Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-31

n ORD TENTNOR was no fool
While Iris was transforming
herself from Il semisavage CON
81 dition into II semblance of an
ultra chic Parisienne, Sir Arthur
Deane told the earl something of the
state Of affairs On the island.
His lordship, handsome, saturnine
man, cool, insolently polite, counseletl
patience, liberation, even silent recog-
milton of Anstruther's undoubted
claims for services rendered.
"She is an enthusiastic, high spirited
girl" he urged upon his surprised hear
err who expected very different ex-
preston of opinion. "This fellow An
struther is plausible sort of rascal, a
good man in tight place, too-just the
sort of fire eating blackguard who
would fill the heroic bill where fight
is concerned. Hang him, he licked me
twicew
Further amazement for the shipown-
er.
Eyes, it's quite true. l interfered
with his little games, and he gave me
the usual reward of the DEVILS apothe-
cary. Leave Iris alone At present
she is strung up to an intense pitch of
gratitude, having barely escaped ter
rible fate. Let her come back to the
normal. Anstruther's shady record
must gradually leak out. That will dis
gust her. He is hard up-cut off by his
people and that sort of thing. There
you probably have the measure of his
scheming. He knows quite well that
he can never marry your daughter. 1t
Is all matter Of price"
Sir Arthur willingly allowed himself
to be persuaded. At the back of his
head there was an uneasy conscious
ness that it was not "all matter of
price" If it We're he would never
trust mans face again. But Vent
nor's well balanced arguments swayed
him. The course indicated was the
only decent one. 1t was humanity i'm
possible for man to Glide his daugh-
ter and fiout her rescuer within an hour
Of finding them.
Lord Nentnor played his cards with
deeper design. He bowed to the i'll
evitable. Iris said she loved his rival.
Very well. To attempt to dissuade
her was to throw her more closely into
that rivals arms. The right course
was to appear resigned, saddened, COM
PEELED against his will to reveal the
distressing truth. Further, he counted
on Anstruther's quick temper as an
active agent. Such Il man would be
fha fret IN rahoI ourinct an ,ce,, ,n,,t ;o,,
OF plying tolerance. He would bring
bitter charges of conspiracy, of un-
believable compact to secure his ruin.
All this must recOil on his own head
when the facts were laid bare. Not
even the hero of the island could pre-
vail against the terrible indictment of
the court Martial. Finally, at Singa-
pore, three days distant, Colonel Cos.
tobell and his wife We're staying. Lord
Nentnor, alone of those on board, knew
this. Indeed, he accompanied Sir Ar
thur Deane largely in order to break
Off a somewhat trying ENHANCEMENT.
He smiled complacently as he thought
of the effect Oh Iris of Mrs. Costobells
indignant remonstrances when the bar
onet asked that injured lady to tell the
girl all that had happened at Hong
kong.
However, Lord Ventnor was most
profoundly annoyed, and he cursed
Anstruther from the depths of his
heart. But he could see way out.
He came ashore with Iris and her
father. The captain of the Orient also
Joined the party. The three men
watched Robert and the girl walking
toward them from the group of off,
GERS.
"Anstruther is smart looking fell
low" commented Captain Fitzroy.
"Who is he?"
Truth to tell, the gallant commander
of the Orient was secretly amazed by
the metamorphosis effected in Roberts
appearance since lie scrutinized him
through his glasses.
Poor Sir Arthur said not a word, but
his lordship was quite ut ease.
From his name and from what
Deane tells me / believe lie is an ex-
officer of the Indian army"
"Ah! He has left the service?"
eyes. met him last in Hongkong."
'Then you know him."
quite well, if he is the man l i'm
agine."
THAT is really very nice of Ventnor,"
thought the shipowner. "The last thing
| Should credit him with would be Il
disposition"
Meanwhile Anstruther was reading
Iris little lecture. Sweet one" he