Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-29

Il
ness. She had lived too many
years in the far east In HongkOng
she was known as the Mandarin"
Her powers OF merciless inquisition
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.
lis II true, captain. that we are run
ning into a typhoonY' demanded her
hdyship.
From whom did you learn that. La
dy TozerT Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised
Prom Miss Deane. I understood
her a moment ago to say that you la
told her.
"Iy'
Didn't you? Some. one told me this
morning. I couldn't have guessed it.
could L" Miss Iris Deane's large blue
eyes surveyed him with innocent in
difference to strict accuracy. Incl
dentally she had obtained the informa-
ton from her maid. a nose tilted CO.
Quette. who extracted ships secrets
from youthful quartermaster.
'Well-er-I had forgotten" explain
ed the tactful sailor.
as it trueT'
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
Hongkong
yes. il is" said Captain Ross. equal
ly curt, and silently thanking the fates
that her ladyship was going home for
the last time
"Do tell Us" 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 smooth
sea, marked occasionally by strong
ripples. The barometer Is falling rap
idly, and ! expect that as the day
wears we will encounter "A heavy swell
IL the sky looks wild tonight, and es-
pecially II we observe a heavy bank OF
cloud approaching from the northwest.
you will see the crockery dancing
about the table at dinner. 1 am afraid
you are not = good sailor. Lady Tozer.
Arc you. Miss Deaneg'
Capital, 1 should just love TO see a
real storm. Now promise me solemniy
that you Will take me up into the chart
house when this typhoOn is simply
tearing things TO pieces"
ooh. dear! 1 hope Il will not be very
bad. is there no way in which you
can avoid it, captain? Will IL last
long2"
The polite skipper for once preferred
20 answer Lady Tozer There il no
cause FOR uneasiness." he said "Of
course typhoons In the China sea are
nasty things while they last. but
ship like tie Sirdar is not troubled by
them. She viii drive through the
worst gale she Is likely 90 meet here
IN less than twelve hours Besides. |
alter the course somewhat as soon "a
discover our position with regard to
its center"
Then the commander hurriedly eX-
cused himself. and the passengers saw
no more OF him that day.
Her ladyship dismissed the topic as
of no present interest and focused Miss
Deane through her eyeglasses.
''Sir Arthur proposes 10 come home
in June. understand she inquired.
Iris was remarkably healthy young
woman. large banana mOmentarily
engaged her attention. She nodded
affably.
You viii stay with relatives until
he GrrivesF' pursued Lady Tozer.
Relatives, We have nOne-none
whom We specially cultiyate-that is
l viii stop in town a day or two to
interview my dressmaker and then 20
straight 20 Helmdale. our place in
Yorkshire
Surely you have a chaperonf"
"A chaperon, My dear Lady Tozer.
did my father Impress YOU as one who
would permit a fnssy and stout old
person 10 make my life miserable?"
The acidity OF the retort lay in the
word stout" But Iris was not ac-
customed 10 cross examination. Dur
ing a three months residence on the
island she had learned how TO avoid
Lady Tozer. Here IL was impossible.
and the older woman fastened upon her
asp-like. Miss Iris Deane was tooth
some morSel for gossip. Not yet twen-
ty-one, the only daughter OF a wealthy
baronet who owned sleet OF stately
ships-the Sirdar among them-a girl
who had been mistress Of her fathers
house since her return from Dresden
three years ago-young. beautiful. rich
here was a combination for which
men thanked a judiclous heaven. while
women shifted enviously.
Business detained Sir Arthur. A war
cloud oversbadowed the two great di-
visions Of the yellow race. He must
wait 10 see how matters developed, but
he would not expose Iris to the in
sidious trea rhery of Chinese spring.
She was Dnfided TO the personal
charge Of & Dtain Ross. At each point
of call the coppany's agents would be
solicitous for her walfare. The cables
telegraphic eye would watch her prog