Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-01
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER I.
lady TOZER adjusted her gold
Ill trimmed eyeglasses with an
dir of dignified aggressive
N ness. She had lived too many
years in the far east. In Hongkong
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.
"1s it true, captain, that we are run
ming into typhoon?" demanded her
ladyship.
From whom did you learn that, La
dy Tozer?" Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
"From Miss Deane. 1 understood
her moment ago to say that you had
told her"
"I?
Didn't you? Some one told me this
morning. l couldn't have guessed it,
could II" 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, nose tilted CO.
quette, who extracted ships secrets
from youthful quartermaster.
"Well-er-I had forgotten" explain
ed the tactful sailor.
SIS 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
over the wife of the eX-chief justice of
Hongkong.
Eyes, 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 u.s." chimed in Iris. Did
you find out when you squinted at the
sum-"
The captain smiled. you are nearer
the mark than possibly you imagine,
Miss Deane," he said. "When we took
our observations yesterday there was
very weird looking halo around the
sun. This morning you may have no.
ticed several light squalls and smooth
sea, marked occasionally by strong
ripples The barometer is falling rap
idly, and expect that as the day
wears we will encounter a heavy swell.
If the sky looks wild tonight, and es-
pecially if we observe Il heavy bank of
cloud approaching from the northwest,
you will see the crockery dancing
about the table at dinner. am afraid
you are not good sailor, Lady Tozer.
Are you, Miss Deane?"
Capital! l 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
can avoid it, captain? Will it last
long?"
The polite skipper for once preferred
to answer Lady Tozer. "There is no
cause for uneasiness," Ire said. "Of
course typhoons in the China sea are
nasty things while they last, but q
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 tt
its center"
Then the commander hurriedly eX
cused himself, and the passengers saw
no more Of him that day.
Her ladyship dismissed the topic n
of no present interest and focused Mis-
Deane through her eyeglasses.
"Sir Arthur proposes to come hom
in June / underestimate" she inquired.
Iris was remarkably healthy younl
woman. A large banana momentaril.
engaged her attention. She nodded
affably.
"You will stay with relatives unit
he arrives?" pursued Lady Tozer.
"Relatives! We have none-non
whom we specially cultivate-that is
will stop in town day or two t
interview my dressmaker and then g
straight to Helmdale. our place Il
Yorkshire"
Surely you have chaperon?"
"a chaperon! My dear Lady Tozel
did my father impress you as one VIII
would permit fussy and stout oil
person to make my life miserabley
The acidity of the retort lay in til
word "stout." But Iris was not az
customed to cross examination. Dun
ing three months residence on til
island she had learned how to avoi
oil, {,,,,,ncci1,lf
and the older woman fastened upon he
asp-like. Miss Iris Deane was tooth
some morsel for gossip. Not yet tweI
ty-one, the only daughter Of a wealth
baronet who owned a fleet of stated
ships-the Sirdar among tlem-a gil
who had been mistress Of her father
house since her return from Dresde
three years ago-young, beautiful, ric
here was combination for whic
men thanked judicious heaven, Will
women shifted enviously.
Business detained Sir Arthur A wa
cloud overshadowed the two great d
visions of the yellow race. He mus
wait to see how matters developed, BIT
he would not expose Iris to the IL
sidious treachery of Chinese sprins
She was confded to the persona
charge of Captain Ross. At each poi1
Of call the company's agents would
solicitous for her walfare. The cable
Geographic eye would watch her pro
ress as that Of some princely Made
sailing in royal caravel. This fai
slender, well formed girl-delightful
English in face and figure-with h
fresh, clear complexion, limpid bll
eyes and shining hair was PERSONA
Of some Importance.
Lady Tozer knew these things al
sighed complacently.
"Ah, WE'LL" she resumed. 'Paren
had different views when I was 81
But assume Sir Arthur thinks "
should become used to being your ov
mistress in view of your approachil
marriage"