The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-07
Continued from Page 2.

4
er aud dismissing his companion viii
a wave Of the hand. We would like
TO talk with you. sir.
I'm at your servie." 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 shir
and her natonality?''
The Old admiral stared at him fro
zenly.
1T is who will ask the questions,
be 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.
II am an American citizen" said
Matt. with spirit i've committed no
crime. and | warn you that the conSe-
quenres will be serious IL you inter
fere with me"
We are not discussing international
law" sneered the admiral Might Is
right. as you say in English. Our pa.
tience with you is exhausted You
will tell US ware is a certain individual
or else we make von
John Mort! 50 it was he they were
after: This ship, these officers, the
rendezvous in midocean all were part
and parcel Of the same extraordinary
business In spite Of his bold front
Matt quailed inwardy. Beads Of
sweat started on his forehead. He
felt like a man on the eve Of execution
Il don't know what YOU mean" he
said ut last An individual! What
individual!
Were not here to waste time with
such breparication, returned the ad.
mral. accentuating every word with
rap of his knuckles on the table
large misshapen knuckles, swollen
with govt You know very well who
1t is we want. though what you do
not apprehend is our determination to
extort the truth We are not mikSOps
Ike those others. who failed so wretch
edlv in America. We will have the
truth II we have to take yonr skin with
It. Vat is your answer to that. Mistaire
BroughtonT
THAT am an American citizen"
retorted Matt in an unflincaing voice
you are proclaiming yourself 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 1t will break you, admiral or not.
ii you should dare to lay finger on
me-"
THAT is beside the point exploded
the admiral observation-disclosures Come
here, and show us that island ware
1t H."
Matt stood immovahle.
II can't" he declared II don't know
what YOU mean Island; What is
land"
His affectation OF ignorance exasper.
ated the five officers. and tile of sea
men marched in and Sauted with the
excessive humility peculiar to Ger
man Ships-of war. At cultural com
mand they closed about Matt. and one.
a Strappin@ fellow with a scar across
his cheek. suddenly caught him round
the waist
To resist was the act Of mailman.
but MATHS brain was whirling, and
his pentnp rage burst all bounds. With
a wrestler'S trick he bent down. carry.
ing his antagonist over his head. and
craShin" him to the deck like sack
Of oats, In an instant he WAS hitting
ont with his fists. indiscriminatply,
craZily, a Jaw here. surly eve there, !
smash. smash, smash, with blood
streaming. blows and yellS in return,
and rush that sent him under bury. !
Ing him in a human avalanche. Had
~ NV ''Nu WI Tue otiittTS us NE WOlllu |
have been crushed out of him. but they
dartel into the thick OF the melee re- |
storing order like so many policemen
ut "A street hcht
Suddenly in the midst of the hubbub
hush fell; officers and men might
have been struck by lightning, so in.
Simultaneous was the change, the ST. |
lence. the awe expressed on every face
Matt. getting up and following their |
gaze, perceived All old man. gaunt aud !
very pale, standing In the doorway.
regarding the scene with a peculiar
hXlty. lie was in a blue dressing
gown and looked Ill and broken AS
though just risen from sick bed; but
bis eyes belied his bodily weakness,
cleaning Hike Goals beneath bis strag-
CLING white brows. Matt had a curl.
ous shock of recognition. Where had
ne 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
tremulously impassioned 40 he adyanc.
Cd slowly into the ward room and sd.
dressed the officers. Reproof. indigna.
ton and anger were written on everv