Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-25
,g at them. tremendously in the door

Ing at them ceremoniously in the door
way.
, INSTRUCTED by captain your pres
ence Is requested, please be 50 kind"
he said, addressing Matt As Chris
rose also she was told to stay behind.
INSTRUCTED by captain, no, no,
please be 40 kind" exclaimed > the
young officer, barring her away. en-
structed by captain, the gentleman
only will follow me, please be so
kind!s ... ..
1t was not without hesitation that
Matt obeyed. He felt certain chilling
of the confidence that had animated
him before. The young officers tone
was masterful In spite of the pune
tiliousness Of his words, and carried
with 1t a disquieting authority. 1t
was hardly what castaways might ex-
pect on the man-of-war that had res
cued them. One looked for more
warmth, more good-will--some sym
pathy and friendliness. Matt was very
much disturbed, and the farewell
glance he exchanged with Chris was
troubled indeed.
The young man led him through
various passages. and finally brought
him to what was evidently the ships
wardroom. Here. seated about the
head of the table, were five oldish,
grave-looking officers in undress uni
form. One, white-haired, dignified and
somewhat bald, wore the insignia OF a
rear admiral, and alone Of the little
party spoke as Matt entered and
bowed. ..
Good day.. he said .cnrtly in fair
English, motioning. Matt to come
nearer and dlsmissing MS companion
with wave of the hand. "We would
like to talk with you, SIR
"I'm at your service" returned Matt
advancing and drawing himself up
very straight, as no offer was made to
give him a seat. MAY take the
liberty of asking the name of this ship,
and her nationality"
The old admiral stared at nim
frozenly.
at is 1 who will aske the questions"
he rasped out, "and you will be good
enough to answer them. Let me say
directly that evasions will be useless
and vat we want Is the truth He ut
tered the last words with sort of
snarl, which was taken up by the
others in an angry murmur. The un-
disguised hostility Of the whole five
affected Matt disagreeably. He might
have been a recaptured convict con-
fronting board of prison directors.
There was the same politeness, the
same air Of severity and autocrat1c
power.
II am an American Citizen said
Matt, with spirit. eve committed no
crime, and I warn you that the con-
sequences will be serious If you in
terfere with me-"
The five bristled at this defiance.
One of them, with eyeglasses and the
bearing of schoolmaster. folded his
arms, and regarded Matt super
ciliously.
eve are not discussing interna-
tional law" sneered the admiral
might is right, as you say in English.
Our patience with you is exhausted
You will tell US ware is certain in
.dividual, or else we make you.' .
ia, or else We make you," added
the man with the eyeglasses, staring
John Mort! So it was he they were
after? This ship, these officers, the
rendezvous in mid-ocean-all were
part and parcel OF the same extraordi-
nary business. In spite Of his bold
front Matt quailed inwardly; beads Of
sweat started on his forehead; he felt
like man on the eve of execution.
II don't know what you mean" he
said at last. IAN Individual? What in
.dividual?
Were not here to waste time with
such breparication," returned the ad-
miral, accentuating every word with
rap of his knuckles on the table
large, misshapen knuckles, swollen
with govt "You know very we'll who
it is we want, though what you do not
apprehend is our determination to ex-
tort the truth. We are not milksops
like those others, who failed so
wretchedly in America We will have
the truth if we have to take your skin
with it, Vat is your answer to that,
Mistaire Broughton?"
THAT I am an American citizen"
retorted Matt in an unflinching voice.
you are proclaiming yourself pi-
rate, and outside the law Of nations.
You cannot brighten me, sir You are
a naval officer, and know as well as
do the enormity of such threats, and
that II Will Dreak you, admiral OF uoI,
if you should dare to lay finger on
me-
"That is beside the point exploded
the admiral, reddening furiously.
WHO l am or what I am is no gon-
Germ of yours. Yes or no, young man,
and trifle with me no longer Then,
unrolling chart, he went on: Gone
here, and show us that island, ware
it is" ID
Matt stood immovable.
II can't" he declared. 81 don't know
what you mean. Island? What is'
land?"
His affectation of ignorance ex-
asperated the five officers, who, not
deigning to reply, began to take coun-
sci with one another in low. fierce
undertones. Occasionally glance
would be shot at him Of such malevo-
lence and anger that he trembled for
the outcome. They seemed to be still
debating, when, in answer to signal
he had not perceived, a file OF sea-
men marched in and saluted with the