Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-08
6bs Wings ef The Morning
CHAPTER XVI.
By LOUIS TRACY
Copyright, 1908, by Edward J. Clodo

II II
 S dition into semblance of an
 ultra chic Parisiennc, Sir Arthur
 Deane told the earl something of the state of affairs on the island.
 His lordship, a handsome, saturnine man. cool, insolently polite, counseled patience, toleration, 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 CT, who expected very different ex- pression of opinion. "This fellow An struther is plausible sort of rascal, a good man in tight place, too-just the sort of fire eating blackguard who would fill the heroic bill where a fight is concerned. Hang him, he licked me twicev'
 Further amazement for the shipown. er
 "Yes, it's quite true. I 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 off by his people and that sort of thing. There you probably have the measure of his Scheming. He knows quite we'll that he can never marry your daughter. It is all 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 "ail matter of price, If it were he would never trust mans face again. But Vent nor's we'll balanced arguments swayed him. The course indicated was the only decent one. It was humanly i'm possible for man to chide his daugh- ter and flout her rescuer within an 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 pelled against his will to reveal the distressing truth. Further, he counted on Anstruther's quick temper as an active agent. Such man would be the first to rebel against an assumption of pitying tolerance. He would bring bitter charges of conspiracy, of un- believable compact to secure his ruin. All this must recoil on his own head 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 Cos. 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 somewhat trying entanglement. He smiled complacently as he thought of the effect on Iris of Mrs. Costobell's indignant remonstrances when the bar onet asked that injured lady to tell the girl all that had happened at Hong kong. rs-
 However, Lord Ventnor was most profoundly annoyed, and he cursed Anstruther from the depths of his heart. But he could see 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 cers.
 "Anstruther is smart looking fel- low" commented Captain Fitzroy. "Who is he?"
 Truth to tell. the gallant commander of the 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 hir name and from what Deane tells me l believe he is an ex- officer of the Indian army"
 "Ah. He has left the servicew
 "Yes. I met him last in Hongkong."
 Then you know him?'
 Quite well, if he is the man I i'm agine."
 That is really very nice of yentnor." thought the shipowner "The last thing 1 should credit him with would be a i forgiving disposition"
 Meanwhile Anstruther was reading | Iris little lecture. Sweet one" he ! explained to her. do not allude to me l by my former rank. I am not entitled l to it. Some day, please God. it will be l restored to me At present 1 am a [ plain civilian. and. by the way. Iris. | turing the next few days say nothing ibout our mine"
 ''Oh. why not:''
 Just personal whim. It will please nc"
 If it pleases you. Robert, I am satis- jed -.-.-....
 He pressed her arm by way of an 'wer. They were too near to the wait ng trio for other comment
 Captain Fitzroy." cried Iris. let me introduce Mfr. Anstruther to you. Lord fentnor. you have met Mir. Anstruther ,efore"
 The sailor shook hands. Lord Vent for smiled sffably.
 Your enforced residence on the is- and seems to have agreed with you.-