Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-07-11
Deane has evidently decided a good

| ret0rt. II have decided tnat my uaugn-
ter's happiness should be the chief con-
sideratiOn Of my remaining years. All
else must give way to It."
The earl's swarthy face grew sallow
with fury. His eyes blazed. and there
was tense vibrato in his voice as he
said:
"Then l must congratulate you, Miss
Deane. You are fated to endure adj.
ventures. Having escaped from the
melodramatic perils Of Rainbow island
you are destined to experience another
variety of shipwreck here"
He left them. Not word had Rob-
ert spoken throughout the unexpected
scene. His heart was trobbing with
tremendous joy. and his lordships
sneers were lost on him. But he could
not fail to note the malignant purpose
Of the parting sentence.
In his quietly masterful way he
placed his hand on the baronet's shoul-
der.
What did Lord ventnor mean?" he
asked.
Sir Arthur Deane answered. with
calm smile: 1T Is difficult to talk open.
" Mt this moment. Wait until we
reach the hoel."
The news flew fast through the set
tlernent that her majesty's ship Orient
had returned from her long search for
the Sirdar. The warship occupied her
usual anchorage. and boat was low.
cred to take Off the passengers.
The boat swung Off into the tideway.
Her progress shoreward was watched
oy small knot of people. mostly
loungers and coolies. Among them.
however, were two persons who had
driven rapidly to the landing place
when the arrival Of the Orient was re-
ported. One bore all the distinguishing
marks Of the army officer Of high rank,
lut the other was Enthusiastically
be trotter. The older gentleman
90 no pretense that he could hear
q 4 a-callin'." He swore impair
- 1t the climate. the place and its
...ii.tants. At this instant he was
=. Il state of wild excitement. He was
very tall. very stout. exceedingly red
faced.
Producing tremendous telescope he
vainly endcavored to balance 1t on the
shoulder of Il native servant
Cant you stand still, you blithering
idiot" he shouted, after futile attempts
to focus the advancing boat. "or shall
steady you with clout over the
carr"
His companion. the army man. was
looking through pair of field glasses
by Jove," he cried, Il can see Sir
Arthur Deane and Il girl who looks like
his daughter. There's that internal
scamp. Ventnor. too"
The big man brushed the servant out
Of his way and brandished the tele-
scope as though it were bludgeon.
"The dirty beggar. He drove my lad
to misery and death. yet he has come
back safe and sound. Wait till | meet
him. Ill"-
Now. Anstruther. Remember your
promise. | will deal with Lord Vent
nor. My vengeance has first claim.
What! BY the jumping Moses. do
believe Yes. 1t is. Anstruther.
Your nephew is sitting next to the
girl
The telescope fell OH the stones with
a crash. The giants rubicund face
suddenly blanched. He leaned on his
friend for support.
"You are not mistaken" he almost
whimpercd. Look again. for Gods
sake. man. Make sure before you
speak. Tell me-. Tell me-
Calm yourself. Anstruther. 1t Is
Robert. as sure us I'm alive Don't You
think know him. my poor dissraced
friend, whom l. like the rest cast of
in his hour of trouble? But had some
excuse. There. There. didn't mean
that, old fellow. Robert himself Will
be the last man to blame either or us.
Who could have suspected that two
people-one of them, God help me. my
wife-would concoct such hellish
plot
The boat glided gracefully alongside
the steps of the quay, and Playdon
sprung gracefully ashore to help Iris
to alight. What happened immediate
" afterward can best be told in his
own words, as he retailed the story to
an appreciative audience in the ward
room.
I'VE had Just landed" he said, land
some of the crew were pushing the
coolies out OF the way when two men
iumped down the steps and most
fiendish row sprang up-that Is. there
was no dispute or wrangling, but one
chan, who, it turned out, was Colonel
Costobell, grabbed Ventnor by the SHIRT
front and threatened to smash his face
in If he didn't listen then ana there 70
what he had to say. l really thought
about interfering until heard Colonel
Costobelrs opening words. After that
I would gladly have seen the Deggar
chucked into the harbor We never
liked him. did we?"
ASK no questions, Pompey. but 60
ahead with the yarn" growled the first
lieutenant.
"Well. it seems that Mrs. Costobeil
Is dead. She got enteric a week after
the Orient sailed and was goner I'D
four days. Before she died she owned
up"
He paused, with base eye to erect
Not n man moved muscle.
"All right" he cried. ~ will make
no more false starts. Mrs. CostoDeii
begged her husbands forgiveness for
her treatment Of him and confessed
that she and Lord ventnor planned the
affair for which Anstruther was tried
by court martial. 1t must have been
beastly business. for Costobell was
sweating with rage, though his words
were icy enough. And you ought TO
have seen yentnors face when he
heard Of the dispositions. sworn to ana
signed by Mrs. Costobell and by sever
nj Chinese servants whom he bribed TO
give false evidence. He promised 10
marry Mrs. Costobell II her husband
died or. in any event. to bring about Il
divorce when the Hongkong affair had
blown over. Then she learned that he
was after Miss Iris, and there Is no
doubt her fury helped on the fever.
Costobell said that. for his wife's sake,
he would have kept the wretched thing
secret. but he was compelled to clear
Anstruther's name. especially as he
- a...A.a TIM other old I0hnnie"-