The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-11-06

~ l beg your pardon, I've nothing to
do. Let's go for a stroll along the
beach. It's a glorious night-moon,
stars and all that sort of thing"
Mr.. Michael MacDermott-a younger
son of an ~impecunious but highly re-
spectacle Irish peer, who was endeav-
oring to earn a living by law practice
in New York, and l had been chums
for several years-had been chums
from the moment we met in a plain
little restaurant where we both made
a practice of eating late suppers.
"All right, Mike" | said, putting my
proofs away in q desk and locking it
securely. Il am not busy tonight"
You are always busy, lucky man."
he said. But all work and no play
you know the rest. What's this" nod
ding towards my desk, 1.-The master
piece?"
II don't know about that" I replied,
modestly.
Il entirely disagree with your argu-
ment," he said, as we went out. l had
given him my proofs to read. indie
PENDENT criticism is always valuable.
II 50 often induces us to leave in what
we We're half disposed to strike out.
Yes ! replied, this being the most
non-committai ejaculation a man can
utter when %unprepared with a subtler
retort.
90" he said, "a man who would re-
fuse to marry the woman he loved
and who loved him simply because she
happened to be an heiress would be an
unnlitigated ass"
Il would do It, l interrupted.
Then you would be an unmitigated
ass he replied, %placidly. Unvarnished
eafdor Is one OF Mikes most pro-
nounced characteristics. sd like tc
have the chance, that's all"
MY dear Mike, I know you better
than you know yourself. A man OF
my trade must be a student of human
mature or he's no good, You'll marry
the woman you love, though she be
as poor as an Irish politician
Pm not in love with any woman
he declared, triumphapt!y.
No. Neither am \. Perhaps thai
is why we are both SO positive about
what we should do in such a case"
We strolled down to the shore
Then. suddenly, a search light sho'
across the water.
We're in luck" cried Mike. "a
didn't know the naval maneuvers were
being held off here tonight. There's
going to be a night attack"
We clambered upon the seawall-s
sort of %esplanade with the lamps ant
lounges o~mitted-and took our stant
to watch the coming maneuvers
Three torpedo ~destroyers. we learn
from g chatty sailor, would pr emily
attempt to run the gauntlet of thos,
fanlike arms of light which were nov
sweeping the sea in every direction.
Presently a cry went up, Here:
one!" Then, simultaneously, a flash
a deep roar as of thunder, from tn,
fort, and our sailor said-speaking, O
course, in metaphor: shes done TO
blown to smithereens. They soo1
spotted her, didn't they? Humph.
Pity faint real, stead Of only max,
believe
For some minutes-fye, ten, the,
may have been 15-time gallops wheI
the mind is at high tension-there wa:
silence. The guns, having annihiiatet
the first of the invaders, were dumb
and every watcher began to wonde
ii the others were never coming. Thel
the light just behind us swung sharpl.
shore, and, close in. rushing through
the waterslike a race horse, came an
other destroyer at full speed. Boom
boom! and again boom! al the fort, de
tecting the third, gliding ~stealthily, a
half speed, up midchannel, unde
cover, as It's commander hoped, OF hi
nnmrade closer shore, took q part i
this mimic battle.
But, yer as cur sailor uttered a viii
yell of warning, there was a sudde
crash the shouting of men, the whist
~ 81 eseapin s steam ard seq rel
light, farther along the beach, playe
on the second destroyer fast agroun
in the grip OF a ledge.
There's a pretty kettle of fish, es
claimed MacDermott. Then, ever prac
tical, he made q trumpet of his hand
and beloved, do you want an
help?"
Send-for-coastguard came til
answering shout, and Eeep-searcl
light-on us--will you"
Eer@ence the American public
some 40 Of that sensation seeking boo
was In a fair way to be gratifie
Even Mike rubbed his hands gIeefuil
and ch.ekIed In my ear sSyd this
fine IMnScorrn mt Gar annashnxvs an