barr robert - a rock in the baltic

8/12/2019 Barr Robert - A Rock in the Baltic

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rock i

the Baltic, by Robert Barr

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Title: A Rock in the Baltic

Author: Robert Barr

Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4982

Last Updated: February 1, 2013

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOO

A ROCK IN THE BALTIC ***


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Produced by Jim Weiler and David Widger

A ROCK IN THEBALTIC


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By Robert Barr,

1906

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I THE INCIDENT

AT THE BANK


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CHAPTER II IN THE SEWING

ROOM

CHAPTER III ON DECKCHAPTER IV "AT LAST

ALONE"

CHAPTER V AFTER THEOPERA IS OVER

CHAPTER VI FROM SEA TO

MOUNTAIN

CHAPTER VII "A WAY THEY

HAVE IN THE NAVY"

CHAPTER VIII "WHEN

JOHNNY COMES MARCHING

HOME"


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CHAPTER IX IN RUSSIA

CHAPTER X CALAMITY

UNSEENCHAPTER XI THE SNOW

CHAPTER XII THE DREADED

TROGZMONDOFF

CHAPTER XIII ENTRAPPED

CHAPTER XIV A VOYAGEINTO THE UNKNOWN

CHAPTER XV "A HOME ON

THE ROLLING DEEP"

CHAPTER XVI CEL

NUMBER NINE

CHAPTER XVII A FELLOW


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SCIENTIST

CHAPTER XVIII CEL

NUMBER ONECHAPTER XIX "STONE

WALLS DO NOT A PRISON

MAKE"

CHAPTER XX ARRIVAL OF

THE TURBINE YACHT

CHAPTER XXI THEELOPEMENT


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CHAPTER I THE

INCIDENT AT THE

BANK

IN the public room of the Sixth Nationa

Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, Lieutenan

Alan Drummond, H.M.S. "Consternation,

stood aside to give precedence to a ladyThe Lieutenant had visited the bank for th

purpose of changing several crisp whit

Bank of England notes into the currency o

he country he was then visiting. The laddid not appear to notice either his courtes

or his presence, and this was the mor

remarkable since Drummond was a youn


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man sufficiently conspicuous even in

crowd, and he and she were, at tha

moment, the only customers in the bank

He was tall, well-knit and stalwart, blonas a Scandinavian, with dark blue eye

which he sometimes said jocularly wer

he colors of his university. He had bee

slowly approaching the cashier's windowwith the easy movement of a man never i

a hurry, when the girl appeared at th

door, and advanced rapidly to the ban

counter with its brass wire scree

surrounding the arched aperture behin

which stood the cashier. Although very

plainly attired, her gown neverthelespossessed a charm of simplicity tha

almost suggested complex Paris, and sh

wore it with that air of distinction th

secret of which is supposed to be th


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exclusive property of French an

American women.

The young man saw nothing of this, an

although he appreciated the beauty of thgirl, what struck him at that instant was th

expression of anxiety on her face, whos

apparently temporary pallor wa

accentuated by an abundance of dark hair

t seemed to him that she had resolutely se

herself a task which she was mos

reluctant to perform. From the moment shentered the door her large, dark eyes wer

fixed almost appealingly on the cashier

and they beheld nothing else. Drummond

mentally slow as he usually was, came the quick conclusion that this was

supreme moment in her life, on whic

perhaps great issues depended. He saw

her left hand grasp the corner of the ledg


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n front of the cashier with a grip o

nervous tension, as if the support thu

attained was necessary to her. Her righ

hand trembled slightly as she passed aoblong slip of paper through the apertur

o the calm and indifferent official.

"Will you give me the money for thi

check?" she asked in a low voice.

The cashier scrutinized the documen

for some time in silence. The signatur

appeared unfamiliar to him."One moment, madam," he said quietly

and retired to a desk in the back part of th

bank, where he opened a huge book

urned over some leaves rapidly, and ranhis finger down a page. His dilator

action seemed to increase the youn

woman's panic. Her pallor increased, an


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she swayed slightly, as if in danger o

falling, but brought her right hand to th

assistance of the left, and so steadie

herself against the ledge of the cashier'counter.

"By Jove!" said the Lieutenant t

himself, "there's something wrong here.

wonder what it is. Such a pretty girl, too!"

The cashier behind his screen saw

nothing of this play of the emotions. H

returned nonchalantly to his station, anasked, in commonplace tones:

"How will you have the money

madam?"

"Gold, if you please," she replie

almost in a whisper, a rosy flush chasin

he whiteness from her face, while a dee

sigh marked the passing of a crisis.


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At this juncture an extraordinary thin

happened. The cashier counted out som

golden coins, and passed them through th

aperture toward their new owner."Thank you," said the girl. Then

without touching the money, she turned

ike one hypnotized, her unseeing eye

still taking no heed of the big Lieutenan

and passed rapidly out of the bank, Th

cashier paid no regard to thi

abandonment of treasure. He was writinsome hieroglyphics on the cashed check.

"By Jove!" gasped the Lieutenant aloud

springing forward as he spoke, sweepin

he coins into his hand, and bolting for thdoor. This was an action which would

have awakened the most negligent cashie

had he been in a trance. Automatically h


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whisked out a revolver which lay in a

open drawer under his hand.

"Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!" h

shouted, but the Lieutenant had alreaddisappeared. Quick as thought the cashie

darted into the passage, and withou

waiting to unfasten the low door whic

separated the public and private rooms o

he bank, leaped over it, and, bareheaded

gave chase. A British naval officer in

uniform, rapidly overtaking a younwoman, quite unconscious of hi

approach, followed by an excited

bareheaded man with a revolver in hi

grasp, was a sight which would quicklhave collected a crowd almost anywhere

but it happened to be the lunch hour, and

he inhabitants of that famous summe

resort were in-doors; thus, fortunately, th


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street was deserted. The naval officer wa

here because the hour of the midday mea

on board the cruiser did not coincide wit

unch time on shore. The girl was therbecause it happened to be the only portio

of the day when she could withdraw

unobserved from the house in which sh

ived, during banking hours, to try heittle agitating financial experiment. Th

cashier was there because the bank had n

unch hour, and because he had jus

witnessed the most suspiciou

circumstance that his constantly alert ey

had ever beheld. Calm and imperturbabl

as a bank cashier may appear to thoutside public, he is a man under constan

strain during business hours. Each perso

with whom he is unacquainted tha

confronts him at his post is a possibl


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robber who at any moment may attemp

either by violence or chicanery, to filc

he treasure he guards. The happening o

any event outside the usual routine at oncarouses a cashier's distrust, and thi

sudden flight of a stranger with mone

which did not belong to him quite justifie

he perturbation of the cashier. From thapoint onward, innocence of conduct o

explanation so explicit as to satisfy an

ordinary man, becomes evidence of mor

subtle guilt to the mind of a bank officia

The ordinary citizen, seeing the Lieutenan

finally overtake and accost the hurryin

girl, raise his cap, then pour into heoutstretched hand the gold he had taken

would have known at once that here wa

an every-day exercise of natura

politeness. Not so the cashier. The farthe


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he got from the bank, the more poignantl

did he realize that these two in front, bot

strangers to him, had, by their combine

action, lured him, pistol and all, awafrom his post during the dullest hour of th

day. It was not the decamping with thos

few pieces of gold which now trouble

him: it was fear of what might be going obehind him. He was positive that thes

wo had acted in conjunction. The unifor

worn by the man did not impose upon him

Any thief could easily come by a uniform

and, as his mind glanced rapidl

backwards over the various points of th

scheme, he saw how effectual the plawas: first, the incredible remissness of th

woman in leaving her gold on the counter

second, the impetuous disappearance o

he man with the money; and, third, hi


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own heedless plunge into the street afte

hem. He saw the whole plot in a flash: h

had literally leaped into the trap, an

during his five or ten minutes' absence, thaccomplices of the pair might hav

overawed the unarmed clerks, and walke

off with the treasure. His cash drawer wa

unlocked, and even the big safe stoowide open. Surprise had as effectuall

ured him away as if he had been a countr

bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly did h

curse his own precipitancy. His duty wa

o guard the bank, yet it had not been th

bank that was robbed, but, at best

careless woman who had failed to pick upher money. He held the check for it, and

he loss, if any, was hers, not the bank's

yet here he was, running bareheaded dow

he street like a fool, and now those tw


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stood quite calmly together, he handin

her the money, and thus spreading a mantl

of innocence over the vile trick. Bu

whatever was happening in the bank, hwould secure two of the culprits at least

The two, quite oblivious of the danger tha

hreatened them, were somewhat startle

by a panting man, trembling with ragebareheaded, and flourishing a deadl

weapon, sweeping down upon them.

