Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 230, 16 September 1906 — Page 7

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-rhe-Fvicrnnona4tadium,-Sinday, September 16, 1905. The Peonle in the Siorv are Real and No Eosiance of Love and 'Aiventare That 3x Puppets, and the Plot racy Has Ingenious iiiai-ily Told and Will Hold the Read By LOUIS TRACY Vcven About Them is Host 5 imoBrnm from tne ft he Queuing CaaBter

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il t: not lai you . i..:. the goatskin, sahib. r fail on. I bid ii nI you shall ii-i. Hive- you ever used .:: Keen i!.f ju, sahib, but I Leta.,nd th- MahtinL" ;-,-. y,u a s-::k with plenty - 1 . O.l. UO you go insiue iiio run: 5" .1 ;r art -.tallied. I; jt ia. sahib?" he said, it i a tfil for children, h t:,t, only a few Lone :v..-r 1 by those sciii!!V . .' t 'l u.ot ' a i.i..a '.;. Have you any food?" ; ; s. .!.:'; sufficient for a day t :i Il : Wo will get water from the Vi.on tl." li-al sting begin-- at ;it every man yon see from ; of tl," cave. On no account t Then thev can never reach or two ;. won. ' (1VI1 111 the l "i: oil you if you kc llrv." ; full -magazine. Wait "I tk:iv. :ht you v. ere never ominpr, prote -.f l'.!-,e. r.:n wun A :'.-!, t (1rj:;l:V" 'j'i rseriih. 1 Tv: wh' ii Jenks reaeiieu me "I l ave been entire ere-ny. I tlioro 1 suiae one down there, leave, laay " I have another liior b.el left the crowbar belie secured a rifle, a spare clip d .:;en packet.- of cartridges, a i1. i::e;!:ivlii! ti turn t Jr. n va ; v k-ii-'?;t brif.My explaining to irm :e:i lv events fo far as Mir, neerned. ,S!;e was natnrali and forgot her fears in' the exf-iti'iai-nt .-.-n -e,i by the appearunee ot' l.id be. V ater. ;he 1; s i ! 1. 1 r.n allj'. Slio drank UU a briruuun beaker of en rd her lover rejoin Mir Jan v th- two tuep unt into the ',!, while Jenks exilained the i the rife. Fortunately Iris w l-nu'i recovered from the ni 1 pVI Nation' of the 'earlier I."ir H"!;:fs were sharpened 4o i;ti!e dreamed of by stay-at-r-'a..; ! -vii yi her ase, and shei i.i-r province to act a sentry ' e two r.e:i eimferrid. Hence t!:e hr-t to dt'ct, or, rather, to !!!,( t he vvr b ::-'.:-;. -el )t it Oie stealthy crswl ,f sc' i.d 1 ..HiiOi'.'i tlie bottom of th: ,.:,,' frojn Turtle beach. i:obertU' she screanted. "The Dyuhs: On your leftl" IUt Iris w:is rapidly kovled.'.n of strategy. gainins some Itefore she Khr. ikt wi.rnnr: sue uruM'eu. u jV, ri:'e. IlaMit; It at the ready' about the !cv-l otTier w jus t and depressing the m Hzr.le-siitiieientlj', she besan firing down tie side of the rock as fast as Ehe ctt:I..l handle lever and trigger. Two of the nickel bullets ftmek a projection 'and ; !;',d;ed the leading &Xojrs wit'i juolten metal. ' Unf omnia lely Jinks' rille beneath was unloaded. rl'Kins in Mir Jan's pospession lui p;nioses of instruction. Jenks Vwhlt'Ltil ov.t his, revolver. "To the cave!" he roared, and Mir Jan's r.nwilHnjincss to face a goblin could not withstand the combined inipetu o the sahib's order and the on ward rush of the enemy. He dartej head! u;-r fur the entrance. Jcnks. s!;ooti!i; blindly as he, too, ran for the holder, emptied the revolver ju.t- as his left hand clutched a ruapr. Three iyaks were so close that it would he folly to attempt to climb. Ife threw the weapon into the face of the foremost man, efTectually stopping liis onward pr.-giv-s. The sailor turned to dive into the cave and .secure the rifle from Mir Jan. when his shin caught the heavy crowbar resting against the rock. The Xaiu of the blow leut emphasis to the swing with which the implement deFc.'ude 1 up mi some portion of a Dyak anatomy. Jonks never knew Avhere he hit the second- assailant, but the place cracked like an eggshell. lie had r.wt time to recover the bar fo:;in.th.er blow, so be drove the point la the guHct of a gentleman who was .?,' the imliit in the gullet. make a virions sweep at him I v. ram:. The downfall of this (ai-t'.l las immediate sueeesduu'tb!.. and .leaks saw his o ty. .':ti the agihdy of a cat he m the l.'.d-Jer and reached the w: : Wi s;. r -u -i ' l : J led happened with the t. Within frty second y the -sailor was breast lae a:u! calling to her: girl! Keep it up!" as close to her. unhurt i'ant. a 3 was his way ' t went well. He was , hring and aiming, too, broke cover recklessly i d of th va ms s.aau L: , with T'a ".VP. r'aht. B-.:t here hi and ca!:i.:y ; wncu a sri " r-v- the 1

