Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-19
aalistellaneuu5 Reaaing.
THE ADMIRAL'S RUSE.
How He Corrected Slight Lapse Of
Memory.

for retirement, nauleu uoWn HIS lldS
the other day the ceremony took place
in Chinese waters, since he Is popu-
ular favorite in the Orient, especially in
China, where he was lieutenant of the
Asiatic station in 1872. This was one
of the most interesting details in the
whole of his service His personality
appealed to the mandarins as we'll as
To- the large cosmopolitan contingent
that is an important factor in the So
ciety of HOngkong, where he was ac-
cepted very seriously as great Amer
lean nabob. This was quite natural.
for his presence and manner are most
impressive, so much so that they are
sometimes confused in the mind of peo-
pie who do not know him with assumed
pomposity. His friends, however, at
test to the contrary, for his father, the
late Major General w. H. Emory, pos
sessed the same characteristics.
Admiral Bill, for thus he is known in
the service, is much sought after by
social lion hunters. which is small Won
II,
any occasion. He beams with good hu-
NOR, has an endless resource of stories
and his manners are very agreeable.
The late Mrs. Astor was one of his
warmest friends. One evening as he
was leaving her Newport villa, where
he had dined, his hostess said to him:
Admiral would you mind taking this
note to Dr. Henneberger? 1 wish to
ask him to dinner and have no way of
getting the note to him."
Now, Dr. Henneberger was also So
cial favorite not so noted perhaps as
his shipmate, Admiral Bill, but with
ambitious tendencies.
Most certainly, madam, ii is my
pleasure" he replied with the suavity
for which he is noted.
But next morning he had already for
gotten the note, and he continued to
forget it until some three weeks after
ward, when his ship was in Cuba for
target practice, when, much to his
chagrin, he suddenly came across It,
But the Admiral Is resourceful, and he
hurriedly called his negro valet, Muir
ply. Murphy is a character. He has
been with Capn Bill, as he calls the
admiral, for many years and would
gladly be blown from the mouth Of a
13-inch gun If by so doing he could
please his master, whose manners and
style of dress he affects.
Said Admiral Emory to faithful Muir
ply: Murphy, you black scoundrel,
you see this note? Well, 1 gave it to
you three weeks ago and told you to
give it to DR.. Henneberger Do you
understand"
"Yaas, sub; yaas, sub, deed l does.
You done give me this yere letter three
weeks ago TO give to DR.. Henneberger
right away, shuah. and lax a plumb
forgetless niggah. done forgot all about
It. Yaas, sub, Cap'n Bill. understand"
So Murphy laid the note in the doc
tors room and hung around to await
developments. Presently the doctor
entered, found the note, read it, and at
once became very angry. Hearing him
Murphy said:
Doctor, what am de matter? Dat
dat note? Yaas, sub, doctor. / done
put dat note there jest this mint. Cap'n
Bill done give it to me more'n three
weeks ago, and he done say, Murphy
you give this yere note to the doctor at
once and deed, Lawd Gawd, DOCTOR
this wuthless niggah done forgot about
it."
In high dudgeon the doctor hied him.
self to the admirars cabin. Admiral,
said he, Il apologize for troubling you,
but your servant, Murphy, has placed
me in a most embarrassing position.
Indeed, sir may say that he has ruin
ed my reputation among my friends.
can never explain this matter satisfac-
torily to them and shall never again
have the nerve to look them in the face.
This note was written three weeks ago
and I have just received it, Murphy
having forgotten to deliver it, as you
ordered him to do. 1t is an invitation
from Mrs. Astor and should long since
have been answered"
rs that so?" queried the admiral
well l will fix that no good rascal
Orderly, send Murphy to me at once!"
Murphy entered trembling. Murphy,
what is this the doctor tells me about
not delivering that note as l ordered?"
thundered the admiral. What do you
mean by it? Have l fostered viper
in my bosom all these years? Is this
the reward for all my goodness to you
in so long keeping on my payroll such
worthless scoundrel? I shall have
you put in double irons on bread and
water for ten days, and after that
you will no longer be in my employ
Go forward"
The righteous indignation Of the old
sea dog was awful to behold. He SIM
ply stormed. He outraged Neptune.
The unheard of had happened, his or
der had not been efficiently and
promptly obeyed. When such thing
could occur the United States navy was
surely going to the bottom, as the old
saying goes.
AS Murphy started out DR.. Henne-
berger said: If you please, admiral
let me intercede for Murphy. When l
came up here it was on the spur Of
the moment. l wanted no such punish
ment for him. l merely wished to re-
port the matter so that it might pre-
vent a possible recurrence. 1t is a
small affair anyway. l will write
full explanation, and Mrs. Astor will
doubtless laugh over it, snce, at the
most, it was only my loss.
Murphy" said Cap'n Bill, you have
heard what DR.. Henneberger says. His
plea for you is the only thing that has
saved you. You shall have one more
chance: but, mind you, II this ever
happens again worse fate awaits
you"
"Yaas. sub, Cap'n Bill. deed and
deed Use nev'r gwine to forget nothing