"Come back to the bank instantly, yowo!" he shouted.

"Why?" asked the Lieutenant in a quie

voice.

"Because I say so, for one thing."

"That reason is unanswerable," replie

he Lieutenant with a slight laugh, whic

further exasperated his opponent. "I thin


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you are exciting yourself unnecessarily

May I beg you to put that pistol in you

pocket? On the cruiser we always cove

up the guns when ladies honor us witheir presence. You wish me to return

because I had no authority for taking th

money? Right: come along."

The cashier regarded this as bluff, an

an attempt to give the woman opportunit

o escape.

"You must come back also," he said tohe girl.

"I'd rather not," she pleaded in a low

voice, and it was hardly possible to hav

made a more injudicious remark if she haaken the whole afternoon to prepare.

Renewed determination shone from th

face of the cashier.


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"You must come back to the bank," he

reiterated.

"Oh, I say," protested the Lieutenant

"you are now exceeding your authority. alone am the culprit. The young lady i

quite blameless, and you have no right t

detain her for a moment."

The girl, who had been edging awa

and showing signs of flight, which th

bareheaded man, visibly on the aler

eaned forward ready to intercept, seemeo make up her mind to bow to th

nevitable. Ignoring the cashier, sh

ooked up at the blond Lieutenant with

slight smile on her pretty lips."It was really all my fault at th

beginning," she said, "and very stupid o

me. I am slightly acquainted with the ban


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manager, and I am sure he will vouch fo

me, if he is there."

With that she turned and walked briskl

oward the bank, at so rapid a pace as tndicate that she did not wish an escort

The bareheaded official found his ange

unaccountably deserting him, while a grea

fear that he had put his foot in it took it

place.

"Really," said the Lieutenant gently, a

hey strode along together, "an official iyour position should be a good judge o

human nature. How any sane person

especially a young man, can look at tha

beautiful girl and suspect her of evilpasses my comprehension. Do you know

her?"

"No," said the cashier shortly. "Do


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you?"

The Lieutenant laughed genially.

"Still suspicious, eh?" he asked. "No,

don't know her, but to use a banking term

you may bet your bottom dollar I'm goin

o. Indeed, I am rather grateful to you fo

your stubbornness in forcing us to returnt's a quality I like, and you possess it i

marvelous development, so I intend t

stand by you when the managerial censur

s due. I'm very certain I met your manageat the dinner they gave us last night. Mr

Morton, isn't he?"

"Yes," growled the cashier, in gruf

despondency.

"Ah, that's awfully jolly. One of th

finest fellows I've met in ten years. Now

he lady said she was acquainted wit


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him, so if I don't wheedle an introductio

out of him, it will show that a man at

dinner and a man in a bank are tw

different individuals. You were lookingfor plots; so there is mine laid bare to you

t's an introduction, not gold, I'

conspiring for."

The cashier had nothing further to say

When they entered the bank together h

saw the clerks all busily at work, an

knew that no startling event had happeneduring his absence. The girl had gon

direct to the manager's room, and thithe

he young men followed her. The ban

manager was standing at his desk, trying tpreserve a severe financial cast o

countenance, which the twinkle in his eye

belied. The girl, also standing, ha

evidently been giving him a rapid sketc


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of what had occurred, but now fell int

silence when accuser and accomplic

appeared.

The advent of the Englishman was godsend to the manager. He was too

courteous a gentleman to laugh in the fac

of a lady who very seriously was relatin

a set of incidents which appealed to hi

sense of humor, so the coming of th

Lieutenant enabled him to switch off hi

mirth on another subject, and in reply the officer's cordial "Good-morning, Mr

Morton," he replied:

"Why, Lieutenant, I'm delighted to se

you. That was a very jolly song you sanfor us last night: I'll never forget it. Wha

do you call it? Whittington Fair?" And h

aughed outright, as at a genia


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recollection.

The Lieutenant blushed red as a gir

and stammered:

"Really, Mr. Morton, you know, that'

not according to the rules of evidence

When a fellow comes up for tria

previous convictions are never allowed tbe mentioned till after the sentence

Whiddicomb Fair should not be hel

against me in the present crisis."

The manager chuckled gleefully. Thcashier, when he saw how the land lay

had quietly withdrawn, closing the doo

behind him.

"Well, Lieutenant, I think I must have

his incident cabled to Europe," sai

Morton, "so the effete nations of you

continent may know that a plain ban


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cashier isn't afraid to tackle the Britis

navy. Indeed, Mr. Drummond, if you read

history, you will learn that this is

dangerous coast for your warships. Iseems rather inhospitable that a guest o

our town cannot pick all the gold he want

out of a bank, but a cashier has necessaril

somewhat narrow views on the subject. was just about to apologize to Mis

Amhurst, who is a valued client of ours

when you came in, and I hope, Mis

Amhurst"he continued gravely, turnin

o the girl"that you will excuse us fo

he inconvenience to which you have bee

put.""Oh, it does not matter in the least,

replied the young woman, wit

nevertheless a sigh of relief. "It was al

my own fault in so carelessly leaving th


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money. Some time, when less in a hurry

han I am at the present moment, I will tel

you how I came to make the blunder."

Meanwhile the manager caught annterpreted correctly an imploring loo

from the Lieutenant.

"Before you go, Miss Amhurst, will yopermit me to introduce to you my friend

Lieutenant Drummond, of H.M.S

Consternation.'"

This ritual to convention beinperformed, the expression on the girl'

face showed the renewal of her anxiety t

be gone, and as she turned to the door, th

officer sprang forward and opened it foher. If the manager expected the youn

man to return, he was disappointed, fo

Drummond threw over his shoulder th


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hasty remark:

"I will see you at the Club thi

evening," whereupon the genial Morton

finding himself deserted, sat down in hiswivel chair and laughed quietly t

himself.

There was the slightest possible shadof annoyance on the girl's face as th

sailor walked beside her from the door o

he manager's room, through the publi

portion of the bank to the exit, and thyoung man noticing this, becam

momentarily tongue-tied, but nevertheles

persisted, with a certain awkwar

doggedness which was not going to allowso slight a hint that his further attendanc

was unnecessary, to baffle him. He did no

speak until they had passed down th


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stone steps to the pavement, and then hi

utterance began with a half-embarrasse

stammer, as if the shadow of displeasur

demanded justification on his part."Youyou see, Miss Amhurst, we hav

been properly introduced."

For the first time he heard the giraugh, just a little, and the sound was ver

musical to him.

"The introduction was of the slightest,

she said. "I cannot claim even aacquaintance with Mr. Morton, although

did so in the presence of his persisten

subordinate. I have met the manager of th

bank but once before, and that for a fewmoments only, when he showed me wher

o sign my name in a big book."

"Nevertheless," urged Drummond, "


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and II am afraid you consider me eve

more persistent than the cashier. But I did

want to tell you how sorry I am to hav

caused you annoyance.""Oh, you have not done so," replied th

girl quickly. "As I said before, it was al

my own fault in the beginning."

"No, I shouldn't have taken the gold.

should have come up with you, and tol

you that it still awaited you in the bank

and now I beg your permission to waldown the street with you, because if an

one were looking at us from thes

windows, and saw us pursued by

bareheaded man with a revolver, they wilnow, on looking out again, learn that it i

all right, and may even come to regard th

revolver and the hatless one as an optica


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delusion."

Again the girl laughed.

