Missouri Valley times., 1901-02-28
"A GIRL E GRIT
BY MAJOR ARTHUR 6RlrFlThs.

Copyright 1900. by r. r. renno Go.

/, IA 10y NNCON INK
+ Copyright 1900. by
t-s-i..ts*++*S+++s+4++st+++ +st+
Il fear we shall not be able to. lay
our hands upon that yacht-at least
1 Ior some time to come-if she wishes
/ to keep out of the way. We can track
4 her down the river, Of course. as far
! as southend on one side, the North
that she steers straight course east
ward till out of sight, she will be lost
| In the German ocean,
/ He touched bell on his table and
| gave instructions to clerk.
Communicate with signal stations
down the Thames, and then with those
on the east and southeast coasts, and
/ scriptlon-it is the Tleur-d de-Lis In
fact. She is registered here; you can
| verify her from the books. Ask il she
has been seen or spoken with, and If
SO. what course she is on. That won't
take half an hour. In the meantime,
you might be inquiring for a steamer
to send In chase. That is your idea, is
F., 1t not?" and again he signaled in a
desk tube, summoning another sub
ordinate
Can anything come of it7" asked
Sir Charles doubtfully.
why not? You will, of course, have
to send posse of police in her. 1t
Will not be enough to overhaul her;
you Will have also to overawe the alb
ductors-always supposing YOU come
UP with and can positively identify the
Fleur- de-Lis, neither of which is very
probable
1T is just what 1 tell this young
lady. We've got first TO catch the
boat, and then to be sure 1T is the
Fleur-de-Lis, before we go step far
ther'
Exactly. All, Trevor.-this was to
another clerk who now came Inlet
ME know with all dispatch what
steamers could be hired for special
mission. Glass of no consequence, but
knots. and be ready for sea this after
noon. Price of charter by week or
month, all found-crew, captain, GOALS
| on board. Sharps the word, you un-
derstand? Who is going in her? You
should have some police officers. in
Perhaps you will sec to that, Sir
Charles?"
II should like to go in her" 1 now
said.
Charles that is pure nonsense. In the
first place, l think it is highly inn
probable that she will eaten UP the
some rough and tumble work-fighting
perhaps. Those villains, after going
such lengths. will not be very willing
to give up their prize. 1t would never
do for you, Miss Falrholme."
Il cannot bear to remain inactive. I
want to be doing something" con-
tended
Il expect you would be inactive
enough on board the steamer said the
secretary. Ranging up and down the
waters probably, q wretched sort of
cruise and always in ignorance as to
what was going on at home. l think
you would be wiser to find some other
outlet for your energies"
At this moment the first clerk came
IN with slip of paper In his hand.
:" "A small steam yacht, flying no col
ors,' he read aloud, was reported pass
Ing the North Foreland about p m.
last night, and a steamer, the same
no doubt, was seen from Beachy Head
this morning at 5 q. m. Her course APP
parently w. S. w. westerly. Nothing
seen of her since. Start Point and
Lizard have been warned specially to
look for her and report
She Is making for the Atlantic, 1
expect" was the secretary's commen-
tary. "At least that would be a fair
who shall say what will become of
her?"
Gould she not be Intercepted from
Plymouth or Falmouth" I suggested.
What would you calculate her rate
of steaming at the progress she has
made?'
TITS good suggestion. Miss Fair
holme. I should imagine the yacht
would be off the Start soon after mid
night and Plymouth by early tomor-
row morning. could wire instruc-
tions to Lloyds' agent to send out a
tug, and no doubt Sir Charles could ar
range for police constables with search
warrants and authority to detain the
Fleur-de- Lis"
That will I. by the Lord and send
an officer Of my own besides. 1 have
other reasons-oflicial reasons-for
wishing to come up with that yacht
and detain her for search On the
whole. I think that this is the most
prompt and sensible course. You
would hardly get a steamer off from
this or any other port under "a hours
and that would be a fatal loss Of
time"
Can I go in the tug?" 1 still stuck
to my point.
Quite impossible" replied the sec
mediation, and you would have to pass
the night in utter discomfort on the
open deck
II should not be afraid of that. But
some one who knows Mr.. Wood and
everything else must accompany the
tug" I argued.
My officer, swete Thornhill, knows
him. doesn't he?"
Yes. but not the Others. or the
meaning of the whole thing"
Send the Yankee then. He will be
quite equal to the emergency. Can
you get hold of him?"
Easily. He is on the telephone. Be-
sides, l know his address,
Then we left Lloyds, having given
carte blanche as regards expenditure,
and with full assurance that all prop
er arrangements would be made.
Later Mr.. Snuyzer answered my
summons, and was pleased to express
his approval when he heard what l
had done.
II don't admire another night out
in q good cause. There's sense in the
plan and 1T may succeed. The chase
was merely idiocy. You could never
have caught up the yacht Besides.
I can be back in London on Saturday
at latest. which is most Important"
''Yes?" 1 asked. rather indifferently.
Yes, truly. Sunday / sail from
Southampton by the Great River lines
steamer Chattahoochee for New York"
What! Why is this? What rea-
son-have you found out anything?"
Here is preliminary list of passen-
gers by the Chattahoochee. Run your
eye over the names. See? Duke and
Duchess of TERRA Sagrada."
You are indeed wonderful Mr..
Snuyzer." and in sheer admiration /
gave him my hand.
but that isn't all. Have you gone
right down the list? Well?"