The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-26

lation, happily with our llves-and
more. The DEGREES Of fate are indeed

lation, happily with our lives and
more. The DEGREES Of fate are indeed
inscrutable."
Iris turned to him a face roseate
with loving comprehension.
do you remember this hour yes
terday?" she murmured-"how we
suffered from thirst-how the Dyaks
began their second attack from the
ridge-how you climbed down the lad
der and I followed your Oh father,
darling" she went on tmpulsively,
tightening her grasp. you will never
know how brave he was, how endur-
ing, how he risked all for me and
cheered me to the end, even tho
the end seemed to be the grave"
IT think T am beginning to under
stand now" answered the shipowner,
averting his eyes lest Iris should see
the tears in them. Their Calvary was
ended, they thought-was 1t for him
to lead them again thru the sor-
rowful way? It was a heartrending
task that lay before him, task from
which his soul revolted. He refused
fulness In a species OF mental tntoxi-
cation. and countenanced his daught-
er's love idyll with such apparent ap-
prevail that Lord Ventnor wondered
whether Sir Arthur were not suffering
from senile decay.
The explanation of the shipowner's
position was painfully simple. Being
a daring yet shrewd flnancier. he per
ceived in the troubled condition OF
the Far East a. magnificent opportun-
ity to consolidate the trading influence
Of his company. He negotiated two
big loans, one, OF q semi-private ma
ture, to equip docks and railways in
the chief maritime province Of China,
the other Of a more public character.
with the government of Japan. All
his own resources, together with those
Of his principal directors and share
holders were devoted to- these objects.
Contemporaneously. he determined to
stop paying heavy insurance premiums
on his fleet and make 1t self1support-
ing, n the well-known mutual prtn-
ciple.
His> vessels were well equipped, we'll
manned, replete with every modern
commercial skill. In three or four
years, given ordinary trading luck, he
must have doubled his own fortune
and earned a worldwide reputation
for far-seeing sagac1ty. 3D..
i: No sooner were all his arrangements
completed than three of his best ships
went down, saddling his company with
an absolute loss of nearly. 100000,
and seriously undermining his 1nan-
S@S%A ss"SSsASAAJ
and influential, resigned his seat on
the board, and headed a clique Of dis
appointed stockholders. At once the
fair sky became overcast. A sound
and magnificent speculation threat
ened to dissolve in. the bankruptcy
court.
Sir Arthur Deane's energy and fin
ancial skill might have enabled him
to weather this unexpected gale were
1t not for the apparent loss Of his be-
loved daughter with the crack ship Of
his line. Half-frenzied with grief, he
babe his enemies do their worst, and
allowed his affairs to get into hopeless
confusion whilst he devoted himself
wholly to the search for Iris and her
companions. At this critical juncture
Lord Ventnor again reached his side.
His lordship possessed large private
fortune and extensive estates. He was
prudent withal, and knew how admir-
ably the shipowner's plans would de-
velop If given the necessary time. He
offered the use Of his name and mon
ey. He more than filled the gap Gre