Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-10-29
Miss VandeYer, Heiress.
BY WALTER RE YNOLDS.


lloyd, old man, we've nothing to do.
~ beg your pardon, I've nothing to
do. Let's go for a stroll along the
beach. It's a glorious night-moon,
stars and all that sort of thing"
Mr.. Michael MacDermott-a
SOL OF an impecunious but highly re-
spectacle Irish peer, who was endeav-
oring to earn a living by law practice
in New York, and l had been chums
for several years-had been chums
from the moment VIZ met in a plain
little restaurant where we both made
a practice Of eating late suppers.
All right, Mike" l said, putting my
proofs away in a desk and locking it
securely. Il am not busy tonight"
You are always busy, lucky man,"
he said. But all work and no play
you know the rest. What's this" nod
ding towards my desk, "the MASTER
piece?"N
81 don't know about that" l replied,
modestly.
81 entirely disagree with your argu-
ment," he said, as we went out. l had
given him my proofs to read. indie
pendent criticism is always valuable.
1t so often induces us to leave in what
we were half disposed to strike out.
yes" | replied, this being the most
non-committal ejaculation a man can
utter when unprepared with a subtler
retort.
90" he said, "a man who would re-
fuse to marry the woman he loved
and who loved him simply because she
happened to be an heiress would be an
unmitigated ass"
81 would do it," l interrupted.
Then you would be an unmitigated
ass" he replied, placidly. Unvarnished
candor is one of Mikes most pro-
nounced characteristics. "T'd like to
have the chance, that's ALL"
MY dear Mike I know you better
than you know yourself. A man of
my trade must be a student of human
nature or he's no good. You'll marry
the woman you love, though she be
as poor as an Irish politician"
"I'm not in love with any woman"
he declared, tr%iumphantly.
mo. Neither am l.. Perhaps that
is why we are both SO positive about
what we should do in such a case"
We strolled down to the shore.
Then, suddenly, a search light shot
across the water.
We're in luck" cried Mike. 81
didn't know the naval maneuvers were
being held off here tonight. There's
going to be a night attack"
We clambered upon the seawall-a
sort Of %esplanade with the lamps and
lounges o~mitted-and took our stand
to watch the coming maneuvers.
Three torpedo d%estroyers, we learnt
from a chatty sailor, would presently
attempt to run the gauntlet of those
fanlike arms of light which we're now
sweeping the sea in every direction.
Presently a cry went up, Here's
one!" Then, simultaneously, a flash,
a deep roa as of thunder, from the
fort, and u sailor said-speaking, Of
course, in metaphor: "She's done for
blown to smithereens. They o
spotted her, didn't they? Humph!
Pity faint real, stead of only make
believe"
For some minutes-five, ten, they
may have been 15--time gallops when
the mind is at high tension-there was
silence. The guns, having annihilated
the first of the invaders, were dumb,
and every watcher began to wonder
If the others were never coming. Then
the light just behind us swung sharply
shore, and, close in, rushing through
the water like a race horse, came an
other destroyer at full speed. Boom!
boom! and again boom! as the fort, de-
tecting the third, gliding stealthily, at
half speed, up midchannel, under
cover, as its commander hoped, of his
comrade closer shore, took a part in
this mimic battle.
But, even as our sailor uttered a wild
yell of warning, there was a sudden
crash, the shouting of men, the whistle
of escaping steam, and another search
light, farther along the beach, played
on the second destroyer fast aground
in the grip of a ledge.
There's a pretty kettle Of fish," ex-
claimed MacDermott. Then, ever prac-
tical,, he made a trumpet ofAhis hands
and beloved, "Do you want any
help"
"Send-for-coastguard," came the
answering shout, land keep-search-
light-on us-will you?"
For once the American public-or
some 40 of that sensation. seeking body
was in a fair way to be gratifled.
Even Mike rubbed his hands gleefully,
and chuckled in my ear, "Syd, this is
fine! We came out for one show, and,
behold, here is an extra turn"
The gift Of prophecy seldom descends
upon man. II was certainly in no self