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udt to place the rifle out of harm's way before she Lroke down and sohOd not tearfully, Lut in a paroxysm of reaction. So u all was quiet beneath save for the labored eilort.s of some wounded men to get far away from that accursed rock. Jenks was able to turn to Iris. He endeavored to allay her agitation and succeeded fjomev. hat, for tears came, and Lc clung to him. It was useie.-;s to reproach, him. The whole incident was unforeseen. She was herself a party to it. But what an escape'. You have been a girl and have earned said. "Oh, Low can you after such an awful very good little your tyipper," he talk so call experience';' usly she expostulated brokenly. lt is n small thing to trouble about, sweetheart," he explained. "You spotted the enemy so prmaptly and blazed away with such ferocity that they never got within yards of me." "Are you sure';""I vow and declare that after we have eaten something and sampled our remaining bottle of w ine I will tell you exactly what happened." "Why not now':" "Because I must first see to Mir Jan. I bundled him neck and crop into the cave. I hope I did not hurt him." "You are not going down there again?" "No need, I trust." He went to the side of the bilge, recovered the ladder which he had hastily hauled out 'of the Dyaks' reach after his climb, and cried: "Mir Jan." "Ah, sahib! Braised be the name of the Most High, you are alive. I was searching among the slain with a sorrowful heart." The Mohammedan's voice came from some little distance on the left. "The slain, vou say. How man "Five, sahib." "Impossible! I ft red blindly with the revolver and oclj' hit one man hard with the iron bar. One other dropped near the wood after I obtained a rilie." "Then there be six, sahib, not reck fining Mite wounded. I have accounted for one, so the miss sahib must have" "What is he saying about me':" inquired Ins, who had risen and joined her lover. "He says you absolutely staggered the Dyaks by opening tire the moment they appeared." "How did you come to slay one, Mir Jan?" he continued. "A -sou of a black pig followed me into the cave. I waited for him in the darkness. I have just thrown his body outside." "Well done! Is Taung S'Ali dead by an- lucky chance?" "No, sahib, if he be not the sixth. I will go and see." "You may be attacked." "I have found a sword, sahib. Y'ou left me no cartridges." , Jenks told him that the clip a lid the twelve packets w'ere lying at the foot of the rock, where Mir Jan speedily discovered them. The Mohammedan gave satisfactory assurance that he understood the mechanism of the riiie by filling and adjusting the magazine. Then he went to examine the corpse of the man who lay in the open near the quarry path. The sailor stood in instant readiness to mnke a counter demonstration were the native assailed. But there was no sign of the Dyaks. Mir Jan returned fwith the news that the sixth victim of 'the brief yet tierce encounter was a renegade Malay. He was so confident that the enemy had enough of it for the night that, after recovering Jenks' revolver, he boldly went to the well and drew himself a supply of water. During supper Jenks told Iris so much of the story as was good for her that is to say, he cut down the casualty list. It was easy to see what bad happened. The Dyaks. having missed the Mohammedan and their water bag, searched for him and heard the conversation at the foot of the rock. Knowing that their presence was suspected, they went back for re-enforcements and returned by the shorter and more advantageous route alon-j Turtle beach. Iris would have talked ail night, but Jenks made her go to sleep by pillowing her head agaiust his shoulder and smoothing her tangled tresses with his hand. He managed to lay her on. a comfortable pile of ragged clothing and then resumed his vigil. Mir Jan offered to mount guard beneath, but Jenks bade him go within the cave and remain there, for the dawn woind soon be upon them. Left alone with his thoughts, he wou-dere-t what the rising sun would bring in its train. He reviewed the events j of the last twenty-four hours. Iris and ! hi Miss Deane, Mr. Jenks. to each other were then undiscovered in their j refuge, the 1vaks v.ere gathered ! around a roaring tire in the yjiliey, andj Mir Jan was keen in the hunt as the j keenest among them. Now Iris was ; his al'ianetd bride, over twenty of the enemy were killed and many wounded, ! and Mir Jan. a devoted adherent, w seated beside the skeleton in the gloom j of the cavern. A period of reflection could hardly pass without a specnhitive dive into the future. If Iris and Le were rescued, what would happen when ther went forth once more into the busy world? Not for one instant did he doubt her faith. She was true as steel, knit to him now by bonds of triple brass. But what would Sir Arthur Deane think of his daughter's marriage to a discredited and casliiere-.l officer? What was it that "poor Mir Jan called himself "a disgraced man?" Yes, that was it. Could that stain be removed? Mir Jan was doing it. Why not he by. other mean--, for his good name rested on the word of a perjured aoman?" TTealta was potent. " but not U powcrfUL. Uewouid ask Iris to

