The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-11-17

ed at the sight OF themselves in the
glass.
They ought to be afraid of us ex-
claimed Chris with saucy confidence
twinin- her arms about Mats neck
and studying the effect Il look like
the widow of an organ grinder on the
bread line and by the time I've comb
ed Your hair Tit yoU might pass as
Siberian exile who bad escaped in
garbage can.
The young offer returned and stood
blinking III them tremendously in the
doorway.
''Instructed by captain. your pres
ence is requested. please he 50 kind"
he said. addressing Matt As Chris
rose also she was told to stay behind
"Instructed by captain: no. no:
please be so kind" exclaimed the
young officer. barring her away In
structed by captain The gentleman
only will follow NE Please be so
kind"
1t was not without hesitation that
Matt obeyed. He felt certain chill
ing of the confidence that had ami
mated him before. The young officers
tone was masterful in spite of the
punctiliousneSs of his words and car
ried with it a disquieting authority.
The young man led him through va
rious passages and finally brought him
to what was evidently the ships
wardroOm Here. seated about the
head Of the table. were FIVE oldish
lonl-inrr in,
form. One. white haired. dignified
and somewhat bald. wore the insignia
of a rear admiral.
Good day" he said CURLY in fair
English motioning Matt to come near
er and dismissing his companion with
a 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 seat. May | take the
liberty of asking the name of this ship
and her nationality"
The old admiral stared at him fro
! zenly
1T is l who will ask the questions"
he rasped out. land 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 a sort of
snarl. which was taken up by the
others in an angry murmur.
Il am an American citizen.' said
Matt. with spirit. I've committed no
crime. and | warn you that the conse-
quences will be serious if you inter
fere with me"
I'VE are not discussing international
law" sneered the admiral. Might is
right. as you say in English. Our pa
thence with you is exhausted You
will tell us ware is Il certain individual.
or else we make YOU"
John Mort. So it was he they We're
after: This ship. these officers. the
rendezvous in midocean-all We're part
and parcel of the same extraordinary
! 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
Il don't know what you mean" he
said ut last. An Individual: What
! individually
| "NNf'"e not here TO waste time with
such breparication." returned the ad
miral. Accentrating every word with
rap OF his knuckleS on the table
large. nIisShapen knucklcS. swollen
with govt. Won know very we'll who
it is we want. though what you do
not apprchend is our determination to
extOrt the truth. We are not milkSOps
like those others. who failed so wretch
edIy in America. We will have the
truth if we have to take your skin with
it. Vat is yodr answer to that. Mstaire
Broughton:"
That | am an American citizen.
I retOrted Matt in an unf1iHcAing voice