The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-13


So you see / went across the ocean
tolerably depressed, finding my present
occupation threatened and my future
uncertain.
when l arrived in London, took a
room at this club. of which l have been
member for some years. and reported
Immediately at the admiralty But
there, in spite Of all diligence on my
part, l was quite unable TO learn what
was wanted of me. OF course could
have gone to my uncle, who is in the
government, and perhaps he might
| have enlightened me- although he has
nothing to do with the navy. but l
rather like to avoid Uncle Metgurne
He brought me up since l was small
| boy and seems unnecessarily ashamed
of the result. 1t Is his son who is the
attache in St Petersburg that l spoke
to you about"
Dorothy ceased reading for a mo-
ment.
"Metgurne, Metgurne," she said to
herself. Surely l know that name"
She laid down the letter. pressed the
| electric button and unlocked the door
When the servant came, she said:
"Will you ask at the office if they
have any biographical book of refer
ence relating to Great Britain and, If
so, please bring it to meT'
The servant appeared shortly after
with a red book which proved to be an
English who's Who" dated two years
back. Turning the pages, she came to
Metgurne.
"Metgurne, twelfth Duke of, created
1881, Herbert George Alan" Here fol-
lowed number of other titles, the in
formation that the son and heir was
Marquis of Thaxted and belonged to
the diplomatic service; that Lord Met
gurne was H NJ. secretary of state for
royal dependencies; finally a list Of
residences and clubs. She put down
the book and resumed the letter.
AZ think l ought to have told you
that when l reach St Petersburg
shall be as anxious to avoid my cousin
Thaxted as l am to steer clear of his
father in London. So sat in my club
and read the papers. Dear me, this
is evidently going to be a very long
letter. 1 hope you won't mind.
think perhaps you may be interested
in learning how they do things over
here.
After two or three days of anxious
waiting there came a crushing com
munication from the admiralty which
confirmed my worst fears and set me
at crossing the bridge again. l was or
dered to report next morning at IL at
committee room in the admiralty and
bring with me full particulars pertain
ing to the firing Of gun number so-and-
so of the Consternation's equipment on
such q date. / wonder since that | did
not take to drink. We have every ia
cility for that sort of thing In this club
However, at IL next day l present
ed myself at the committee room and
found in session the grimmest looking
five men 1 have ever yet been called
upon to face. Collectively they were
about ten times worse in appearance
than the courtmartial had previously
encountered. Four of the men l did
not know, but the fifth 1 recognized al
once, having often seen his portrait
He is Admiral Sir John Pendergest
popularity known in the service as
old Crouch q blue terror who knows
absolutely nothing of mercy. The lads
in the service say he looks so disagree
able because he Is sorry he was moi
born a hanging judge. Picture a face
as clearly cut as that of some severe
old Roman senator, face as hard Us
marble, quite as cold and nearly as
white, rescued from the appearance OF
a death mask by a pair Of piercing
eyes that glitter like steel. When look
ing at him it is quite impossible II
believe that such a parsonage has ever
been boy who played pranks on his
masters. Indeed, Admiral Sir Johr
Pendergest seems to have sprung, fully
uniformed and forbidding from the
earth, like those soldiers of mythology
l was so taken aback at confronting
such a man that I never noticed ny
old friend, Billy Richardson, seated a
the table as one Of the minor officials
Of the committee. Billy tells me
looked rather white about the lip
when l realized what was ahead o
me, and I dare say he was right. NJ,
consolation is that didn't get red, a
Is my disconcerting habit. l was &C
) commodated with a chair, and then
ferrety faced little man began askin,
me questions, consulting every nov
2 and then a foolscap sheet of pape
: which was before him. Others wer
9 ready to note down the answers.
"'When did you fire the new gu
2 from the CONSERVATION in the Baltic
( Dear Miss Amhurst, have confess
I ed to you that I am not brilliant, and
e indeed, such confession was quite IN
I necessary. for you must speedily hav
recognized the fact but here let m
boast for line or two of my one az
. complishment, which is mathematics
accuracy. When 1 make experiment
{ 1 don't note the result by rule Q
) thumb. My answer to the ferret face