Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-05-02

man hnd risen in life until he obtained
the command Of a ship fitted out, part
~ by private subscription, partly with
the aid Of government subsidy, for
the purpose Of deep.sea exploration.
In this and subsequent expeditions
he had made a name for himself by
the remarkable nature Of his discOv-
cries. He had discovered the prolOn-
gntiOn Of the submarine spur Of the
continental shelf, extending from the
Norwegian coast toward the Faroes;
he had invented an improved net for
scOOping up the larger denizens Of the
ocean depths; and then he had nulli-
fled all the personal appreciation and
fame which he had acquired during
his various voyages by asserting that
mammalian life existed on the sea
floor, and by championing the cause
Of the sea serpent.
That was the end Of Captain Mas
terman's activities SO far us the gov
eminent was concerned. In final in
terview the secretary Of the navy had
said to him:
PERSONALLY believe in you. Mas
terInan. But it isn't the discoveries
that count, It's getting the scientific
world to believe in them. i believe in
the sea serpent, myself, because I've
seen three Of them; but l wouldn't
dare to admit it. even in my club
smoking room, and we can't get you
another subsidy.
The secretury's confession duly ap-
peared in a newspaper article, and the
cartoonist Illustrated it with draw
ing showing him as a sea serpent with
three heads. In the course of his ex-
PLANTATION, Masterman consigned the
entire staff Of the navy department to
that place where birthstone is unmolli-
fled with mOlasses.
That ended the secretary's career.
and it would have ended Masterman's
If his had not been ended already.
After that the old man became
known as bore who buttonholed pub
lie men and tried to induce them to
subscribe to the fitting out Of a new
deep-sea exploration expedition. For
years he haunted the Hobbies Of the
capitol and the clubs, growing more
logged and obstinate and vituperative
rs he met with disappointment after
disappointment.
Then, when his case seemed hope.
less, he had succeeded In interesting
an American millionaire, with whose
aid he had fitted out an expedition to
the Shetlands and Faroes, from which
he had apparently just returned. Lieu
tenant Paget gathered from his ram
bling words that he had lost his ship,
and had returned, the sole survivor,
in one of the ships boats, which he
had rowed for several hundred miles
across the stormy waters of the North
Atlantic.
But I brought my specimen home
with me, lad!" he exclaimed, clutchine
ut his companions arm. "Think OF
that, lad! She didn't want to eat
They don't eat after they're mature
Donald. That simplified matters con-
siderable. And so brought her, and
l got her safe to my home. Donald
The old mans voice failed him. He
began muttering to himself nbsently
again. No doubt his terrible expert.
ence had unhinged his brain. Lieu
tenant Paget had always known Mas
terman to be natural eccentric, but
never before had he talked like this
about the safety of humanity. and
some awful and imminent danger
which only he could avert. The lieu
tenant could see that the old mans
cheeks were sunken; his eyes were
wild, and under his long coat the
faded blue uniform was shrunken and
stained with sea water.
Lieutenant Paget felt well disposed
toward the whole world just then. He
had been summoned home from serv.
ice with the Atlantic feet to receive
his commission as commander of the
F55. And Miss Ida Kennedy, the
daughter of the American consul gen
eral In London, whom he had met
there the year before, had written hin
that she was sailing in company witt
her aunt by the Beotia for New York
At such time, when his profes
sional and personal interests were be
ing served so well by fortune. Page
felt that fate had played wretchet
trick upon Masterman, whose lifeworl
had utterly failed of recognition owing
to his defects of temperament. Though
he was sure that the old sea captain
was crazed, he admired him MS dar
ing seaman and an original genius o.
high order.
"My dear lieutenant, I am extremel,
glad to have met you. Nothing co,.lt
have been more Fortunate" said Mas
terman, recovering his equanimit.
with a suddenness that surprised hi!
friend. Can you find the tine I,
come into my club and have a littl,
chat with me? It's the Inventors, bu
they call 1t the March HIRES be
lieye. because of some of the quee
characters there. In fact, between
ourselves. believe that am the onl,
r,.l,., fe,.