Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-03
MASTERS OF MEN !
A Romance Of the !
NEW NAVY
BY MORGAN ROBERTSON
copyrighted by Curt, Publishing Co. and Dopt-sday !,
Page & Co., 1901.
CHAPTER XI.

down the waterway, Halpln, Hal
pin-pass the word for seaman Hal
pin TO report to the officer OF the
deck"
The cry was taken up and repeat
ed, cchoing forward and aft on
three decks: before Il had ceased
Dick was touching his cap TO Mr..
Breen
you have been fighting sir"
said the officer. assuming stern ex-
preston OF face.
"Yes, sir"
Il hear that YOU are the most
quarrelsome character on board
and abusing your shipmates.
II didn't know that, SIR said
Dick. soberly.
You began when You enlisted, I
have heard, to thrash every hoy
weaker than yourself.
NO, sir, did not. They thrashed
me-all who wanted to. It's very
easy to get into o row. sir"
And s,uce then you've thrashed
them, Is that it?"
Dick noticed CULVER at the cor
swered boldly, II Just finished the
last OF that crowd, sir. we had
words this morning over brass
work"
The officer humIned tune softly
while ne studied the brown back of
Bronson. busily engaged in looking
unconcerned, yet taking in every
word.
Where is your home, Halpin?"
he asked, after q searching look into
Dicks face.
Il have none, sir; | came from
Allvile. UP near the State line"
"Allvtle,' repeated the officer.
half to himself DO You know
well. never mind. Hslpin," he said
earnestly, quit this fighting. It
works against you In the long run.
and have heard good reports Of You
from the officers of the Maine. I
want you for shipmate. Say moth
ing TO the men but the New York
will want draft soon. shall go in
her and may be able to have you
placed"
The New York-thank you, sir.
I hear it's the Mediterranean.
Either that or the South PaciSc;
but it's a desirable berth
How long before the draft.
sir?"
"A couple OF weeks"
Then I'd better apply for my lib-
erty at once, sir. I'm entitled 70 a
week"
Go ahead and be good"
Dick saluted, and returned to the
gun deck with a very high opinion
OF Mr.. Breen. After supper, when
Bronson was of duty, he sought
him, and they had a conversation
which so affected tho big quarter
master that he applied for liberty In
the morning and went ashore. When
he returned, forty eight hours later,
he was accompanied by two marines
from the gate guard. who steered
him TO the officer OF the deck, and
reported his misconduct, - entering
the yard Intoxicated, blowing smoke
In their faces. humping the
sergeant's head against a stone
wall, and using language disre-
spectful 20 the Marine Corps and
unbecoming petty Officer Of the
navy. For which Bronson. though
extremely repentant. had his shore
leave stopped for a month.
And | cant go along. Dick" he
groaned Il can only give nay bles-
sing"
And not only his blessing, but
sound advice and superintendent
did he give, to the result that Dick,
who would have journeyed home
alone. was induced to take with him
an appreciatiye ard enthusiastic
squad Of youngsters, Not to stick
your oars IN" Bronson enjoined
upon them. "or to stand in his way;
It's his funeral. You're a guard OF
honor-you're to prevent more than
three Jumping on him at once. y
And so, when q liberty crowd Of 9
hundred men and boys marched
out OF the navy yard few mornings
later. twelve of them waited with
Dick outside until the rest had scat
tered into adjoining streets, then
boarding bridge car, and srrivine
at the New York side, took the ele
vateo yOad uptown to the Grand
Central Station, where Dick boush
excursion tickets for all, and hand
ed them around. They were or
three days liberty, They had beer
carefully selected on their records
from q hundred eager applicants by
the discriminating Bronson. The!
were devoted TO Dick, and each fel
respect for himself and his call
Ing based on his training'in the ser
vice, and a chronic sense of injur.
which came only of his parentage
for all but Dick were Irish born
mulligans. they were called ,-ant
Dick himself inherited red hair
which Is conducive TO latent pug
nRcity, at least.
Truly Bronson had chosen wisely
There were Casey. Sullivan. O'Toole
and Devlin, shtpmatss of Dick o.
the Maine; Shannon and Doyle from
the Atlanta: Billson, whose frs
name was Dennis, from the Chi
csgo; and Webster, scanlon, Kill
roy, Keegan, and Kerrigan from tn
MiHntonomah. All wore the cap rib
bons of their last ships; all were /
shirt sleeves,-for the weather be
ing fine. the uniform Of the day ha