Evening star., 1922-09-10

start firing. I'm going to fre every
damned-shell-Tve
When the Converses had gone
ashore Mccartney hunted UP his ex-
ecutive officer. Dyer listened without
comment.
II can't stand it," said Mccartney.
tight-lipped. ito know what's hap
pened ashore and then sit out here
and do nothing. I'm going to get
those fellows out of the cooler. and
do it quick. But IL you haven't got
the nerve to stay with it, Sam, you
say So and I'll have you put on the
sick list. so you won't be mixed up
with 1t ofiicially."
Dyer surveyed him.
"Pinky, after that last remark of
yours there's only one thing that
saves you from a laundering good
licking-that's your size. But you
know you haven't got any authority.
except to be a moral effect"
Maybe l haven't" snapped Macart-
ney, and drew in his head like a
turtle. But I've got information. and
I've got gizzard. and I've got the
Sampson. haven't I?'
\ \ ~
IT was II o'clock in the mornin 6
when a beautiful white powerboat.
flying new flags and glistening with
bright work, lost headway at the
SIMPSONS companion ladder. and a
young Latin officer, sporting almost
as much gold lace as the concierge of
Paris hotel. sprang confidently over
the side.
No honors awaited him. Indeed, to
his growing discontinue. nobody paid
the slightest attention to him. He
looked about him. hesitated. scowled.
and finally walked aft, where Pinky
Mccartney, stretched at ease under
an awning, was smoking a cigar and
reading a novel. The officer brought
himself up smartly. saluted, and
waited for the customary return of
the compliment. Mccartney took the
cigar out Of his mouth.
Mr. Dyer"
Yes, sir"
'Is this the commanding general?"
mo. sir"
Again the young ofhcer saluted
briskly.
staff Captain Fernandez"
"Mr Dyer" Macartney's voice was
lazy.
Yes, sir"
Throw this man overheard"
Tho young oficer turned furious
rcd, but even as his lips parted quick
footsteps on the deck caught his at
tention. and he whirled about to be-
hold four burly sailors bearing down
on him. For one perilous, incredu-
lous instant he delayed. Then discre-
ton attached itself to his heels and
he made a break for 1t. Painting and
cursing, he tumbled into his launch.
and as it drew away he stood In the
stern and promised unequivocally to
balance the account by nightfall. On
deck Mccartney hicked the ash OF his
cigar, and the executive oficer gazed
at the launch and told himself that
they were in for it
In precisely two hours another
powerboat ranged alongside and dis
charged a colonel, chief Of stan. Ma
cartney. hardly glancing up from his
book, spoke dimdently.
'Mr. Dyer"
"Yes. SIR"
'Is this the general commanding?
II. thing not. SIR"
Inform him that II he isn't of my
ship in less than a minute I'll have
him thrown overheard"
And at the piping Of whistle and
the pelting Of heavy feet on deck the
chief of staff delayed not in the man
ner of his going, but went with
promptitude.
It was nearly dusk when the leader
of the revolutionists found himself
received with the fullest ceremony
known to the regulations. But when
at length he sat under the awning
and smoked his cigar he continued to
regard Mccartney with bilious eye.
And SO they conversed, Latin-like.
around and around the bush, until all
possible fiattery had been exhausted.
among tho townspeople, heuten-
ant, there is the extraordinary rumor
the most extraordinary rumor i'm
aginable."
What rumor il that?"
THAT you have intend to lombard
San Fratello." He laughed corpu-
lently. "The most extraordinary ru-
NOR"
=. .vr. ~-s->~aG~arw. tkao~ $Nr mar