The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-07-16

LENSES. by means OF InlS WQ6eI the
muzzle of the gun is raised or low
cred and this other one is to swing it
laterally as the man taking aim d.
reefs. This gun is effective at sixteen
miles"
Pulling a lever, he swung back the
breech block and, letting the visitors
peer into the bore of the great wea-
pom, he was showing them the process
of charging the gun when he suddenly
stopped. turned pale and trembled as
though in mortal fear.
Women are proverbially quicker
witted than men. At least the woman
was in this instance; and F1oretta Viii
liams quickly and tactfully relieved
the tension Of the situation by extend
ing a delicately gloved hand to the
discounted gunner with the words:
why, Mr.. Masters! How amazed l
am to meet you'll"
And then turning to her party, she
said. with perfect grace and compo-
sure. Mr.. Masters. let me introduce
my uncle, Mr.. ellison of Los Angeles;
and these young ladies are my cou-
sins. Miss May Golson. Mr.. Masters,
and Miss Angelotta Gibson" Then, to
tiers is a former friend of mine from
Kansas"
The young Iady's presence of mind
had been so well and charmingly
shown that probably none in the
party except Jack Masters himself,
not even the young lady's cousins,
though it takes a woman to read
woman, detected a vague something
in Floretta Williams manner that in
Dictated her desire not so much to
show cordially to the embarrassed
gunner as to relieve the general
strain.
However, the situation relieved,
young Masters pulled himself together
and devoted all his attention to Miss
Williams, his former Kansas friend
and her party.
Two hours were spent in inspecting
the wonders of the great battleship
The gunner took them everywhere,
above and below. forward and aft, ex-
planning the mysteries of turret and
tower. gun and bridge, signals and
codes and flags, details as to discipline
and routine, the how and the why and
the why not in thousand different
particulars, and with infinite pa
tience.
Often, as Jack Masters tried to
catch FlOretta Williams eye, he as
often failed. No; once she did look at
him, but 1T was when he had addressed
her as "Floretta," and the look had
said with a plainness he could not
misunderstood, 81 am Miss Williams,
please" and he had humbly swallowed
the rebuke
But even as he talked Of the navy
and of the things Of war, his mind
was far away, both in point of space
and time. AS he was explaining to
them the wireless message system in
use on the ship, memory was bringing
| to his mind wireless messages from a
| village among corn and wheat fields;
OF faces of friends, of harvest field and
schoolroom and pleasure party, and
then of the sudden end of it all; of an
insane fit of jealousy, a penciled good
by that had been a stab in the heart
of love, and then of the new life with
its suspense, its hopelessness and it's
trailing burden of guilty conscience.
And here she was by his side; here
on the quarterback of the Kansas, the
woman whose heart he had wounded
In moment of causeless frenzy-and
he could get no word from her. She
was interested only in the ship.
The time had come for Miss VIII
liams and her party to go, and the
Mariposa's signal was already blow.
ing.
"F1oretta-Miss Williams" hest
tated Jack, with the earnestness of
desperation in his voice, 81 must have
word with you before you 60"
why should you?" she returned
coldly. You are nothing more to me
And you told me five years ago that
was nothing more to you. What is
there to change it?"
"Oh, Flo" pleaded Jack, taking he1
reluctant hand and leading her to q
secluded corner by a gun carriage
dear Flo, have been miserable ever
since l left you and l have suffered q
thousand Deaths
1T was misery of your own making
and If it was death you brought it or
yourself" she said. Il gave you nc
cause to write me that terrible let
ter" There was a forbidding hard
ness in her voice and manner thai
Tic Sd41OI aOdTI-
Flo" he urged as the last whistle
was blowing have forty-eight hours
shore leave beginning tomorrow
morning; may l call on you and have
a frank talk? Don't refuse he plead
ed; give me one chance"
II have no objection to your call
ing" she said, handing him card a.
he helped her down the gangway ant
onto the deck of the Mariposa, "bu
don't presume too much"
In the heart of the sailor lad stand
ing on the quarterback of the battle
ship, and watching the Mariposs
steaming away toward her landing
there ragged a greater storm than he
had ever known at sea. He had re
GREETED his insane jealousy and crue
letter of farewell almost Immediately;
but the feeling that he had himself
made the case HOPELESS had kept hin
from communicating with Floretts
and, more to shake on the past thar
for anvfhfnc olSo he had ioipod %hs