Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28

III air Of dignified aggressive.
ness. She had lived too many
years in the fur east. In Hongkons
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.
us 1t true. captain. that we are run
ming into typhoon:' demanded hei
ladyship.
"From whom did you learn that. La
~ Tozer?" Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
From Miss Deane. 7 understood
yer IL moment ago to say that you had
old her."
"Ir
Didn't you? Some one told ME this
morning. couldn't have guessed 1t.
ould r. Miss Iris Dcanes large blue
yes surveyed him with innocent in.
Inference to strict accuracy. Incl
'entally she hnd obtained the informa-
ion from her maid. Il nose tilted CO.
lucttc. who extracted ships secrets
rom II youthful uuartermaster.
Well or had forgotten" explain
ID the tnr,ful sailor
lis il true:
Lady TOZ"r was unusually abrupt
oday Eut she was annoyed by the
hnt th tots
mere girl into his confidence and passed
over the wife Of the px.cli!ef justice of
iongkonc.
Yes. ii is" said captain Ross. equal
y curt. and silently thanking the fates
hat her lndyship was going home for
he last time.
''DO tell us chimed in Iris. Did
you find out when you squintcd at the
,un!'
The caLta.n smiled. you are nearer
he mark than possibly you imagine.
Iiss Deane,'' he said when we took
'lr observations yesterday there was
very weird looking halo around the
'un. This morning you may have no.
iced several light squalls and n smooth
'ea. marked occasionally by strong
ipples The barometer il falling rap
lly. and expect that "a the day
wears We will encounter Il heavy swell.
If the sky looks wild tonight. and es-
,ccially If we observe a heavy bank Of
loud approaching from the northwest
'ou will see the crockery dancing
lbout the table Mt dinner am afraid
on are not good sailor Lady Tozer
lrc you. Miss Deanc:''
Capital. should Just love to see n
cal storm. Now promise me solemnly
hat you will take me up into the chart
.o,ise when this typhoon is simply
earring things to pieces"
''Oh. dear. hope 1t will not be very
'nd. Is there no way in which YOU
an avoid it, captain: Will it last
on.?"
The polite skipper for once preferred
answer Lady Iozer. There Is no
.ausc for uneasness." he said. "Of
curse typhoons in the China sea are
nasty things while they last, but n
ship like the Sirdar is not troubled by
hcm. She will drive through the
worst gale she ia likely to meet here
n less than twelve hours. Besides.
liter the course somewhat as soon as
discover our position with regard to
It's center"
Then the commander hurriedly ex.
cnsed himself, and the passengers saw
no more Of him that day.
Her ladyshlp dismissed the topic as
ncane through her eyeglasses.
- Arthur proposes to come home
in lime. | understand" she inquired.
Iris was n 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 Monochrome
whom we specially cultivate-that is.
will stop in town n day or two to
interview my dressmaker and then 60
straight to Helmdale our place In
Yorkshire"
'Surely you have a chaperon:'
"A chaperon. My dear Lady Tozer
i''ucI iihPiVSS NVu Us OhV " NV
would permit fussy and stout old
person to make my life miserable:"
The acidity Of the retort lay in the
word stout" But Iris was not ac-
custOmed to cross examination. Dur.
ing three months residence OH tho
island she had learned how to avoid
Lady Tozer Here it 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 wealthy
baronet who owned feet 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 n combination for which
men thanked tudicious heaven. while
women shifted enviously.
Business detained Sir Arthur. A war
cloud overshndowed the two great d.
visions of the yellow race. He must
wait to see how matters developed. hut
he would not expose Iris to the in
sidious treachery Of n Chinese spring
She was confded to the personal
charge Of Captain Ross. At each point
Of cali the company's agents would be
solict0us for her walfare. The cable
Geographic eye would watch her prog.