The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-15

The captain bit his lip and reflected,
glancing abstractedly at the nearest bell
cordout of the tail of his left eye as he satup.
Whittier caught the glance and smiled, a
rayless, penitential smile cts no use,
sir" he proffered lugubriously, as if touch
ing on common travail between them
The captain wrote, and handed book,
pencil, and message to the quartermaster
with the autocratic air that was his when
exercising his own will and authority.
Whittier received them gingerly with the
tips of his left fingers, the elbow of his right
arm, supporting the revolver, crooked
craftily backward. He read the message
with one furtive eye and laid it, with the
same crafty reach, on the edge of the couch.
He backed away and stepped behind the tall
mirror; but one basilisk eye, the glittering
hrearm and the sea-browned hand that
grasped it, showed beyond the edge of the
cheval
"You may ring for your orderly, sir" he
said. "But mind, know which bell is his;
and if you attempt to give him any message
except the one you have written there, you
and will pay the price together"
The captain obeyed calmly, realizing that
he had surrendered too much, given the
mailman too great an advantage, to risk his
life, and in all likelihood lose it, at this stage
of the queer dSbfcIe.
In fash, it had come upon him that he
must go to Loomee. He must give the
order, and, once it was given, to counter
mand it would call down the angry inquiry,
and eventually the condemnation, of the
whole world. He must deal later with
Whittier, in what manner he left to the
future for devastation. The belted, bayo-
netted, and altogether magnificent marine
orderly who took the order and retired with
statuesque erectness and silence saw no
indication of anything unusual in the APP
pearance or demeanor of his commander,
dignifed even in repose, with whose man
ners and habits he was fanniharized by long
personal service.
The quartermaster came from his hiding
place less furtively, though not less guard
edly, than he had entered it; and there was
a perceptibles softening of the steel in the
gray eyes.
"I'm not going to stand post over you
until eight clock, sir. I'm going to hand
you over my gun, and, if you don't stop me,
go back the way / came. Whatever else
you may do, know you won't change that
order, and that's all l care about. And be-
sides, I don't think you will care to go on
deck for few hours; all the officers will be
up there right away, ike hounds on the
scent, and you'd be annoyed by unwelcome
congratulations up there-you know the
feelings Of the crew, officers and men about
this matter as well as do, sir. As for me,
you may send me to the Stone Frigate or
Napa fprison or insane asylum; your word
viii outweigh mine, and you know III never
deny the charge if you make one, anyway.
But the day I'm brought to trial your name
viii become by-word and an determination
In the service and the country for all time to
come. I've done you good service, sir, if
you could see it that way. I'm sorry, sir,
though can't ask you to forgive me. I
couldn't help it. God, sir when mans
whole world is locked UP in one small female
form, IS there anything on earth or the
waters that can be done that be won't do to
keep from losing it,.
His voice faltered. In the reaction, tears
gushed from the gray eyes In childish
splentitude. Whittier was his Jekyll-sef