The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-03-08

"a II
years In the far east. In Hongkons
she was known as the Mandarin >
a Her powers Of merciless inquisitior
suggested torments long drawn out
The. commander of the .Srdar, 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
IS it true, captain, that we are run:
ming into typhoon?" demanded he1
sadyship
From whom did you learn that, La
dy Tozer Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
From Miss Deane. understood
her a moment ago to say that you had
fold her
r. q
Didn't you2 Some one told me this
morning. I3couldn't have guessed it,
could I?n Miss Iris Deane's large blue
eyes surveyed him with innocent in
diferenee to strict accuracy. Incl
dentaIE she had obtained the informa-
lion from her maid a nose tilted CO
auette who extracted ships secrets
from youthful quartarmaster.
Well had forgotten" explain
Led thastachm sailor.
1sIsl st rue??''
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 exchief justice Of
Hongkong.
Yes, it is said Captain Ross. equal
II curt and silently thanking the fates
that her ladyship was going home for
the last time
so tell Us, chfmed in Iris. Did
you find out when you squinted at the
sun 2's
The captain smiled. You are nearer
the mark than possibly you imagine,
Miss Deane.r he said when we took
sour observations yesterday there was
very weird looking halo around the
sun This morning you may have mo-
aiced several light squalls and a smooth
sea, marked occasionally by strong
ripples. The barometer is falling rap
idly, and expect that as the day
wears we viii encounter heavy swell.
af the sky looks wild tonight, and es-
pecially if we observe heavy bank OF
gaeud approaching from the northwest,
yon viii see the croekery dancing
about the table at dinner I am afraid
you are not a good sailor, Lady Tozer.
Are you, Miss Deane?"
Capitait! should just love to see a
real storm Now promise me solemnly
that you VIII take me up into the chart
house when this typhoon is simply
tearing things to pieces =
1sOh, dear. hope it will not be very
bad Is there no way in ghich you
can avoid 1t, captain? VIII it last
iongs-
9Tne polite skipper for once preferred
TO answer Lady Tezer. There is no
cause for uneasiness, he said. ''0f
course typhoons in the China sea are
nasty things while they last. but "a
ship like the Sirdar is not troubled by
them. Size 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 I
discover our position with regard to-
{ its center. !.
Then the commander hurriedly ex-
cused himself. and the passengers saw
aomore Of him that day.
Her ladyship dismissed the topic as
: Of no present interest and focused Miss
Z Deane through her eyeglasses.
..Sir Arthur proposes to come home
in June, understand % she inquired.
Iris was remarkably healthy young
woman. A; large banana momentariiy
engaged her attention. She nodded
afably.
You will stay with relatives until
ne arrives pursued Lady Tozer.
-sRelatiyesi We have none-none
whom ne specially cultivate-that is.
4 EiH stop in town a day or two to
interview my dressmaker and then go
straight to zIelmdale. our place in
YORKSHIRE
Surely you have chaperon?
a chaperon. My dear Lady Tozer.
did my father impress you as one who
would permit q fussy and stout old
person to make my life miserable"
The acidity OF the retort lay in the
word stout" But Iris was not ac;,
customed to cross examination. Dur
ing a three months residence on the
island she had learned how N avoid
Lady TozeE Here it was impossible.
and the older woman fastened upon her
asp-iike Miss Iris Deane was tooth
some morsel for gossip. Not Jet twen-
fy-one, the only daughter Of wealthy
baronet who owned a feet Of stately
ships-the Sirdar among them-a girl
q ~, -,