"I am quite unknown in Bar Harbor

having fewer acquaintances than even

stranger like yourself, therefore so far as

am concerned it does not in the leas

matter whether any one saw us or not. Weshall walk together, then, as far as the spo

where the cashier overtook us, and thi

will give me an opportunity of explaining

f not of excusing, my leaving the moneon the counter. I am sure my conduct mus

have appeared inexplicable both to yo

and the cashier, although, of course, yo

would be too polite to say so.""I assure you, Miss Amhurst"

"I know what you would say," sh

nterrupted, with a vivacity which had no


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heretofore characterized her, "but, yo

see, the distance to the corner is short

and, as I am in a hurry, if you don't wish

my story to be continued in our next""Ah, if there is to be a next

murmured the young man so fervently tha

t was now the turn of color to redden he

cheeks.

"I am talking heedlessly," she said

quickly. "What I want to say is this: I hav

never had much money. Quite recently nherited what had been accumulated by

relative whom I never knew. It seemed so

ncredible, so strangewell, it seem

ncredible and strange yetand I havbeen expecting to wake and find it all

dream. Indeed, when you overtook me a

his spot where we now stand, I feare


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you had come to tell me it was a mistake

o hurl me from the clouds to the har

earth again."

"But it was just the reverse of that," hcried eagerly. "Just the reverse

remember. I came to confirm your dream

and you received from my hand the first o

your fortune."

"Yes," she admitted, her eyes fixed on

he sidewalk.

"I see how it was," he continueenthusiastically. "I suppose you had neve

drawn a check before."

"Never," she conceded.

"And this was merely a test. You set up

your dream against the hard common sens

of a bank, which has no dreams. You were

o transform your vision into the actual, o


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find it vanish. When the commonplac

cashier passed forth the coin, their jingl

said to you, 'The supposed phantasy i

real,' but the gold pieces themselves ahat supreme moment meant no more t

you than so many worthless counters, s

you turned your back upon them."

She looked up at him, her eyes, thoug

moist, illumined with pleasure inspired b

he sympathy in his tones rather than th

mport of his words. The girl's lifheretofore had been as scant of kindnes

as of cash, and there was a deep sincerit

n his voice which was as refreshing t

her lonesome heart as it was new to heexperience. This man was not so stupid a

he had pretended to be. He had accuratel

divined the inner meaning of what ha

happened. She had forgotten the necessit


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for haste which had been so importunate

few minutes before.

"You must be a mind-reader," she said.

"No, I am not at all a clever person," h

aughed. "Indeed, as I told you, I a

always blundering into trouble, an

making things uncomfortable for mfriends. I regret to say I am rather under

cloud just now in the service, and I hav

been called upon to endure the frown o

my superiors.""Why, what has happened?" she asked

After their temporary halt at the corne

where they had been overtaken, they now

strolled along together like old friendsher prohibition out of mind.

"Well, you see, I was temporarily in

command of the cruiser coming down th


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Baltic, and passing an island rock a few

miles away, I thought it would be a good

opportunity to test a new gun that had bee

put aboard when we left England. The sewas very calm, and the rock mos

emptsome. Of course I knew it wa

Russian territory, but who could hav

magined that such a point in space wanhabited by anything else than sea-gulls."

"What!" cried the girl, looking up at hi

with new interest. "You don't mean to sayyou are the officer that Russia demande

from England, and England refused to giv

up?"

"Oh, England could not give me up, ocourse, but she apologized, and assure

Russia she had no evil intent. Stil

anything that sets the diplomatists at wor


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s frowned upon, and the man who does a

act which his government is forced t

disclaim becomes unpopular with hi

superiors.""I read about it in the papers at the time

Didn't the rock fire back at you?"

"Yes, it did, and no one could havebeen more surprised than I when I saw th

answering puff of smoke."

"How came a cannon to be there?"

"Nobody knows. I suppose that rock ihe Baltic is a concealed fort, wit

galleries and gun-rooms cut in the ston

after the fashion of our defences a

Gibraltar. I told the court-martial that

had added a valuable bit of information t

our naval knowledge, but I don't suppos

his contention exercised any influence o


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he minds of my judges. I also called thei

attention to the fact that my shell had hi

while the Russian shot fell half a mil

short. That remark nearly cost me mcommission. A court-martial has no sense

of humor."

"I suppose everything is satisfactoril

settled now?"

"Well, hardly that. You see, Continental

nations are extremely suspicious o

Britain's good intentions, as indeed theare of the good intentions of each other

o government likes to havewell, wha

we might call a 'frontier incident' happen

and even if a country is quite in the right nevertheless looks askance at an

official of its own who, through hi

stupidity, brings about an internationa


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complication. As concerns myself, I a

rather under a cloud, as I told you. Th

court-martial acquitted me, but it did s

with reluctance and a warning. I shalhave to walk very straight for the next yea

or two, and be careful not to stub my toe

for the eyes of the Admiralty are upon me

However, I think I can straighten thimatter out. I have six months' leav

coming on shortly, which I intend to spend

n St. Petersburg. I shall make it m

business to see privately some of th

officials in the Admiralty there, and whe

hey realize by personal inspection what

well-intentioned idiot I am, all distruswill vanish."

"I should do nothing of the kind,

rejoined the girl earnestly, quite forgettin

he shortness of their acquaintance, as sh


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had forgotten the flight of time, while o

his part he did not notice any incongruit

n the situation. "I'd leave well enoug

alone," she added."Why do you think that?" he asked.

"Your own country has investigated the

matter, and has deliberately run the risk ounpleasantness by refusing to give you up

How, then, can you go there voluntarily

You would be acting in your private

capacity directly in opposition to thdecision arrived at by your government."

"Technically, that is so; still, England

would not hold the position she does i

he world to-day if her men had not ofteaken a course in their private capacit

which the government would never hav

sanctioned. As things stand now, Russia


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has not insisted on her demand, but ha

sullenly accepted England's decision, stil

quite convinced that my act was not onl

an invasion of Russia's domain, but deliberate insult; therefore the wors

results of an inconsiderate action on m

part remain. If I could see the Minister fo

Foreign Affairs, or the head of thAdmiralty in St. Petersburg face to fac

for ten minutes, I'd undertake to remov

hat impression."

"You have great faith in you

persuasive powers," she said demurely.

The Lieutenant began to stammer again

"No, no, it isn't so much that, but I havgreat faith in the Russian as a judge o

character. I suppose I am imagined to be

venomous, brow-beating, truculen


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Russophobe, who has maliciousl

violated their territory, flinging a shel

nto their ground and an insult into thei

face. They are quite sincere in this beliefwant to remove that impression, an

here's nothing like an ocula

demonstration. I like the Russians. One o

my best friends is a Russian."

The girl shook her head.

"I shouldn't attempt it," she persisted

"Suppose Russia arrested you, and said tEngland, 'We've got this man in spite o

you'?"

The Lieutenant laughed heartily.

"That is unthinkable: Russia wouldn

do such a thing. In spite of all that is sai

about the Russian Government, it

members are gentlemen. Of course, if suc


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a thing happened, there would be trouble

That is a point where we're touchy. A ver

cheap Englishman, wrongfully detained

may cause a most expensive campaignOur diplomatists may act correctl

enough, and yet leave a feeling o

resentment behind. Take this very case

Britain says coldly to Russia:

"'We disclaim the act, and apologize.'

"Now, it would be much more to th

purpose if she said genially:"'We have in our employment an

mpetuous young fool with a thirst fo

nformation. He wished to learn how

new piece of ordnance would act, so firet off with no more intention of strikin

Russia than of hitting the moon. He know

much more about dancing than abou


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foreign affairs. We've given him a month'

eave, and he will slip across privately t

St. Petersburg to apologize and explain

The moment you see him you wilrecognize he is no menace to the peace o

nations. Meanwhile, if you can inculcat

n him some cold, calm common-sens

before he returns, we'll be ever so mucobliged.'"

"So you are determined to do what yo

hink the government should have done.""Oh, quite. There will be nothin

frigidly official about my unauthorize

mission. I have a cousin in the embassy a

St. Petersburg, but I shan't go near himneither shall I go to an hotel, but will ge

quiet rooms somewhere that I may not ru

he risk of meeting any chanc


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acquaintances."