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wait until he came to her unsoueci oy slander, purged of this odium cast upon hlrn unmerited. To awake her he kissed her; he knew not, perchance it might be their last ki-s oa earth. Not yet dawn, there was morning in the air, for the first faint shafts of light were not visible from their eyrie owing to its position. But there was much to be dene. The canvas awning was rolled back and the stores built into a barricade intended to shelter Iris. "What is that for?" she asked when she discovered its nature. He told her. She definitely refused to avail herself of any such protection. "Bobert, dear," she said, "if the attack comes to our very door, so to speak, surely I must help you. Even my slight aid ma3" stem a rush in one place while you are busy in another." He explained to her that if hand to hand fighting, were necessary he would depend more upon a crowbar than a ritle to sweep the ledge clear. She might be in the way. "Very well. The moment you tell me to get behind that fence I will do so. Even there I can use a revolver." That reminded him. His own pistol was unloaded. He possessed only five more cartridges of small caliber. He placed them in the weapon and gave it to her. - a .. "Now you have eleven men's lives in your hands," he said. "Try not to miss if you must shuot." In the dim light he could not see the spasm of pain that clouded her face. No Dyak would reach her while he lived. If he fell, there was another use for one of those cartridges. The sailor had cleared the main floor

of the rock and was placing his four rifles and other implements within easy reach when a hiss came f rom Jjeneath. "Mir Jan!" exclaimed Iris. "What now?" demanded Jenks over the side. "Sahib, they come!" "I v.m prepared. Let that snake get back to his hole in the rock, lest a mongoose seize liim by the head." Mir Jan, engaged in a scouting expedition .on his own account, -'understood that' the' officer sahib's orders must be obeyed. He vanished. Soon they heard a great crackling among the bushes on the right, but Jenks knew even before he looked that the Dyaks had correctly estimated the extent of his fire zone and would keep out of it. The first physical intimation of the enemy's design they received, was a pungent but pleasant smell of burning pine, borne to them by the northerly breeze and filling the air with its aroma. The Dyaks kindled a huge fire. The heat was perceptible even on the ledge, but the minutes passed and the dawn broadened into day without any 'other result being achieved. Iris, a little drawn and pale with suspense, said, with a timid giggle: "This does not seem to be so very serious. It reminds me of my efforts to cook." "There is more to follow, I fear, dear one. But the Dyaks are fools. They should have waited uiitil night fell again after wearing us out by constant vigilance all day. If they intend to employ smoke it would be far worse for us at night." Bhewl A volume of murky vapor arose that nearly suffocated them by the first whiff of its noisome fumes. It curled like a black pall over the face of the rock and blotted out sea and sky. They coughed incessantly and nearly choked, for the Dyaks had thrown wet seaweed on top of the burning pile of dry wood. Mir Jan, born in interior India, knew little about the sea or its products, and when the savages talked of seaweed he thought they meant green wood. Fortunately for him, the ascending clouds of smoke missed the cave or infallibly he must have been stilled. "Lie Sat on the rock!" gasped Jenks. Careless of waste, he poured water over a coat and made Iris bury her mouth and nose in the wet cloth. This gave her immediate relief, and she showed her woman's wit by tying the sleeves of the garment behind her neck. Jenks nodded comprehension and followed her example, for by "this means their hands were left free. The black cloud grew more dense each few seconds. Nevertheless, owing to the slope of the ledge and the tendency of the smoke to rise, the south side was far more tenable than the north. Quick to note this favorable cir- ! cumstance, the sailor deduced a fur ther fact from it. A barrier erected on the extreme right of the ledge would be a material gain, lie sprang up, dragged the huge tarpaulin from its former location and propped it on the handle of the pickax, driven by one mighty stroke deep into a crevice of tho rock. It was no mean feat of strength that he performed. He swung the heavy and cumbrous canvas into position as if it were a dust cloth. He emerged fromjihe. ,glo.om jif tt,e;drivei cjud ica eyed," but triumphant. Instantly the vapor on the ledge lessened, and they could breathe, even talk. Overhead and in front the smoke swept in ever increasing density, but once aga'in the sailor had outwitted the Dyaks maneuvers. "We have won the first rubber,' he whispered to Iris. Above, beneath, beyond, they could see nothing. The air they breathed was hot and fetid. It was like being immured In a foul tunnel, and almost as dark. Jenks looked over the parapet. He thought he could distinguish some vague figures on the sands, so he fired at them. A volley of answering bullets crashed Into the rock on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their plans well this time. A firing squad stationed beyoud the smoke area and supplied with all the available guns commenced and kept up a smart fusillade in the direction of the ledge in cnTer to cover tfceT operations of the te alius oarty.

CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY

Jenks realirrod that to expose himself was to court a serious wound and achieve no useful purpose. ' He fell back out of range, laid down his rifle and grabbed the crowbar. At brief Intervals a deep hollow boom came up from the valley. At first it puzzled them until the sailor hit upon an explanation. Mir Jan was busy. The end of a strong, roughly made ladder swung through the smoke and banged against the ledge. Before Jenks could reach it those hoisting it Into position hastily retreated. They were standing In front of the cave, and the Mohammedan made play on them with a rifle at thirty feet. Jenks, using his crowbar as a lever, toppled the ladder clean over. It fell outward and disconcerted a section of the musketeers. "Well done!" cried Iris. The sailor, astounded by her tone, gave her a fleeting glance. She was very pale now, but not with fear. Her eyes Mere slightly contracted, her nostrils quivering, her lips set tight and her chin dimpled. Resting on one knee, with a revolver in each hand, she seemed no puling mate for the gallant man who fought for her. There was no time for further speech. Three ladders were reared against the Now huth crovJmr and revolver were needed. ' rock. They were so poised and held below- that Jenks could not force them backward. A fourth appeared, its coarse shafts looming into sight like the horns of some gigantic animal. The four covered practically the whole front of the ledge save where Mir Jan cleared a little space on the level. The sailor was standing now, with the crowbar clinched in both hands. The firing in the valley slackened and died away. 'A Dyak face, grinning like a Japanese demon, appeared at the top of the ladder nearest to Iris. "Don't fire!" shouted Jenks. And the iron bar crushed downward. Two others pitched themselves half on to the ledge. Now both crowbar and revolver were needed. Three ladders were thus cumbered somewhat for those beneath, and Jenks sprang toward the fourth and most distant. Men were crowding it like ants. Close to his feet lay an empty water cask. It was a crude weapon, but effective when Avell pitched, and the sailor had never made a better shot for a goal in the midst of a hard fought scrimmage than he made with that tub for the head of the uppermost pirate. Another volley came from the sands. A bullet plowed through his hair aud sent his sou'wester flying. Again the besiegers swarmed to the attack. One way or the other they must succeed. A man and a woman even such a man and such a woman could not keep at bay an infuriated horde of fifty savages fighting at close quarters and under these grievous conditions. Jenks knew what would happen. He would be shot while repelling the scaling party. And Iris! Dear heart! She was thinking of him. "Keep back! They can never gain the ledge!" she shrieked. And then, above the din of the fusillade, the yells of the assailants and the bawling of the wounded, there came through the air a screaming, tearing, ripping sound which drowned all others. It traveled with incredible speed, and before the sailor could believe his ears for he well knew what it meant a shrapnel shell burst In front of the ledge and drenched the valley with flying lead. Jenks was just able to drag Iris flat against the rock ere the time fuse operated and the bullets flew. He could form no theory, hazard no conjecture. All he knew was that a twelve pounder shell had flown toward them through space, scattering red ruin among the amazed scoundrels beneath. Instantly he rose again, lest perchance any of the Dyaks should have gained a foothold on the ledge. The ladders were empty. He could hear a good deal of groaning, the footsteps of running men and some distant shouting. "Sahib!" yelled Mir Jan, drawn from his retreat by the commotion without. "l"es," shouted Jenks. The native, in a voice cracked with excitement, told him something. The sailor asked a few rapid questions to make quite sttre that Mir Jan was not mistaken. Then he threw his arms round Iris, drew her close and whispered: "My darling, we are saved! A warship has anchored just beyond tLe south reef, and two boats filled with. armed sailors are-now pulling ashore."

