Cheyenne record., 1914-10-22
CHAPTER !.

mander of the Scorpion. made as
though to place the dispatch in his
pocket. then, taking pity upon his "sec-
ond," who was all eyes, he turned the
paper over to his Junior lieutenant,
known throughout the hotilla as Bob
by Frost.
you will leave Newport News at
ten o'clock tonight with the destroyer
Scorpion and proceed south to the par.
snt ship OF the First Torpedo Boat Flo
tflla of Key West, prepared for ac-
ton"
This order was warmly welcomed by
Holton and by his second in command
OF the grim, lead -colored Scorpion.
1T looks like business, doesn't it,"
observed Frost, with tentative inflec-
tion in his voice.
1T does, sure" chuckled Holton.
I'm glad we had those battle plates
fixed In the boiler. l suppose we
might as we'll have the war-heads fixed
on the torpedoes. too. The orders say
prepare for action. Attend to it,
will you, Frost?"
Aye. aye. sir" and Frost hurried
along the grimy, oily deck to the after
companionway
The somewhat Informal nature of
the dialogue between tho two will be
forgiven by the fastidious when 1t Is
pointed out that for month the Scor-
pion had been laying at Newport News
on detached duty Of confidential ma
ture under direct orders from Wash
fnptnn fhof H1ltorso
panion aboard ship in that time had
been his young second. But the period
of loneliness was evidently to end In
a burst OF glory and Lieutenant Holton
was truly thankful.
In the preceding month the mighty
battle ship Maine had wallowed down
into the Shiny ooze of Havana Harbor,
great hole torn In her forward COM
Dartments. In her lay one of Holton's
best friends a shlpmate Of pleasant
days following graduation at the Naval
Academy. The cry. Remember the
Maine," was sounding from Maine
itself to California. The entire coun-
try was on the qui vive. Osgood, the
hero OF many an American football
gridiron. had. as a Cuban volunteer.
given up his life at tho side OF a ma
chine gun; Frederick Funston had
served valianuy against the tyrants Of
CASTLE and Aragon, and other Ameri-
cans had given evidence that the fight
ing spirit was by no means dormant In
the heart OF nation Of pigs and
tradesmen."
With the situation thus there was
little cause for wonder at Lieutenant
Holton's emotions Of mental exalta-
tion. Whatever the future might hold
for him, at least this seemed certain:
there would be action, and that Is
something for which your true gentle
man OF the service is ever on the
watch
Something Of the mood OF the two
young officers was communicated to
the crew. There were broad grins on
all the mems faces as they hurried
about the performance Of the various
tasks. and many of them did not for
bear to turn inQuiring faces toward
their officers whenever occasion offer
ed-which expressions. naturally their
officers failed" to see.
At sunset everything was In readi-
ness. and with a sigh of relief Holton
stretched himself on the narrow seat
running along the mess-room and low
1ngly filled his pipe. Frost did like
wise and then looked over at his su-
perior.
by George!" he cried, think of
having the opportunity Of putting into
practice all the things we've learned"
1T won't be bad fun at ALL" replied
Holton.
Frost was about to utter another
thought when the doorway was dark.
ened by the figure Of a messenger.
"A telegram for Lieutenant Hol.
ton." he said, saluting.
Holton took 1t hastily and ran over
the contents. His face clouded and
he read 1t again. A good strong word
WAS trembling on his lips, and he was
about to crumple the dispatch in his
hand when his eye fell on the messen-
ger standing at attention.
"Oh, thank you" he said; there Is
no answer.
As the messenger departed Holton
handed the telegram to his second
without a word.
"-You will proceed at once to Wash
lngton and report to me at the earliest