Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-22
By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1908. by
Edward J. Clode

burned wreclage accumulated store
of most useful nails.
The pressing need for safe yet nc
cessible bathing place led him and the
girl to devote one afternoon to a COM
plete survey of the coast line By this
time they had given names to all the
chief localities. The northerly promon-
tory was naturally christened North
cape; the western, Europa point; the
portion of the reef between their hab-
itation and Palm Tree rock became
Filey Brig; the other section Northwest
reef. The fiat sandy passage across the
island, containing the cave, house and
well, was named Prospect park, and
the extensive stretch of sand on the
southeast, with its guard of broken
reefs, was at once dubbed Turtle
beach when jerks discovered that an
immense number of green turtles were
paying their spring visit to the island
to bury their eggs in the sand.
The two began their tour of inspec
ton by passing the scene of the first
desperate struggle to escape from the
clutch of the typhoon. Iris would not
be content until the sailor showed her
the rock behind which lie placed her
for shelter while he searched for water
For a moment the recollection of their
unfortunate companions on board ship
brought Il lump into her throat and
dimmed her eyes.
81 remember them in my prayers
every night" she coniided to him. at
seems 50 unutterably sad that they
should be lost while we are alive and
happy"
The man distracted her attention by
pointing out the embers OF their first
fire. 1t was the only way TO choke
back the tumultuous feelings that sud
denly stormed his heart. Happy! Yes,
he had never before known such hap
piness. How long would it last? High
up on the cliff swung the signal to anx-
ious searchers of the sea that here
would be found the survivors of the
Sirdar. And then when rescue came,
when Miss Deane became once more
the daughter of a wealthy baronet and
he disgraced and nameless outcast.
He set his teeth and savagely struck
at full cup of the pitcher plant which
had so providentially relieved their
killing thirst.
"Oh, why did you do that?" pouted
Iris. Poor thing; it was true friend
in need. wish l could do something
for it to make it the best and leafiest
plant Of its kind on the island"
very WE'LL" he answered, "you can
crafty your wish. A tinful of fresh
water from the well applied daily to
Its roots will quickly achieve that end"
The moroseness of his tone and man
ner surprised her For once her quick
intuition failed to divine the source of
his irritation.
you give your advice ungraciously,"
she said, "but will adopt it neverthe-
less
A harmless incident, a kindly and
quite feminine resolve, yet big with
fate for both of them.
jerks unwonted Ill humor-for the
passage of days had driven from his
face all its Aarshness and from his
tongue all its assumed bitterness
created passing cloud until the phys
ical exertion of scrambling over the
| rocks to round the North cape restored
| their normal relations.
AT last they reached the south side
and here they at once found them
selves in a delightfully."- secluded ant
tiny bay, sandy, tree lined, sheltered
on three sides by cliffs and rocks.
oh" cried Iris eXcitedly, what :
lovely spot, Il perfect Smugglers' cove!
"oaarming enough to look at" wa!
the answering comment, but open t
the sea. Ii you look ut the smooth ii
band of water out there you will per
ceive passage through the reef. 4
great place for sharks, Miss Deane, bu
no place for bathers."
They passed on. While traversin:
the coral strewn south beach, with it
patches Of white soft sand baking il
the direct rays OF the sun, jerks per
cciVetl traces of the turtle whicl
swarmed In the neighboring sea.
delicious eggs and turtle soup!' b
announced when Iris asked Kim VIII.
he was so lntently studying certain
marks on the sand, caused by the grea
sea tortoise during their nocturnal Wis
its to the breeding ground.
"If they are green turtle" he con
tinued, tive are in the lap Of luxury
They lard the alderman and inspir
the poet. When ship comes to on
assistance I will persuade the captai
to freight the vessel with them an,
make my fortune"
II suppose, under the circumstances
you We're not u rich man, Mr.. jerks,
said Iris timidly.
II possess Il wealthy bachelor incl
who made me his heir and allowed m
four hundred n year, SO was a sort O
Croesus among staff corps officers
When the smash came he disowned IN
by cable. BY selling my ponies and IN
other belongings was able to wal
out OF my quarters penniless, but fire
from debt"
"And all through q deceitful VIC
man."
"Yes."
She ventured further step.
"Was she very bad to you, MI
Jenks:"
lie stopped and laughed
roared-at the suggestion.
\ "Bad to me!'' he repeated. 81 ha
nothing to do with her. She was hun
buggihs her husband, not me. Foo
that l was, l could not mind my ow
business"
So Mrs. Costobel was not firth
with tie man who suffered on her nc
count. 1t is Il regrettable but tl1l
statement that Iris would willingl
have Rugged Mrs. Costobell ut that me
ment
Rounding Europa point, the sailor
eyes We're fixed on thor immediat
surroundings, but Iris gazed dreamil
ahead. Hence 1t was that she was til
first to cry in anazenent:
"a boat! See. there! On the rocks.'
There was no mistake. a ships boa
WAS pcrched high and dry OH til
| north side of fine cyDe Even no t,,a