Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20

Why, yes it does. father. How can you
speak like that? Don't you know Lieu
tenant Drummond fired at it?'
How do you know 1t was the same
rock7"
Because the rock fred back at him.
There can't be two like that in the Bal
tic"
! mo, nor one, either" said the captain
nearing the end of his patience
Captain Kempt, said Dorothy, very
soothingly. as If she desired to quell tho
rising storm, you take the allegation
about the spring of water to prove that
Johnson was telling untruths. / expect
him here within an hour, and I will ar
range that you have an opportunity, prt-
vately, of ross-examining him. think
when you see the man and listen to him
you will believe. What makes me so sure
that he is telling the truth is the fact
that he mentioned the foreign vessel FIR
in at this rock, which knew to be true,
and which he could not possibly have
learned anything about"
He might very well have learned all
particulars from the papers Dorothy.
They were full enough of the subject at
the time. and. remembering this. he
! thought to strengthen his story by
Katherine interrupted with great scorn.
by adding versimilitude to an other
wise bald and unconvincing narrative"
quite SO, Kate; exactly what was go
ing to say myself But to come back to
the project itself. Granting the existence
OF the rock, granting the truth OF john
son STORY, eNSIy lIIllS, 5IdIll4iAS
even that the young men are imprisoned
there. of which we have not the slightest
proof we could no more succeed In cap
turing that place from fran pleasure
yacht
ITS built like a cruiser" said Rather
inc.
Even IL /. were built like battleship
we would have no chance whatever. Why,
that rock might defy a regular fleet Our
venture would simply be a marine Jameson
raid which would set the whole world
laughing when people came to hear OF it
johnson said he could take it with half
a dozen men"
mo. Kate" corrected Dorothy, ''he said
the very reverse-that two or three deter
mined men on the rock with repeating rifles
could defeat a host. 1t was l who suggest
ed that we should throw smell. ana then
rush the entrance in the confusion.
Capt Kempt threw up his hands In
gesture of despair.
Great heavens! Dorothy Amhurst, whom
have always regarded as the mildest,
sweetest and most charming of girls! To
hear you calmly propose to throw Shell
among a lot of innocent men defending
their own territory against a perfectly UNI
authorized invasion! Throw a shell. say
YOU as II you were talking of tossing a
copper to a beggar, Oh, Lord, I'm grow
ing old What will become of this younger
generation? Well, l give II up Dorothy,
my dear, whatever will hapen TO those I'M
fortunate Russians, | shall never recover
from the shock of your shell. The thing Is
the moment you get down to details? How
are you going to procure your shells, or
your shell-flring gun? They are not TO be
bought at the first hardware store you
come to on 9Th avenue.
johnson says he can get them pro-
claimed Kate with finality.
ooh, Johnson! Dorothy, I beg
your pardon. but really this daughter of
mine combined with that Johnson OF
yours, is Just little more than l can
bear"
Then what are we to do?" demanded his
daughter sit here with folded hands?"
That would be great deal better than
what You propose. You should do some
thing sane. You mustn't involve a pair or
friendly countries in war. OF course the
United States would utterly disclaim your
act and discredit me If | were lunatio
enough to undertake such a wild-goose
chase, which I'm not; but, on the other
hand. If two of our girls undertook sIch
an expedition. no man can predict the pub
lie clamor that might arise. Why when
the newspapers get hold of a question. you
never know where they will end it, I'm
doubtedly you two girls should be sent to
prison, and, with equal undoubtedness, the
American people wouldn't permit 1t.
You bet they wouldn't said Katherine,
dropping, Unto slang.
war
"One moment Capt. kempt,' said Dor
othy, again in her niildest tones, for voices
had again begun to run high. you spoke
OF doing something sane. you understand
the situation. What should you counsel US
to DOR
The captain drew a long breath and lean
ed back In his chair.
There. Dad. it's up to you," said Kath-
crime Let US hear your proposal, and
then you'll learn how easy It is to critictse.'
Well" said the captain hesitatingly,
there's our diplomatic service
utterly useless: one man Is Russian
and the other an Engishman. Diplomacy
NOT only can do nothing, but won't even
try" cried Kate triumphantly.
yet, said the captain. with little conf
dence. although the two men are foreign
ers the two girls are Americans.
I'VE don't count, we've no votes. said
Kate. Besides. Dorothy tried the dipio-
matte service ard could not even get acou-
rate information from 1t. Now, father, third
time and out.
-Four balls are out Kate. and I've only
famed the air twice. Now. girls I'll tell
you what TIL do You two come with me 20
Washington. We will seek private inter-
view with the President. Ire VIII get into
communication with the czars also privately
and outside OF all regular channels. The
czar will put machinery in motion that y
sure to produce those two young men much
more effeefualIy and speedily than any cut
throat expedition on yacht.