The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-11-18

you are proclaiming yourself a pirate
and outside the law of nations. You
cannot frighten me. sir. You are a
naval officer. and know as we'll as |
do the enormity of such threats. and
that it will break YOU admiral or not.
if you should dare to lay finger on
me-
THAT is beside the point" exploded
the admiral. reddening furiously. Come
here and show us that island ware
it is
Matt stood immovable.
Il can't" he declared. Il don't know
what you mean. Island: What is
land?"
His affectation of ignorance exasper-
ated the five officers. and a file of sea-
men marched in and saluted with the
excessive humility peculiar to Ger
man shfps-Of-war. At a cultural COM
mand they closed about Matt. and one.
a strapping fellow with scar across
his cheek. suddenly caught him round
the waist
: To resist was the act of a mailman.
but MATHS brain was whirling. and
his pentup rage burst all bounds. With
a wrestlers trick he bent down. carry
ing his antagonist over his head. and
crashing him to the deck like q sack
Of oats. In an instant he was hitting
out with his fists. indiscriminately
crafty. jaw here. a surly eye there.
smash. smash. smash. with blood
streaming. blows and yells in return.
and a rush that sent himhlnder. bury
ing him in human avalanche. Had
it not been for the officers his life would
have been crushed out of him. but they
darted into the thick of the melee. re-
storing order like so many policemen
at a street fight.
Suddenly in the midst of the hubbub
a hush fell: officers and men might
have been struck by lightning SO in
Simultaneous was the change. the 81
lence. the awe expressed on every face.
Matt. getting up and following their
gaze. perceived an old man. gaunt and
very pale. standing in the doorway,
regarding the scene with a peculiar
fiXity He was in blue dressing
gown and looked i'll and broken. as
though just risen from Il sick bed: but
his eyes belied his bodily weakness.
cleaning like Goals beneath his strag-
Cling white browS. Matt had curl
Gus shock of recognition. Where had
he seen that benign old face. so
hazily familiar. like that of some half
forgotten friend of his childhood:
The old mans voice was sharp and
TREMENDOUSLY impassioned as he advanc-
ed slowly into the ward room and adj
dressed the officers. Reproof. indigna-
ton and anger We're written on every
feature. He moved over to Matt and
put one arm protectingly about him.
"Disgraceful." he said in singularly
pure English. though with the accent
Of foreigner. turning from the cring-
ing officers. They would have it that
| was too i'll to be disturbed and have
shamed me by their treatment Of you.
Will you spare me few minutes con-
versa ton in my cabin? Time is pre-
clouS, ;Ind 1 FEEL sure we can come TO an
agreement more quickly than the gen.
tlemen here anticipate"
Matt acceded willingly. though Won
derirg and mystitied. Beyond. at the
far end of the passageway and appar-
emily in the extreme stern of the ship
Il small group of servants in livery
We're gathered. who We're similarly
stricken to statues at the sight of the
pair. Walking unsteadily. more from
weakness than the movement of the
ship, Matt and his venerable compan-
ion supported each other. and at length
reached what appeared to he the state
cabin
1t was the largest Matt had ever
seen atiOat. taking in the whole bea m
of the ship. and was furnished with
a luxury undrea med of 1T sea Beauti-
ful antique furniture. glowing oriental
rugs. rich dark han"in@S of faded
crimson. SlaShed with gold-it was like
stepping into medieval palace or the
famed splendorS of the Yildiz kiosk.
You must excuse me if / return to
bed" said the old man. whose in.
creaSing WEAKNESS was becoming
painfully apparent. sit there and tell
ME why you are so stubborn in refns-
ing what we ask
Put Yourself in my place" Matt re-
piled Would You betray the best
friend you ever had:"
'Betray. exclaimed the old man.
"Ah. that has been at the root of all
our troubles. of all our intolerabe de-
lays and vexations. You think. then.
our Intentions are not for the good Of
this person to whom you are so loyal?
You do not know who am:"
No"
We'll. suppose the poor fools must
he commended for that Mr.. Brou-h
ton. my house has trusted YOU once.
and now the head of it will trust Won
again. knowing that my confidence will
be sacred "
Matt nodded
At this the old man bent forward
and breathed the name of that en-
per0r-kinC whose dominions embrace
a dozen countries and comprise the