"It seems to me you are about to affor

he Russian Government an excellen

opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberiaand nobody would be the wiser."

Drummond indulged in the free-hearte

augh of a youth to whom life is still rathea good joke.

"I shouldn't mind studying the Siberia

system from the inside if they allowed m

o return before my leave was up. believe that sort of thing has bee

exaggerated by sensational writers. Th

Russian Government would no

countenance anything of the kind, and ihe minor officials tried to play tricks

here's always my cousin in th

background, and it would be hard luck if


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couldn't get a line to him. Oh, there's n

danger in my project!"

Suddenly the girl came to a standstil

and gave expression to a little cry odismay.

"What's wrong?" asked the Lieutenant.

"Why, we've walked clear out into thcountry!"

"Oh, is that all? I hadn't noticed."

"And there are people waiting for me.

must run."

"Nonsense, let them wait."

"I should have been back long since."

They had turned, and she was hurrying.

"Think of your new fortune, Mis

Amhurst, safely lodged in our frien

Morton's bank, and don't hurry for an


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one."

"I didn't say it was a fortune: there'

only ten thousand dollars there."

"That sounds formidable, but unless th

people who are waiting for you muste

more than ten thousand apiece, I don

hink you should make haste on theiaccount."

"It's the other way about, Mr

Drummond. Individually they are poore

han I, therefore I should have returneong ago. Now, I fear, they will be in a

emper."

"Well, if anybody left me two thousand

pounds, I'd take an afternoon off t

celebrate. Here we are in the suburb

again. Won't you change your mind and

your direction; let us get back into th


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country, sit down on the hillside, look a

he Bay, and gloat over your wealth?"

Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and

held out her hand.

"I must bid you good-by here

Lieutenant Drummond. This is my shortes

way home.""May I not accompany you just a littl

farther?"

"Please, no, I wish to go the rest of th

way alone."

He held her hand, which she tried t

withdraw, and spoke with animation.

"There's so much I wanted to say, buperhaps the most important is this: I shal

see you the night of the 14th, at the ball w

are giving on the 'Consternation'?"


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"It is very likely," laughed the girl

"unless you overlook me in the throng

There will be a great mob. I hear you hav

ssued many invitations.""We hope all our friends will come. It'

going to be a great function. You

Secretary of the Navy has promised t

ook in on us, and our Ambassador fro

Washington will be there. I assure you we

are doing our best, with festooned electri

ights, hanging draperies, and all that, fowe want to make the occasion at leas

remotely worthy of the hospitality w

have received. Of course you have you

card, but I wish you hadn't, so that I mighhave the privilege of sending you one o

more invitations."

"That would be quite unnecessary,


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said the girl, again with a slight laugh an

heightened color.

"If any of your friends need cards o

nvitation, won't you let me know, so that may send them to you?"

"I'm sure I shan't need any, but if I do,

promise to remember your kindness, anapply."

"It will be a pleasure for me to serv

you. With whom shall you come? I should

ike to know the name, in case I shoulmiss you in the crowd."

"I expect to be with Captain Kempt, o

he United States Navy."

"Ah," said the Lieutenant, with a note o

disappointment in his voice which he ha

not the diplomacy to conceal. His hold o

her hand relaxed, and she took th


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opportunity to withdraw it.

"What sort of a man is Captain Kempt

shall be on the lookout for him, yo

know."

"I think he is the handsomest man I hav

ever seen, and I know he is the kindest an

most courteous.""Really? A young man, I take it?"

"There speaks the conceit of youth,

said Dorothy, smiling. "Captain Kempt

U.S.N., retired. His youngest daughter iust two years older than myself."

"Oh, yes, Captain Kempt. I

remember him now. He was at the dinneast night, and sat beside our captain

What a splendid story-teller he is!" crie

he Lieutenant with honest enthusiasm.

"I shall tell him that, and ask him how


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he liked your song. Good-by," and befor

he young man could collect his thoughts t

make any reply, she was gone.

Skimming lightly over the ground afirst, she gradually slackened her pace

and slowed down to a very sober wal

until she came to a three-storied so-calle

"cottage" overlooking the Bay, then with

sigh she opened the gate, and went into th

house by the servant's entrance.


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CHAPTER II IN

THE SEWING-ROOM

THREE women occupied the sewing

room with the splendid outlook: a motheand her two daughters. The mother sat in

ow rocking-chair, a picture of mournfu

helplessness, her hands listlessly restin

on her lap, while tears had left their trace

on her time-worn face. The elder daughte

paced up and down the room as striking a

example of energy and impatience as wahe mother of despondency. Her comel

brow was marred by an angry frown. Th

younger daughter stood by the lon

window, her forehead resting against th


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pane, while her fingers drummed idly o

he window sill. Her gaze was fixed o

he blue Bay, where rested the hug

British warship "Consternation,surrounded by a section of the Unite

States squadron seated like white swan

n the water. Sails of snow glistened her

and there on the bosom of the Bay, whilmotor-boats and what-not darted this wa

and that impudently among the statel

ships of the fleet.

In one corner of the room stood

sewing-machine, and on the long tabl

were piles of mimsy stuff out of whic

feminine creations are constructed. Therwas no carpet on the floor, and no ceilin

overhead; merely the bare rafters and th

boards that bore the pine shingles of th

outer roof; yet this attic was notable fo


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he glorious view to be seen from it

window. It was an ideal workshop.

The elder girl, as she walked to and fro

spoke with nervous irritation in her voice

"There is absolutely no excuse, mamma

and it's weakness in you to pretend tha

here may be. The woman has been gonfor hours. There's her lunch on the tabl

which has never been tasted, and th

servant brought it up at twelve."

She pointed to a tray on which werdishes whose cold contents bore out th

ruth of her remark.

"Perhaps she's gone on strike," said th

younger daughter, without removing he

eyes from H.M.S. "Consternation." "

shouldn't wonder if we went downstair

again we'd find the house picketed to keep


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away blacklegs."

"Oh, you can always be depended on t

alk frivolous nonsense," said her elde

sister scornfully. "It's the silly sentimentafashion in which both you and father trea

work-people that makes them so difficul

o deal with. If the working classes wer

aught their place"

"Working classes! How you talk

Dorothy is as much a lady as we are, an

sometimes I think rather more of a ladhan either of us. She is the daughter of

clergyman."

"So she says," sniffed the elder girl.

"Well, she ought to know," replied the

younger indifferently.

"It's people like you who spoi

dependents in her position, with you


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Dorothy this and Dorothy that. Her nam

s Amhurst."

"Christened Dorothy, as witnes

godfather and godmother," murmured thyounger without turning her head.

"I think," protested their mother meekly

as if to suggest a compromise, and throwoil on the troubled waters, "that she i

entitled to be called Miss Amhurst, and

reated with kindness but with reserve."

"Tush!" exclaimed the eldendignantly, indicating her rejection of th

compromise.

"I don't see," murmured the younger

"why you should storm, Sabina. You

nagged and nagged at her until she'

finished your ball-dress. It is mamma an

that have a right to complain. Ou


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dresses are almost untouched, while yo

can sail grandly along the decks of th

Consternation' like a fully rigged yacht

There, I'm mixing my similes again, apapa always says. A yacht doesn't sai

along the deck of a battleship, does it?"

"It's a cruiser," weakly corrected th

mother, who knew something of nava

affairs.

"Well, cruiser, then. Sabina is afraid

hat papa won't go unless we all havgrand new dresses, but mother can put o

her old black silk, and I am going if I hav

o wear a cotton gown."

"To think of that person accepting oumoney, and absenting herself in thi

disgraceful way!"

"Accepting our money! That show


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he mother, almost wringing her hands

partially overcome by the crisis. "Did sh

say anything about going out to you

Katherine? She sometimes makes confidant of you, doesn't she?"

"Confidant!" exclaimed Sabin

wrathfully.

"I know where she has gone," sai

Katherine with an innocent sigh.

"Then why didn't you tell us before?

exclaimed mother and daughter in almosdentical terms.

