Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-30

The shining.-the early morning sum- which
firted with the waves and sent them into spasms Of
leaping exultaton. 1t intensified the blue of the
uniforms on the landing The Commandant was
peared anxious when he studied his old friends
face. They walked away in arm, while the
junior Lieutenant looked haughty at the cadets of
whom he had so recently been a member They
chaffed him; but he preserved stony and austere
silence.
The Commandant refrained from comment. but
with his own hand gave the Rear Admiral official
envelop, 1t contained peremptory order to report
forthwith to the office of the Secretary of the Navy in
Washington. The Rear Admiral read it and brushed
his hand across his forehead His fingers trembed
little. Such summons was ominous but duty was
duty, and all his life he had bravely obeyed without
hesitation
He lost time in issuing orders to the Logger
head, and fastened to comply On the short jour
ney he reviewed his cruise and had of abash-
ment at his past temerity but doggedly set his
teeth, resolved to answer any pertinent question
that might be asked Was he not a Rear Admiral
and within his rights and entitled to some leeway?
- the made powerful by political preferment.
the tape bound bureaus. and the army of clerks held
working abode, and announced himself. For the
first time in many years he was compelled to wait
for few minutes outside the forbiddng doors.
Behind them the Secretary of the Navy and the
first assistant and the second assistant and the first
assistant clerk and the first assistant stenogra-
pher were assisting each other in conference Be-
fore them was pile of newspapers containing
good The
Mighty Flagship Loggerhead Last Heard from in the
Bay: Has Safely Escaped the Dangers of the
D & w Canal Doughty Officers Flag Sighted
The chiefs had many theories some of which
bodied insanity They cringed beneath the storm of
ridicule that had burst over them but this cuprit
too much beloved by his countrymen to be
dealt with like a mischevous midshipman. They
60 slowly, hear his explanation, and then per-
NIT him to retire immediately and drop from public
1nhf and he nj he rhaQ
must be expunged The Secretary, polished, force
full, and we'll groomed who had been recently
direct the naval affairs of the nation, decisive
on this point All withdrew him, and it
he who greeted the Rear Admiral when the usher
opened the door.
THE Secretary's frigidty of air thawed imper-
ceptibly when he looked at the sturdy old figure
and met the perturbed gray eyes. Here hero
after all; but he had done something that he alone
could explain. Perhaps there was some explanation.
He hoped SO; but doubted it. He wished he knew
sailors lives and sailors motives more intimately.
They were of different world than he had studied
In this episode the ridiculous; but none of it at
tached to the before him. He was perplexed.
"Admira1,' he said after the customary greetings
were exchanged what about this cruise of yoursf'
We'll, sir, we came through the canals in cut
ter"
And flew your hag?"
That was all. The officer had no excuse to offer
apparently. He sat quietly before the Secretary,
with an underglow of smoldering defiance in his
eyes The Secretary mistook his attitude for Stub
bornness and his wrath famed again when he
thought of the newspaper stories His voice became
hard and cold and sarcastic. He bit his words off
incisive1y.
Yes, and you had fool christening up there in
the yards called your cutter the Loggerhead, went
out demanding full honors to your flag, and
Stop, sir!"
The fighting who had been in peaceful paths
for years aroused His interruption COM
mand that recalled the valiant clash of STEEL the
terrific boom of heavy guns, and the wild savagery