assumed the name of Hurley. You will arrest him and deliver him on shipboard. You are advised to proceed with caution. Respectfully, Brinsley Reed, Lt.-Comd'r., U. S. N., Commanding.
He read the order through slowly, and pushed a button on the desk for his orderly. Then removing the order from the pad, he reread it more slowly still, while a deep frown gathered on his forehead.
The decision had been made.
Suddenly he opened a drawer at the side of his desk and took from it--a rose orchid!
I have no idea where he got it; possibly he had taken advantage of Rita's absence while she had gone with Tota to fetch the pony.
But then that is scarcely possible, since the lieutenant-commander was the last man in the world to be swayed by any weak sentiment.
"Did you ring, sir?"
The orderly's voice sounded from the doorway, and his commanding officer actually blushed as he hastily slipped the orchid back into the drawer.
Then he turned to the orderly:
"Learn to stand at attention till you're spoken to!" he roared. "No, I didn't ring! Get out of here!"
It is little wonder that Ensign Rowley failed to carry out the order, since it was no part of his duty to go searching about in his skipper's waste basket for torn bits of paper.
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