"She has eloped with the captain of th

Consternation,'" explained Katherin

calmly, little guessing that her word

contained a color of truth. "Papa sat nex

him at the dinner last night, and says he i

a jolly old salt and a bachelor. Papa wa


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remendously taken with him, and the

discussed tactics together. Indeed, pap

has quite a distinct English accent thi

morning, and I suspect a little bit of headache which he tries to conceal with

wavering smile."

"You can't conceal a headache, because

t's invisible," said the mother seriously

"I wish you wouldn't talk so carelessly

Katherine, and you mustn't speak like tha

of your father.""Oh, papa and I understand on

another," affirmed Katherine with grea

confidence, and now for the first tim

during this conversation the young girurned her face away from the window

for the door had opened to let in th

culprit.


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"Now, Amhurst, what is the meaning o

his?" cried Sabina before her foot wa

fairly across the threshold.

All three women looked at thnewcomer. Her beautiful face was aglow

probably through the exertion of comin

up the stairs, and her eyes shone like thos

of the Goddess of Freedom as sh

returned steadfastly the supercilious star

with which the tall Sabina regarded her.

"I was detained," she said quietly."Why did you go away withou

permission?"

"Because I had business to do whic

could not be transacted in this room."

"That doesn't answer my question. Wh

did you not ask permission?"

The girl slowly raised her two hands


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bemoaned the matron. "You wil

heartlessly leave us in this crisis when w

are helpless; when there is not a sewin

woman to be had in the place for love omoney. Every one is working night and

day to be ready for the ball on th

fourteenth, and youyou whom we hav

nurtured"

"I suppose she gets more money,

sneered the elder daughter bitterly.

"Oh, Dorothy," said Katherine, comina step forward and clasping her hands

"do you mean to say I must attend the bal

n a calico dress after all? But I'm going

nevertheless, if I dance in a morninwrapper."

"Katherine," chided her mother, "don

alk like that."


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"Of course, where more money is in th

question, kindness does not count,

snapped the elder daughter.

Dorothy Amhurst smiled when Sabinmentioned the word kindness.

"With me, of course, it's entirely

question of money," she admitted."Dorothy, I never thought it of you,

said Katherine, with an exaggerated sigh

"I wish it were a fancy dress ball, then I'

borrow my brother Jack's uniform, and gn that."

"Katherine, I'm shocked at you,

complained the mother.

"I don't care: I'd make a stunning littl

naval cadet. But, Dorothy, you must b

starved to death; you've never touche

your lunch."


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"You seem to have forgotten everything

o-day," said Sabina severely. "Duty and

everything else."

"You are quite right," murmuredDorothy.

"And did you elope with the captain o

he 'Consternation,' and were you marriesecretly, and was it before a justice of th

peace? Do tell us all about it."

"What are you saying?" asked Dorothy

with a momentary alarm coming into heeyes.

"Oh, I was just telling mother and Sab

hat you had skipped by the light of th

noon, with the captain of th

Consternation,' who was a jolly ol

bachelor last night, but may be a marrie

man to-day if my suspicions are correct


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Oh, Dorothy, must I go to the ball in

dress of print?"

The sewing girl bent an affectionat

ook on the impulsive Katherine.

"Kate, dear," she said, "you shall wea

he grandest ball dress that ever was see

n Bar Harbor.""How dare you call my sister Kate, an

alk such nonsense?" demanded Sabina.

"I shall always call you Miss Kemp

and now, if I have your permission, I wilsit down. I am tired."

"Yes, and hungry, too," cried Katherine

"What shall I get you, Dorothy? This is alcold."

"Thank you, I am not in the leas

hungry."


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"Wouldn't you like a cup of tea?"

Dorothy laughed a little wearily.

"Yes, I would," she said, "and some

bread and butter."

"And cake, too," suggested Katherine.

"And cake, too, if you please."

Katherine skipped off downstairs.

"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Sabina

with a gasp, drawing herself together, as i

he bottom had fallen out of the sociafabric.

Mrs. Captain Kempt folded her hand

one over the other and put on a look o

patient resignation, as one who finds alhe old landmarks swept away fro

before her.

"Is there anything else we can get fo


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you?" asked Sabina icily.

"Yes," replied Dorothy, with serene

confidence, "I should be very muc

obliged if Captain Kempt would obtaifor me a card of invitation to the ball o

he 'Consternation.'"

"Really!" gasped Sabina, "and may nomy mother supplement my father's effort

by providing you with a ball dress for th

occasion?"

"I could not think of troubling her, MisKempt. Some of my customers hav

flattered me by saying that my taste i

dress is artistic, and that my designs, i

better known, might almost set a fashion ia small way, so I shall look after m

costume myself; but if Mrs. Captai

Kempt were kind enough to allow me t


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attend the ball under her care, I should b

very grateful for it."

"How admirable! And is there nothin

hat I can do to forward your ambitionsMiss Amhurst?"

"I am going to the ball merely as

ooker-on, and perhaps you might smile ame as you pass by with your differen

partners, so that people would say I wa

an acquaintance of yours."

After this there was silence in thsewing room until Katherine, followed b

a maid, entered with tea and cakes. Som

dress materials that rested on a gyps

able were swept aside by the impulsivKatherine, and the table, with the tra

upon it, was placed at the right hand o

Dorothy Amhurst. When the servant lef


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he room, Katherine sidled to the lon

sewing table, sprang up lightly upon it

and sat there swinging a dainty little foo

Sabina had seated herself in the third chaiof the room, the frown still addin

severity to an otherwise beautifu

countenance. It was the younger daughte

who spoke.

"Now, Dorothy, tell us all about the

elopement."

"What elopement?""I soothed my mother's fears by tellin

her that you had eloped with the captain o

he 'Consternation.' I must have bee

wrong in that guess, because if the secremarriage I hoped had taken place, yo

would have said to Sabina that th

shackles were on your wrists instead o


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off. But something important ha

happened, and I want to know all abou

t."

Dorothy made no response to thiappeal, and after a minute's silence Sabin

said practically:

"All that has happened is that MisAmhurst wishes father to present her wit

a ticket to the ball on the 'Consternation

and taking that for granted, she request

mother to chaperon her, and furtheexpresses a desire that I shall b

exceedingly polite to her while we are o

board the cruiser."

"Oh," cried Katherine jauntily, "the lasproviso is past praying for, but the othe

wo are quite feasible. I'd be delighted t

chaperon Dorothy myself, and as fo


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politeness, good gracious, I'll be polit

enough to make up for all the courteou

deficiency of the rest of the family.


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'For I hold that on the seas,

The expression if you please

A particularly gentlemanly ton

implants,

And so do his sisters and his cousin

and his aunts.'

Now, Dorothy, don't be bashful. Here'

your sister and your cousin and your aun

waiting for the horrifying revelation. Whahas happened?"

"I'll tell you what is going to happen

Kate," said the girl, smiling at the way th

other ran on. "Mrs. Captain Kempt wilperhaps consent to take you and me t

ew York or Boston, where we will pu

up at the best hotel, and trick ourselves ou

n ball costumes that will be the envy oBar Harbor. I shall pay the expense of thi

rip as partial return for your father'

kindness in getting me an invitation an


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your mother's kindness in allowing me t

be one of your party."

"Oh, then it isn't an elopement, but

egacy. Has the wicked but wealthrelative died?"

"Yes," said Dorothy solemnly, her eyes

on the floor."Oh, I am so sorry for what I have jus

said!"

"You always speak without thinking,

chided her mother.

"Yes, don't I? But, you see, I though

somehow that Dorothy had no relatives

but if she had one who was wealthy, andwho allowed her to slave at sewing, then

say he was wicked, dead or alive, s

here!"

"When work is paid for it is no


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slavery," commented Sabina with severit

and justice.

The sewing girl looked up at her.

