Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-22

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.
 ''Is it true, captain. that we are run ming into a typhoon?" demanded her ladyship.
 From whom did you learn that. La dy Tozer;' Captain Ross was wary, though somewhat surprised.
 From Miss Deane. I understood her a moment ago to say that you had told her"
 "IT'
 Didn't you? Some one told me this morning. I couldn't have guessed it, could r." Miss Iris Deane's large blue eyes surveyed him with innocent in difference to strict accuracy. Incl dentally she had obtained the informa ton from her maid, a nose tilted CO., Quette, who extracted ships secrets from a youthful quartermaster.
 "Well-er-I had forgotten" explain cd the tactful sailor.
 '1s it true?'
 Lady Tozer was unusually abrupt today. But she was annoyed by the assumption that the captain took a mere girl into his confidence and passed kl of Sho -,, iaf ipc of Hongkong.
 "Yes, it is" said Captain Ross, equal ly curt, and silently thanking the fates that her ladyship was going home for the last time
 Do tell us," chimed in Iris. Did you find out when you squinted at the sun:''
 The captain smiled You are nearer the mark than possibly you imagine Miss Deane' he said When we took pur observations yesterday there was very weird looking halo around the sun. This morning you may have mo- hced several light squalls and smooth sea. marked occasionally by strong ripples. The barometer is falling rap Idly, and l expect that as the day wears we will encounter heavy swell, If the sky looks wild tonight, and es- eecially if we observe q heavy bank of cloud approaching from the northwest vou will see the crockery dancing about the table at dinner. I am afraid rou are not good sailor, Lady Tozer. Are you. Miss Deane:'
 Capital. I should just love to see a real storm Now promise me solemnly that you will take me up into the chart house when this typhoon is simply tearing things to pieces
 ''Oh. dear. hope it will not be very bad. Is there no way in which you ran avoid it. captain: Will 1t last longF"
 The polite skipper for once preferred to answer Lady 'Tozer. There is no cause for uneasness." he said. "Of course typhoons in the China sea are nasty things while they last. but a ship like the Sirdar is not troubled by them She will drive through the worst gale she is likely to meet here In less than twelve hours. Besides. alter the course somewhat as soon as discover our position with regard to It's center
 Then the commander hurriedly ex- cused himself and the passengers saw no more of him that day.
 Her ladyship dismissed the topic ss Of no present interest and focused Miss Deane through her eyeglasses.
 sir Arthur proposes to come home in June. understand?'' she inquired.
 Iris was g remarkably healthy young woman. large banana momentarily engaged her attention. She nodded effably.
 You will stay with relatives until he arrivesT pursued Lady Tozer
 Relatives We have noue-none whom we specially cultivste-that is. I will stop in town day or two to interview my dressmaker and then go straight to Helmdale. our place in Yorkshire"
 Surely you have chaperon"
 "A chaperon! My desr Lady Tozer. cid my father impress you as one who gould permit a fussy and stout old person to make my life misersble?'
 The acidiy of the retort lay in the rori stout" But Iris was not ac- customed to cross examination. Dur ing g three months residence on the island she had learned how to avoid Lady Tozer. Here il was impossible erd the older woman fastened upon her esp-iite Miss Iris neane was tooth some morsei for gossip. Not yet tren sv-one the only daughter of wealthy f,sronet who owned 2 feet of stately ships-the Sirdar among then-a girl who had been mistress of her fathers house since her return from Dresden three years sgo-younz. beautiful rich here vas a combination for which men thanked 3 iudicious heaven. while women sniffed envieuslr.
 Business detained Sir Arthur A vsr cloud overshadowed the two great di- visions of the yellow race. He must wait to see how matters developed. but he would not expose Iris 10 the in- sidtous tTeacherv of g Chinese spring. She was confded to the personal -ha -Ee of Captain Ross At each point cf call the company's agents would he soiicitous for her waIfare The cables telegraphic eye would watch her prog ress as that of some pTinceIy maiden sailing in royal csrsveL This fair, slender. well formed SirI-deIightfuily