Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-09-20
THE UNDOING OF DANSYL
BY u. II. WITHINGrON.

way Vi uoihg IL. Long practlce mad per-
fected it, and three quarters of Mussen's
existence was wasted in laying elaborate
plans to get square. But somehow they
always took an unexpected turn, and
Mussen generally got his shore leave cur
tailed in consequence. Then Lun Ding,
the sly, fat-faced Monaghan steerage
steward, would weep tears of salt and
red pepper, and assure Mussen, in
wretched iargon, that if he had the pull
with the department which his brother
in-law's third cousin had with the great
god Joss, Dansyl would ere this have
been seeking an apprenticeship to a navy
yard blacksmith, and he, Mussen, would
be the first on the register for the rank
of commodore.
Dansyi nad an exasperating habit of
giving mock orders, under his breath,
from his station in the foretop, across
the smokestack to Mussen in the main
top. When these mock orders were ac-
companied by gestures of an imperative
nature and a tantalizing grin, Mussen
lost his temper and said things deroga-
tory to the dignity of the occasion and
the service. Coming to the ears of the
away these things on the quarterback, in
the ingenious mode of the steerage, which
was humiliating, to say the least.
After a while Mussen and Dansyl met
and ate and smoked in silence, and sa-
luted each other in the gangway with the
profoundest formality. When on duty
they exchanged orders with the air of
vain and pompous rear admirals. Then
Dansyl spoiled tragedy, ard the service
lost a midshipman who might have been
depended upon to do strange things in
battle.
Mussen got his appointment from Mis-
souri,. He was long and raw and awk-
ward. Two years at Annapolis had failed
to eradicate a natural bashfulness, and
he came to our old sloop-of war modest
and retiring, but with some laundering
ways that made him unpopular with
| portion of the officers. and won for him
| the everlasting ridicule of his dudish New
| York fellow midshipman, Dansyl. Beden
and Whitefield, the other two midship-
men, frowned the manner of Dansyl
toward their messmate, but took no ac.
tive part in opposition. And so Dansyl
ran on to his ruin unrestrained.
To have heavy cared cutter lowered
on your head isn't much of Joke Mus
sen said it wasn't, with many wicked
ordinations. But in addition to that.
to have your best white uniform streaked
with dirty water, i'll the presence of your
friends, at moment when you are
anxious to appear at your best-well,
that's what happened to Mussen; and
Dansyl, who was the cause of it, wisely
paused in his ridicule of his messmate
just long enough for the edge of Mus
sens wrath to wear off.
Mussen invited some friends aboard
one day. when the ship lay in the North
river. Mussen logged out in his best
and obtained permission to convey his
friends in the third cutter. The crew
manned the boat and drew up to the
gangway to take them ON board. Mussen
sprang into the sternsheets to arrange
things himself for his friends reception.
when the trim figure of Dansyl appeared
in the gangway above.
MIR, Mussen," he said, in an authorita-
tive tone, will you please to drop your
boat down? l wish to lower the second
cutter to convey Lieut.. Rivers ashore"
Had Dansyl not been in charge of the
deck, Mussen would have strangled him
and thrown him into the river. But that
would he mutiny now. He only gazed
helplessly at his waiting friends on the
gangway. Then he determined to de-
mand a moments delay to take in his
friends and shove off: but Dansyl gave
the order TO the men at the boats falls
to lower away, and she began instantly
TO fall directly over Mussen's head.
There was nothing to do but get out of
the way, which Mussen did with as much
grace as possible. But clumsy sailor
with bucket of dirty water got too
close to the gunwale of the lowering cut.
ter, capsizing it, and Mussen got the
benefit of it all over his snowy uniform.
Mussen, livid with rage. excused himself
to his friends and sent them ashore
Then he pursued his wrath at Dansvl
in the steerage, and affected to act good
humoredly with everybody except
Dansyl.
The next time they spoke was in n
ballroom in Halifax. \ British frigate's
officers gave a ball in honor of the Amer
lean admiral, and every man above n
warrant officer attended Dansyl grew
giddy under the effects of the wine, found
Il partner himself. and began a rather
uncertain dance. Fate brought him close
to Mussen and his partner. Dansyl stun
bled stupidity, and there was collision.
The ladies, in great confusion, stammered
request to DE excused, and Dansyl.
turning savagely to Mussen, said: You
fool, you'll hear of this again"
Mussen could scarcely restrain himself
as he answered, Yes, you shall hear
from me-"
When they returned to their own ship.
Mussen overlook Dansyl on the after
companion ladder. mfr. Dansyl" he said.
you shall give me satisfaction for this
| insult"
You shall have it," said Dansvl with
the bravado inspired by champagne.
At Key West, then. shall expect Won
to keep your promise"
| Wherever you wish it," said Dansyl.
And the next morning the ship sailed for
| hey West