The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-07
LLOYD OSBOURclE

ranged tryst in the waste OF the limit
less sea. Many a government Of i'm
portance had not the peer Of this mag
nifcent vessel that was racing toward
them under forced draught and With
/ all the power of her mighty engines.
Az she drew nearer. sparkling with
white and steel. she offered a spec
tarle that stirred the heart The water
flashed at her stem IA she cut 1t aSun-
der and tossed II aside In rainbow
spray; her decks rose. tier upon tier
alive with nen; Ter long. slender guns
protruding from the ports We're backed
with human faces; on the lofty bridge
We're two officers in uniform, the one
standing motionlcss beside the steers
man. the other pacing two and fro,
occasionally stopping to use his glass
Suddenly the throb of her engines
ceased and she was gliding toward the
whaleboat under no other impetus but
her vast bulk. Shril whistles sounded.
white clothed sailors We're seen run
ming. and rs II by magic the starboard
gangway was lowered. its base churn-
Ing the water or rising high above it
as the ship rolled In che sea way. At the
head Of the gangway. as the boat was
cast off and all the survivors Of the
schooner crowded up Branleis. krantz,
Schwartz and Chris were met by burly
officer who grinned affaby and shook
each one Of them by the hand AS
Matt and Chris passed to the quarter
deck beyond the former raised his cap
to group Of officers. who returned
the salute with naval stiffness 1t
was moment Of some pmharraSS.
ment-to stand there with no hOme
under the sun save that strange deck
and to know they were dependent on
the charity Of those dSdainful OBJ
servers. who gave no sign of wecom.
ing them
But an instant later they were &C.
c0Sted by a young man. also in uni
form. who. advancing hnrrieilv. bow
ed and in broken English said. "Reg
pardon. instructed by captain, follow
me, please be so kind
Guiding them down the stairway to
the deck beneath, he led them alon:
a passageway to cabin. into viii h
he nshercd them with this concluding
statement: "lnStructed by captain. You
are here 10 remain. please he 50 kind
With that he sauted. clicked his heels
with Teutonic formaity and departrl
presumably "instrurted by captain
to report their Incarceration
Ii was without doubt IN officers
cabin aud was prettily decorated with
Photographs. fans. shells. cotillion ia.
vors and other triainy mementoes. The
pair, thus oddly imprisoned IN it. felt
leSsening of their tremors and laugh.
ed at the sight OF themselves In the
glass.
They ought to he afraid Of u.s." ex.
claimed Chris with saucy confidence.
twining her arms about MATHS neck
and studying the effect II look like
the widow Of an organ grinder ON the
bread line. and BY the time I've comb. |
ed your hair bit you might pass IN |
siberian exile who had escaped In q
garbage can"
The young officer returned and stood |
blinking at them tremendously in the
doorway.
INSTRUCTED BY captain. your pres.
ence in requested. please be no kind"
be said. addressing Matt. Az Chris
rise also she was told To star behind
Instructed BY captain: no. no:
please be NO kind" exclaimed the
young officer. barring her away I'm.
structed By captain. The gentleman
only will follow me. Please be- 40
kind"
u was not without hesitation that
Matt obeyed. he felt certain chill
Ing OF the confidence that had mi.
mated MIN before The young officers
zone was masterful In spite of the
punctiliousness OF bis words and car
ried with IL disquieting authority.
Inc young man led him through w.
rious pissages and finally brought him
70 what was evidently the shIp's
wardroom Here. seated about the
head Of the table. were nve oIdlsh
grave looking officers In undress mi.
FORM One. white haired. dignitipd
and somewhat bald. wore the insignia
Of rear admiral.
-G2od day. be said curly In Fat.
(Contiauec on Psxs a.