"My grandfather, in Virginia, owned

slaves before the war, and I have often

hought that any curse which may hav

been attached to slavery has at least partlbeen expiated by me, as foreshadowed i

he Bible, where it says that the sins of th

fathers shall affect the third or fourt

generations. I was thinking of that when spoke of the shackles falling from m

wrists, for sometimes, Miss Kempt, yo

have made me doubt whether wages an

slavery are as incompatible as you appeao imagine. My father, who was

clergyman, often spoke to me of hi

father's slaves, and while he neve


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Dorothy looked up at her impatien

friend, and a radiant cheerfulness chase

away the gathering shadows from her face

"Well, once upon a time I lived veryhappily with my father in a little rectory i

a little town near the Hudson River. Hi

family had been ruined by the war, and

when the plantation was sold, or allowe

o go derelict, whatever money came fro

t went to his elder and only brother. My

father was a dreamy scholar and not business man as his brother seems to hav

been. My mother had died when I was

child; I do not remember her. My fathe

was the kindest and most patient of menand all I know he taught me. We were

very poor, and I undertook the duties o

housekeeper, which I performed as wel

as I was able, constantly learning by m


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failures. But my father was so indifferen

o material comforts that there were neve

any reproaches. He taught me all that

know in the way of what you might calaccomplishments, and they were of

strangely varied ordera smattering o

Latin and Greek, a good deal of French

history, literature, and even dancing, awell as music, for he was an excellen

musician. Our meager income ceased wit

my father's life, and I had to choose what

should do to earn my board and keep, lik

Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb Riley'

poem. There appeared to be three avenue

open to me. I could be a governessdomestic servant, or dressmaker. I had

already earned something at the latte

occupation, and I thought if I could set up

n business for myself, there was a greate


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advance I asked for, saying that man

years before he had given my father tw

hundred dollars which had never bee

repaid. I was thus compelled, for the timat least, to give up my plan for opening

dressmaking establishment, even on th

smallest scale, and was obliged to take

situation similar to that which I hold heren three years I was able to save the tw

hundred dollars, which I sent to my uncle

and promised to remit the interest if h

would tell me the age of the debt. H

replied giving the information, an

enclosing a receipt for the principal, wit

a very correct mathematical statement ohe amount of interest if compounde

annually, as was his legal right, bu

expressing his readiness to accept simpl

nterest, and give me a receipt in full."


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"The brute!" ejaculated Katherine

which remark brought upon her a mil

rebuke from her mother on intemperanc

of language."Well, go on," said Katherine

unabashed.

"I merely mention this detail,continued Dorothy, "as an object lesson i

honesty. Never before since the world

began was there such a case of castin

bread upon the waters as was my sendinhe two hundred dollars. My uncl

appears to have been a most methodica

man. He filed away my letter whic

contained the money, also a typewrittecopy of his reply, and when he died, i

was these documents which turned th

attention of the legal arm who acted fo


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him to myself, for my uncle had left n

will. The Californian firm communicate

with lawyers in New York, and they

began a series of very cautious inquirieswhich at last resulted, after I had furnishe

certain proofs asked for, in my bein

declared heiress to my uncle's estate."

"And how much did you get? How

much did you get?" demanded Katherine.

"I asked the lawyers from New York to

deposit ten thousand dollars for me in thSixth National Bank of this town, and the

did so. It was to draw a little chec

against that deposit, and thus learn if i

was real, that I went out to-day.""Ten thousand dollars," murmured

Katherine, in accents of deep

disappointment. "Is that all?"


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"Isn't that enough?" asked Dorothy, wit

a twinkle in her eyes.

"No, you deserve ten times as much

and I'm not going to New York or Bostonat your expense to buy new dresses. No

ikely! I will attend the ball in my calico."

Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew frohe little satchel she wore at her side

etter, which she handed to Katherine.

"It's private and confidential," sh

warned her friend."Oh, I won't tell any one," sai

Katherine, unfolding it. She read eagerl

half-way down the page, then sprang t

her feet on the top of the table, screaming:

"Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen millio

dollars!" and, swinging her arms back an

forth like an athlete about to leap, spran


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o the floor, nearly upsetting the littl

able, tray and all, as she embrace

Dorothy Amhurst.

"Fifteen millions! That's something likeWhy, mother, do you realize that we have

under our roof one of the richest youn

women in the world? Don't you see tha

he rest of this conference must take plac

n our drawing-room under the mos

solemn auspices? The idea of our keepin

such an heiress in the attic!""I believe," said Sabina, slowly an

coldly, "that Mr. Rockefeller's income i

"

"Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and hincome!" cried the indignant younge

sister.

"Katherine!" pleaded the mothe


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earfully.


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while Katherine, despite her mother'

supplications, would not be kept quiet, bu

swung her graceful gown this way an

hat, practising the slide of a waltz, anquoting W. R. Gilbert, as was her custom

She glided over the floor in rhythm wit

her chant.

"When I first put this uniform on

I said, as I looked in the glass,

'It's one to a million

That any civilian

My figure and form will surpass.'"

Meanwhile, in a room downstairs thagood-natured veteran Captain Kempt wa

elling the latest stories to his future son

n-law, a young officer of the American

avy, who awaited, with dutifu

mpatience, the advent of the seren

Sabina. When at last the ladies cam

down the party set out through th


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gathering darkness of this heavenl

summer night for the private pier fro

which they were privileged, because o

Captain Kempt's official standing, tvoyage to the cruiser on the little revenu

cutter "Whip-poor-will," which was late

on to convey the Secretary of the Nav

and his entourage across the samntervening waters. Just before the

reached the pier their steps were arreste

by the boom of a cannon, followe

nstantly by the sudden apparition of th

"Consternation" picked out in electri

ight; masts, funnel and hull all outlined b

ncandescent stars."How beautiful!" cried Sabina, whos

young man stood beside her. "It is as if

gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst

and hung suspended there like the planet


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of heaven."

"It reminds me," whispered Katherin

o Dorothy, "of an overgrown pop-cor

ball," at which remark the two girls werfrivolous enough to laugh.

"Crash!" sounded a cannon from a

American ship, and then the whitsquadron became visible in a blaze o

ightning. And now all the yachts and othe

craft on the waters flaunted their lines o

fire, and the whole Bay was illuminateike a lake in Fairyland.

"Now," said Captain Kempt with

chuckle, "watch the Britisher. I think she'

going to show us some color," and as hspoke there appeared, spreading from nes

o mast, a huge sheet of blue, with fou

great stars which pointed the corners of


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parallelogram, and between the star

shone a huge white anchor. Cheers ran

out from the crew of the "Consternation,

and the band on board played "The StarSpangled Banner."

"That," said Captain Kempt i

explanation, "is the flag of the Unite

States Secretary of the Navy, who will b

with us to-night. The visitors have kep

very quiet about this bit of illumination

but our lads got on to the secret about week ago, and I'll be very muc

disappointed if they don't give 'em tit fo

at."

When the band on the "Consternationceased playing, all lights went out on th

American squadron, and then on th

flagship appeared from mast to mast


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device with the Union Jack in the corner,

great red cross dividing the flag into thre

white squares. As this illumination flashe

out the American band struck up thBritish national anthem, and the outlin

ights appeared again.

"That," said the captain, "is the Britis

man-o'-war's flag."

The "Whip-poor-will" speedil

whisked the party and others across th

sparkling waters to the foot of the granstairway which had been speciall

constructed to conduct the elect from th

ide to the deck. It was more than doubl

as broad as the ordinary gangway, wacarpeted from top to bottom, and on ever

step stood a blue-jacket, each as steady a

f cast in bronze, the line forming, as on


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might say, a living handrail rising toward

he dark sky.

Captain Kempt and his wife went first

followed by Sabina and her young mawith the two girls in their wake.

"Aren't those men splendid?

whispered Katherine to her friend. "I wiseach held an old-fashioned torch. I d

ove a sailor."

"So do I," said Dorothy, then checked

herself, and laughed a little."I guess we all do," sighed Katherine.

On deck the bluff captain of th

"Consternation," in resplendent uniformstood beside Lady Angela Burford of th

British Embassy at Washington, to receive

he guests of the cruiser. Behind these two

were grouped an assemblage of officer


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and very fashionably dressed women

chatting vivaciously with each other. A

Dorothy looked at the princess-like Lad

Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as ihere were one who had stepped out of a

English romance. Her tall, proudly hel

figure made the stoutish captain see

shorter than he actually was. The naturahaughtiness of those classic features wa

somewhat modified by a pro tem smile

Captain Kempt looked back over hi

shoulder and said in a low voice:

"Now, young ladies, best foot forward

The Du Maurier woman is to receive th

Gibson girls.""I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shal

giggle," said Katherine, but sh

encountered a glance from her elder siste


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quite as haughty as any Lady Angela migh

have bestowed, and all thought o

merriment fled for the moment; thus th

ordeal passed conventionally withouKatherine either laughing or giggling.

