The Holly chieftain., 1914-10-09

Will recognize. of course. that I am
doing nothing but obeying orders.
which are to see that you are very
comfortable and agreeably enter
tained until you reach Cuba"
She evidently had determined not
to talk to her captor. but changed her
mind with womanlike suddenness.
Il shall thank you II ! am COM
Portable. but shall thank you still
more II you give over any idea of
entertaining me. You may be sure
that the less see Of you the better 1
shall be pleased"
III you will follow me, Miss La
Tossa." he said. with sudden stiften-
ing Of manner. "l'll show you your
cabin"
The dark came rolling across the
sea- It was a wonderful night, q night
spangled with consultations and undu-
lating black velvet waters, which
picked UP the little tarpedo craft. hold
Ing her high and then sending her
gliding silently down long inclines. At
the bottom of which she seemed to
nestle . moment before her screw
kicked her up another quivering hill.
Some time later the lights of craft
which had been following astern of the
Gnat began to creep closer and closer
aboard, and dark clouds of smoke, bill
lowing from three squat tunnels, blot
ted out the northeastern horizon.
Hoiton saw the vessel, too, and cas-
lily recognized her as torpedo boat
destroyer. His only doubt was as to
her nationality.
This was speedily settled. for sud
denly Ardois lights began to blink
from the bridge, interpreting which
Holton learned that the destroyer
cambridge wished to speak to the
Gnat.
In . few minutes the Bainbridge
swished up and the sharp voice Of
Lieutenant Commander Jameson sound
ed from the bridge.
"On board the Gnat!"
Aye. Aye!" yelled Horton.
There followed a silence which last
ed until the destroyer slid her high,
sharp bow and conical forward deck
alongside the little torpedo boat.
Jameson jumped aboard and after re-
turning Holton's salute he said for
mally:
Il have orders to take q Miss La
Tossa from the Gnat and land her
at-well. never mind where"
Very good, sir. Any orders for
met"
Eyes. here they are" Jameson took
an envelope from his oyercoat- pocket
and handed 1t to Holton. Now. then,
I'll take the girl"
But the girl. In fact, did not wait
to be taken. She stepped forward
most gracefully, and addressing Jane
son. said:
Il am ready; am quite happy at
my change Of prisons and my shift Of
jailers."
"Ha. hal" laughed the prosaic
Jameson. nudging Holton in the ribs,
and offering his arm to the girl who
walked up small ladder to the deck
of the destroyer without SO much as
glance at Holton.
With blast OF her siren the Balm
bridge shot on her way to Cuba, while
the Gnat made a long sweep and
turned upon her course.
While this maneuver was in prog
ress Holton. still flushing with vexa-
tion, ripped open the envelope and
read the latest phase of what he had
come to regard as a game of battle
dore and shuttlecock.
shorn of technical verbiage. the or
ders which were signed by the new
assistant secretary. Allen, instructed
Holton to lose himself and the Gnat
among the small isolated keys Of the
coast until such time as the transports
were gathered at Port Tampa, when
he was then to guard them from night
attacks which might come sneaking
In under cover Of the darkness from
seaward.