Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1905 — The Wings of the Morning [ARTICLE]

The Wings of the Morning

By LOUIS TRACY

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I—The Sirdar, having among her passengers Iris Deane, daughter of the owner of the ship, and Robert Jenks, who is working as a waiter, is wrecked. ll—All are lost save Miss Deane and Jenks, who are cast ashore on an islet in the Pacific. Jenkins recovers stores and weapons from the wrecked vessel. He finds the skeleton of a European on the island. IV—A cave on the island is fitted up as a habitation. A chart of the island, mysteriously marked, is found on the skeleton. V—Jenks finds a hollow filled with human skeletons, the remains of a mining party. He is rescued from an octopus by Iris while recovering riles from the wreck of the Sirdar. Vl—Jenks tells Iris that bis real name is Anstruther and that, through the machinations of Lord Ventnor, he has been unjustly dismissed in disgrace from the English army. Lord Ventnor has been mentioned on the Sirdar as affianced to Iris. Vll—lris is attacked by a party of fierce Dyaks (Polynesian natives). They are beaten off by Jenks, three, however escaping in their boat." The’ castaways 'dread tbeir return. Vlll—Anstrutber prepares to defend Iris and himself, fortifying a ledge of reck above their cave. IX—A rich gold mine, indicated on the mysterious chart of the island, is discovered in the cave. X and Xl—The Dyaks attack the Island. Among them is an escaped coqvict. an Indian Musselman. They discover the hiding place, but are defeated by the Englishman. XII. An unlucky shot costs Jenks and Iris their water supply A truce with the savages, the Mussulman speaking Hindoo to Anstrutber, acting as interpreter. Mir Jan, the Indian, agrees to aid Anstrutber and supply him with water. Xlll—lris and Robert, in the midst of peril, avow their love for each other. The fight continues. XlV—Mir Jan is true to his word and aids the beleaguered couple. At the critical moment the three are rescued by the British warship Orient, which has been attracted to the island by the firing XV—On board the Orient is Sir Arthur Dean, father of Iris, who has been searching for his shipwrecked child. Lord Ventnor is also on board. XVl—Sir Arthur is in Lord Ventnor's financial power and has promised that Iris shall wed him if rescued. CHAPTER XVII. S'" "IIR ARTHUR DEANE was sitting alone in bis cabin in a state of deep dejection when be was aroused by a knock, and Robert entered. “Can you give me balf an hour?” he asked. “I have something to say to you before we land.” The shipowner silently motioned him to a seat. “It concerns Iris and myself,” continued Anstrutber. “I gathered from your words when we met on the island that both you "and Lord Ventnor regarded Iris as his lordship's promised bride. From your point of view the arrangement was perhaps natural and equitable, but since your daughter left Hongkong it happens that she and I have fallen in love with each other. No; please listen to me. I am not here to urge my claims on you. I won her fairly and intend to keep her were the whole house of peers opposed to me. At this moment I want to tell you, her father, why she could never, even under other circumstances, marry Lord Ventnor.” Then he proceeded to place before the astounded baronet a detailed history of his recent career. It was a sordid story of woman’s perfidy twice told. It carried conviction in every sentence. At the conclusion Sir Arthur bowed his head between his hands. “I cannot choose but believe you,” he admitted huskily. “Yet how came you to be so unjustly convicted by a tribunal composed of your brother officers?” “They could not help themselves. To acquit me meant that they discredited the sworn testimony not only of my colonel’s wife, but of the civil head of an Important government mission, not to mention some bought Chinese evidence.” “But you are powerless now. You can hardly hope to have your case revised. What chance is there that your name will ever be cleared?” “Mrs. Costobeli can do it if she will. The vagaries of such a woman are not to be depended on. If Lord Ventnor haa cast her off her hatred may prove stronger than her passion. Anyhow, I should be the last man to despair of God’s providence. Compare the condition of Iris and myself today with our plight on the ledge!” The shipowner sighed heavily. “1 hope your faith will be justified. If it is not—the more likely thing to happen—do I understand that my daughter and you intend to get married whether I give or withhold my sanction ?” Anstrutber rose and opened the door. "I have ventured to tell you,” he said, “why she should not marry Lord Ventnor. When I come to you and nsk you for her, which I pray may be soon, it will be time enough to answer that question should you then decide to put it.” It must be remembered that Robert knew nothing whatever of the older man’s predicament, while the baronet, full of his own troubles, was in no mood to take a reasonable view of Anstruther’s position. Thus, for a little while, these two were driven apart, and Anstruther disdained to urge the plea that not many weeks would elapse before he would be a richer man than his rival. The chief sufferer was Sir Arthur Deane. Had Iris guessed how her father was tormented she would not have remained on the bridge, radiant and mirthful, while the gray haired baronet gazed with stony eyed despair at some memoranda which be extracted from his papers. “Ten thousand pounds!” he muttered. “Not a great sum for the millionaire financier, Sir Arthur Deane, to raise on his note of hand. A few months ago men offered me one hundred times the amount on no better security. And now to think that a set of jabbering

