Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-12
~. - 49, =; ;;i;i;;iG
Copyright. 1908. by
Edward j. Clode

Spouse to her questioning look.
And that was all, though she nerved
herself to walk steadily past him on
her way to the well. This was discon-
certing, even annoying to a positive
young woman like Iris. Resolving to
end the ordeal, she stood rigidly before
him.
"Well," she said, 1--WE done it!''
"Have your" lie exclaimed blankly.
Eyes. They're Il little too long, and
feel very awkward, but they're better
than-than my poor old dress unsup
ported"
She blushed furiously, to the sailors
complete bewilderment, but she brave
ly persevered and stretched out an un-
willing foot
ooh, see!" he growled, and he, too,
Redeemed.
And during the remainder of the day
he did not once look ut her feet. In
deed, he had far more serious matters
to distract his thoughts, for Iris, fe-
verishly anxious to be busy, suddenly
suggested that it would be a good
thing were she able to use rifle If Il
fight at close quarters became neces-
sary.
The recoil of the Lee Metford is SO
slight that any woman can manipulate
the weapon with effect, provided she
is not called upon to fire from stand
ing position, in which case the weight
is liable to cause bad aiming. Though
it came rather late in the day, jerks
caught at the idea. He accustomed
her in the first instance to the use Of
blank cartridges. Then when fairly
proficient in holding and sighting-a
child can learn how to refill the clip
and eject each empty shell-shc fired
ten rounds of service ammunition. The
target was n white circle on rock at
eighty yards, and those Of the ten
shots that missed the absolute mark
would have made an enemy at the
same distance extremely uncomforta-
Bile.
Iris was much pleased with her pro-
ficiency. Now" she cried, INSTEAD of
being a hindrance to you may be
some help. In any case, the Dyalis will
think there are two men to face, and
they have good reason to fear one of
u.s."
Then new light dawned upon
| jerks.
"Why did you not think of it be-
force" he demanded. Don't you see.
Miss Deane, the possibility suggested
by your words? | am sorry to be COM
PEELED to speak plainly, but feel sure
that if those scOundrels do attack us in
| force it will be more to secure you
than to avenge the loss of their fellow
tribesmen. First and foremost, the sea-
going Dyaks are pirates and maraud-
ers. They prowl about the coast look
ing not SO much for fight as for loot
and women. Now, If they return and
| apparently find two well armed men
awaiting them, with no prospect of
plumber, there is chance that they
may abandon the enterprise"
Iris did not finch from the topic
She well knew its grave Importance.
"In other words" she said, 81 must
be seen by them dressed only in male
clothing?"
eyes; as last resource, that is.
have some hope that they may not dis
cover our whereabouts owing to the
precautions we have adopted. Perched
up there on the ledge, we will be pro
foundly uncomfortable, but that will
be nothing If it secures our safety"
She did not reply Mt once. Then
she said musingly: Forty four days.
Surely there has been ample time to
scour the China sea from end to end
In search of us! My father would new
err abandon hope until he had the
most positive knowledge that the Sir
dar was lost with all on board"
The sailor. through long schooling
was prepared with an answer: each
day makes the prospect of escape
brighter. Though | was naturally dis
appointed this morning, I must state
quite emphatically that our rescue may
come any hour"
sris looked at lin steadily.
"Do you remember, 1Ir. jerks, that
soon after the wreck you told me we
might have 10 remain here many
months?"
"Ihat was Il parlonable eXaggera-
ton"
NO, no. 1t was the truth. You arc
seeking now TO buoy me up with false
hope. 1t Is Loco miles from Hong.
Kong to Singapore, ard half as much
from Siam to Boineo The Sirdar
might have been driven anywhere in
the typhoon. Didn't you say so, MI
Jenks?"
He wavercd under this merciless
cross examination.
II had no idea your memory was SO
good" he said weakly.
Excellent, assure you. Moreover
during our forty-four days together
you have taught me to think. Why do
you adopt subterfuge with mel We
are partners In all else. Why cannot
l share your despair as well us your
| toilY
| She blazed out in sudden wrath, and
he understood that she would not be
denied the full extent Of his secret
fear. He bowed revcrently before her,
as a mortal paying homage to an an
CRY goddess.
Il can only admit that you are
AlSut, uc luuIluuEcu. we nuSL pray
that God will direct our friends to this
island. Otherwise we may not be
found for a year, as unhappily the
fishermen who once came here now
avoid the place. They have been
frightened by the contents of the hol-
low behind the cliff. am glad you
have solved the difficulty unaided, Miss
Deane. have strlvcn at times to be
coarse, even brutal, toward you, but
my heart flinched from the task of tell
Ing you the possible period Of your i'm
prisonment"
Then Iris, for the first time in many
days. wept bitterly. and jerks, blind to
the true cause of her emotion, picked
up a rifle to which, in spare moments,
he had affixed curious device, and
walked slowly across Prospect park
toward the half obliterated road lead
ing to the valley of death.
The girl watched him disappear