The Elbert County tribune., 1916-03-17

from him this minute"
Easily within that, excellency. The
stuff comes awfully strong-they are
close, that is sure
Send the captain at once" ordered
the official
The captain came and learned this
yacht was headed toward this call,
which came down out of the stars i'm
ploringly, urging speed.
That was what the night called out
with its mysterious voice. The quick
| wit of Count Frederick had availed in
this emergency in which he found him
self. He knew that the Adelina would
be in commission. He hoped that
someone might be found to take COM
mand. He knew that any aid which
came, must come soon.
The Adelina now swung in full
| speed, her engines purring softly in
continuous roll as she took up her top
gait, and held 1t steadily. Always the
call came, IS. o. S.-Gretzhoffen-S
| o. S.-Gretzhoffen." For, as matter
of fact, although left long since in
his own den on the upper deck, the
| operator of the Princess had dutifully
done what he had been hidden to DO.
They plowed on into the starry
night for some time. At length an ex.
clamation came from the captain to
the official who stood at his side on
the bridge.
Il see her." said he. Dead ahead,
and coming on at a good clip herself.
| Screaming bloody murder. Well well,
we will see in couple of jiffies what
| it is all about. She's not sinking
| she's not on fire-what's wrong
there?"
Meantime, on board the Princess
such confusion reigned that at the
time none saw the swift approach of
| the Adelina. The owner of the Prin-
cess was busy with his late pris-l
oners. Count Frederick was once more
/ assailed when he attempted to leave
| the wireless room-where, as has been
said the operator still held to his task,
wholly ignorant, naturally. that his
call to Gretzhoffen had been answered
thus swiftly. Indeed, Frederick and
Kitty both found themselves in des-
perate plight enough, for one of them
was outnumbered, and the other over
powered
| But now there came the calling of
men on deck, and the rush of feet as
| they ran here and there. Even Wynd-
ham, engaged in his drunken sport of
hectoring the weak girl who covered
helpless and terrified in his own room.
at length left her and came on deck.
By this time Frederick had once
more broken free of the men who had
attacked him, and had himself reached
a place on deck whence he could see
the outline of the oncoming boat. The
searchlight of the Adelina swept the
decks of the Princess. Back of 1t
could be seen little except the loom of
her rigging, But now came the fash
of a shot and its plunge into the sea
dead ahead of the Princess.
Good bless us!" exclaimed Wynd-
ham. almost sobered now at this
"They are firing on us-firing on the
British flag. It's not done, you know!'
But it is done, sir" said the ex
ecutive officer at his elbow, when a
second shot carried away part of the
bowsprit of the Princess. Round to
or she will sink us"
"They are damned pirates!" said
Wyndham. "I'll not have it."
Pirates or not, sir" said the execu
tive officer, they will sink us If We
don't round to-"
The next instant he took the matter
into his own hands. The engine bells
changed below. The ship slackened
speed, stopped, and lay rolling in the
sea. BY this time the boats OF the
Adelina were putting out, well packed
with marines. They swarmed ABOARD
now without invitation, and appeared
eminently ready for any business thai
might be offered.
"Who are your" demanded Wynd
ham. What do you mean by boarding
my boat?"
What do you mean by sending {
wireless, sir?" demanded the officer o
marines you called us, and we ar,
here What is wrong?"
81 will tell you what is wrong,
broke in Count Frederick here. push
ing his way forward. I'VE are two
prisoners here-a young lady and my
self. We have been mishandled, boil
of us, by this ruffan here. He or
dered me in irons for no reason in tn,
world except to give him better hi
own way with this young lady. He il
neither officer nor gentleman. Having
no means of reckoning with him.
myself, ordered the wireless sent gu
to Gretzhoffen. 1 called you on m.
own responsibility. We needed help
and we thank God you have come"
The master of the Princess nov
stood crestfallen. much of his bravad
gone. Il meant nothing" said he.
Il will forget it all. captain If yol