The Red Cloud chief., 1905-05-19

t. ness. She had lived too many
years in the far east. In %IIongkOng
she was known as the MANDARIN"
Her powers of merciless inuuisition
suggested torments long drawn out.
The commander of the Sirdar, home
ward bound from Shanghai, knew that
he was about to be stretched on the
rack when he took his seat at the
saloon table.
rs ii true, captain. that we are run
ming into u ~typhoony' demanded her
ladyship.
Prom whom did you learn that, La.
dy 1ozer:" Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
Prom Miss Deane. | understood
her Il moment ago to say that you had
told her.
~"
Didn't you? Some one told me this
morning. | couldn't have guessed ii,
could II" Miss Iris Deane's large blue
eyes surveyed him with innocent in
difference to strict accuracy. Incl
dentally she had obtained the Informal.
tion from her maid. Il nose tilted CO.
Iuettc, who extracted ships secrets
from Il youthful quartermaster.
'Wcll-er-I had ~forgottenS' explain
ed the tactful sailor.
is it true!'
Lady Tozer was unusually abrupt
today. But she was annoyed by the
assumption that the captain took a
mere girl into his confidence and passed
over the wife of the eX-chief justice of
UongkOng.
YES, it is," said Captain Ross, equal
ly curt, and silently thanking the fates
that her ladyship was going home for
the last time.
"Do tell u.s." chimed in Iris. did
you find out when you squinted at the
SUM-
The captain smiled. You are nearer
the mark than possibly you imagine.
Miss Deane." he said. when we took
our observations yesterday there was
a very weird looking halo around the
sun. This morning you may have no
ticed several light squalls and Il smooth
sea. marked occasionally by strong
ripples. The barometer is falling rap
idly. and l expect that rs the day
wears we will encounter Il heavy swell.
If the sky looks wild tonight, and es-
pecially if we observe Il heavy bank OF
cloud approaching from the northwest,
you will see the crOckery dancing
about the table at dinner. l am afraid
YOU are not a good sailor, Lady Tozer.
Are you, Miss Deane!"
.I,;tl' SIntll inSf Inva tn SEQ 4.
real storm. Now promise me solemnly
that you will take me up into the char
house when this typhOon is simply
tearing things to pieces"
ooh, dear! ! hope it will not be very
bad. Is there no way in which you
can avoid it, captain? Will 1t last
long!"
The polite skipper for once preferred
to answer Lady TOzer. There Is nc
cause for uneasiness," he said. "Of
course t%yphOOns in the China sea are
nasty things while they last. but q
ship like the Sirdar Is not troubled by
them. She will drive through the
worst gale she is likely to meet here
In less than twelve hours. Besides,
alter the course somewhat as soon as
discover our position with regard tt
its center"
Then the commander hurricdly ex
cuscd himself, and the passengers saw
no more Of him that day.
Her ladyship dismissed the topic III
of no present interest and focused Mis-
Deane through her eyeglasses.
'.Sir Arthur proposes to come h0m'
I'm June, l understands" she inquired.
Iris was a remarkably healthy younl
woman. A large banana momentaril!
engaged her attention. She nodded
affably. -.
You will stay with relatives unit
he arrives?" pursued Lady Tozer.
RELATIVES. We have nOne-non
whom we specially cultivate-that Is
I will stop in town a day or two t
interview my dressmaker ana then g
straight to Helmdale, our place !
Yorkshire
Surely you have "A chaperonT
"a chaperOn. My dear Lady ToZel
did my father impress you as one VIII
would permit a fussy n stout OF
person to make my life m~iserableT'
The acidity OF the retort lay In tn
word STOUT But Iris was not az
customed to cross examination. Dul
ing n three months residence ON tn
island she had learned how to avoi
Lady Tozer. Here 1t was Impossible
and the older woman fastened upon he
osp.like. Miss Iris Deane was a tootl
some morsel for gossip. Not yet twel
A. nf an NTnnlfh