The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-14

| warned lHdl <NllSiASeH WIN
Great iokerS and would rib you
whilc YOU walked them off a
nIank Stick to the subject, Mr..
Banks. My first lieutenant has
made note that your father owns
merchantmen sailing out of Bos-
ton but that YOU yourself are not
skipper.
"Accuratc. sir. | was merely a
passcnvcr on the brigantinc
Hardy. took the voyage chiefly
,osna D my fingers ut MIR. James
Madison of Virginia who had de-
cared our Boston port closed in
April"
"Intrcd?" The captains face
sImast assumed an expression.
Then you may welcome 1 chance
IL, assert that feeling more strong
". Mr.. Banks. You'll be offered
commission rs third lieutenant
in lis MajcSty'S Navy, with Serv-
jc,, ON the Sunrise. \ promotion
from hold to Officers quarters in
three days time, Mr.. Banks. Not
50 bad. ch::'
Sit" said Cabcll Banks, Il
can't accept it. My country hap
pens 10 be at war with yours. |
believe YOU have ovcrratCd my
.cc:ing aG%inS. President Madi-
son. For two days I've had time
10 ruminatc and ponder over that
phrase freedom Of the seas I've
chewcd the cud, us we say in
NaSsa chn ctt-. These hands that
| once used for finger-snapping
at President Madison, | now use
for applause" Whercupon he
pounded his slender, wcll-kept
hands toyc.hrr with such vigor
that curious faces appeared at
rortholeS to see what went on.
While the captain was frown-
ing ut this strange performance
and trying to seize the situation
by the tail, so to speak, Cabell
Banks stepped aside and leaned
lazily against 4 bulkhcad. "Gour
turn now, Whitfield he said to
Jerry. quite as fl he himself were
conducting the interview He was
an angry young man, and there
fore a reckless one. 1t did not
help Jerry WhitficldS cause in
the least.
who are you and where were
YOU BORN" Captain Steel shouted
at Jerry.
Jeremiah Whitfield, sir. Born
in Gloucester, a port in
$50 you admit your English
BIRTH
English birth? Never, sir! I'm
American. GlOucester's in MasSa-
chuSettS."
The captain was writing busily
and humming to himself, like Il
contented deaf man. Where was
your father born?'
In Cambridge. sir, Il town
near"
That will do. And your
mother"
Near Manchester, in Massa-
chusettSw Jerry shouted. All
those places are in Massachusetts,
in America"
Don't shout, my man. |
have here a map of the colonies
Of America, jeremiah Whitfield,
and none of those places are
listed. You will, however, find
them all on the map Of England"
Let me look at the American
map, sir" Jerry requested. "Fll
surely find you GlOuchester. It's
a fair sized port"
The captain CAV chin what was
undeniably a map Of the North
American continent. 1t was pos
sibly 100 years old, navigation
map showing rivers and bays as
they were known at that time.
Some of the colonies were crude
ly outlined, all were highly col
ored. But no towns were marked
except Quebec, Toronto, Boston,
New York and Philadelphia and a
few others.
This is no fair map Jerry ex-
| claimed. Pm American for three
generations. No, four on my
! fathers side. This is a dirty out
rage, and | protest! | know what
you're up to-"
"You have lost your head, Jcrc-
miah Whitfield. but l have not
lost mine. It's a common occur
renee for deserters to claim to
be American. You were brought
to this ship last night as de-
serter from His Majcsty's Navy.
All signs substantiate that. Every
thing about you incriminates you
those towns you too hastily
mentioned, your English appear
ance, your being in London at
loose ends
There was an impudent laugh