The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-05-19

distinguished admiral TO the junior
lieutenant commander, were. by or
der, In the plainest Of civilian dress.
That It had been the intention OF the
identity secret was proved by the CON-
ments Of q railway Official who stood
near one Of the coaches while waiting
for a change OF locomotives.
You understand, don't you" he
said to q man apparently a train dis
patcher. standing beside him. that
this train has the right OF way over
everything? Sidetrack the hyer II
necessary TO get this through. There
can't be anything in front of her, and
the only limit to her time is the speed
of the engine that pulls her. ! under
stand it's a party of secret service
people the government is sending TO
Cuba. That's all know about 1t, and
it's in line with everything else you
naturally can expect from such lot
of insane men as they seem TO have
In Washington"
They whirled away from the sta
ton, looking at each other blankly.
and wondering what the outcome OF
all this mystery could be. Every
action so far was without precedent.
There was a disposition on the part
of some Of them to bemoan the fate
which had detached them from their
ships at "A time when the country was
10 be defended and glory won; but
this was brought to a sudden end by
grim old Fighting Bob" Bevins. the
admiral, who reprimanded them for
daring 10 crticise their superiors or
their orders.
IL don't know what it's all about.
boys" he said. relenting Il wish |
did: but have no more knowledge OF
it than you have. l don't even know
why Miss Roberts is aboard but this
much | am certain Of: That the men
in Washington know what they are
doing, and all the rest of the world
can just keep on criticising and guess
ing AS far as we are concerned. we
are officers who have sworn to and
will obey orders. even II they tell US
to go to the outer edge of the nat
earth"
Darkness came on them before their
next stop was made. and they slowed
down as they passed through the
yards of large city. felt their pun
ing locomotive being uncoupled. and
heard the slow resonant snorts OF
fresh one being driven into place.
They were tired of the days travelling.
and sat in listless silence, looking
through the open windows at the half
deserted platforms. Newsboys were
running here and there Offering the
latest editions, and they called them
TO the side Of the coach and bought
newspapers from them. The silence
in the car was broken by the admiral.
who had been the first purchaser.
We'll. I'll be BANKED" he said. an
grily crumpling his paper into a ball
which he threw on the floor at his
feet. before he began striding up and
down the aisle. What he had read be
meath fiaring headlines was this:
Washington. May 2S.-The Japa-
nese have taken the Hawaiian islands,
together with the gunboats Marietta
and Corbett, and are now landing
troops from large transport. The in
credible and dlsgraceful feature OF the
affair is that not gun was fired by
either side. our officers contenting
themselves by running up the white
flag when the enemy approached. The
cable operator sending the message
said that he did so under the surveil-
lance OF two Japanese officers. who at
the conclusion of the message would
disconnect the cable. thus putting the
Islands out OF communication"
ITO be continued in next issue.)