Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-01-26

would confde in you." he added gal
lantly.
That key?"
Belongs to my w private desk,
where ! keep my love letters" said
the captain. lying promptly. Let me
Introduce my young brother to you,
countess" he continued, as an ex-
tremely good looking boy approached
them, whose white patch on his collar
betokened his rank of midshipman.
Il shall be delighted! Your brother
is an officer on board also? How nice
for you both! A lieutenant, I sup
pose"'' she said, smiling sweetly at
young st. Aubyn, who was immensely
flattered.
At that moment, however, the count
came up and intimated to his sister
that it was time for them to return to
the shore. He was "a handsome man,
clean shaven, and not unlike st. Aubyn
in height and build; indeed, oddly
enough, even his features were SINH
lar.
Il must thank you heartily for a
pleasant morning" he said to the cap
tain in excellent English. will you
give me the pleasure of your company
at dinner tomorrow night! We are
staying at the Great Britain"
The officer was about to demuu when
he caught sight of the girls blue eyes
fixed anxiou5ly upon him.
Thank you; l shall be delighted"
he answered quietly-"that is, if you
will not mind my coming in uniform,
as | am going to a ball." he added hesi-
tatingly.
Not in the least!" replied the count
heartily. I'VE shall be all the more
complimented-shall we not, Vera?"
Vera assured the captain that it was
so; and after impressing upon st. Au,
byn the dinner hour at the hotel
brother and sister babe him good-by
and left the cabin with their friend,
the officer who had invited them on
board.
Il don't like that Russian Johnnie,
Phil" remarked Cecil st. Aubyn, as he
gazed out of a gun embrasure and
watched the guests departure in a
boat.
why not? He seems a pleasant
enough fellow" observed his brother
carelessly.
ms " -F.
20, he asked a jolly sight too many
questions for my taste! But he got
precious little change out Of me, you
bet! It's my private opinion the mans
a spy" said the boy, turning and con-
fronting the captain.
What rot you TALK" returned St.
Aubyn irritably., Because a man is
intelligent and desires to improve his
mind does it necessarily follow that
he must be a spy? Really, Cecil, 7
think I am quite capable of managing
my own affairs. You had better clear
out If you cannot talk sense" said the
captain stiffiy, his brow darkening
ominously.
The following day, having some &C,
casion to hold official intercourse with
the officer who had invited the visit
ors off to church, st. Aubyn remarked
casually:
''See you at the Z~ullenoffs tonight,
l suppose, Smith,"
The officer in question looked slight
ly uncomfortable.
mo, sir" he replied quietly.
why, how's that? It's rather i'll
bred of the man to leave you out of the
invitation"
well, to tell you the truth, sir, I
really know little about the cullen
offs" the lieutenant began, ~hesitating-
ly. Perhaps it was indiscreet of me
to invite them here. I met the man
and his sister at Spezzia when l was
there last year with the fleet, and I
encountered them again a day or two
ago in the Strada Reale, when the
count asked me point blank to invite
them off to the ship"
"Weli, they seem pleasant people,"
said the captain, indulgently. "Espe-
cially the girl" he added, as if by an
afterthought.
eyes, especially the GIRL" reiterated
the lieutenant, respectfully.
That evening the captain of the Ire
mendous, with his boat cloak thrown
over his ball uniform, left the ship in
his galley and was landed at the GUS
tom house steps. Stepping into one of
the small carriages, which were ubi-
quitcus, and whose noisy drivers piled
necessarily for hire, he was driven
rapidly Ia ,he direction of the hotel.
Two hours iaSel sL. sficer of the
watch was surprised at his return to
the ship in a Maltese waterman'c boat.
He went to meet the captain al the
gangway, touching his cap as he did
so, and the latter, upon stepping on to
the quarter deck, returned the salute,
and, muttering that he had forgotten
something, dived down to his cabin.
1t was a dark night, but the officer saw
the captains face quite plainly by the
flash Of a lantern. His peaked cap,
with the gold oak leaves, was drawn
well over his forehead, and his face
pale and strange. Happening to
encounter Cecil St. Aubyn a few mo-
ments later the lieutenant informed
him Of his brothers return.
That's rummy, sir!" said the boy,
opening his eyes wide. HE was going
on to the gunners' ball after he had
dined vita some friends. I wonder
what's up?"
HE said he had forgotten some
thing; but he certainly did not look
well. Perhaps you had better go be-
low and see If he requires anything"
The boy waited no second bidding,
but ran quickly down the after ladder.
Unceremoniously he burst into the
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