The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-28
| DON'T KNOW or ANYBODY LIKE
 BETTER." o5hE REPLIED

story, which was that he had had an illegitimate brother, the father of Don Silvio, who strongly resembled him in ap- pearance, and that after the death of his father and mother this brother had com mitted many crimes, among which was the murder of the father of Don Scipio, one of the young men who had sought his life that morning. Although Don Rebiera had been able to prove his inno- cence of the charges against him, Don Scipio still persisted in believing him guilty, influenced thereto by Don Silvio, who, in spite of the fact that Don Silvio had provided for him ever since the dea tin of his father, was his most bitter enemy.
 For a fortnight the young men stayed on as guests of Don Rebiera, and when they finally departed For Palermo the don showered down upon them his blessings and good wishes his wife kissed them both. and the tender lips of Agnes trem- bled as she bade them adieu.
 For the first quarter of an hour the mdshipmen followed their guide in si- lence. Jack wished to be left to his thoughts, and Gascoigne respected his wishes. At last Gascogne said: Well. Jack, if l had been like you, beloved by the beautiful girl never could have torn myself away
 Loved by herr exclaimed Jack. What makes you think so? l thought people were always melancholy when they were in love"
 That is when the one they love is ab- sent" replied Gascoigne. 'Ill lay my life the gentle Agnes is crying this minute"
 "Dou you think 20 said Jack. Let's go back feel that l do love her and I'll go and tell her so." But the middes did not turn back, though when Jack ar rived in Palermo he at once sat down and wrote Agnes d letter in bad Spanish in which he swore that neither time nor tide nor even the first lieutenant should prevent his coming back and marrying her, And Agnes cried and laughed over the epistle, and thought 1t delightful, classical and even grammatical.
 The young men had letters of introduc- tion from Don Rebiera to his two sons in Palermo, Don Philip and Don Martin, and also a letter to banker which enabled Jack to draw d fairly heavy draft on MT. Easy, Sr For time Jack and his friend cut d wide swath in Palermo but when they ventured to entertain at dinner the captain of British man-of-war which put into port they went d little too far, and the escapade ended in their being taken on board ship by q file of marines and carried back to Malta under arrest.
 Captain Wilson was breakfasting with the governor when Jack and the two cul- prits were returned on board the Harpy. Their return was reported to him and he told the story of the duel to Sir Thomas, who was a jovial soul, fond of good story. He begged that MT. Midshipman Easy be sent for al once.
 Jack walked in with courage, but re- spectful Captain Wilson sharply repri- manded him, first for fighting a duel with the pursers steward. secondly for fight ing a duel at all, and lastly for running away from his ship. But Sir Thomas in- terfered and begged leniency for the young man and his companion. Now, Sir Thomas the governor, was a very great man compared with mere captain, 50 Wilson found an excuse for listening to the promptlngs of his own heart and when Jack expressed his contriton he agreed to let the matter go with a repri- mand but warned him that any such pranks in the future would be al his peril
 The governor interfered again and begged that Jack might be allowed to stay and breakfast. Before the meal was over Sir Thomas had got from the lad the whole story of his adventures since leaving Malta, and declared that Jack must never come into port again as long as he ruled there without having good story to tell him.
 Soon after Jack had returned to duty the Harpy sailed on a cruise 10 the west ward. At Port Mahon orders were found , promoting Captain Wilson to the com : mand of the Aurora frigate. Jack went with the captain to the new ship, and at his request Gascoigne and Mesty were