Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1908-03-17

the Britannia sailed"
Where did the britannia go?"
I'VE don't know anything about IL.
A small boat came alongside. looked
like soldier in her and then the ship
got under way. slgnaled to us to dis
regard the motions of the commander.
in-chief and left Lascelles in com
mand"
"A small boat with soldier In
her." unused Darlington. (which way
did the Britannia go?''
"At nightfall she was going up the
channel in the wake OF big mer-
chairman"
by heavens" roared the earl,
"thatll be Seton"
= don't understand what you mean"
said Miller.
Never mind" returned Darlington,
visibly perturbsd, send me Parkman.
Ask Captain Lascelles TO let him Off
for the night. Explain to him
And what shall ! say to Captain
Careysbrook?
Say anything you like, except that
cant come off, and I'll explain when
can
THAT won't do much good said
Miller, but III do the best can
He shook the others hand and left
the room.
Seton on the Britannia! see it
all now unused Darlington. What a
fool was not to think Of 1t myself
They'll overhaul her without fail The
Britannia will be back to her anchor
age at daybreak and III be there" He
stopped mo, have this cursed duel
on hand. ! wonder II 1t couldn't be
postponed!
For the moment his intense love for
Ellen overbore every other possibility.
The thought that at last she would be
restored to him made him for the
moment forget the pressing demands
of the early morning hour, but further
reflection plunged him into black fiji
of jealousy of Seton 1t was he who
had the wit and address to capture
Lady Darlington. II was he who would
reap the reward that might come to
him from his skill and daring and
devotion And Darlington swore to
settle with him as soon as nc had ar
ranged mattcrs with Strathgate.
His reveries were interrupted
toward evening by the arrival Of Park
man. to whom Lascelles had readily
granted permission to go ashore for
the night. Parkman had brought with
him case Of dueing pistols, having
been informed by Miller Of what was
on The two at once settled down to
business. but not until Darlington had
catechized Parkman as to what was
known about the movements OF the ad-
miral and the Britannia Nothing
further was elected than what he had
obtained from Miller. challenge
was duly drawn up and Parkman car
ried II to Lord Strathgate.
The baron of Blythedale had a seat
a few miles east Of Portsmouth.
He was a bachelor, a congenia!
spirit and an old friend of Lord
Strathgate's. He had agreed to act
as Strathgates second. He and
Lieutenant Parkman soon came to an
agreement. The encounter would
take place in the park at Blythedale,
where the combatants would be
free from any possible interruption or
from prying eyes OF any sort.
Strathgate. as the challenged, had the
choice Of weapons, and selected
swords, to Carringtons great satisfac.
ton. The other preliminaries were
soon settled. A surgeon was also
DESIGNATED. and Parkman came back
to report the progress of events, most
agreeable, from his point of view, to
his principal.
Darlington was as expert with the
sword as with the pistol, and he made
no demur to any OF the conclusions
of the seconds. All he wanted was
to have his deadly enemy opposite
him, with no one to intervene He
had duties to perform before he went
to rest. One Of them was the writ.
ing Of letter to Ellen, which, after
he had signed and sealed 1t, he gave
TO Parkman, with instructions to turn
1t over to my Lady Darlington in case
the approaching encounter should ter. /
inmate fatally for my lord When
Parkman asked where Lady Caring
ton was to be found, Darlington re i
piled bitterly that in all probability /
she could be seen on the Britannia In
the morning with Sir Charles Seton.
And bark We, Jack, said Caring /
ton. clapping his hand on his friends /
shoulder, SAY to Sir Charles Seton \
that as regards the unsettled differ
ence between us. I'm ready to meet
him here and now. II he'll come ashore
in the proper mood for an encounter.
! might as well finish up all my en-
emies in one day and leave myself
free for dealing with my wife, or get
a clearance for Davy Jones locker my
self from one or the other of them. p