The San Francisco call., 1908-08-16

to Dicky. he asked:
"Wiu you tell me. Mr. Falconers now
you came by this letter.
TT was given to me. sir, by Salvatore
Desio, the Neapolitan slave, who told
me to hand it to you, and nos~sa- speak
to anybody else about it.
Did not the Neapolitan tell you how
it came into his hand?
No, sir
L should be glad If you would send
the Neapolitan to me at once. and please
remember. Mr.. Falconer, to, say nothing
about this letter You have been SO
discreet already that i feel sure you
will not speak of it,
Certainly not, sir" replied Dicky.
And then, going out of the room, he
felt himself vastly important in having
a secret in common with Captain Balm
bridge
Returning to the midshipmen's quar-
tiers Dicky bawIed loudly for Salvatore.
whose place was usually just outside
the door. Salvatore responded at once.
and then Dtcky, going up 10 him, made
some trihing request. 1t was the recre-
alton time of the midshipmen and
Roger Thorne had taken Dicky's place
at single stick with Totten. his COM
radeS standing around watching with
interest and talking eagerly among
themselves. Dicky found it easy enough
to whisper to Salvatore Captain Balm
bridges request to come to him.
Salvatore shook his head and mur-
INJURED:
1T cannot be; I am not allowed in any
place but the quarters of your excellen-
cies. If went to the captain / should
be stopped and searched. 1 can. how
ever, convey letter in reply, and / ask
his excellency the captain to believe
this. | am only poor sailor, but
know how to keep my word. and am
not easily caught by treachery. The
man who brought the Letter and who
will take the answer back to Syracuse
is my fathers brother, Giovanni DesiO.
an honest man.
He owns little vessel trading be-
tween TripoH and Syracuse. 1t is he
who brings me letters from my little
wife and takes mine back to her. Tell
his excellency the captain that his let
ter, after 1T reaches me, will pass
straight into the hands OF Giovanni
Desio, and he will put it into the hands
of the American commodore at Syra-
cuse. Giovanni would do this for me
because he is a good man and kind, but
the Americans have promised him much
money for any letters he may convey
between them and Captain cambridge.
so that 1t is to Giovannfs interest to
carry them quickly and often. There
fore, you will see, exceIlency, why il is
that not even your comrades can know
of this"
Dicky nodded and then said:
rs Giovanni Desio now in Tripoli?''
Yes, excellency; he has brought a
cargo of fruit, which Is already dis
tributed, and he is going back light. as
the American commodore paid him not
to wait for a cargo. He will sail. il
the wind holds, as soon as he gets
Captain Bainbridge's reply"
Il will return to Captain Bainbridge
At 90 NfrI-~ I'll
him what you say
Then, speaking in loud voice to SAL
vatore, he said:
Wait, Sally, until I come back, and
tell you what Captain Cambridge says"
As Captain cambridge allowed his
officers the privilege of going to him
at any time. this remark occasioned
no surprise, and Dicky went boldly out
of the door at the further end OF the
room and passed along the corridor
under the eye of the sentry. He again
raped at Captain Bainbridge's door
and, going in, told him all that Sal
vatore had said.
The Neapolitan is quite right" said
CAPTAIN cambridge. after a pause 1T
would arouse suspicion If he came to
me direct, and by sending these letters
through the junior midshipmen 1t Is
perfectly safe l must conhde to you.
Mr.. Falconer, that this letter is from
portant matters concerning the move
ments OF the fleet. You will readily
see why the utmost secrecy must be
maintained. 1t would be difficult to
maintain this secrecy if ten impetuOus
young officers such as my midshfpmen
are knew of these plans, and although
1 trust their honor implicitly, yet 1
could not wholly trust their discretion"
Dicky had felt all the time like a
traitor in keeping anything from Rog-
er Thorne. his chum, but he realized
that Captain Bainbridge's view was
correct, especially when Captain Balm
bridge added quietly:
'I must require your word Of honor.
Mr. Falconer, not to give the least
hint of this to any one except the
Neapolitan.''
Dicky gave his word promptly. the
more so as he recognized in himself
the necessity for a promise, in order
to keep anything from Roger Thorne-
You may now return to your quar-
ters,' said the captain. and in an hour,
when Mr.. Porter goes to the midShip
mems quarters for night inspection.
will give him the letter. which you
will hand to the Neapolitan tomorrow
morning"
Dicky returned to his comrades. but
took no further part in the single stick
and fencing which was going on. He
picked up a book and. seating himself
at the long table which answered for
the midshipmen's study and meals. be-
gan reading. But he could not ffx his
mind upon the subject before him: the
thought of release excited him. and the
feeling of having an important secret
oppressed him. He felt almost a traitor
when Roger. coming up to him, put
one arm around his neck and his faxen
head to Dicky's round black poll and
began to read out OF the same book
Dicky's heart swelIed. but his common
sense reminded him that 1t was a good
thing Captain cambridge had put him
on his honor. so that he could not yield
to the natural impulse TO tell Roger of
the letter. 1t would be only too likely
that the subdued excitement among the
midshipmen might break out into open
indiscretion If it were known that COM
munication was established between
themselves and the American feet at
Syracuse.
Everything worked well concerning
Captain Bainbridge's letter. At quar-
ter of 3 o'clock Mr.. Potter came in
for the final inspection 1t occurred to
Dicky that II he kept his candle burn
ing and continued to read IL would give
Mr TO-