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CUAlTEK XV. HE drifting smoke was still so dense that not even the floor of the valley could be discerned. Jenk3 dared not leave Iris at

T such a moment. He called to Mir Jan: "Take off your turban and hold it above your head if you think they can see you from fhe worship." "It is all -right, sahib," came the cheering answer. "One boat is close inshore. I think, from the uniforms, they are English sahibs, such as I have seen at Garden Beach. The Dyaks have all gone." ' Nevertheless Jenks waited. There was nothing to gain by being too precipitate. A false step now might undo the ncbie ements of many weeks. Mir Jan was dancing about beneath in a state of wild excitement. "They have seen the Dyaks running to their sampans, sahib," he yelled, "and the second boat is being pulled in that direction! Y'et another has just left the ship." A translation made Iris excited, eager to go down and see these wonders. The boom of a cannon came from the sea. Instinctively the girl ducked for safety, though her companion smiled at her fears, for the shell would have long preceded the report had it traveled their way. "One of the remaining sampans has got under way," he explained, "and the warship is firing at her." "Boor wretches!" murmured Iris. "Cannot the survivors be allowed to escape?" "Well, we are unable to interfere. Those caught on the island will probably be taken to the mainland and hanged for their crimes, so the manner of their end is not of much consequence." To the girl's manifest relief, there was no more firing, and Mir Jan announced that a number of sailors were actually on shore. Then her thoughts turned to a matter of concern to the feminine mind even in the gravest moments of existence. She laved her face with water and sought her discarded skirt. Soon the steady tramp of boot clad feet advancing at the double was heard on the shingle, and an officer's voice, speaking the crude Hindoostanee of the engine room and forecastle, shouted to Mir Jan: "Hi. you black fellow! Are there any white people here?" Jenks sang out: "Yes, two of us! Ferched on the rock over your heads. We are coming down." He cast loose the rope ladder. Iris was limp and trembling. "Steady, sweetheart," he whispered. "Don't forget the slip between the cup and the lip. Hold tight, but have no fear. I will be just beneath." It was well he took this precaution. She was now so unnerved'that an unguarded movement might have led to an accident. But the knowledge that her lover was near, the touch of his hand guiding her feet on to the rungs of the ladder, sustained her. They had almost reached the level when a leud exclamation and the crash of a heavy blow caused Jenks to halt and look downward. A Dyak, lying at the foot of one of the scaling ladders and severely wounded by a shell splinter, witnessed their descent. In his left hand he grasped a parang; his right arm was bandaged. Though unable to rise, the vengeful pirate mustered his remaining strength to crawl toward the swaying ladder. It was Taung S'Ali, inspired with the hate and venom of the dying snake. Even yet he hoped to deal a mortal stroke at the man who had defied him and all his cutthroat band. He might have succeeded, as Jenks was so taken up with Iris, were it not for the watchful eyes of Mir Jan. The Mohammedan sprang at him, with an oath, and gave him such a murderous whack with the butt of a rifle that the Dyak chief collapsed and breathed out his fierce spirit in a groan. At the first glance Jenks did not recognize Taung S'Ali owing to his change of costume. Through the thinner smoke he could see several sailors running up. But, with the passing of the chief, their last peril had gone. The next instant they were standing on the firm ground, and a British naval lieutenant was saying eagerly: "We seem to have turned up in the nick of time. Do you, by any chance, belong to the Sirdar?" "We are the sole survivors," answered the sailor. "You two only?" "l'es. She struck on the northwest reef of this island during a typhoon. This lady, Miss Iris Deane, and I were flung ashore" "Miss Deane! Can It be possible? Let me congratulate you most heartily. Sir Arthur Deane Is on board the Orient at this moment." "The Orient!" Iris was dazed. It was all too won derful to be quite understood yet. She turned to Robert: "Do you hear? They say my father Is not far away. Take me to him." "No need for that, miss," interrupted a warrant officer. "Here he is coming ashore. He wanted to come with us, but the captain would not permit it, as there 6eemed to be some trouble ahead." Sure enough, even the girl's swimming eyes could distinguish the gray bearded civilian seated beside an officer in the stern sheets of a small gig now threading a path through the broken reef beyond Turtle beach. In five minutes father and daughter would meet. Meanwhile the officer, Intent on duty, addressed Jenks again. "May I ask who you are?" "My name Is Anstruther Robert Anstrutber." Iris, clinging to his arm, he&gd the - reply.

