The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-06-02

trested auditor. Robert would have
spoken, but his uncle restrained him.
Leave this to me, lad" he ex.
claimed. when i was coming here In
the Sirdar there was lot of talk
about Sir Arthur's scheme, and there
should not be much difficulty in rails
Ing all the brass required If half what
heard be true. Sit you down, Sir Ar
thur, and tell us all about It,"
The shipowner required no second
bidding. With the skill for which he
was noted he described his operations
in detail, telling how every farthing of
the first installments Of the two great
loans was paid up, how the earnings
Of his feet would quickly Overtake the
deficit in capital value caused by the
Joss Of the three ships and how In six
months time the leading financial
houses of London, Paris and Berlin
would be offering him more money
than he would need.
To shrewd man of business the
project could not fail to commend it.
self, and the Yorkshire squire, though
trifie obstinate in temper, was singu-
larly clear headed in other respects.
He brought his great fist down on tho
table with whack.
"Send cable to your company, Sir
Arthur" he cried, "and tell them that
your prospective son-in-law will pro-
vide the 10000 you require. will
see that his draft is honored. You can
add, if you like, that another ten will
be ready if wanted when this lot is
spent. l did my lad one deuced bad
turn in my life. This time, think, l
am doing him a good one"
you are, indeed said Iris father
enthusiastically. 1.-THE unallotted CAPT
tai he is taking up will be worth four
times its face value in two years"
"All the more reason to make his
holding twenty instead of ten," roared
the Yorkshireman. But, look here.
You talk about dropping proceedings
against that precious earl whom
saw today. Why not tell him not to
try any funny tricks until Roberts
money is safely lodged to your ac-
count? We have him in our power.
Dash it all, let us use him Bit
Even Iris laughed at this naive sug-
gestion.' 1t was delightful to think
that their arch enemy was actually
helping the baronet's affairs at that
very moment and would continue to
do so until he was flung aside as being
Of no further value. Although Ventnor
himself had carefully avoided any
formal commitment, the cablegrams
awaiting the shipowner at Singapore
showed that confidence had already
been restored by the uncontradicted
use Of his lordship's name.
Robert at last obtained hearing.
you two are quietly assuming the
attitude Of the financial magnates of
this gathering" he said 81 must adj
NIT that you have managed things
very well between you, and I do not
propose for one moment to interfere
with your arrangements. Nevertheless,
Iris and 1 are really the chief moneyed
persons present. You spoke of finan-
cial houses In England and on the con-
tinent backing up your loans six
months hence, Sir Arthur. You need
not go to them. We will be your
bankers"
The baronet laughed with a whole
hearted gayety that revealed whence
Iris got some part at least Of her
bright disposition.
"Will you sell your island, Robert?'
he cried. II am afraid that not even
Iris could wheedle any one into buy
ing it"
But father, DEAR" interrupted the
girl earnestly, what Robert says Is
true. We have gold mine there. 1t
is worth so much that you will hardly
believe 1t until there can no longer be
any doubt in your mind. l suppose
that Is why Robert asked me not to
mention his discovery to you earlier"
$40, Iris, that was not the reason"
said her lover, and the elder men felt
that more than idle fancy inspired the
astounding intelligence that they had
just heard. "Your love was more to
me than all the gold in the world. I
had won you. I meant to keep you,
but refused to buy you"
He turned to her father. His pent-
up emotion mastered him, and he
spoke as one who could no longer re
strain his feelings.
81 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 was poor, dis
graced, an outcast from my family
and my profession. And know why
you did this thing. 1t was because
you valued her happiness more than
riches or reputation. I am sorry now
I 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 It, for your action to-
day binds me to you with hoops Of
steel And you, too, uncle. You trav-
eled thousands Of miles to help and
comfort me In my anguish. Were as
bad as was painted your kind old
heart still pitied me. You were pre-
pared to pluck me from the depths of
despair and degradation. Why should
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 concession such
as mortal has seldom wrested from