Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-22
said

YOU are ueSilIleu 10 experience another
variety Of shipwreck here"
He left them. Not word had Rob.
ert spoken throughout the uneyDected
scene. His heart was trobbing with
tremendous joy. and his lordship's
snecrs were lost on him But he could
not fail to note the malignant purpose
of the parting sentence.
In his quietly masterfu way he
placed his hand on the baronets shout
der
What did Lord ventnor mean?" he
asked
Sir Arthur Deanc answered, with a
calm smile: at is difficult 10 talk open.
ly at this moment. Wait until wa
reach the hotel"
The news few fast through the set.
Element that her maicsty'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.
Inc boat swung oh IAto ne tideway.
Her progress shoreward was watched
by small Knot of people. mostly
loungerS and coolies Among them.
however, were two persons who had
driven rapftly to the landing place
when the atsival of the U,1ent 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 pretcnse that he could hear
the east a-callln'." He swore Impair.
tally at the climate. the place and ita
inhabitants. At this instant he was
in state Of wild excitement. He was
very tall very stout, exceedingly red
faced.
Producing tremendous telescope he
vanly endeavored to balance it on the
shoulder Of "A native servant.
Cant you stand still, you bhtherlng
idiot" he shouted. after futile attempts
to focus the advancing boat, "or shall
| steady you with clout over tho
earl"
His companion, the army man. was
looking through pair of field glasses.
by Jove," lie cried. Il can see Sir
Arthur Deane and girl who looks Ike
his daughter! There's that Internal
scamp. Ventnor, too"
The big man brushed the servant out
OF his way and brandished the tele
scope az though IL were bludgeon
The dirty begsar. He drove my lad
to misery and death, yet be has CONS
back safe and sound. Wait till l meet
him. III
Now, Anstruther, Remember youi
promise. l will deal with Lord Vent.
nor Ny 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
crash. The giants rubicund face
suddenly banched. He leaned on bis
friend for support.
You are not mistaken" he almost
whmpered. Look again. for Gods
sake. man. Make sure before you
speak Tell me- Tell mev'
Calm yourself, Anstruther. II IL
Robert as sure as I'm alive. Don't you
think 1 know him, my poor disgraced
friend. whom |, like the rest, cast off
in his hour of trouble? But had some
excuse There. There | 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 heliish
plot
The boat glided gracefully alongside
6f
sprang gracefully ashore to help Iris
to alight What happened immediate
~ afterward can best be told in his
own words. as he retailed the story to
an apprecistive audience in the ward
room.
We had just landed he said. "and
some of the crew were pushing the
coolies out of the way when two men
jumped down the steps, and most
tiendish 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 IA
what he had to say. l really thought
about interfering until | heard Colonel
Costobell's opening words. After that
I would gladly have seen the beggaf
chucked into the harbor. We never
liked him, did WEI"
Ask no questions. Pompey, but &c
ahead with the yarn" growled the first
lieutenant.
well. it seems that Mrs. Costohell
Is dead. She got enteric week after
the Orient sailed and was a goner in
four days. Before she died she owned
up
He paused, with base eye to effect
Not man moved muscle.
"All right" he cried. Il 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. 1t must have been
a beastly business, for Costobel was
sweating with rage, though his words
were icy enough. And you ought Ia
have seen Nentnors face when hG
heard of the dispositions. sworn to and
signed by Mrs Costobell and By sever.
al Chinese servants whom he bribcd to
give false evidence. He promised ia
marry Mrs. Costobell if her husband
died, or, in any event, to bring about