New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
The Spitfire
Continued from page q

I rr,er 10 Itch his ewes was Valda her
self. slender. straight backed. square 7houI-
dered an ideal product OF healtny' vigorous
American girlhood, from the brlm OF ner
raLisb Yachting cap TO the tip OF her rubber
soled canvas Shoes. There IS character III
shoe and these particular shoes were not TN
They were good. honest hveS,-tne klllu IIit. ~
a daughter OF freedom might stand IN s4uaFeIl
and fight for her independent prlnclplGe-
Captain joe she was SAYING care
saw YOU thought we were lost for good and
all; but Why. what's the matter
THE Captain, instead Of his usual J9vlaL15ty;; II1t;
had nodded in solemn gloom and 1erked
his thumb IN the direction OF his uncOnVen-
tional guest In an instant more that person
was looking into a pair OF fearless brown eyes
and grasping a firm. slim hand extended III
cordial greeting
He bowed over her hand in acknowledgment
of identity and responded with a gallant
smile " And this, beyond d doubt, Is MISS
Valda: for indeed | have spoken of YOU 50
often with Your good father that seem %
have known YOU for lifetime
'TbanL, YOU" she answered. I'm happy
to welcome YOU as a member OF our little
party. Let me present you to the "thers-
This is my aunt, Miss Howard; MI OrrnNiid'
a friend OF fathers
Aunt Mary came forward cordially and gave
her hand, both murmuring their pleasure at
meeting. while Captain Joe looked on IN pro
found amaze his jaw stretching wider every
second.
with a bounce She was delighted 70 catch
at any chance OF any man at any age what
ever, so long as he broke up thTee-cornered
conversation with a woman at each corner
Mr. Orrnond." she ch1rped. " l do believe
YOU have dropped down right out OF the SKIES
on purpose to Danish the sleepy horrIblenesS
of a hen party
My dear Young lady" he answered, with
a fiattering inclination OF his head and body,
Il shall do my best 70 crow for YOU at all
times" Then. amid the resultant laughter,
he turned to Ealda with a twinkle N his eye
And now | beg YOU TO present me TO your
worthy Captain. who Is. | fear. Just q little
doubtful as TO my moral character
Why, Captain joe exclaimed Nalda
chidinglv, and that officer shuftied forward,
blushng 20 the ears; but OrrOnd came 70
his rescue, slapping HIM on the back. and de
claring that they were now even. and on Q
better footing. which he hoped would last TIL
the end OF happy voyage
You see Miss Girard.' he offered in ex-
PLANTATION. your fathers telegram was rather
nystifyIng and
oh. YES" she interrupted: so was mine.
Funny to be introduced by wire, ISn It
From her handbag she produced two tele-
grams, reading one aloud
"Ormond and Tracy coming aboard. On
arrival leave Calais at once. No delay I'M
perative Nv good friend OruOnd to take
You see, Captain" she said. turning 10
the silent officer. dropped into the telegraph
office few minutes ago. and found two mes
sages. l confess at first that l was much
in the dark as YOU are; but this. no doubt.
will throw some light on the subject
She handed him the second telegram. and
watched him read it twice while a frowr OF
annoyance ridged his brow
Well. Captain Joe,
''Sha1l read it aloud" he asked.
'Yes, of course she laughed Among
friends there are no secrets.
The old salt was not 50 sure OF this: but
he sighed to himself and did her bidding The
wire was in cipher; but. being translated.
read as follows:
CAPTAIN JOSEPH LARRIs,
Yacht Spitf1re. Calais France.
James Ormond to take full charge. No
questions. Reach New York by twentieth.
Fly private signals and lie off Sandy Hool,
till further orders. Drive her a hard as hell
Will let YOU MARCUS GIRARD."
The message was characteristics. erlinently
So yet for a full half-nInute after It's reading
there was a silence OF astonishment. Then
everyone laughed, that Is to say, all but Cap
tam Larris. who acted strangely He bowed
to Ormond with the utmost respect and defer
ence, then turned on his heel and descended