The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-05-16

lady, boy?"
Il confess, sir" answered Seton,
somewhat abashed by the frank ques-
tioning of the old man, that l have
some reason to believe, in short
In short, my boy, you've been chas-
ing her all night, have your"
You're right, sir"
and what now?"
II told you, admiral, that l knew
where they were"
We'll, where are they? Out with
It, lad. Disclose your information and
come to the point. All these side is
sues are unworthy of a soldier"
laughed the old seaman, well knowing
that for most of them he was respon-
sible.
They're on a merchant ship bound
up the channel and going fast when
I saw them last"
WHAT" cried the admiral. Give
me the particulars"
Sir Charles rapidly ran over the
scene of the morning.
The old admiral threw back his head
and laughed.
And she outwitted you all, shook
Strathgate of the track, led you
ashore, watched Darlington and
Strathgate fight It out under her very
eyes and got clean away?"
"She hasn't got away yet, admiral"
What mean your"
II zane here to make a proposition
to you"
"A proposition to met"
Eyes"
you have a fast ship at your com
mand, I take It."
do you mean the Britannica" said
the admiral, mentioning his flagship.
T do"
"Of course she's fast. The admiral
ty know me. l wouldn't take a slow
ship"
rs she as fast as that merchant
man, do you think?"
why, my boy, there isn't a mer-
chant ship on the seas that she could
MT overhaul in anything like a wind"
Admiral" said Sir Charles In
genuously, q lay you a wager"
What is that?"
"A hundred pounds that you can't
overtake that merchant ship"
"Whatw reared the admiral. me
take out one Of his majesty's ships to
chase after a runaway wife and a fool
ish girl7"
81 beg your pardon. admiral, II you
refer to Mistress Deborah Slocum, |
must ask you to moderate your lam
euage," protested Sir Charles, warmly,
his face flushing.
60 to! go to-" laughed the adj
miral. I'm old enough to be your
father. But the idea of an admiral
of the white taking a hundred gun
ship-of-the-line out to chase a paltry
merchantmen for-Impossible, my boy,
impossiblel"
But said Sir Charles, the navy
cannot afford to decline a bet, a wager
with it's sister service. I'll lay you
a thousand pounds, admiral, that you
can't do it,
my lad" said the admiral gently,
after a moments reflection, mo wag'
ers are needed. I'll do 1t because I'm
fond of the girl and Darlington, too
| can overhaul them before nightfall
without doubt and I'll be glad to do 1t
although just exactly what warrant
have for stopping an American shiI
on the high seas and taking from heI
another mans wife I can hardly say
81 can help you in that, admiral
AS to warrant, il you'll bring to the
other ship and give me a boat crew
I'll 60 aboard the American and dc
the rest Mistress Deborah, ! am sure
will come willingly"
Don't be too sure Of that" returned
the admiral, don't count upon a WON
an until she's your own. and dom
count too much upon her after that
as Darlington might say"
Nevertheless, ! think l speak b.
the card" said Sir Charles.
very well, you know best. Hav
ing been a bachelor all my life,
know more about ships than women
but bark We, Seton, this one thing
Don't you come back to the ship ate
| put you aboard that trader, will
only Miss Deborah, The two have t,
come together, or go together, YOU
understand
Eyes, sir"
The admiral struck the bell on tn,
table beside him. Instantly the ma
rine orderly popped in the door.
my compliments to the officer 0
the deck" said the admiral to TIL
orderly. "and ask him to beg Captain
Beatty to favor me with his presencI
In the cabin
yes, sir" returned the orderly, 50
luting.
a. moment ~after--an Incredibly shor
time It seemed to Seton, who was un
aware Of the way In which an ad
mirals requests are obeyed-captail
Beatty, the naaee- mentioned, present
ed himself before the admiral.
you wish to see me, admirai?"
Eyes, Beatty. BY the way, let m
present to you Sir Charles Seton Q