Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-31
Copyright. 1905. by
Edward J. Clodc

explained to her, do not allude to me
by my former rank. l am not entitled
to it. Some day, please God, it will be
restored to me. AT present l am
plain civilian. and. by the way, Iris,
during the next few days say nothing
about our mine"
"Oh, why not?'
"Just a personal whim. 1t will please
me-"
If it rleases you, Robert, l am salts
fed"
He pressed her arm by way of an
swer. They We're too near to the wait
ing trio for other comment.
Captain Fitzroy," cried Iris, ''let me
Introduce Mr.. Anstruther to you. Lord
Nentnor, you have met Mr.. Anstruther
before"
The sailor shook hands. Lord Vent
nor smiled atfably.
Your enforced residence on the is
land seems to have agreed with you."
he said.
admirably. Life here had its draw
backs, but we fought our enemies in
the open. Didn't we, Iris:'
Yes, dear. The poor Dyaks were
not sufficiently modcrnized to attack us
with false testimony"
His lordship's salow face wrinkled
somewhat. So Iris knew of the court
martial nor was size afraid to pro-
claim to NIL the world that this man
was her lover. AS for Captain Fitz-
roy, his busliy eyebrows disappeared
into his peaked cap when he heard the
manner of their speech.
Nevertheless Nentnor smiled again.
Even the Dyaks respected Miss
Deane" lie said.
But Anstruther, sorry for the mani
fest uneasiness of the shipowner. re-
pressed the retort on his lips and
forthwith suggested that they should
| walk to the north beach in the first
instance that being the scene of the
| wreck
During the next hour he became audi
tor rather than narrator. 1t was Iris
who told of his wild fight against wind
and waves; Iris who showed them
where he fought with the deviltish;
Iris who eXpatiated Oh the long days
of ceaseless toll, his dauntless cour-
age in the face of every difficulty, the
way in which lie rescued her from the
clutch of the savages, the skill of his
preparations against the anticipated
attack and the last great achievement
of all, when time after time he foilcd
the Dyaks' best laid plans and flung
them off, crippled and disheartened.
during the many phases of the thirty
hours battle
There We're tears in her eyes when
she ended, but they were tears of
thankful happiness, and Lord yentnor,
silent listener who missed neither
word nor look, felt n deeper chill in his
cold heart as he realized that this wo-
mans love could never be his. The
knowledge excited his passion the
more. His hatred of Anstruther now
became a mania, an insensate resolve
to MORALLY stab this meddler who al
ways stood in his path.
Robert hoped that his present ordeal
was over. 1t had only begun. He was
called Oh to answer questions without
number. Why had the tunnel been
made? What was the mystery of the
valley of death? How did he manage
to guess the dimensions of the sundial?
How came he TO acquire such an amaz-
ing stock of out of the way knowledge
of the edible properties of roots and |
trees! How? Why: Where? When:
They never would he satisfied, for not
even the British navy, poking its nose
into the recesses of the world, often
comes across such an amazing story
as the adventures of this couple OIL
Rainbow island
He readily explained the creation of
quarry and cave by telling them of the
vein of antimony imbcdded in the rock
near the vault. Anthony is one of the
substances that covers IL multitude of
doubts. No one, not excepting the doc
tors who use it. knows much about it.
and in Chinese medicine it might be a
chief factor of exceeding nastincss.
Inside the CAVERN tie existence of
the partially completed Shaft to the
ledge accounted for recent disturb
ances on the face of the rock, ana new
corners could not. of course, distinguish
the bones of poor y. s." as being the |
relll;illlS OI IL European.
Anstruthcr was satisfied that none of |
thcm' hazarlel the remotest guess MS
to the value of the gaunt rock they
were staring; at, ana chance helped him
to lall!e further inquiry
A trumpeter on board the Orient was
blowing his lungs out to summon them
to luncheon when Captain Fitzroy put
final query.
81 can quite understand" he said 20 |
Robert, that you have an affection for |
this weird place. but am curious to |
know why you lay claim to the island.
You can hardly intend to return here"
He pointed to Roberts placard stuck
on the rock.
Anstruther paused before he an
swered. He felt that Lord Ventnors
dark eyes were fixed on him. Every
body was more or less DESTROYS to have
this point cleared up. He looked the
questioner squarely in the face.
I'm some parts of the world" he said,
there are sunken reefs, unknown, I'M
charted, on which many vessel has
been lost without any contributory
iauie VII tle IuEl Vi uer OI0cofS.
Undoubtedly"
We'll, Captain Fitzroy, when was
stationed with my regiment in Hong
kong | encountered such a reef and
wrecked my life on it. At least that
is how 1t seemed TO me then. Fortune
threw me ashore here after n long and
bittes submergencc. You can hardly
blame lie if cling TO the tiny speck
OF land that gave me salvation"
No. admitted the sailor. He knew
there was something more in the al
legory than the text revealed, but 1t
was no business of his.
Moreover" continued Robert smil-
ingly, you see have partner"
There cannot be the slightest doubt
about the partner" was the prompt re-
ply.
Then every one laughed, Iris more
than any, though Sir Arthur Deane's
gayety was forced, and Lord Ventnor
could taste the acidity of his own smile.
Later in the day the first lieutenant