True Blue: Stirring Stories of Naval Academy Life — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

56 | TRUE BLUE. “Hello!” he ejaculated with a stare at the adventure- marked cadet. Clif briefly explained, as he had done to Ridgely. Then he quite eagerly opened the letter. It was unaddressed, but there were two whole pages of writing inside, “Well?” propounded Ridgely, curiously watching the vivid play of emotion on Clif's expressive. face. “Well!” answered Clit. “It’s a staggerer?” insinuated Fishcake. “Rather! I see things clear, now” “Suppose you enlighten us?” “Very well. This letter 1s from the blacked-up man I told you about, and his name is Raycross.”’ “Raycross! Raycross!” repeated Ridgely; wrinkling his brows. “Ah! [ remember! He is the man you un- masked at the town nearby here who tried to kill his twe wards?” “Yes, Royce and Grace——” lishcake fluttered at this—it was becatise of his interest in the little lady last named that Clif had taken a hand in the affair. “You saved them from his clutches, exposed him,” pro- ceeded Ridgely, “but he managed to escape.” “Leaving his accomplice in jail.” “And what ts his play now ?” questioned Ridgely. “A strange one, but it shows the knave complete. It seems that he presumes on the gratitude of Royce to wards me to bring about a compromise.” “tow ?”- — ‘ie knows that I think a great deal of, Bessie Stuart He planned to capture her, as he has. Through her he threatens me. Through me he hopes to reach Royce He knows that Royce would do anything for me, and ir this letter he makes a proposition.” What?” “He declares he will never allow Bessie Stuart to re- turn again to her friends, unless I induce Rovce to secure the release of his accomplice, withdraw his charge against himself, and pay them five thousand dollars apiece.” ~ The scoufndrels !”’ “Will he make it?” questioned Fishcake in his quaint matter-of-fact way. rs ' ‘ Sanu < tat -% t Pom omicbooks. i. “ ? ‘s -o. oi >= “