The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-09-30


not fail to note the malignant purpose
Of the parting sentence.
In his quietly masterful way he
placed his hand on the baronet's shout
der
What did LorJ yentnor mean:" he
asked
Sir Arthur Deane answered, with a
calm smile: ut is difficult to talk open
~ at this moment. Wait until we
reach the hotel"
The news few fast through the set
tlement that her majesty's ship Orient
had returned from her long search for
the Sirdar. The warship occupied her
usual anchorage, and boat was low
cred to take off the passengers.
The boat swung of into the tideway
Her progress shoreward was watched
by a small knot of people, mostly
loungers and coolies. Among them
however, wei.e 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 its
Inhabitants. At this instant he was
in state OF wild excitement. He was
very tall, very stout, exceedingly red
faced
Producing 4 tremendous telescope he
vainly endeavored to balance it ON the
shoulder, of q native servant.
Cant you stand still, you blithering
idiot" he shouted, after futile attempts
to focus the advancing boat, 'or shall
steady you with clout over the
carr"
His companion, the army man, was
looking through a pair of field glasses.
by Jove," he cried, Il can see Sir
Arthur Deape 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 a bludgeon.
1.-THE dirty beggar. He drove my lad
to misery and death, yet he has come
back safe and sound. Wait till meet
him. ZIP
NOW, An>truther! Remember your
prornise. / will deal with Lord Vent
nor. My vengeance has first claim.
What! By the jumping Moses, l do
believe Yes. 1t is. Anstruther.
Your nephew is sitting next to the
GIRL!
The telescope fell on the stones with
a 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 me.''
"Calm yourself, Anstruther. 1t 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 Therei There! 1 didn't mean
that. old fellow. Robert himself will
be the last man to blame either of us.
Who could have suspected that two
of them, God help me, my
concoct such a hellish
plotr'
Ths boat glided gracefully alongside
The steps of the quay, and Playdon
,prang gracefully ashore to help Iris
10 alight. What happened Immediate
y aftecward can best be told in his
)wn words, as he retailed the story to
III appreciative audience in the ward |
.oom.
I'VE had just landed" he said, land |
,ome OF the crew were pushing the !
,oalies out of the way when two men |
,,,,, v~,I n e-toy
iendish row sprang up-that is, there |
vas no dispute or wrangling, but one /
.hap, who, it turned out, was Colonel
1ostobell grabbed Ventnor by the shirt
ront and threatened to smash his face
n if he didn't listen then and there to
7hat he bad to say. / really thought
bout interfering until 1 heard Colonel
;ostobelPs opening words. After that
would gladly have seen the beggar
hucked Into the harbor. We never
liked him, did we?''
ASK no questions. Pompey, but go
head WITH the yarn" growled the first
lieutenant
''Well, it seems that Mrs. Costobell
5 dead. She got enteric week after
he Orient sailed and was a goner in
our days. Before she died she owned
p"
He paused, with a base eye to effect
lot a man moved q muscle
IAN right" he cried. Il will make
u more false starts. Mrs. Costobell
egged her husbands forgiveness for
~r treatment of him and confessed
hat she and Lord Nentnor planned the
fair for which Anstruther was tried
Y court martial. 1t must have been
beastly business, for Costobell was
weating with rage, though his words
ERE icy enough. And you ought to
ave seen Ventnor's face when he
card of the dispositions, sworn to and
gned by Mrs. Costobell and by sever
Chinese servants whom he bribed to
i've false evidence. He promised to
larry Mrs. Costobell If her husband
led, or, in any event, to bring about a
ivorce when the Hongkong affair had
lown over. Then she learned that he
as after Miss Iris, and there is no
oubt her fury helped on the fever
said that. for his wife's sake,
2 would have kept the wretched thing
,cret. but he was compelled to clear
name, especially as he
Tine across the other old johnnie