Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-01-22
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J LIEUTENANT !
! KINDS By Will !
! u PAGE {

within the exclusive circles or army
and navy official society.
The watchman pondered. Don't re-
member the name, miss" he said,
scratching his head. "Are you sure it's
the navy and not the army?"
"Of course l am--the navy"
We'll, take a chair, miss, and I'll
look through the navy register.
thought | knew most of 'em, but some
times n new one comes from China or
the Philippines, where he's won COM
mission, without ever entering this
here department building"
Lieutenant Kinds has not been
away from Washington in four years, "
said the young lady. 'It seems strange
you do not know him."
mo such name" declared the guard
ian Of the door. slamming the naval
register shut "And let me tell you,
miss. you must have the name wrong,
since If he amt in the naval register
he amt any lieutenant in the navy of
your Uncle Samuel"
The young lady became visibly an
noyed.
"Kindly direct me to your superior" +"
she said decidedly. 81 have made no
mistake in the name. 1t is Lieutenant
John Kinds or the navy. He told me
SO himself"
"Well, If you are so sure, IL amt for
me TO say you're wrong" was the kind
IS answer "You might see the chief
clerk down that corridor to the left"
THANK you," was the reply, and the
young lady. evidently relieved, started
In the direction indicated. She turned
the corner into the long and dimly illu-
minated corridor on the navy depart
ment side and ran plump into young
man who was acting as the motive
power for a rubber wheeled truck load
cd with several stacks of books.
IL assure you'll beg your par
dom be began.
"Oh-forgive melt is so dark she
began. Then
"Why, Jack. here you are!"
The man uttered an exclamation Of
surprise ana annoyance. "The deuce
he began. why. Hettie, what are you
doing here:'
II wanted to see you," she com
menced, "and l couldn't wait until aft.
er Office hours. You see''-
'But, confound it." began the man
Il mean, forgive me. Only you know
| always said hated to receive visit
ors at the Office"
81 know, Jack, but mother is I'll. You
left the house before I came down to
breakfast Mother was worried about
the boardcrs and was afraid they'd all
leave when they heard she was sick.
II you stay, they will all remain, be-
cause they all like you. Besides
Besides what, Hettie?"
'Well, I've been thinking about last
highland the future-and-well, you
know. just couldn't stay away from
you"
"The dearest little woman in the
world" he responded tenderly. II was
brute to speak so to you, but l was
surprised at seeing you here the first
time, and, besides, these books must
be taken Immediately to the secreta-
ry"
carrying books and pulling that truck ?
| always thought lieutenants and naval
officers had men TO do things for them.
And do you know that horrid man at
the door didn't know you and said
there wasn't any Lieutenant Hinds."
MY dear girl" hurriedly calculated
the young man, "do you mean to say
al f,, 1.
ing for me? Why in the world
"Oh, Pm sorry 1 came now," muir
INJURED the girl. with suggestion of a
sob. 81 thought that my own lleuten-
ant of the navy would be glad to see
me-"
"Of course am" said the man
tenderly, yet anxiously. "There, for
give me, and I'll explain this evening
why / must not have any one calling
here Mt the office. The secretary be-
comes simply furious IL any of the
clcrks-I mean any one-receives COM
pany. Even now l am late, and the
secretary wants these books. Goodby,
dear until this evening"
The girl turned to go. A resonant
footstep on the marble floor OF the al
most deserted corridor interrupted
by them in the semdarkness BY the
feeble electric light he saw the two
people and the truck of books.
"Hinds," broke in n stern and COM
manding voice, take those books at
once to the office. When you have done
SO, | wish to see you" And the sec
retary Of the navy continued on his
way.
"Oh. Lordw cried the man. I'm done
for now! That was the secretary.
Run along quick. must CO."
"Tf you go, so will /. And l shall
tell this secretary what think OF him
for being so rude to you. / see moth
ing wrong In your speaking to me-"
The man turned. "Wait for me here.
| might as well face the music at
once" And, grabbing the handle OF
the truck, he strobe rapidly after the
vanishing figure OF the secretary. He
reached the outer office of that official
without once looking behind him. Theh
b. entered the secretary's private Of
nee. The secretary had just seated
himself.
"Iiinds." he commenced, ri am sorry
to see that you are entertaining ladies
IN the department during Office hours.
Are you marrlcdT
mo, sir"
"Thcn there isn't even the excuse
that you are receiving visit from
your wife. But | must have you dis
tiuctly understand that | do not ap-
prove Of strange ladies' or nny' kind Of
ladies visiting men I'm office. / don't
care who the lady is, and | don't wish
to know. l just want you to under
stand
but you shall know who the lady
ls" broke I'm an indignant voice. II
am Miss Hcttie Neville, and l am the
fiancee of Lieutenant John Kinds OF
the United States navy"
The secretary seemed puzzled. Kinds
sank into "A chair. The secretary was
the first to speak.
my dear young lady, do not know
how you entered here or why you are
80 indignant toward me. do not wish
to seem to crlticlse your conduct, but
Kinds here has always been one of my
most faithful aids, and / do not wish
him to set n bad example to the others
in the office"