Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-23


ing her natural feeling Of repulslon
selected from the store he accumu
lated yesterday some more suitable
garments than those In which she es
capped from the wreck.
He quietly took stock of his own
tattered condition and passed re
Elective hand over the stubble on his
chin. In few days his face would
resemble scrubbing brush. In that
mournful moment he would have ex.
changed even his pipe and tobacco box
worth untold gold, for shaving tackle
Who can say why his thoughts took
such trend? Twenty -four hours car
effect great changes in the human
mind II controlling influences are &C
tive.
Then came sharp revulsion Of feel
ing. His name was Roberta mental
He reached for his boots, and Iris
heard him.
Good morning. she cried, smiling
sweetly II thought you would never
awake. suppose you were very, very
tired. Please wash quickly. The eggs
will be hard"
"Eggs!"
Eyes. made collection among the
trees. I tasted one Of lot that looked
good. It was first rate"
He had not the moral courage to be
gin the day with rebuke. She was
irrepressible. but she really must moi
do these things. He smothered a sigf
in the improvised basin which was
placed ready for him.
Miss Deane had prepared capita
meal. or course the ham and biscuits
still bulked large in the bill Of fare
but there were boiled eggs, fried ba
nanas and an elderly cocoanut. These
things, supplemented by clear, cold wa
ter, were not SO bad for couple o.
castaways hundreds Of miles from
everywhere.
For the life Of him the man could
not refrain from displaying the cos,
versutional art in which he excelled
Their talk dealt with Italy, Egypt, In
dia. He spoke with the ease Of culture
aud enthusiasm. Once he slipped into
anecdote apropos of the helplessness
Of British soldiers in any matter out.
side the scope Of the kings regulations
II remember" he said, seeing cav.
airy subaltern and the members Of an
escort sitting half starved on a number
OF bags piled up in the Suakin desert
And what do you think We're in the
bags?"
II don't know" said Iris, keenly
alert for deductions.
biscuits! They thought the bags
contained patent fodder until enlight-
ened them"
1t was on the tip Of her tongue to
pounce on him with the comment,
"Then you have been an officer in the
army" But she forbore She had
guessed this earlier. Yet the mischie-
vous light in her eyes def1ed control.
He was warned in time and pulled
himself up short.
you read my face like a book" she
cried.
mo printed page was ever so-legi-
BILE. Now, Miss Deane, we have Cos
siped too long. I am laggard this
morning, but before surfing work l
have few serious remarks to make"
''More digsT' she inquired saucily.
II repudiate digs In the first place,
you must not make any more expert
ments in the matter of food. The eggs
were wonderful effort; but, fattered
by success, you may poison yourself"
"Secondly?'
"You must never pass out OF my
sight without carrying revolver, not
so much for defense, but as signal
Did you take one when you went birds
nesting?"
mo. Why?'
There was troubled look in his eye:
when he answered.:
'It is best to tell you at once that
before help reaches us we may be Wis
tied by cruel and bloodthirsty saw
ages. l would not even mention this
if it were remote contingency. AS
matters stand, you ought to know that
such a thing may happen. Let us
trust in Gods goodness that assist
ance may come soon The island has
seemingly been deserted for many
months, and therein lies our best
chance Of escape. But am obliged to
warn you lest you should be taken
unawares."
Iris was serious enough now.
How do you know that such dan
ger threatens us?" she demanded.
He countered readily. Because I
happen to have read good deal about
the China sea and its frequenters," be
said Il am the last man in the world
to alarm you needlessly. All mean
to convey is that certain precautions
should be taken against risk that is
possible, not probable. No more
She could not repress shudder. The
sailor wanted to tell her that he would
defend her against host of savages'
il b were endowed with many Il IS