The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-11-01
cHApTER /.
The Mad sea-captaln.

The Mad Sea-Captain.
Lieutenant Donald Paget, emerging
from the navy office In Washington In
a state OF high exuberance at having
received command 90 g submarine. col
iided violently with a tall, elderly man
of singular aspect.
The a was dressed In a quasi
nautical costume Of his own devising,
resembling nothing known to any navy
Ia the world. His iron-gray beard
swept down TO his waist. giving him
the aspect OF a notwithstanding
Noah and just then he was very angry
indeed, for, standing ~stock-stli eat the
entrance OF the building, he shook his
enormous fist at one Of the porters,
whose black and highly shocked eI-
preston indicated his unhappy frame
OF mind at this breach Of decorum.
"Colfound you. sir I" exclaimed the
lieutenant angrily as he recoiled from
his impact upon me sturdy figure on
which the collision had made no more
impression than IL he had fallen
against the Washington monument.
"why don't you look
Then, catching sight of the long
beard-"Why, Captain Mastermanl y
he exclaimed.
Donald Paget" cried the elderly
man, grasping him by the hand. Tex
cuse my being upset, but these jacks
in-office will be the death OF the repub-
lie one of these days. have Just
been trying to see the secretary on a
matter affecting not only A~merica--in
which case his indifference would not
surprise me-but the entire human
race. What do you suppose they told
meT'
II am inclined to think that you got
no further than the porter, captain"
replied the lieutenant.
fright, siri' exclaimed Masterman,
beginning to grow angry again. "And
IL were not q nan nf s~nnerhnmnn
patience. combined with inexhaustibis
tact, singular clarity Of mind, and tie
uacity of purpose-in fact, an obsti-
nate old mule-I should let the human
race go hang!"
Lieutenant Paget took the irate old
man by the arm. II wouldn't do that,
captain" he said. smiling. Come and
tell me all about II. and let us see
whether we cannot devise some means
OF saving the race. Yod see, now that
the navy department Is so bnsy on &C
count of the war. perhaps a little leni-
ency with Its shortcomings might be
In order. ell 2"
"The war? What WARP" demanded
Masterman.
"why our few words with the Ger
mans. Masterman."
Tints thai7 War with the Ger
mans? You don't mean TO tell me we
are at war with GermanyT
DO you mean Il say ycs don't
know that America and Germany are
at WARP demanded Paget incredu-
iously.
mo. sirl And, what's more, II
doesn't interest me. How the deuce
should / know all the gossip and frivol-
lilies of the day when / only returned
to the capital yesterday"
But. my dear captain-gossip and
frivoHtiesl' exclaimed the lieutenant.
~Surely you have seen newspapers. or
heard people talking about X"
II tell you I haven't seer or heard
anything I've got more important
things. to think about. Anyhow. 1t will
have to be stopped at once" said Mas.
terman. half turning. I'm have 10 20
back and see the secretary immedi-
ately."
However, he suffered his companion
to lead him out Of the building and
along the street, while the lieutenant,
firmly convinced that his old friend
was mad. held him by the arm tightly
and listened to the captains disjointed
mutterings In the hope Of discovering
the nature OF his delusion.
Donald Paget had known Captain
Jonathan Mnsterman when he was al
Annapolis. where the old man. who
had once been a Qunrtermaster in the
navy. held a subsidiary position on the
Instructors stan. The acquaintance
had continued Internationally. Master
man had risen In life until he obtained
the command Of . ship fitted out, part
II BY private subscription. partly with
the aid Of q government subsidy, FOL
the purpose Of deep-sea exploration
In this and Subsequent expeditions
he had made : name for himself b,
the remarkable nature Of his discov
cries. He had discovered the prol0n