The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-08-10

The boat swung off into the tideway.
Her progress shoreward was watched
by small knot Of people, mostly.
loungers and coolies. Among them,
however, We're two persons who had
driven rapidly to the landing place
when the arrival of the Orient was re-
ported. One bore all the distinguishing
marks of the army officer Of high rank,
but the other was Enthusiastically a
globe trOtter. The older gentleman
made no pretense that he could ''hear
the east a-callin'.'' He swore impair
TALLY at the climate, the place and it's
inhabitants At this instant he was
in state of wild excitement. He was
very tall. very stout, exceedingly red
faced.
Producing tremendous telescope he
vainly endeavored to balance it on the
shoulder of native servant.
Cant you stand still, you blithering
idiot, be shouted, after futile attempts
to focus the advancing boat, cor shall
steady you with a clout over the
carp
His companion, the army man, was
looking through pair of field glasses.
''By Jove," he cried, II can see Sir
Arthur Deane and girl who looks like
his daughter! There's that internal
scamp, Ventnor, too"
The big man brushed the servant out
of his way and brandished the tele-
scope as though it were bludgeon.
1i,,fy- III 1oI
to misery and death, yet he has come
back safe and sound. Wait till I meet
him. PIP
''Now, Anstruther! Remember your
promise. I will deal with Lord Vent
nor. My vengeance has first claim
What! By the jumping Moses, I do
believe Yes. It is. Anstruther!
Your nephew is sitting next to the
girlv'
The telescope fell on the stones with
crash. The giants rubicund face
suddenly blanched. He leaned on his
friend for support
''You are not mistaken" he almost
whimpered. Look again, for Gods
sake, man! Make sure before you
speak. Tell me! Tell mev'
"Calm yourself, Anstruther. It is
| Robert, as sure as I'm alive. Don't you
think I know him, my poor disgraced
| friend, whom l, like the rest, cast off
| in his hour Of trouble? But had some
excuse. There! There! I didn't mean
| that, old fellow. Robert himself will
be the last man to blame either of US.
Who could have suspected that two
people-one Of them, God help me, my
| wife-would concoct such a hellish
plot!''
The boat glided gracefully alongside
! the steps of the quay, and Playdon
| sprang gracefully ashore to help Iris
to alight. What happened Immediate
I ly afterward can best be told in his
own words, as he retailed the story to
| an appreciative audience in the ward
| room.
"We had just landed" he said, land
some of the crew were pushing the
| coolies out of the way when two men
jumped down the steps, and a most
fendish row sprang up-that is, there
was no dispute or wrangling, but one
chap, who, it turned out, was Colonel
Costobell, grabbed Ventnor by the shirt
front and threatened to smash his face
in if he didn't listen then and there to
what he bad to say. 1 really thought
about interfering until heard Colonel
Costobells opening words. After that
I would gladly have seen the beggar
chucked into the harbor. We never
liked him, did we?"
"Ask no questions, Pompey, but go
ahead with the yarn" growled the first
lieutenant.
"Well, it seems that Mrs. Costobell
is dead. She got enteric a week after
the Orient sailed and was a goner in
four days. Before she died she owned
up."
He paused, with a base eye to effect
+ Not man moved muscle.
Call right" he cried. II will make
| no more false starts. Mrs. Costobell
begged her husbands forgiveness for
her treatment of him and confessed
that she and Lord Ventnor planned the
affair for which Anstruther was tried
by court martial. It must have been
sweating with rage, though his words
We're icy enough. And you ought to
have seen Ventnor's face when he
heard of the dispositions, sworn to and
signed by Mrs. Costobell and by sever
al Chinese servants whom he bribed to
give false evidence. He promised to
| marry Mrs. Costobell if her husband
died, or, in any event. to bring about
divorce when the Hongkong affair had
blown over. Then she learned that he
was after Miss Iris, and there is no
doubt her fury helped on the fever.
Costobell said that, for his wife's sake,
he would have kept the wretched thing
secret, but he was compelled to clear
Anstruther's name, especially as he
came across the other old Johnnie''-
"Pompey, you are incoherent with ex-
element. Who is the other old John
nie?'" asked the first huff severely.
Didn't tell you? Why, Anstruther's
uncle, of course, heavy old swell