Sabina and her young man faded awa

nto the crowd. Captain Kempt wa

nodding to this one and that of hi

numerous acquaintances, and Katherin

felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her a

a tall, unknown young man deftly threadehis way among the people, making directl

for the Captain, whom he seized by th

hand in a grasp of the most cordia

friendship."Captain Kempt, I am delighted to mee

you again. My name is Drummond

Lieutenant Drummond, and I had th


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pleasure of being introduced to you at tha

dinner a week or two ago."

"The pleasure was mine, sir, th

pleasure was mine," exclaimed thCaptain with a cordiality equal to tha

with which he had been greeted. He ha

not at first the least recollection of th

young man, but the Captain was somethin

of an amateur politician, and possessed al

a politician's expertness in facing th

unknown, and making the most of ansituation in which he found himself.

"Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember ver

well that excellent song you"

"Isn't it a perfect night?" gasped thLieutenant. "I think we are to b

congratulated on our weather."

He still clung to the Captain's hand, an


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shook it again so warmly that the Captai

said to himself:

"I must have made an impression on thi

young fellow," then aloud he repliedauntily:

"Oh, we always have good weather thi

ime of year. You see, the United StatesGovernment runs the weather. Didn't yo

know that? Yes, our Weather Bureau is

considered the best in the world."

The Lieutenant laughed heartilyalthough a hollow note intervened, for th

young man had got to the end of hi

conversation, realized he could not shak

hands for a third time, yet did not knowwhat more to say. The suavity of th

politician came to his rescue in just th

form the Lieutenant had hoped.


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"Lieutenant Drummond, allow me t

ntroduce my wife to you."

The lady bowed.

"And my daughter, Katherine, and Mis

Amhurst, a friend of oursLieutenan

Drummond, of the 'Consternation.'"

"I wonder," said the Lieutenant, as if thhought had just occurred to him, "if th

young ladies would like to go to a poin

where they can have a comprehensiv

view of the decorations. II may not bhe best guide, but I am rather wel

acquainted with the ship, you know."

"Don't ask me," said Captain Kempt

"Ask the girls. Everything I've had in lif

has come to me because I asked, and if

didn't get it the first time, I asked again."

"Of course we want to see th


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decorations," cried Katherine wit

enthusiasm, and so bowing to the Captai

and Mrs. Kempt, the Lieutenant led th

young women down the deck, until hcame to an elevated spot out of the way o

all possible promenaders, on which ha

been placed in a somewhat seclude

position, yet commanding a splendid viewof the throng, a settee with just room fo

wo, that had been taken from some one'

cabin. A blue-jacket stood guard over it

but at a nod from the Lieutenant h

disappeared.

"Hello!" cried Katherine, "reserve

seats, eh? How different from a theatrchair, where you are entitled to your plac

by holding a colored bit of cardboard

Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. I

gives one a notion of the horrors of war


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doesn't it, Dorothy?"

The Lieutenant laughed quite as heartil

as if he had not himself hoped to occup

he position now held by the sprightlKatherine. He was cudgelling his brain t

solve the problem represented by th

adage "Two is company, three is none.

The girls sat together on the settee an

gazed out over the brilliantly lighted

animated throng. People were still pourin

up the gangways, and the decks werrapidly becoming crowded with a many

colored, ever-shifting galaxy of humanity

The hum of conversation almost drowne

he popular selections being played by thcruiser's excellent band. Suddenly on

popular selection was cut in two. Th

sound of the instruments ceased for

moment, then they struck up "The Star


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and Stripes for Ever."

"Hello," cried Katherine, "can you

band play Sousa?"

"I should say we could," boasted th

Lieutenant, "and we can play his music, i

a way to give some hints to Mr. Sousa'

own musicians.""To beat the band, eh?Sousa's band?

rejoined Katherine, dropping into slang.

"Exactly," smiled the Lieutenant, "and

now, young ladies, will you excuse me foa few moments? This musical selectio

means that your Secretary of the Navy i

on the waters, and I must be in my plac

with the rest of the officers to receive hi

and his staff with all ceremony. Pleas

promise you will not leave this spot till

return: I implore you."


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"Better put the blue-jacket on guar

over us," laughed Katherine.

"By Jove! a very good idea."

Dorothy saw all levity depart from hi

face, giving way to a look of sternness an

command. Although he was engaged in

oke, the subordinate must see no sign ofooling in his countenance. He said

sharp word to a blue-jacket, who nimbl

sprang to the end of the settee, raised hi

hand in salute, and stiffened himself to aautomaton. Then the girls saw the tal

figure of the Lieutenant wending its way t

he spot where the commander stood.

"I say, Dorothy, we're prisoners. wonder what this Johnny would do if w

attempted to fly. Isn't the Lieutenan

sumptuous?"


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guard. I'll have you locked up if you don

behave yourself."

"You should behave yourself. Really

Katherine, you must be careful what yosay, or you'll make me feel very unhappy.

Katherine caught her by the elbow, and

gave it an affectionate little squeeze."Don't be frightened, Miss Propriety,

wouldn't make you unhappy for the world

But surely you're going to dance?"

Dorothy shook her head.

"Some other time. Not to-night. Ther

are too many people here. I shouldn

enjoy it, andthere are other reasonsThis is all so new and strange to me: thes

brilliant men and beautiful womenth

ights, the music, everythingit is as if

had stepped into another world; somethin


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had read about, or perhaps dreame

about, and never expected to see."

"Why, you dear girl, I'm not going to

dance either, then."

"Oh, yes, you will, Katherine; yo

must."

"I couldn't be so selfish as to leave yohere all alone."

"It isn't selfish at all, Katherine. I shal

enjoy myself completely here. I don

really wish to talk to any one, but simplo enjoy my dream, with just a little fear a

he bottom of my heart that I shal

suddenly wake up, rubbing my eyes, in th

sewing room."

Katherine pinched her.

"Now are you awake?"


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Dorothy smiled, still dreaming.

"Hello!" cried Katherine, with renewe

animation, "they've got the Secretary saf

aboard the lugger, and they seem to bclearing the decks for action. Here is m

dear Lieutenant returning; tall even amon

all men. Look at him. He's in a grea

hurry, yet so polite, and doesn't want to

bump against anybody. And now, Dorothy

don't you be afraid. I shall prove a perfec

model of diffidence. You will be proud ome when you learn with what timidity

pronounce prunes and prism. I think I mus

anguish a little at him. I don't know quit

how it's done, but in old English novelhe girls always languished, and perhap

an Englishman expects a littl

anguishment in his. I wonder if he come

of a noble family. If he doesn't, I don


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hink I'll languish very much. Still, wha

matters the pomp of pageantry and prid

of raceisn't that the way the poem runs

love our dear little Lieutenant for himselalone, and I think I will have just on

dance with him, at least."

Drummond had captured a camp-stoo

somewhere, and this he placed at righ

angles to the settee, so that he might fac

he two girls, and yet not interrupt thei

view. The sailor on guard once morfaded away, and the band now struck up

he music of the dance.

"Well," cried Drummond cheerfully

"I've got everything settled. I've receivehe Secretary of the Navy: our captain i

o dance with his wife, and the Secretar

s Lady Angela's partner. There they go!"


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For a few minutes the young peopl

watched the dance, then the Lieutenan

said:

"Ladies, I am disappointed that yohave not complimented our electrica

display."

"I am sure it's very nice, indeed, anmost ingenious," declared Dorothy

speaking for the first time that evening t

he officer, but Katherine, whose little foo

was tapping the deck to the dance musicossed her head, and declare

nonchalantly that it was all very well as

British effort at illumination, but sh

begged the young man to remember thaAmerica was the home of electricity.

"Where would you have been if it wer

not for Edison?"


