Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-06-12

Side.
They're on merchant ship bound
up the channel and going fast when
l saw them last"
"What?" cried the admiral. Give
me the particulars"
Sir Charles rapidly ran over the
scene of the morning.
The old admiral threw back his head
and laughed.
"And she outwitted you all, shook
Strathgate of the track, led you
ashore, watched Darlington and
Strathgate fight It out under her very
eyes and got clean away?"
"She hasn't got away yet, admiral"
What mean you?"
81 came here to make a proposition
to you"
"A proposition b me?" Y
Eyes" -
you have a fast ship at your COM
mand, take II"
do you mean the Britannia?" said
the admiral, mentioning his flagship.
81 do"
"Of course she's fast. The admiral.
ty know me. wouldn't take a slow
ship"
rs she as fast as that merchant.
man, do you think?"
"Why, my boy, there isn't a mer.
chant ship on the seas that she could.
mt overhaul In anything like a wind"
Admiral" said Sir Charles in
genuously, u lay you wager"
What is that?"
"A hundred pounds that you can't
overtake that merchant ship"
What" roared the admiral. me
take out one Of his majesty's ships to
chase after runaway wife and a fool.
ish girl?"
81 beg your pardon, admiral, II you
refer to Mistress Deborah Slocum, I
must ask you to moderate your Ian
suage," protested Sir Charles, warmly,
his face flushing.
go to! go to-" laughed the ad.
miral. I'm old enough to be your
father. But the idea Of an admiral
Of the white taking a hundred gun
ship-of-the-line out to chase a paltry
merchantmen for-Impossible, my boy,
impossible!"
But said Sir Charles, "the navy
cannot afford to decline a bet, a wager
with its sister service. I'll lay you
q thousand pounds, admiral, that you
can't do It,"
MY lad" said the admiral gently,
after a moments reflection, mo wag.
ers are needed. I'll do 1t because I'm
fond Of the girl and Darlington, too.
can overhaul them before nightfall
without doubt and I'll be glad to do 1t,
although just exactly what warrant
have for stopping an American ship
on the high seas and taking from her
another mans wife | can hardly say"
Il can help you in that, admiral
As to warrant II you'll bring to the
other ship and give me boat crew,
I'll go aboard the American and do
the rest. Mistress Deborah, am sure,
will come willingly"
Don't be too sure of that" returned
the admiral, don't count upon a WON.
an until she's your own, and don't
count too much upon her after that,
as Darlington might say"
Nevertheless, l, think l speak by
the card" said Sir Charles.
very well, you know best. Hav-
\ ing been a bachelor all my life,
know more about ships than women.
but bark ye, Seton, this one thing.
Don't you come back to the ship after
l put you aboard that trader, with
only Miss Deborah. The two have to
come together. or go together, you
understand"
Eyes, sir"
The admiral struck the bell on the
table beside him. Instantly the ma
rine orderly popped in the door.
my compliments to the officer Of
the deck" said the admiral to the
orderly, "and ask him to beg Captain
Beatty to favor me with his presence
In the cabin"
Eyes sir" returned the orderly, sa-
luting " 3d.. a I..l III.
A moment after-an incredibly short
time 1t seemed to Seton, who was un-
aware Of the way in which an ad-
mirars requests are obeyed-Captain
Beatty. the officer mentioned, present.
ed himself before the admiral
You wish to see me. admiralr'
Beatty. by the wayn LET me
present TO you Sir Charles Seton Of
the Sussex light infantry, csptAin n
his maiestys land forces. Seton, this
10 Tie Honorable Archibald BEATTY,
nychag captsip. Be6tty. VII yopdget
the Britannia under way ut oncsr
Tea sir." returned the. captain.