The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-27
a CISEHOF SCHOOL, LOVE

M 4 q = n
Ensign SCHUYLER Noble, att achsd e
United States bait lcship Prairie wal ..il
iii trouble. 1t wouldn't DO to giyt
her real name. fors she was named in
honor o. one Of the western states
and the parties to this story might b
identified. Nor was Noble the name
OF the ensign. nor are any Of the
flames here given real names. But
that has nothing to do with the story
Noble was in a fix. the most usual
fix in the world for a sailor-he bat
too many girls. He had only two
but II Is a question II q dozen might
not be more readily managed thar
two. II the two had been in differ
ent ports the problem might have
been simpler, but they were not. The,
were-that Is. for the present-in thu
same port. and that was where TIL
Prairie had just been launched.
Lucy Archlbald's right and title, sc
far as priority goes, were indisput-
able. She and Noble had been class
mates at the high school where Noble
had prepared for the naval academy
and had become involved In a case
Of puppy love. Every one wondered
how Noble could fancy her, for she
was q triae loud In appearance and
given to slang. To tell the truth
he was not badly wounded by the
dart that pierced him, for instead o.
Cupid having sent 1t Lucy had fired
It herself. In other words, given Q
boy Of sixteen and girl Of eighteen
and the boy Is putty in the hands o.
the girl.
But Noble was noble IN nature as
well as In name and wouldn't &C
back on even schoolboy's pledge
This was all very well till he met
Camelia Thyme, daughter Of an adj
mlral and . very lovely girl, to whom
the young sailor became speedily at
tached. M
Noble made confdant Of his
friend, telling him about his super
fluffy Of girl. Mansfield told lin to
take In his distress signal. apparent
on his countenance. and try to find
SOME way out Of the dilemma.
The state for which the Prairie
was named had presented tile ship
with a complete set Of silver table
ware. and as soon as the vessel slid
ont into deep water and the shouting
and the firing were over invited guests
went below 10 partake OF luncheon
al which this service was used. Now
the captain had commissioned Mans
field to have lookouts at the gang
ways and otherwise take precautions
that no thieves come abroad with the
guests to get away with valuables
Mansfield took such steps 10 protect
property US lie deemed effectual.
A salute Of champagne corks fol-
lowed the guns fred on shore. and
the guests fell to in disposing Of the
dalnties prepared for them, after
which they passed up the companion
way to the deck. where they strolled
about or stood chatting in groups.
Lucy Archibald had captured Ensign
Noble, who was promenading with
her, and instead of looking happy
the union down" HoataG palmer than
ever from his masthead. The girl In
sisted on taking him beck and forth
pas, the admiral's party, where Miss
Tryne saw them. wondered and crap
ped herself in q mantle Of cool dig
nifty. 7t.
It was about this time that some
thing happened. There were aboard
a number Of maidservants, dressed In
the conventional livery OF black dress
es aud white ruffled aprons, whose
ostensible duties were to serve the
ladies'. Suddenly Noble saw his
friend Mansfield come up the COM
panlonway with one Of these maids
and point to his companion. Lucy
Archibald. The maid advanced and
said to Lucy In a low voice: q
II have to trouble YOU for the
spcon."
what sDoon?' ~
"The one you took from the off,
GERS mess.'
"Oh," said Lucy, coloring, Il want
ed It for n souvenir"
People were looking when she open
ed a vanity bag hanging from bel
wrist and, taking out o silver spoon
marked ~. s. s. Prairie." surfend'
cred 1t 10 the maid.
Now. there was a part Of this stor,
that Lieutenant Mansfield did not. a,
least at the time. tell Ensign Noble
Knowing Of the manis among ladtel
even Of apparent responsibility t
take articles for souvenirs, he hat
engaged several women detectives
I dressing them In maids uniforms t.
J watch. After the luncheon they In
taryiowed privately the ladies the!
had caught pllferine and recovered
couple u dozen spoons and othe1
ANAL articles belonging to the ship
nav pery,ce, Mansfield In order I,