Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-02-23
I win pay nnythine. Only do. please.

I will pay anything. Only do, please,
let US lose no more time. Coul not
we get a mansof-war?"
by jove, you're right! II we could
ave a fast cruise. now. Upon my
soul. 1 believe it might be done! II /
could only persuade them at the ad-
miralty. It's an affair of national i'm
portance TO recover those papers,"
We drove straight to the admiralty
In Whitehall, where the general was
admitted without question or delay.
We were soon introduced to a Captain
Pulteney, who proved TO be naval Sec
rotary to the first lord and a very
charming man, / dare say but took
q great dislike to him, for he began at
once TO make difficulties, speaking. /
thought, in a sneery, put you down
sort of way which was very irritat-
ing.
What could we send? There isn't
q ship" he said, addressing the others,
and seeming to imply hat the whole
British navy had ceased to exist. Be
sides, If / could lay hands on a gum
boat or dispatch vessel, what course
would she steer? What is she to look
for? The whole thing Is a wild goose
chase. In lead against It,"
Il think Wen see Sir George" re-
marked my dear general stifiy. I'VE
can discuss these points better with
him." and we again moved on, Cap
tain Pulteney following, grumbling
n growing all the way.
But Sir George Fitz Hugh Che was
the first sea lord) sided with Captain
Pulteney. The information was too
vague; nothing was positively known,
neither about the papers nor about
Captain Wood.
You see, Sir Charles, you have moth
ing TO go on about those papers, were
they stolen, seized, whatever we may
cal 1t. Who can be certain of that,
or Of anything, except that they have
disappeared, as Wood has? And you
infer that the same people have taken
them both. How do We know that?
You AXE too much for granted. Or,
let us admit they were taken, how do
we know thai they were put on board
the yacht? 1t is all pure conjecture. l
should be very sorry to act-to take
upon myself to act; we must wait for
the first lord"
when do you expect hlm?" ! asked
impatiently. / was getting cross at
all these difficulties and delays, n l
could see that Sir Charles Colling-
ham was dangerously near losing his
temper. He only controlled himself by
remaining stolidly silent.
He is always here in the afternoon;
takes the office on his way to the
house. You might see him, then, Sir
Charles, If so minded" said the naval
secretary.
THE afternoon! Probably four good
hours hence. Absurd" / cried holly,
when every moment is precious. Why,
this pirate yacht has already had "a
hours start. Oh, come, Sir Charles!
Let us go somewhere else. There are
other ships besides warships-steam-
ers, yachts in dozens, for hire. Why
do you hesitate? VIII no n help
me?"
/ asked this possibly with some
warmth, for i heard some one say as
we went off, Sir Charles and /:
MY word, what a little fury!"
From Whitehall the general took me
to Lloyds. He knew the secretary, he
said, and something Of the ways of the
place-its wonderful organization and
the vast machinery at its command
for knowing all about ships, almost
from hour TO hour. But the secretary,
a grave gentleman, with a sly twinkle
in his eye, shook his head very doubt
iAlly when he heard the whole story.
Continued Next WeekO