Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-11
!. 6eWings ef the
!: ~ By LOUIS
"nTn ~ q TRACY
: ~ u A.AAA 10 Copyright 1905. by
~ Edward J. Clode
CHAPTER l.

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CHAPTER l.
ADY TOZER adjusted her gold
I'LL trimmed eyeglasses with ar
Ill mir of dignified aggressive
III ress. She had lived too many
years ia the far east. In Hongkong
she was known as the Mandarin.
Her powers of merciless inquisitior
suggested torments long drawn out
The commander Of the Sirdar, home
ward bond from Shanghai, knew thai
he was about to be stretched on the
rack when he took his seat at the
saloon table.
is it true, captain. that we are run
ming into a. typhoon?' demanded bel
ladyship.
From whom did you learn that, La
dy Tozer:" Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
From Miss Deane. l understood
her u moment ago to say that you had
told her."
"I"
Didn't you? Some one told me this
morning. couldn't have guessed it.
could II" 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, nose tilted CO.
quette. who extracted ships secrets
from youthful Quartermaster.
"Well-er-I had forgotten" explain
ell the tactful sailor.
rs it true:'
Lady TOZer was unusually abrupt
today. But she was annoyed by the
assumption that the captain took q
mere girl into his confidence and passed
over the wife of the ex-chief justice Of
Hongkong.
"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
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 l expect that as the day
wears we will encounter heavy swell.
If the sky looks wild tonight, and es-
pecially if we observe a 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 q good sailor, Lady Tozer.
Are you, Miss Deane?
Capital! should just love to see
real storm. Now promise me solemnly
that you will take me up into the chart
house when this typhoon is simply
tearing things to pieces
"Oh. dear! hope 1t 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 no
cause for uneasiness," he said. "Of
course typhOons in the China sea are
nasty things while they last, but a
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 to
its centeA
Then the commander hurricdly eX-
cused himself and the passengers saw
no more Of him that day.
Her ludyship dismissed the topic as
of no present interest and focused Miss
Deanc through her eyeglasses.
Sir Arthur proposes to come home
| in June. understand" she inquired.
Iris was remarkably healthy young
woman. \ large banana mOmentarily
engaged her attention. She nodded
affably.
You will stay with relatives until
he arrives?" pursued Lady Tozer.
Relatives! We have none-none
whom we specially cultivate-that is.
will stop in town day or two to
interview my dressmaker and then so
straight to Helmdale. our place In
N,rl. .l;roD
Surely you have a chaperOn!
"a chaDeron! My dear Lady Tozer.
lid my father impress you as one who.
would permit a frssy and stout old
person to make my life miserable:"
Tie acidity of the rctort lay In the
word stout" But Iris was not &C.
,,:stomeI to cross examination. Dur
Ing Il three months residence on the
island she had learned how to avoid
LADY, ToZer. Here 1t was impossible.
and the older woman fastened upon her
asp-like. Miss Iris Deane WAS Il tooth
some morsel for gossip. Not yet twen-
ty-one the only daughter of wealthy
baronet who owned fleet 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 combination for which
men thanked JudiciOus heaven. while
women shifted enviously.
Business detained Sir Arthur. A war
cloud Overshadowed the two great d.
visions Of the yellow race, He must
wait to see how matters developed, but
he would not expose Iris to the In
sidious treachery Of Chinese spring.
She was confldcd to the personal
charge Of Captain Ross. st each no!nt
of call the company's agents would bs
solicitous for her walfare. The cables
telegraphic eye would watch her prog.
ress as that of some prineely maiden
sailing In royal caravel. This fair,
slender, well formed girl-delightfully
English In face and fgure-with hei
fresh, clear complexion, limpid blue
eyes and shining hair was parsonage
| OF some Importance.
Lady Tozer knew these things and
sighed cOmplacently.
"Ah, WELL" she resumed. parents
had different views when l was girl
But l assume Sir Arthur thinks you
should become used to being your OWL
mistress In view of your approaching