Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-10

nor and his unfortunate ally? Even
her husband believed her and became
my bitter foe. Poor woman, I have It
in my heart to pity her. Wen. that is
all. am herev'
Can a man be ruined so easilyf"
murmured the girl, her exquisite tact
leading her TO avoid any direct express
sion OF sympathy.
1t seems so. But have had my re-
ward. IL ever l meet Mrs. Costobell
again l will thank her for great serv-
ice"
Iris suddenly became confused. Her
brow and neck tingled with a quick
access Of color.
Why do you say that?' she asked.
and jerks. who was rising, either did
not hear OF pretended not TO hear the
tremor in her tone.
Because you once told me you would
never marry Lord Ventnor. and after
what have told you now l am quite
sure you will not"
"Ah, then you do trust meY" she al
most whispered.
He forced back the words trembling
for utterance. He even strove weakly
TO assume an air OF good humored
badinage
See how you have tempted me from
work, Miss Deane." he cried. I've have
gossiped here until the fire grew tired
or our company. To bed. please. az
once"
Iris caught him by the arm
Il viii pray tonight and every night"
she said solemnly. that your good
name may be cleared in the eyes of all
men. as IL is in mine And I am sure
my prayer will be answered"
She passed into her chamber, but her
angelic influence remained. In his
very soul the man thanked God for the
tribulation which brought this woman
into his life. He had traversed the
wilderness 70 find an oasis OF rare
beauty.
II was a beautiful night After a
baking hot day the rocks were radiat-
ing their stored up heat but the pleas
ant southwesterly breeze that general
" set in at sunset tempered the at
mosphere and made sleep refreshing.
jerks could not settle down TO rest for
a little while after Iris left him. She
did not bring forth her lamp. and. I'M
willing TO disturb her. he picked I'D a
resinous branch. lit IL In the dying fire
and went into the cave.
He wanted 10 survey the work al
ready done and TO determine whether
IL would be better TO resume operations
in the morning from inside the exca-
walton or from the ledge. Owing to
the difficulty OF constructing a vertical
upward shaft and the danger of n sud
den fall OF heavy material he decided
In favor OF the latter course. although
ii entailed lifting all the refuse out OF
the hole. To save time. therefore. he
carried his mining tools into the open.
placed in position the cheval De frise
long since constructed for the defense
OF the entrance and poured water over
the remains of the fire.
This was his final care each night
before stretching his weary limbs on
his couch Of branches. IL caused delay
In the morning. but he neglected no
precaution. and there was "a possible
chance Of the Dyaks failing TO discover
the eagles nest il they were persuad-
ed by other indications that the island
was deserted.
He entered the hut and was in the
act OF pulling of his boots when a dis
tant shot rang sharply through the air.
1t was magnied tcnfold 10y the in
tense silence. For few seconds. that
seemed 10 be minutes. he listened. cher
ishing the quick thought that perhaps
n turtle. wandering far beyond accus-
toned limits. had disturbed one OF the
spring gun communications on the
sands. A sputtering volley. which his
trained ear recognized as the firing OF
muZzle leaders. sounded the death knell
OF his last hope.
The Dyaks had landed, Coming ST
lently and mysteriOusly in the dead or
night, they were themselves the vic
Tins OF "A strataSem they designed to
employ Instead OF taking the occu-
pants OF Rainbow island unawares
they We're startled at being greeted by
a shot the moment they landed. The
alarmed savages at once retaliated by
firing their antiQuated weapons point
blank at the trees. thus giving warning
enough to wake the seven sleepers.
Iris. rully dressed. was out in mo
nent.
They have conner she whispered.
Yes" was the CHEEKY answer. for
jerks face to face with danger was a
very different man from jerks wres-
ting with the insidious attacks of Gu
pid. Up the ladder, BE lively! They
Will not be here for half an hour if they
kick up such row at the first Difficult
~. Still, we will take no risks. Cast
down those spare lines when you reach
the top and haul away when / say
Ready You will find everything to
hand up there
He held the bottom OF the ladder TO
steady il for the girls climb Soon her
voice fell, like message from a star:
"All right. Please join me soonr
The coiled up ropes dropped along
the face of the rock Clothes, pick.
Ratchet. hammer, crOwbars and other
useful odds and ends were swung away
into the darkness. for the moon as yet
did not illumine the crag. The sailor
darted into Belle Nue castle and kicked
their leafy beds about the floor Then
he slung all the rifles, now five in num-
Der over his shoulders ond ,,,-unt.-g