fools in London should so destroy my credit and their own; that not a b; nk will discount onr paper unless they are assured Lord Ventnor has joined tlie board! Fancy me, of all men, being willing, to barter my child for a few pieces of gold!” The thought was maddening. For a little while he yielded to utter despondency. It was quite true that a comparatively small amount of money would restore the stability of his firm. Even without it, were his credit unimpaired, be could easily tide over the period of depression until the first fruits of his enterprise were garnered. Then all men would hail him as a genius Wearily turning over his papers, he suddenly came across the last letter written to him by Iris’ mother. How she doted on their only child! He recalled one night shortly before his wife died when the little Iris was brought into her room to kiss her and lisp her infantile prayers. She bad devised a formula of her own: “God bless father! God bless mother! God bless me, their little girl!” And what was it she cried to him from the beach? “Your own little girl given back to you!” Given back to him! For what—to marry that black hearted scoundrel whose pastime was the degradation of women and the defaming of honest men? That settled it. Instantly the cloud was lifted from his soul. A great peace came upon blip. The ruin of his business be might not be able to avert, but he would save from the wreck that which he prized more than all else, bis daughter’s love.

Tlie engines dropped to half speed. They were entering the harbor of Singapore. In a few hours the worst would be over. If Ventnor telegraphed to London his withdrawal from the board nothing short of a cabled draft for £IO,OOO would prevent certain creditors from filing a bankruptcy petition. In the local banks the baronet had about a thousand to his credit. Surely among the rich merchants of the port, men who knew the potentialities of his scheme, he would be able to raise the money needed. He would try hard. Already he felt braver. The old fire had returned to his blood. The very belief that he was acting in the way best calculated to secure his daughter’s happiness stimulated and encouraged him. He went on deck, to meet Iris skipping down the hatchway. “Oh, there you are!” she cried. “I was just coming to find out why you were moping in your cabin. You are missing the most beautiful view—all greens and blues and browns! Run, quick! I want you to see every inch of it.” She held out her hand and pulled him gleefully up the steps. Leaning against the taffrail, some distance apart from each other, were Anstruther and Lord Ventnor. Need it be said to wbom Iris drew her father? “Here he la, Robert,” she laughed. “I do believe he was sulking because Captain Fltzroy was so very attentive to me. Yet you didn’t mind it a bit!” The two men looked into each other’s eyes. They smiled. How could they resist the contagion of her sunny nature? "I have been thinking over what you said to me just now, Anstrutber,” said the shipowner slowly. “Oh!" cried Iris. “Have you two been talking secrets behind my back?” “It is no secret to you, my little girl"— Her father’s voice lingered on the phrase. “When we are on shore, Robert, I will explain matters to you more fully. Just now I wish only to tell you that where Iris has given her heart, I will not refuse her hand.” She took his face between her hands and kissed him. Lord Veutnor, wondering at this effusiveness, strolled forward.

“What has happened. Miss Deane?” he inquired. “Have you just discovered what an excellent parent you possess?"’ The baronet laughed almost hysterically. “ ’Pon my honor," i.e cried, “you could not have hit upon a happier explanation.” His lordship was not quite satisfied. “I suppose you will take iris to Smith’s hotel?” he said, with cool impudence. Iris answered him. “Yes. My father has just asked Robert to come with us—by inference, that is. Where are you going?” The adroit use of her lover’s Christian name goaded his lordship to sudden heat “Indeed!” he snarled. “Sir Arthur Deane has evidently decided a good many things during the last hour.” “Yes,” was the. shipowner’s quiet retort. “I have decided that my daughter’s happiness should tie tbs chief consideration of my remaining yean. All else must give way to it.” The earl’s swarthy face grew sallow with fury. His eyes blazed, and there was a tense vibrato in his voice as he said: “Then I must congratulate you. Miss Deane. You are fated to endure adventures. Having .escaped from the Melodramatic perils of Rainbow island you are destined to experience another variety of shipwreck here.”

