam and
make her move"
/ had not been in bed for couple
of nights and was sound asleep when
the major woke me.
The luck's against us, SEuyzer," he
began abruptly. We've Just missed
the Fleur-de-Lis; saw her plainly
enough, and there was no MISLEADING
her, about three miles to the westward
and bore down on her straight. / sup
pose she did not like our looks and
turned on full steam ahead. Doubt if
we shall catch her now
OF course we must stick to her, Has
she the heel of us?" 1 asked anxiously.
"A little. I'm afraid. Can't say for
certain. What's worse, she's changed
her course southerly."
why worse?"
Steering for the French coast. Don't
port or gain French waters, three
miles from shore, you understand, she
Will laugh at us. Can't touch her.
they'll say
was ready to let out big oath, but
turned out and ran up on deck to see
the situation for myself
1t was perfectly splendid morning.
The sun strong, sky clear, water
smooth as glass. There was our chase.
leaving a long line of coal black smoke
exactly reflected in the sea.
They're giving her all they can get.
said to the skipper, as 1 climbed
quickly on to the bridge, where the po-
lice sergeant Joined u.s. rs she draw
ing away from us?"
II she does at all. The next hour viii
settle that
Has she made us out, think you?"
Must have. when she changed her
course" said the sergeant.
How is she steering?'
w. S. w. southerly," answered the
skipper. Bring up on the Brittany
coast. expect. a little short Of
Ushant."
We're some ninety miles from the
nearest land, as we're now steering"
said the major. who had Joined US on
the bridge. Ought to strike 1t this