So he had abatidoi.fd all pretense. He was readyMo face the world at her side. She stole a loving glance at him as she cried; -Yes; Captain Anstruther of the Indian staP. corps. If he will not tell you all that he has done, how he has saved my life twenty times, how he has fought single handed against eighty men, ask ir.e!" ".Captain An.-uruiher does not c!poar to have left much for us to do, Mi?s Deane," the officer said. "Indeed," turning to Robert,' "is there any way in which my men will he useful?" "I wouki recommend that they drag the green stuff oiT that lire and stop the smoke. Then a detachment should go round the north side of the island and drive the remaining Dyaks into the hands of the party you have landed, as I understand, at the farther end of the south beach. Mir Jan, the Mohammedan here, who has been a most faithful ally during part of our siege, w-ill act as guide." The other man cast a comprehensive glance over the rock, with its scaling ladders and dangling rope ladder, the cave, the little groups of dead or unconscious pirates for every wounded man who could move a limb had crawled away after the first shell burst and drew a deep breath. "How long were you up there?" he

asked. "Over thirty hours." "It was a great fight!" "Somewhat worse than it looks," said Anstruther. "This is only the end of it. Altogether we have accounted for nearly twoseore of the poor devils." Robert looked toward the approaching boat. She would not land yet for a couple of minutes. "By the way," he said, "will you tell me your name?" "Blaydon Lieutenant Philip II. riaydon." "Do you know to what nation this island belongs?" "It is no man's land, I think. It is marked 'uninhabited on the chart." "Then," said Anstruther, "I call upon you, Lieutenant riaydon, and all others here present to witness that I, Robert Anstruther, late of the Indian army, acting on behalf of myself and Miss Iris Deare, declara that we Lave -taken possession of this island in the name of his Britannic majesty the king of England, that we are the joint occupiers and owners thereof and claim all property rights vested therein." These formal phrases, coming at such a moment, amazed his hearers. Iris alone had an inkling of the underljdng motive. "I don't suppose nnj' one will dispute your title," said the naval officer gravely. Ho unquestionably imagined that suffering and exposure had slightly disturbed the other man's senses. "Thank 3011," replied Robert with equal composure, though he felt inclined to laugh at IMaydon's mystification. "I only wished to secure a sufficient number of witnesses for a verbal declaration. When I have a few minutes to spare I will affix a legal notice on the wall in front of our cave." Blaydon bowed silently. There was something in the speaker's manner that puzzled him. He detailed a small guard to accompany Robert and Ins, who now walked toward the beach, and asked Mir Jan to pilot him us suggested by Anstruther. The boat was yet many y-rds from shore when Iris ran forward and stretched out her arms to the man who was staring at her with wbstful de-.. spair. "Father! Father!" she cried. "Don't you know me?" Sir Arthur Deane was looking at the two strange figures on the sands, and each "moment his heart sank lower. This island held his final hope. During many weary weeks, since the day when a kindly admiral placed the cruiser Orient at his disposal, he bad scoured the China sea, the coasts of Borneo and Java for some tidings of the ill fated Sirdar. To4 examine every sand patch and tree covered shoal in the China sea was an impossible task. All the Orient could do was to visit the principal islands and institute inquiries among the fishermen and small traders. At last, the previous night, a Malay, tempted by hope of reward, boarded the vessel when lying at anchor off the large island away to the south and told the captain a wondrous tale of a devil haunted place inhabited by two white spirits, a male and a female, whither a local pirate named Taung S'Ali had gone by chance with his men and suffered great loss. But Taung S'Ali was bewitched by the female spirit and had returned there with a great force, swearing to capture her or perish. The spirits, the Malay said, had dwelt upon the island for many years. His father and grandfather knew the place ami feared it. Taung S'Ali would never be seen again. This queer yarn was the first indication they received of the whereabouts of any persons who might possibly be shipwrecked Europeans, though not survivors from the Sirdar. Anyhow, the tiny dot lay in the vessel's northward track, so a course was set to arrive off the island soon after dawn. Events on shore, as seen by the officer on watch, told their own. tale. Wherever Dyaks are fighting there la mischief on foot, so the Orient took a hand in the proceedings. But Sir Arthur Deane, after an agonized scrutiny of the weird looking persons escorted by the sailors to the water's edge, sadly acknowledged that neither of these could be the daughter whom he sought. He bowed his head In humble resignation, and he thought he was the victim of a cruel hallucination when Iris tremulous' accents reached his ears: "Father, father' Don't you know me?" He stood tip, amazed and trembling. "Yes, father, dear, it Is I. your own little girl given'back to-you." tipt had some difficulty to keeo him