He left them. Not a word had Robert spoken throughout the unexpected scene. His heart was trobblng with a tremendous joy, and his lordship’s sneers were lost on him. But be could not fall to note the malignant purpose of the parting sentence. In his quietly masterful way be placed his hand on the baronet’s shoulder. “What did Lord Ventnor mean?” he asked. Sir Arthur Deane answered, with a calm smile: “It is difficult to talk openly at this moment. Walt until we reach the hotel.” The news flew fast through the settlement that her majesty's ship Orient had returned from her long search for the Sirdar. The warship occupied her usual anchorage, and a boat was lowered to take off the passengers. The boat swung off into the tideway. Her progress shoreward was watched by a small knot of people, mostly loungers and coolies. Among them, however, were two persons who had driven rapidly to the landing place when the arrival of the Orient was reported. One bore all the distinguishing marks of the army officer of high rank, but the other was unmistakably a globe trotter. The older gentleman made no pretense that he could “hear the east a-callin’.” He swore imparttailyatthe"cttmnte,"thO"pra<e’afiditH inhabitants. At this instant he was in a state of wild excitement. He Was very tall, very stout, exceedingly red faced. Producing a tremendous telescope he vainly endeavored to balance it on the Shoulder of a native servant. “Can’t you stand still, you blithering idiot,” he shouted, after futile attempts to focus the advancing boat, “or shall I steady you with a clout over the ear?” His companion, the army man, was looking through a pair of field glasses. “By Jove,” he cried, “I can see Sir Arthur Deane and a girl who looks like his daughter! There’s that infernal scamp, Ventnor, too." The big man brushed the servant out of his way and brandished the telescope as though it were a bludgeon. “The dirty beggar! He drove my lad to misery and death, yet he has come back safe and sound. Wait till I meet him. I’ll” “Now, Anstruther! Remember your promise. I will deal with Lord Ventnor. My vengeance has first claim. What! By the jumping Moses, Ido believe— Yes. It is. Anstruther! Your nephew is sitting next to the girl!” The telescope fell on the stones with a crash. The giant’s rubicund face suddenly blanched. He leaned on his friend for support “You are not mistaken?” be almost whimpered. ’’Look again, for God’s sake, man! Make sure before you speak. Tell me! Tell me!” “Calm yourself, Anstruther. It is Robert as sure as I'm alive. Don't you think I know' him, my poor disgraced friend, whom I, like the rest, cast off in his hour of trouble? But I had some excuse. There! There! I didn’t mean that, old fellow. Robert himself will be the last man to blame either of us. Who could have suspected that two people—one of them, God help me, my wife—would concoct such a hellish plot!” The boat glided gracefully alongside the steps of the quay, and Playdon sprang gracefully ashore to help Iris to alight What happened immediately afterward can best be told in his own words, as be retailed the story to an appreciative audience in the wardroom.

“We had Just landed.” he said, “and some of the crew were pushing the coolies out of the way when two men jumped down the steps, and a most fiendish row sprang up—that is, there was no dispute or wrangling, but one chap, who, it turned out, was Colonel Costobell, grabbed Ventnor by the shirt front and threatened to smash his face in if he didn’t listen then and there to what he had to say. I really thought about interfering until I heard Colonel Costobell's opening words. After that I would gladly have seen the beggar chucked into the harbor. We never liked him, did we?” “Ask no questions, Pompey, but go ahead with the yarn,” growled the first lieutenant. “Well, It seems that Mrs. Costobell is dead. She got enteric a week after the Orient sailed and was a goner In four days. Before she died she owned up.” He paused, with a base eye to effect. Not a man moved a muscle. “All right,” he cried. “I will make no more false starts. Mrs. Costobell begged her husband’s forgiveness for her treatment of him and confessed that she and Lord Ventnor planned the affair for which Anstruther was tried by court martial. It must have been a beastly business, for Costobell was sweating with rage, though bis words were icy enough. And you ought to have seen Ventnor’s face when he heard of the depositions, sworn to and signed by Mrs. Costobell and by several Chinese servants whom he bribed to give false evidence. He promised to marry Mrs. Costobell If her husband died, or, in any event, to bring about a divorce when the Hongkong affair had blown over. Then she learned that he was after Miss Iris, and there is no doubt her fury helped on the fever. Costobell said that, for bis wife’s sake, he would have kept the wretched thing secret, but be was compelled to clear Anstruther’s name, especially as he came across the other old Johnnie”— “Pompey, you are Incoherent with excitement. Who is ‘the other old Johnnie?’ " asked the first luff severely. “Didn't I tell you? Why, Anstruther’s nncle, of course, a heavy old swell with just a touch of Yorkshire in his tongue. I gathered that he disinherited his nephew when the news of the court martial reached him. Then he lelented and cabled to him. Getting

no news, he came east to look for hist He met Costobell the day after the lady died, and the two vowed to be revenged on Ventnor and to clear Anstruther’s character, living or dead. Poor old chap! He cried like a baby when be asked the youngster to forgive him. It was quite touching. (TO BB CONTINUED 1