Willmar tribune., 1908-10-07
CHAPTER xiv.-continued.

CHAPTER XiV.-continued
This was an embarrassing question,
but Sir Charles was saved the neces-
sity of answering, for the midshipman
came running to the quarterback once
more and saluted.
"Well?" said the officer to the ex-
pectant boy.
admiral Kephard's compliments
to you, sir, and he begs you will escort
Captain Seton to his cabin OF once .
you're in luck, captain returned
the officer, "the admiral is not always
80 easy of access. Will you step this
way, s!r?"
! After you, SIR said Sir Charles,
bowjng and following the lieutenant
until he was ushered past the marine
orderly on duty and into the ad-
n,irsl's cabin.
The admiral was just completing
his toilet. His body servant was help
inE him on with his coat lie had
evidently just had q bath to refresh
him after the fatigues of his Journey.
"Oh, Seton" he cried as the other
same in, 'glad to see you, man. Sit
down. John,"-to the servant
fetch out decanter Of navy sherry.
Whisky, Seton, whisky, although per.
Taps YOU army men affect port
Il guess we can follow the navy's
lad in something stronger than port, ~
laughed Sir Charles.
what brought you here, Sir
Charles?' continued the admiral as he
Goured out liberal glassful for Se-
son and another for himself. Il left
:ou at Darlington. But, no, l remem.
ber you rode away before I did, just
after my lord Have you come on any
trace of fugitives?"
"Admiral,' said Sir Charles, grave.
ly, Il know where they are"
"And that damned lubberly hound,
Strathgate, is he"
'He isn't with them. They gave
him the Slip
"You don't say? Good" laughed the
admiral How was that?"
Seton rapidly detailed the circum
stances as he had deduced them.
well done, that woman has spirit
enough continued the old soldier, 'to
command frigate. You will never
convince me that she's taken up with
man of Strathgate's caliber.'
''She went away with him, though
said Seton thoughtfully.
"Ay ay, but she knows no more o1
the world than baby. She simply
made use of his proffered assistance
to escape from an intolerable situa
tion. You take me, Seton?"
II do, admiral, and 1 confess I hard
ly blame her. How Darlington could
tolerate Lady Cecily for a moment
beside that splendid woman"
ITO say nothing of that other splen
did woman, Mistress Deborah Slocum
eh, Seton?"
Even Saints Rest becomes
heavenly when looked at by the aid
of such pair of black eyes? And the
lady, boy?"
II confess. SIR answered Seton
somewhat abashed by the frank ques
ti"ning of the old dan, that 1 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"
Il told you, admiral, that l knew
where they were."
well, 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, we'll knowing
that for most of them he was respon-
sible.
They're on merchant ship bound
up the channel and going fast when
l 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 off the track, led you
ashore, watched Darlington ant
Strath4ate fight it out under her YER.
eyes and got clean away?"
She hasn't got away yet, admiral -
"What mean you?"
Il came here to make proposition
to YOU
"A proposition to me?'
"Yes."
"You have fast ship at your COM
mand, take it."
DO you mean the Britannica" said