Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-11-21

A~NSN~~~J
the contents. His face clouded and
he read it again. A good strong word
was trembling on his lips, and he was
about to crumple the dispatch in his
hand when his eye fell on the messen-
ger standing at attention.
"Oh. thank you," he said; there is
no answer.
AS the messenger departed Holton
handed the telegram to his second
without word.
you will proceed at once to Wash
ington and report to me at the earliest
possible moment. Lieutenant Frost
will assume command of Scorpion in
your absence. ROOSEVELT
AS Frost read the message aloud his
voice quivered with excitement. What
does that mean?" he exclaimed
Hanged if I know" groWled Holton.
Isn't that just my luck. I've been
working on this old pot trying to get
her into shape and hoping and pray
ing for a chance to make good, and
then when there appears to be some
thing doing, why l ge5 skinned this
way"
Frost knew exactly hoa o., com
member felt, and his natural exulta-
ton at being placed in command Of
the destroyer was quite swallowed up
in his sympathy for man who was
his good friend as well as his superior
officer
Holton sat for a while blowing blue
clouds Of smoke to the ceiling, out
wardly calm, but inwardiy seething.
He went over every act in the past
month or So but could think Of moth
ing he had done that would warrant
his recall in disgrace.
We'll, Bobby" he said at length,
you're a real live captain now And
l congratulate you"
Il feel like a man who is going to
put on pair of boots that are too big
for him." remarked Frost.
ooh, nonsensei" smiled Holton.
You're in every way qualified. III
vouch for you, Bobby"
Frost smiled
Thanks he said; I'D rather have
that from you than from almost any
one I know"
Well" laughed Holton, take it
then; it's sincere. He arose and called
to the steward
'Oh. you, Koao," he said, come in
here and help me pack. I'm going to
leave you for while"
Dinner that evening was rather a
mournful affair, neither Holton nor
Frost trying to make light of the mys
FERROUS situation.
He shook hands with Frost at eight
o'clock, and with Koko carrying his
bag, started for the station. He had
| delayed rather longer than he should
have done in writing supplementary
letters to his parents, and now be
| found it was necessary to make haste
il he was to catch the train for Wash
ington. Eventually, indeed, he an6
Koko had to run, and as he reached
the station the cars were pulling out
The Jap threw the bag into the oper
doors of the rear one and Holton made
the steps with flying leap. AS he
did SO man who had been following
the two essayed similar flight, bu
his feet missed the steps and he cluns
to the gilded rail with his left hand
! AS Holton reached down to assis
him the man lost his grip and Wen
plunging head over heels into the
gravel. Evidently his fall did not in
jure him, for as Holton peered bacl
along the rails he saw the fellow rise
| slowly and shake his fist at the de
parting train.
If he had known the circumstance
under which he was to meet this stran
| ger at time not far distant, his feel
| ing of relief when he saw that tht
man was not seriously injured nigh
| have been tinctured by emotions o
various sorts.
Having put up at the metropolitan
| club, Holton passed such time as hac
| to elapse before the assistant secre
tary would be at his desk in the Navy
| Department building In a fever Of i'm
patience
Having at length finished his cigar
and his morning pAper-which bristle(
with bellicose matter-Holton put OF
his hat and overcoat and saunteret
slowly toward the Capitol. At ter
o'clock he went over to the Navy De
| partment and sent his card in to the
assistant secretary.
Presently his summons came while
| yet another man was engaged in thu
inner Office. This man, however
brushed out past Etolton as the youn!
officer with mingled emotion, walket
into the presence of Secretary Long
assistant,
Good morning, Mr.. Holton" Ger
tainly no evil augury was to be detect
ed in the hearty cadence of the greet
ing. "Sit down, sir. I'm glad yo'
were SO prompt. That's what we nee
in these days"
Thank you, sir" said Holton dn
biously.
Tho nSSictant sacrafarv Ohrorvo