Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-09-08
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER NNl.
n lord NEETNOR was no fool.
IL While Iris was Transforming
IL herself from q semiSavage con-
~ dition into semblance Of an
ultra chic Parisienne. Sir Arthur
Deane told the earl something Of the
state of affairs on the island.
His lOrdship, handsome, saturnine
man, cool, insolently polite, counseled
patience, liberation. even silent recog-
milton Of Anstruther's undoubted
claims for services rendered.
"She is an enthusiastic, high spirited
girl" he urged upon his surprised hear
er. who expected a very different ex
preston Of opinion. This fellow An
struther Is plausible sort of rascal, a
good man in tight place, too-just the
sort Of fire eating BLACKBOARD who
would fill the heroic bill where q fight
is concerned. Hang him, he licked me
twicev'
Further amazement fer the sk,pown-
er.
Eyes. it's quite true. l interfered
with his little games. and he gave me
the usual reward of the devils apothe-
cary. Leave Iris alone. At present
she is strung up to an intense pitch of
gratitude, having barely escaped ter
rible fate. Let her come back to the
normal Anstruther's shady record
must gradually leak out. That will dis
gust her. He Is hard up-cut of by his
people and that sort of thing. There
you probably have the measure of his
scheming. He knows quite well that
he can never marry your daughter. 1t
Is all a matter Of price,"
Sir Arthur willingly allowed himself
to be persuaded. At the back Of his
head there was an uneasy conscious
ness that it was not all matter Of
price," II 1t were he would never
trust q mans face again. But Vent
nors well balanced arguments swayed
him. The course indicated was the
only decent one. 1t was humanity i'm
possible for q man to chide his daugh-
ter and flout her rescuer within On hour
Of finding them.
Lord Ventnor played his cards with
a deeper design. He bowed to the in
evitable. Iris said she loved his rival.
Very well. To attempt to dissuade
her was to throw her more closely into
that rivals arms. The right course
was to appear resigned, saddened, COM
PEELED against his will to reveal the
distressing truth. Further, he counted
on Anstruther's quick temper as an
active agent. Such q man would be
the first to rebel against an assumption
Of plying tolerance. He would bring
bitter charges Of conspiracy, Of un-
believable compact to secure his ruin.
when the facts were laid bare. Not
even the hero Of the island could pre-
vail against the terrible indictment Of
the court martial. Finally, at Singa-
pore, three days distant, Colonel Co.'S
tobell and his wife were staying. Lord
Ventnor. alone Of those on board. knew
this. Indeed. he accompanied Sir Ar
thur Deane largely in order to break
of a somewhat trying ENHANCEMENT.
He smiled complacently as he thought
Of the effect on Iris Of Mrs. Costobells
indignant remonstrances when the bar
onet asked that injured lady to tell the
girl all that had happened at Hong
kong.
However, Lord Ventnor was most
profoundly annoyed. and he cursed
Anstruther from the depths Of his
heart. But he could see a way out
He came ashore with Iris and her
father. The captain Of the Orient also
Joined the party. The three men
watched Robert and the girl walking
toward them from the group Of off,
GERS.
"Anstruthor Is n smart looking fol-
low" commented Captain Fitzroy.
"Who Is her'
Truth to tell, the gallant commander
Of tho Orient was secretly amazed by
the metamorphosis effected in Roberts
appearance since he scrutinized him
through his glasses.
Poor Sir Arthur said not a word, but
his lordship was quite at ease.
"From his name and from what
Deane tells me I believe he is an e1.
officer Of the Indian army"
"Ah! He has left the service"
Eyes. met him last in Hongkong."
Then you know him2"
quite well, II he is the man I i'm
agine."
THAT is really very nice Of Ventnor,"
thought the shipowner. 1.-The last thing
should credit him with would be q
fOrgiving disposition"
Meanwhile Anstruther was reading
Iris q little lecture. Sweet one" he
explained to her, do not allude to me
by my forme: rank. l am not entitled
to 1t. Some day, please God, it will be
restored to me. At present am a
plain civilian, and, by the way, Iris,
during the next few days say nothing
about our mine"
"Oh, why notT'
Just personal whim. 1t Will please
me-"
If it pleases you. Robert, am salts
fed"
He pressed her arm by way Of an
swer They were too near to the wait
ing trio for other comment
Captain Fitzroy," cried Iris, "let me
Introduce Mr.. Anstruther to you. Lord
Nentnor, you have met Mr.. Anstruther
before"