Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-27

sulate in the piazza. In the night the
Mediterranean feet, cruising
down from Malta, had come into the
roadstead, and at the signal from the
flagship had Unanswered and dropped
anchor, forming a long line Of gigantic
battleships, swift cruisers, torpedo
boat ~destroyers, torpedo-boats, dis
patch-boats, and other craft extending
for several miles along the coast. Ly-
ing still on those calm waters was a
force which one day might cause ma
tons to totter, the overwhelming
force which upheld Britain's right in
that oft-disputed sea.
/ had taken a boat out to the Bull
wark, the great battleship flying the adj
mirars flag, and was sitting on deck
with my old friend Capt. Jack Durn-
ford of the Royal Marines. Each year
when the feet put into Leghorn we
were inseparable, for in long years
past, at Portsmouth, we had been
close friends, and now he was able
to pay me annual visits at my Italian
home.
He was on duty that morning, there
fore could not get ashore till after
luncheon.
"Ill dine with you, of course, to-
night, old chap" he said. And you
must tell me all the news. We're in
here for six days, and l was half a
mind to run home"
"Your times soon up, isn't it," l
remarked, as | lolled back in the easy
deck-chair, and gazed away at the
white port and it's background of pur'
pie Apennines.
The dark, good-looking fellow, in his
smart summer uniform leaned over
the bulwark, and said, with a slight
sigh, l thought: yes. This is my
last trip to Leghorn, I think. | &C
back in November, and l really shan'
be sorry. Three years is a long time
to be away from home. You go mex
week, you say? Lucky devil to be
your W master! l only wish l were
Year after year on this deck grows
confoundedly wearisome, l a tel
you, my dear fellow"
Durnford was a man who had writ
ten much on naval affairs, and wal
accepted as an expert on severa
branches of the service. The ad
miralty do not encourage officers t.
write, but in Durnford's case it wa
recognized that of naval topics he pos
sessed a knowledge that was of use
and, therefore, he was allowed t
write books and to contribute critica
articles to the service magazines. Il
had studied the relative strengths G
foreign navies, and by keeping hi
eyes always open he had, on many o.
c~asions, been able to give valuable il
formation to our naval attaches at tn
embassies.
Il go as soon as you've sailed.
only stayed because | promised to az
for Frank" l said. "And, by Jove!
funny thing occurred while / was |
charge-a real first-class mystery"
"a mystery-tell me-" he exclaime'
suddenly interested.
well, a yacht-a pirate yacht, | b
lieve it was-called here"
IA pirate! What do you mean?"
"Well, she was English. Listen, ar
I'll tell you the whole affair. It'll |
something fresh to tell at mess, for
know how you chaps get played o,
! of conversation"
"By Jove, yes! Things slump wh'
we get no mail. But go on-Pm liste
4 ing" he added, as an orderly came u
saluted, and handed him a paper.
WELL" l said, Tets cross to t
] other side. l don't want the sent
to overhear."
4 GAS you like-but why such m!
! tery?" he asked, as we walked toget
\ er to the other side of the spick-a1
span quarterback of the gigantic b
tleship.
you'll understand when / tell y
the story" And then, standing
gether beneath the awning, l relat
to my friend the whole of the curic
circumstances.
"Confoundedly funny" he remark
with his dark eyes fixed upon mi
"a mystery, by Jove, it is! w
name did the yacht bear?"
"The Lola"
What" he gasped, suddenly tn
ing pale. "The Lola? Are you gu
rs sure it was the Lola-Lrola?"
Absolutely certain" l replied. 81
"a why do you ask? Do you happen
know anything about the craft?"
He paused a moment, and | co
see what a strenuous effort he '
making to avoid betraying knowlet
lin 'It's-well-" he said hesitatinI
with a rather sickly smile. "It'i
girls name--a girl l once knew.
name brings back to me certain m
ing cries."
on pleasant ones-I hope"
ON. mo. Bitter ones-very bitter on
she what have you to say for y
ona seIf?"