Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-04-21
Copyright. i9Uo. by
Edward J. Clode


He required no second bidding. Aft
er hastily gulping down the contents
OF several leaves he returned with n
further supply. Iris was now sitting
up The sun had burst royalty through
the clouds. and her chilled limbs were
gaining some degree of warmth and
elasticity.
What Is it," she repeated after an
other delicious draft.
The leaf of the pitcher plant Ma
ture Is not always cruel. In an I'M
usually generous mood she devised this
method OF storing water"
Miss Deane reached out her hand
Tor more. Her troubled brain refused
to wonder at such reply from an ordi-
nary seaman. The sailor deliberately
spilled the contents Of remaining leaf
on the sand.
mo, madam" he said. with an odd
mixture Of Difference and f1rmness. mo
more Mt present I must first procure
you some food"
She looked up at him in momentary
silence.
THE ship is LOST" she said after q
pause.
YES madam"
"Are we the only people savedT
II fear So"
us this a desert islandT"
II think not, madam. 1t may by
chance be temporarily uninhabited. but
fishermen from China come to all these
places. have seen no other living be-
ings except ourselves. Nevertheless
the islanders may live on the south
! side"
1T surely cannot be possible that the
Sirdar has gone to pieces-a magnifl-
cent vessel Of her size and strength"
He answered quietly: 1T is too true,
madam. I suppose you hardly knew
she struck, 1t happened SO suddenly.
Afterward. fortunately for you. you
were unconscious"
How do you known she inquired
quickly. A flood Of vivid recollection
was pouring in upon her.
T-er-well. happened to be near
you, madam. when the ship broke up.
and we--er-drifted ashore together"
She rose and faced him. Il remem-
Der now" she cried Historically. You
caught me as was thrown into the
corridor. We fell into the sea when
the vessel turned over. You have saved
my life. Were it not for you could
not possibly have escaped"
She ga4ed at him more earnestly, see.
ing that he blushed beneath the crust
Of salt and sand that covered his face
"Why," she went on, with growing ex'
.itement, you are the steward 1 no
hced in the saloon yesterday. How
Is 1t that you are now dressed as o
sailor?'
He answered readily enough There
was an accident on board during the
gale, madam. I am a fair sailor. but
poor steward, so applied for q
transfer. AS the crew was short hand
ed, my offer was accepted"
Iris was now looking ut him intently.
you saved my life," she repeated
slowly. 1t seemed that this obvious
fact needed to be indelibly established
In her mind. Indeed the girl was over.
wrought by all that she had gone
through. Only by degrees were her
thoughts marshaling themselves with
lucid conference. As yet she recalled SO
many dramatic incidents that they
failed to assume due proportion.
But quickly there came memories of
Captain Rosa Of Sir John and Lady
Tozer. Of the doctor, her maid. the
hundred and one Municipalities Of her
pleasant life aboard ship. Could it be
that they were all dead? The notion
was monstrous. But its CHASTITY signif
icance was instantly borne in upon her
by the plight In which she stood. Her
lips Quivered: the tears trembled in hel
eyes.
lis it really true that all the ships
company except ourselves are lostT
she brokenly demanded.
The sailors gravely earnest glance
fell before hers. "Unhappily there is
no room for doubt" he said.
"Are you quite, quite sureT'
Il am sure-of some" Involuntarlly
he turned seward.
She understood him. She sank to bel
and broke into u passion Of weeping
With look Of infinite pity he stopped
and would have touched her shoulder
but he suddenly restrained the i'm
pulse. Something had hardened this
man. 1t cost him an effort to be cal
lous, but he succeeded. His mouth
frightened, and his expression lost Its
tenderness.
Come, come, my dear lady," he ex
claimed, and there was tinge Of stud
led roughness in his voice, you mus
calm yourself. It is the fortune OF
shipwreck as well as of war, you
know. We are alive and must loob
after ourselves. Those who have gone
are beyond our help"
But not beyond our sympathy
walled Iris. uncovering her swimming
eyes for a fleeing look ut him. Ever
In the utter desolation of the moment
she could not help marveling that this
queer hammered sailor, who spoke like
a gentleman and tried to pose as hel
inferior. who had rescued her with the
utmost gallantry, who carried his quix
otto zeal to the point Of first supplying
her needs when he was in far worse
case himself. should be 80 utterly in
different to the fate Of others.
He waited silently until her sob:
ceased.
NOW. madam" he said. ut is essen
tial that we should obtain some food
don't wish to leave you alone unit
we are better acquainted with oul
whereabouts. Can you walk a littl'
way toward the trees. or shall I assis
your"
Iris Immediately stood up. She press
ed her hair back defantly.
Certainly can walk" she answer
ed. What do you propose to dor
well, madam
"What is your name? she interrupt
ed imperiously.
"Jenks. madam. Robert jerks"
THANK you. Now listen, Mr.. Rober
jerks. My name Is Miss Iris Deane
On board ship was a passenger ant
you were q steward-that is, until yol
became a seaman. Here we are equal!
in misfortune, but in all else you art
the leader. am quite useless. l car
only help in matters by your direction