Mower County transcript., 1902-02-12

taxes the 0mce on 0lS way to the
house. You might see him, then. Sir
Charles, If 80 minded" said the naval
secretary. = sg#
! 1.-THE afternoon! Probably four rood
hours hence. Absurdw I cried hotly.
":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
steamers, yachts in dozens, for hire,
Why do you hesitate1 Will no one
help meT
1 asked this possibly with some
warmth, for l heard some one say as
we went of, Sir Charles and 1: =
my word, what a little furyw
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 sly twinkle in
his eye, shook his head very doubtfully
, when he heard the whole story.
II fear we shall not be able to lay
! our hands upon that yacht-at least
for some time to come-if she wishes
to keep out Of the way. We can track
her down the river, Of course, as far
as Southend on one side, the North
Foreland on the other. But If after
that she steers straight course east
ward till out Of sight, she will be lost
In the German ocean,"
He touched q 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
inquire for a yacht answering this
description-it is the Fleur- del Lis, in
fact. She Ia registered here; you can
verify her from the books. Ask II she
has been seen or spoken with, and if
80, what course she Is on. That won't
take half an hour. In the meantime,
you might be inQuiring for steamer
to send in chase. That Is your Idea, is
it notT' and again he signaled in a
desk tube, summoning another subor-
dinate.
"Can anything come of itr' 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 tell this young
lady. We've got first to catch the boat,
and then to be sure it is the Fleur-de-
Lis, before we 60 a step farther
Exactly. Ah, Trevor'-this was to
another clerk who now came inlet
me know with all dispatch what
steamers could be hired for special
mission. Class of no consequence, but
she must have speed Of 15 to 16
knots, and be ready for sea this after
noon. Price Of charter by week or
month, all found-crew, captain, Goals
on board. Sharp's the word, you un-
derstand? Who is going in her? You
should have some police officers, in
case there is any arrest to be made.
Perhaps you will see to that, Sir
Charles?'
II should like to go in her." I now
said.
my dear child" protested Sir
Charles, '*that is pure nonsense. In
the first place, think it is highly i'm
probable that she will catch up the
yacht But if she does there will be
some rough and tumble work-fghting
perhaps. Those villains, after going
such lengths, will not be very willing
to give up their prize. It would never
do for you, Miss Fairholme."
II cannot bear to remain inactive, I
want to be doing something," I con-
tended.
Il expect you would be inactive
enough on board the steamer" said the
secretary. Ranging up and down the
waters probably, a wretched sort Of
cruise and always in ignorance as to
what was going on at home. 1 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 8 D. m.
last night, and a steamer, the same no
doubt, was seen from Beachy Head
this morning at S a. m. Her course ap-
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, l
expect" was the secretary's commen-
tary. "At least that would be a fair
Inference. But once in the wide ocean,
who shall say what will become of
herT'
"Could she not be intercepted from
Plymouth or Falmouth?" I suggested.
What would you calculate her rate
OF. steaming at the progress she has
nader
Its good suggestion, Miss Fair
holme. I should imagine the yacht