The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-29
CHAPTER xvn.-Conoluded.
Rainbow Island Again-and Afterward

Rainbow Island Again-and AfteIward
He turned to her father. His pent-
up emotion mastered him, and he
spoke as one who could no longer re-
strain his feelings.
| IT have had no chance to thank you
for the words you uttered at the mo-
ment we quilted the ship. Yet will
treasure them while life lasts. You
gave Iris to me when I was poor, dis
graced. an outcast from my family
and my profession. And I know why
you did this thing. It was because
you valued her happiness more than
riches or reputation. I am sorry now
did not explain matters earlier. 1t
would have saved you much needless
suffering. But the sorrow has sped
like an evil dream, and you will per-
haps not regret 1t. for your action to-
day binds me to you with hoops Of
steel. And you, too, uncle. You
travelled thousands of miles to help
and comfort me in my anguish. Were
I as bad as was painted, your kind
old heart still pitied me: you were
prepared to pluck me from the depths
Of despair and degradation. Why
should I hate Lord Ventnor? What
man could have served me as he did?
He has given me Iris. He gained for
me at her fathers hands a concession
such as mortal has seldom wrested
from black-browed fate. He brought
my uncle to my side in the hour of
my adversely. Hate him! I would
have his statue carved in marble, and
set on high to tell all who passed how
good may spring out of evil-how Gods
wisdom can manifest itself by putting
even the creeping and crawling things
of the earth to some useful purpose
Dash it all. lad" Moderated the
elder Anstruther, what ails thee? i
never heard you talk like this before!'
The old gentleman's amazement
was SO comical that further tension
was out of the question.
Robert, in calnner mood. Informed
them of the manner in which he hit
upon the mine. The story sounded
like widest romance-this finding OF
q volcanic dyke guarded by the bones
of u. S." and the poison-filled quarry
but the production of the ore sam.
pies changed wonder into certainty,
Next day a government metallurg
ist estimated the value of the content:
of the two oil-tins at about $500. ye'
the specimens brought from the is
land were not by any means the rich
est available.
And now there is not much more tt
tell of Rainbow Island and it's cast
aways. On the day that Captain Rob
ert Anstruther's name appeared in thu
Gazette, reinstating him to his ranl
and regiment, Iris and he were mar
ried In the English church at Hong
kong, for it was his wife's wish tina
the place which witnessed his igno
x1liny should also witness his triumph
A good-natured admiral decided
that the urgent requirements Of tn
British navy should bring H. M.
Orient to the island before the dat
fixed for the ceremony. Lieutenan
Playdon officiated as best man, willis
. the Orient was left so scandalousl
short-handed for many hours that
hostile vessel. at least twice her size
might have ventured to attack her.
Soon afterwards, Robert resigne
his commission. He regretted tn
necessity, but the demands of his ne1
sphere in life rendered this step i'm
perative. Mining engineers, laborers
stores, portable houses, engines an
equipment were obtained with al
haste, and the whole party sailed o.
one of Sir Arthur Deane's ships t
convoy a small steamer specially hire
to attend to the wants Of the miners
At last, one evening, early in July
the two vessels anchored outsid
Palm-tree Rock,and Mir Jan could b
seen runnig frantically about tn
shore, for no valid reason save tina
he could not stand still. The sahi
pIOuSllS lllu SOOu llC"S. AAC 6ONS1
nor of Hongkong felt that any rea
sonable request made by Anstruthe
should be granted if possible. He ha
written such a strong presentation {
the Mohammedan's case to the gov
eminent Of India that there was littl
doubt the returning mail would cor
vey an official notification that M
Jan, formerly naik in the Kumao
Rissala-he who once killed a man
had been granted a free pardon.
The mining experts verified Rot
ert's most sanguine views after a ver
brief examination of the deposi
Hardly any preliminary work WE
needed. In twenty-four hours a sma
concentrating plant was erected, an
a. ditch made to drain off the carbon
Anhydride in the valley. After dus
q party of coolies cleared the quar-
Of It's former occupants. Towards tt
close Of the following day, when tt
great steamer once more slow
turned her head to the northwest, Ir
could hear the steady thud of an el
CINE at work on the first consignmel
of ore.
Robert had been busy UP to the la