True Blue: Stirring Stories of Naval Academy Life — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

7 ve TRUE BLUE. form suddenly shot up behind the fellow—Ridgely—and knocked him flat. ‘ “There were two others?” insinuated Clif. “Fkishcake is sitting on one below there, holding the other at bay with a pistol.” “Secure them both—they are the prize of this outfit,’ directed Clif, One of the bumpkin crowd had got enough of it and had escaped by-some mysterious cotuse—a second lay insensible, the third, half-scared to death, sat staring at the animated sword-wielder and wrestler. “They tald us you was robbers,” he mumbled. “Mistake! They are the robbers,” answered Clif, “and will soon be where all robbers eventually get—in jail. Bessie!” “Coming, Clit {” The plucky girl was coming—pulling herself and the basket back to its Starting point. The two baffled conspirators were driven at the end of a stout rope in advance of Ridgely and Fisheake. Despite his severe adventures of the evening, Clif en- joyed the twihght promenade with Bessie in all its pas- toral gentleness and beauty. Bessie explained how a letter, speciously setting out that he (Clif) was in trouble, and could be helped only by her r coming secretly to the neighborhood of the camp to meet “other friends,” had completely deceived her. She had believed that Vic or Nanny, or some other of Clifs warm adherents, had sent the letter—not wishing to maniiest themselves till she should appear When the two conspirators were landed in the village piling jail, Clif and the others proceeded at once to the home : of their former victims—the Raycross wards. There was another explanation, and pretty Grace soon made Bessie suré that her brief stay would be a welcome one. It was not destined to be brief, however. Phe grateful Royce and Grace wanted to do something a for the frends of the unselfish cadet. as he himself would ae take no recompense for his efforts in their behalf. 2 Jessie remained asa guest, and sent an_ invitation speeding to Annapolis for Tess Herndon and her aunt, ™ 7 ° e - 7 . . : ‘ * ¢ 7 —- . —., 2 ° 4 > + é e :* a ry ~~ e 4 - Bs A - * >a * oe &, Po? . Pp" 4 * - , ne > 2 ‘ * $ “> ¥ ra ‘« * ee ; & : oh) if ~~ Tv ; 7A e 4 4 ~ ) < < _ a Ls ee a Me re BOGE Corr