The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-09-24
Rssuh Of Gaze
ofSchoO5 L0De.


CulteO 0t1ttb UHllftBu1p tEdlTIf, Whb
In trouble. Prairie was not the name
Of the ship. 1t wouldn't do t gtFe
her real name, for she was named In
h3nor Of one OF the western states and
the parties TO this story might be iden-
tilted. Nor was Noble the name OF the
ensign. nor are any Of the names here
given real names. But that has moth
Eng to do with the story Noble was
In 4 fix, the most usual tx IN this world
for a sailor-he had too many girls.
He had only two, but it Il Z question
II q dozen might not be more readily
managed than two. IL the two had
been in different ports the problem
might have been simpler, but they
were not. They were-tbat is. for the
p~resent-in the same port. and that
was where the Prairie had just been
launched
Lucy Archibald's right and title, 50
far MS priority goes. were indisputable.
She and Noble had been classmates at
the high school where Noble had pre-
pared for the Naval academy and had
become involved In a case Of puppy
love. Every d wondered how Noble
could fancy her, for she was a tribe
loud In appearance and given to slang.
To tell the truth, he was not badly
wounded by the dart that pierced him.
for instead Of Cupid having sent 1t
Lucy had fired it herself. In other
words, given a boy OF sixteen and a
girl of eighteen and the boy is putty in
the hands Of the girl.
But Noble was noble in nature as
we'll as in name and wouldn't-go back
ON ever a se~hoolboy's pledge. This was
all very we'll till he met Cameifa THYME.
Il daughter OF an admiral and a very
lovely girl. to whom the young sailor
became speedily attached.
what are you doing with your flag
up union down, Schuyler asked
Lieutenant Mansfield just before the
launching.
Noble made a confdant Of his friend.
telling him about his superf1uity of
girl. Mansfield told him to take In bis
distress signal. apparent on his counte-
nance, and try to find some way out
of the dilemma.
The state for which the Prairie vas
named had presented the ship with n
complete set Of silver tableware. and
as soon as the vessel slid out into deep
water and the shouting and the firing
were over invited guests went below to
partake of a luncheon at which this
service was used. Now, the captain
had commissioned Mansfield to have
lookouts at the gangways and other
wise take precautions that no thieves
come aboard with the guests to get
away with valuables. Mansfield took
such steps to protect property as he
deemed effectual.
A salute of champagne corks follow
ed the guns fired on shore. and the
guests fell TO in disposing of the daiu-
ties prepared for them. after which
they passed up the companiopway to
the deck, where they strolled about or
stood chatting in groups. Lucy Archi-
bald had captured Ensign Noble. who
was promenading with her. and In,
stead of looking happy the union
down" f1oated palmer than ever from
his masthead. The girl insisted on tax
ing him back and forth past the admi
rails party, where Miss Thyme saw
them, wondered and wrapped herself
in a mantle OF cool dignity.
1t was about this time that some
thing happened There were aboard a
number of m~aidseryants. dressed in
the conventional livery of black dresses
and white ruffied aprons, whose osten-
sible duties were to serve the ladies.
Suddenly Noble saw his friend Mans
field come up the companionway with
n of these maids and point to his
companion. Lucy Archibaid- The maid
advanced and said to Lucy in a low
voice:
II have to trouble you for the spoon"
What spoon?'
"The one you took from the officers
mess"
"Oh," said Lucy. coloring. II wanted
1t for a souvenir"
People were looking when she opened
a vanity bag hanging from her wrist
and, taking out a silver spoon marked
"U. s. S. Prairie" surrendered 1t to the
maid.
Now, there was a part of this story
that Lieutenant Mansfield did not. at
least at the time, tell Ensign Noble.
Knowing of the mania among ladies
even of apparent responsibility to take
for souvenirs, he had engaged
several women detectives. dressing
them in maids uniforms to watch. Az
err the luncheon they interviewed pri-
yately the ladies they had caught Pill,
fering and recovered a couple Of dozen
spoons and other small articles be
longing to the ships new service
Mansfield in order to extricate his
friend from his double girl dilemma
had made a public example OF Miss
leaving Noble to consider
her a thief. The other cases Noble
was not Informed of.
Even had Noble really loved the girl
is doubtful IL be would have remain
ed engaged to her after this episode.
At n rate. next morning Miss Archi-
bald received a note FROM him break
ing the engagement. and his captain.
coached by Mansfield, ordered him
awsy on special duty. SO that the SOU