Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-10

rection. 81 didn't dream father would
be home so soon." said Jeanette, from
whose cheeks the blood had departed.
The Confederates had come near
enough to distinguish the color OF the
uniform the middies wore and 10 see
that II was not gray. Moreover. the
sudden turn excited their suspicious.
They gave chase.
Up 10 this point there had been moth
ing to place the party in false posi-
ton. but in this fight there was
great deal to serve that purpose. The
fugitIves were handicapped by n single
horse dra gging a wagon and four peo-
pie, while their pursuers each had an
animal to carry him.
Jack" said Tom. IF were caught
the consequences to these giYls will
he awful"
There's a camp ahead" replied
| Jack. IF we can reach II we may
get the guard to hold our pursuers.'
Just before they reached the camp
! the road turned and gave them a
| chance for a bit of conversation with
the sentry on post without being seen
| by the Confederates.
| Hold those two officers coming"
said Tom hurriedly. I'VE don't wish
them to catch us with these girls"
"All right" said the sentry. boy
no older than themselves. with a SYM
pathetic grin on his face.
The slowing up brought the pursuers
so near that the girls parasols that
| had been brought into requisition to
/ screen them from their enemies"
/ were now unfurled to the rear to
| screen them from their friends. As
/ they dashed away they heard a
Halt from the middle OF the road
/ in their rear, and the sound of horses
| hoofs ceased Nor did they hear them
/ again. What the sentinel did TO delay
! the officers they did not know. He
/ probably demanded their passes and
| spent an Unfortunately long time read
/ ing them. At any rate, the boys had
/ ample time to put the girls down. TO
/ get to their homes as best they could.
while the middies drove back TO town
| by a circuitous route
"By Jove," exclaimed Jack, drawing
| long breath after they had left their
| friends, that's the closest call | ever
had, Wen drop this business right
here
1--WE will that" replied Tom. What
sort of position would It be for two
! officers Of the United States navy TO
be caught mixed up with a couple OF
little girls in short dresses?'
THAT would be nothing 70 putting
the girls in an equivocal position
This was very fine talk. and the
boys might have possibly. considering
that their honor was at stake. adhered
ter addressed to Captain John Merry
weather come for them from the
girls stating that they would be walk
ing on the road where the meeting had
occurred at a certain hour on n GER
tain day.
Its wonder they didn't address
you as admiral" said Tom.
cor at least commodore" was the
reply.
Luckily or unluckily as the affair
was destined to eyentuate. the middies
received shore leave on the day ap-
pointed for their meeting.
1--WE won't take any kind OF a craft"
said Jack. We've had enough Of be-
ing aboard the same rig together
Better be where we can all swim In
opposite directions"
The meeting took place as arranged.
Jack paired off with Florence st. Clair
and Tom with Jeanette Dickinson.
Trust young people for innocent be-
haviOr At that age-the mating age
there IS the most purity. There were
| several of these meetings while the
MonOngahela remained at Charleston.
The pitcher that goes often to the well
Is at last broken. One of the meet
ings was finally reported. and the girls
[ were remanded TO close confinement,
but there was n Zest about the affair
that endured and several years later
bore fruit.
There are two retired naval officers
living in Washington, the one an ad-
miral and the other a captain, who
meet often at the Army and Navy
club. Again and again they go over
the escapade in Charleston harbor that
gained them their wives, and then the
/ admiral will say:
/ What ninnies we were. Tom
/ "Ninnies, We should have been tax
en- back on board the ship and logged
! within an inch Of our lives"
But, after all, wasn't It delightful
/ to be fools? ia like to be n fool gain
Nothing Ike IT, What grcg do YOU
/ taTyp this r,.~rr fr~- rTrsf-ais''