True Blue: Stirring Stories of Naval Academy Life — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OR RS EON Wee le eo ae Bho TRUE BLUE. “Too late!” he cried in poignant tones. “Bessie had been lured from home before my wire reached her! CHAPTER IX. BESSIE. The usually steady hand and voice of the iron-nerved maval cadet shook palpably. Clif sank back to his chair at the table, and_his blanched face and wavering eyes told that dread fear concerning a friend—and that friend a beautiful unprotected girl— had daunted a heart that the swiftest cannon ball could not cause to quail, The telegram was brief, and bore the signature of the Aunt Tess Herndon, with whom Bessie was stopping in A.napolis. - . | “Miss Bessie Stuart left home yesterday, personal busi- ness taking her away from the city.” “You see your guarded telegram failed to alarm?” sub- mitted Vic. Clif jumped up suddenly. “Vic!” he cried stormily, “command or no command, academy or no academy, | am going to Annapolis!’’= Vic saw that his friend was unduly wrought up—in the balance against Miss Bessie Sjtuart’s welfare, honors and ambition weighed little with staunch Clif Faraday. “Don't act on impulse, Clif,” advised Vic. “Why An- napolis? Bessie has already left there, the telegram says.”’ “But there only am I likely to get a trace of how she was lured away.” “Tf she was?” “Do not doubt that!’ cried Clif. “Her mysterious absence at such a time!—oh, there is no doubt but that the plots of these two villains have been set in operation!” “Just look over Hannibal for a minute, before you de- cide on anything, will you?” suggested \V1e “What do you mean?" “Yassir, heah I is!” bobbed and grinned the dusky mes- senger. “What do you know ” began Clif, and catching sight of something conspicuously pendant to Hannibal's coat button, he supplemented: “What is that?” i i y >| 4 4 ’ = j : oo ? » —" > = ‘ o*, » . , 4 *” - . _—_ ey i er ~* = | * c ” : * St = pail ~ ey > Fe Ne ee eS, STS yale ' ee | “seintiun ty , + @ a ~~ ' a. > i ? ~* , ; . ork =? é i @ i : " i ° sd . . * = . al . 4 i a * . - ” on * a - 4 , ™ er. -- ~~ S J 3 Co =. > “ ¢ ‘ va ‘ o> Sa ~.. > |