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"I suppose," said the Lieutenan

cheerfully, "that we should have bee

where Moses was when the candle wen

outin the dark.""You might have had torches," said

Dorothy. "My friend forgets she wa

wishing the sailors held torches on tha

suspended stairway up the ship's side."

"I meant electric torchesEdiso

orches, of course."

Katherine was displeased at thoutlook. She was extremely fond o

dancing, and here this complacent youn

man had planted himself down on a camp

stool to talk of electricity.

"Miss Kempt, I am sorry that you ar

disappointed at our display. Your sligh

upon British electrical engineering leave


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us unscathed, because this has been don

by a foreign mechanic, whom I wish t

present to you."

"Oh, indeed," said Katherine, rather ihe usual tone of her elder sister. "I don

dance with mechanics, thank you."

She emphasized the light fantastiword, but the Lieutenant did not take th

hint; he merely laughed again in a

exasperatingly good-natured way, and

said:"Lady Angela is going to be Jac

Lamont's partner for the next waltz."

"Oh," said Katherine loftily, "Lad

Angela may dance with any blacksmit

hat pleases her, but I don't. I'm taking i

for granted that Jack Lamont is you

electrical tinsmith."


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"Yes, he is, and I think him by all odd

he finest fellow aboard this ship. It's quit

ikely you have read about his sister. Sh

s a year older than Jack, very beautifucultured, everything that a grande dam

should be, yet she has given away he

huge estate to the peasantry, and work

with them in the fields, living as they doand faring as they do. There was an articl

about her in one of the French reviews no

ong ago. She is called the Princes

atalia."

"The Princess Natalia!" echoe

Katherine, turning her face toward th

young man. "How can Princess Natalia ba sister of Jack Lamont? Did she marr

some old prince, and take to the fields i

disgust?"


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"Oh, no; Jack Lamont is a Russian. H

s called Prince Ivan Lermontoff whe

he's at home, but we call him Jack Lamon

for short. He's going to help me on thRussian business I told you of."

"What Russian business?" aske

Katherine. "I don't remember you

speaking of it."

Dorothy went white, edged a little wa

from her friend, while her widening eye

flashed a warning at the Lieutenant, whooo late, remembered that thi

conversation on Russia had taken plac

during the walk from the bank. The youn

man coughed slightly behind his opehand, reddened, and stammered:

"Oh, I thought I had told you. Didn't

mention the prince to you as we wer


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coming here?"

"Not that I recollect," said Katherine

"Is he a real, genuine prince? A righ

down regular, regular, regular royaprince?"

"I don't know about the royalty, but he'

a prince in good standing in his own landand he is also an excellent blacksmith.

The Lieutenant chuckled a little. "He an

his sister have both been touched a goo

deal by Tolstoian doctrine. Jack is themost wonderful inventor, I think, that is a

present on the earth, Ediso

notwithstanding. Why, he is just now

engaged on a scheme by which he cafloat houses from the mountains here dow

o New York. Float thempipe-line them

would perhaps be a better term. You know


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hey have pipe-lines to carry petroleum

Very well; Jack has a solution tha

dissolves stone as white sugar dissolve

n tea, and he believes he can run the fluifrom the quarries to where building i

going on. It seems that he then puts thi

iquid into molds, and there you have th

stone again. I don't understand the procesmyself, but Jack tells me it's marvelousl

cheap, and marvelously effective. H

picked up the idea from nature one tim

when he and I were on our vacation a

Detroit."

"Detroit, Michigan?"

"The Detroit River.""Well, that runs between Michigan and

Canada."

"No, no, this is in France. I believe th


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real name of the river is the Tarn. There'

a gorge called Detroitthe strait, yo

know. Wonderful placetremendou

chasm. You go down in a boat, and all theributary rivers pour into the main strea

ike jets from the nozzle of a hose. The

ell me this is caused by the rai

percolating through the dead leaves on thsurface of the ground far above, and thu

he water becomes saturated wit

carbonic acid gas, and so dissolves th

imestone until the granite is reached, an

he granite forms the bed of thes

underground rivers. It all seemed to m

very wonderful, but it struck Jack on hiscientific side, and he has bee

experimenting ever since. He says he'll b

able to build a city with a hose next year."

"Where does he live?"


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"On the cruiser just at present. I wa

nstrumental in getting him signed on a

John Lamont, and he passed withou

question. No wonder, for he has scientifidegrees from all sorts of Germa

universities, from Oxford, and one or tw

nstitutions in the States. When at home h

ives in St. Petersburg."

"Has he a palace there?"

Drummond laughed.

"He's got a blacksmith shop, with twrooms above, and I'm going to stop wit

him for a few months as soon as I get m

eave. When the cruiser reaches Englan

we pay off, and I expect to have nothing tdo for six months, so Jack and I will mak

for St. Petersburg."

"Why do you call him Lamont? Is i


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Highness?"

Dorothy inclined her head, an

Katherine fairly beamed permission.

"Oh, Dorothy," she exclaimed, when th

Lieutenant was out of hearing, "think of it

A real prince, and my ambition has neve

risen higher than a paltry count, or somplebeian of that sort. He's mine, Dorothy;

found him first."

"I thought you had appropriated th

Lieutenant?""What are lieutenants to me? The prou

daughter of a captain (retired) canno

stoop to a mere lieutenant."

"You wouldn't have to stoop far, Kate

with so tall a man as Mr. Drummond."

"You are beginning to take notice, aren

you, Dot? But I bestow the Lieutenan


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freely upon you, because I'm going t

dance with the Prince, even if I have t

ask him myself.

She'll toddle away, as all aver,With the Lord High Executioner.

Ah, here they come. Isn't he perfectl

splendid? Look at his beard! Just the colo

of a brand-new twenty-dollar gold pieceSee that broad ribbon diagonally acros

him. I wonder what it means. And gaze a

hose scintillating orders on his breast

Good gracious me, isn't he splendid?"

"Yes, for a blacksmith. I wonder if he

beat those stars out on his anvil. He isn

nearly so tall as Lieutenant Drummond.""Dorothy, I'll not allow you to

disparage my Prince. How can you be s

disagreeable? I thought from the very firs

hat the Lieutenant was too tall. If th


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Prince expects me to call him 'you

Highness,' he'll be disappointed."

"You are quite right, Kate. The term

would suit the Lieutenant better."

"Dorothy, I believe you're jealous."

"Oh, no, I'm not," said Dorothy, shakin

her head and laughing, and then "Hush!she added, as Katherine was about t

speak again.

The next moment the young men stoo

before them, and, introductions beinsoberly performed, the Prince lost no tim

n begging Katherine to favor him with

dance, to which request the young woma

was graciously pleased to accede

without, however, exhibiting too muc

haste about her acceptance, and so the

walked off together.


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CHAPTER IV "AT

LAST ALONE"

"SOME one has taken the camp stool,

said Lieutenant Drummond. "May I sihere?" and the young woman was goo

enough to give the desired permission.

When he had seated himself he glancearound, then impulsively held out hi

hand.

"Miss Amhurst," he said, "how ar

you?""Very well, thank you," replied the gir

with a smile, and after half a moment'

hesitation she placed her hand in his.


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"Of course you dance, Miss Amhurst?"

"Yes, but not to-night. I am here merely

as a looker-on in Vienna. You must no

allow politeness to keep you away frohe floor, or, perhaps, I should say the

deck. I don't mind being alone in th

east."

"Now, Miss Amhurst, that is not a hint

s it? Tell me that I have not already tired

you of my company."

"Oh, no, but I do not wish you to feehat simply because we met casually th

other day you are compelled to waste you

evening sitting out."

"Indeed, Miss Amhurst, although

should very much like to have the pleasur

of dancing with you, there is no one els

here that I should care to ask. I hav


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quailed under the eagle eye of my Captai

once or twice this evening, and I hav

been rather endeavoring to keep out of hi

sight. I fear he has found something newabout me of which to disapprove, so

have quite determined not to dance, unles

you would consent to dance with me, i

which case I am quite ready to brave hireproachful glances."

"Have you done anything wron

ately?""Heaven only knows! I try not to b

purposely wicked, and indeed have pu

forth extra e

barr robert - a rock in the baltic

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