Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-10-31
cHAPTE Err !.

The Mad Sea-captain.

state of high exuberance at having
rpceived command of submarine, col
Tdad violently with tall, elderly man
OF singular aspect.
The stranger was dressed in quasi
nautical costume of his own devising,
resembling nothing known to any navy
IN the world. His iron-gray beard
swept down to his waist, giving him
the ssDect of a Notwithstanding
Noah: and just then he was very angry
indeed. for, standing StOck-Stfll at the
entrance of the building, he shook his
enormous fist at one of the pOrters,
whose black and highly shocked ex-
Drpssion indicated his unhappy frame
Of mind at this breach of decorum.
aCOnfound you, sir!' exclaimed the
lieutenant angrily as he recoiled from
his impact upon the sturdy figure on
which the collision had made no more
impression than if he had fallen
against the Washington monument.
why don't you look"
Then, catching sight of the long
beard-"Why, Captain Masterman"
he exclaimed.
Donald Paget!" cried the elderly
man. grasping him by the hand. Eek
Cuse my being upset, but these jacks
iD-ofice will be the death of the repub-
lie one of these days. l have just
been trying to see the secretary on a
matter affecting not only America-in
which case his Indifference would not
surprise me-but the entire human
race What do you suppose they told
me-?
81 am inclined to think that you got
no further than the porter, captain,
replied the lieutenant.
Right, sir!" exclaimed Masterman,
beginning to grow angry again. "And
# I were not a man of superhuman
patience. combined with inexhaustible
tact, singular clarity of mind, and te-
Uacity of purpOse-in fact, an obsd-
nste old mule-I should let the human
race go hang"
Lieutenant Paget took the irate old
man by the arm. 81 wouldn't do that,
captain" he said, smiling. Come and
tell me all about it, and let us see
whether we cannot devise some means
of saving the race. You see, now that
the navy department is so busy on ac-
count of the war, perhaps little leni-
enCy with it's shortcomings might be
in order, eh?'
The war? What WARP" demanded
MaSterman.
why, our few words with the Ger
mans MaSterman."
What's that? War with the Ger
mans? You don't mean to tell me we
are at war with Germany"
DO you. mean to say you don't
know that America and Germany are
at war2" demanded Paget incredu-
lousy.
NO, sirl And, what's more, it
doesn't interest me. How the deuce
should know all the gossip and frivol-
tiles Of the day when 1 only returned
to the capital yesterdays"
But, my dear captain-gossip and
triyolities!" exclaimed the lieutenant.
Surely you have seen newspapers, or
heard people talking about it,"
I tell you 1 haven't seen or heard
anything! I've got more important
things to think about. Anyhow, it will
nave to be stopped at once" said Mas
terman, half turning. "I'll have to go
pack and see the secretary immedi-
ately"
However, he suffered his companion
70 lead him out of the building and
tong the street, while the lieutenant,
urmly convinced that his old friend
was mad held him by the arm tightly
snd listened TO the captains disjointed
mutterings in the hope of discovering
NE nature of his delusion.
Donald Paget had known Captain
sonathan Masterman when he was at
annapolis, where the old man, who
1au once been quartermaster in the
navy held a subsidiary position on the
instructors staff. The acquaintance
u@a continued internationally. Master
Iiah had risen in life until he obtained
Ile command of ship fitted out, part
= ny private subscription, partly with
sIe AID of a government subsidy, for
e purpose of deep-sea exploration.
ID thlS and subsequent expeditions
nc mad made a name for himself by
.4e remarkable nature of his discov-
e1eS. He had discovered the prolon-
souon of the submarine spur of the
Sonlhental shelf, extending from the
tOi"eglan coast toward the Faroes;
uad invented an improved net for
s.OOplng up the larger denizens of the
Stean depths; and then he had nulli-
so eu all the personal appreciation and
H. hue which he had acquired during
various voyages by asserting that
allan life existed on the sea