The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-08

enough to stand her ground with him
he would not have cared SO much.
But there she was vanishing beyond
the door. There was suggestion OF
feline cruelty in thus abandoning him.
He dared not call her back. What
/ the devil should he say to the ad-
miral? There was one thing he knew
absolutely nothing about. and this
was the duties of a private secretary
to retired admiral who had riches
yacht. hobby and a beautiful
| though impulsive daughter His
| thought became irrelevant. as Is fire.
+ quent when one faces crisis. humor-
/ Gus or tragic; here indeed was the
coveted opportunity to study at close
range the habits of a man who spent
!! less than his income
Come come; draw up your chair,
Mr.. Fitzgerald
Il beg your pardon; that is, !
was looking at those flags. sir" slut
tered the self made victim of cir
cumstances.
oh. those? Good examples OF
their kind: early part OF the nine
tcerfth century. Picked them up one
! cruise in the indies. That faded one
! belonged to Morgan. the hloodthirsty
ruffian. I've always regretted that
! wasn't born a hundred years ago.
Think Of bottling them up in shall
low channel and raking EN- fore and
att" With bang OF his fist on
the desk, setting the ink wells rat
/ thing Hike old bones. That would
| have been sport"
The keen blue sailors eye seemed
| L. bore right through Fitzgerald. who
thought the best thing he could do
y pf ~ "a
! ai*I..,,,.T h,s ~tfcket agent had said that
the admiral was OF quiet pattern,
! but this start wasn't much like it,
, The fire in the blue eyes suddenly
gave way TO a twinkle. and the old
man laughed,
Did / brighten YOU, Mr.. t'itzger-
aIde"
Not exactly
Well, every secretary I've had has
expected to see red nosed. swear
ing, peg legged sailor: so | thought
Id soften the blow for you. Don
I 6rry, Sailor 80
Not in the technical sense" an
swercti - Fitzgerald, warming.
know a stanehion from an anchor
and a rope from a smokestack. But
as for travel. 1 believe that l have
crossed all the high and middle seas
Sounds good, Australia, East In
dies China. the Antilles. Gulf, and
the South Atlantic? -
Yes; round the Horn, too. and
East Africa Fitzgerald remember
ed his instructions and spoke clearly
We'll WE'LL you are find. In
what capacity have You taken these
voyages ?"
| Here was the young mans oppor'
tuutty. This was "A likeable old sea
dog. and he determined not to i'm
pose upon him another moment, Sons
men, fer the sake OF the adventure
would have left the truth to be found
out later, 10 the disillusion of all con
cerned. The abrupt mcnner in which
Miss Kniigrew had abandoned him
merited some revenge.
Admiral. I'm afraid there has been
a mistake. and before We go any fur
Their IN he glad to explain.
I'm not private secretary and
| never have been one. | should be
less familiar with the work than a
/ Chinaman. / am a special writer
| for the magazines, and have been al
I odd times "a war correspondent And
| then ha went on to describe the little
J comedy of the statuettes, and II was
| not without some charm In the tell
| ing.
! Plainly the admiral was nonplussed.
/
cent eyes and placid face, He got up,
and Fitzgerald awaited the explosion.
Ills expectancy missed fire. The ad-
miral exploded, but with laughter.
/ II beg pardon. Mr. Fitzgerald. and
/ ! beg IL again on my daughters be-
half. What would you do in my
! place."
| Show me the door at once and
have done with It,"
I'm hanged II / do. You shalt
| have a toddy for your pains. and,
/ by cracky, Laura shall mix it," He
pushed the buffers bell. Tell Miss
have a toddy for your pains, and,
| Laura that wish TO see her at once =
livery well, sir. % sf 777''
| She appeared shortly If Fitzgers
| aid admired her beauty he yet more
| admired her perfect poise and uncowa
/ Germ Many another woman woui6
have evinced some embarrassment.
| Not she.
.lTo Be Continued.)