In ti.- host, and the man pulling stroke smashed a stout oar with the next v. ranch. Am! !-- they met at last, and the sailors left th?:n aioe to crowd round Au-frnther ar.d p'y !u:: with a hundred questions. AliUongli he fell in with their L'-uior and gradually pieced together the stirring story which was supp'.emcnted each Sotant by the arrival of diacc-aJlate Dyaks and the taiunaents of the men who returned from cave and leach, his soul was tilled with the si-dit of Iris and her father and the happy, inconsequent demands with which each sought to ascertain and relieve tL? extent of tho otlier'a anxiety. Then Iris called to him: "Robert. 1 want you." The Uio of hii Christian name created s.j:neth!ng akin to a sensation. Sir Arthur Deane was startled, even in his immeasurable delight at finding his child uninj red, the picture of rude health and l;a; ':dness. Anstruther advam-ed. "This is my father," she cried, shrill with joy. "And, father darling, this

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And (0 ilcy met at Inst. is Captain Robert Anstruther, to whom alone, under God's will, I owe my life many, many times since the moment the Sirdar was lost." It was no time for questioning. Sir Arthur Deane took olf Lis hat and held out Lis Land. "Captain Anstruther," he said, "as I owe you mj- daughter's life I owe you that which I can never repay. And I owe you my own life. too, for I could not have survived the knowledge that slio was dead." Robert took 1he proffered hand. "I think. Sir Arthur, that of the two I am the more deeply indebted. There are some privileges whose value cannot Le measured, and among them the privilege of restoring your daughter to your arms takes the highest place." Then he turned to Iris. ' "I think," he mid, "that your father should take you on board the Orient, Iris. There you may perhaps find some suitable clothing, eat something and recover from the exciting events of the morning. Afterward you must bring Sir Arthur ashore again, and we will guide Llm over the island. I am sure you will find much to tell Lim meanwhile." The baronet could not fail to note the manner In which these two addressed each other, the fearless love which leaped from eye to eye, the calm n9ceptiinc'e of a rclationshia not to be questioned or gainsaid., ltobert and Iris, without .spoken word on the subject. Lad t tacitly agreed to avoid the slightest "semblance of : subterfuge as unworthy alike of their achievements and their love. "Your suggestion hi admirable," cried Sir Arthur. "The ship's stores may provide Iris with. toxin sort of-rig-out, and an old friend. of hers is on board at thu momenta little expecting her presence. Lord Vcntnor-'has accompanied me in my search. He will, of course, be delighted" Anstruther flushed a deep bronze, but Irii broke in: "Father, why did Le come with you?" Sir Arthur, drirtn. Into thi sudden squall of explanation, became dignified, "Weir, you see, my dear, under the circumstances he felt an anxiety almost ommctiiurate with my own." "But why, wby'f Iris was quite calm. With Robert near, she was courageous. Even the perturbed baronet experienced a new sensation aa his troubled glance fell before Lcr searching eyes. His daughter Lad left Lira a joyous, heedless girl. He found Ler a woman, strong, self reliant, purposeful. Yet he kept cn, choosing the most straightforward means cs the only honorable way of clearing a course to beset with unsuspected obstacles. "It is only reasonable, Iris, that your affianced husband should suffer an agony of apprehension on your account and do all that was possible to effect your rescue." "Mv a ffianoed husband T "Well, iny desr gin, pertaps tnai -a hardly the correct phrase from your point of view. Y'et you cannot fall to remember that Lord Ventnor" (To be Continued Next Sunday.) Why wait for your friend's friend to come and look at your house week after next? You can sell it with a To let ad in The Palladium. '

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