The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-19
CHAPTER 1.
ADY TOZER adjusted her gold
trimmed eyeglasses with an

NJ ness. She had lived too many
years in the far east. In Hongkong
she was known as the Mandarin"
Her powers of merciless inQuisition
suggested torments long drawn out
The commander of the Sb1ar, home
ward bound from Shanghai knew that
he was about to be stretched on the
rack when he took his seat at the
salcsh table.
as it true, captain, that we are run
ming into n typhoon?" demanded her
ladyship.
"From whom did you learn that, La
dy ToZer?" Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
"From Miss Deane. understood
her n moment ago to say that you had
told her."
"IT'
Didn't you? Some one told me this
morning. couldn't have guessed 1t,
could II" Miss Iris Deane's large blue
eyes surveyed him with innocent in
difference to strict accuracy. Incl
dentally she had obtained the informa-
ton from her maid, nose tilted CO.
quette, who extracted ships secrets
from youthful quartermaster.
"Well-er-I had forgotten" explain
ed the tactful sailor.
''Is it true?"
Lady ToZer was unusually abrupt
today. But she was annoyed by the
assumption that the captain took
mere girl into his confidence and passed
over the wife of the eX-chief justice Of
Hongkong.
"Yes, it is" said Captain Ross, equal
'ly curt, and silently thanking the fates
that her ladyship was going home for
the last time.
"Do tell u.s." chimed in Iris. Did
you find out when you squinted at the
sum-"
The captain smiled "You are nearer
The mark than possibly you imagine,
Miss Deane." he said. "When we took
our observations yesterday there was
very weird looking halo around the
sun. This morning you may have no.
ticed several light squalls and smooth
sea, marked occasionally by strong
ripples. The baromcter>is falling rap
idly, and 1 expect that. as. the, .'lax
wears a,ss we sSy looks wild tonight and es.
,oo,oI,v ,f we observe heavy palih VI
o,nrh onproaching from the northwest,
,,o,, viii see the crockcry aancinS
oHo,t tho table at dinner. ! am airaiu
YOU are not good saiioi' Lazy
Arc YOU. Miss Dcane! .o q
"cop:tal! should just love " sss
raol storm. Now promise me solenniy
thot vou will take me up into the cha,
house when this typhoon ,s siNp''
tearing things to pieces. or,
"oh, dear! hope it Will not DC .el.
nod Ia there no way in when yo
con avoid it, captain? VIII IL i"S
long?" roforre
The polite skipper for once nee, pre'ts'v pre- ,s :,
to orswcr Lady Tozcr. There Is y
cause for> uneaslness,' he saiu.
course typhoons in the China sea a.
ct, things while they last, put
sn,r uke the Sirdar is not troupieo
thnm She will drive through u
-yorst pale she is likely to meet III
e, ioss than twelve hours. Besldes'
oItor the course somewhat as soon "a
s,s..or orr position with regard
W its center" ,,.,;od,v
cused himself, and the passengers %
no more Of him that daF.
Her ladyship dismissed the topi.
of M present interest and focuseu "
Deone through her eyeglasses.
"s,r Arthur proposes to come III
tn June understands" she inquire
,r,s wos n remarkably healthy yo
uomon A large banana moments
engaged her attention. she ho'
aEably. 80, ,,ur.s +,
,a o,,.,vesf" pursued Lady Tozer.
..pa,at;ves! We have none
vhom we specially cultivate-tha
w,I, stop i'm town day or y"
,n+arv,ew nv dressmaker ana the
STRAIGHT to uelmdale. our piaes
Yorkshire" o,,,
.A3cbaperon! My dear Lady i
did my father impress you aS onS
- would permit fussy ana s.ou
nerson to make my life miserao'e
The ac!u!ty Of the retort lay !
word stout" But Iris was III
cnstomcd to cross examination
tho three months residence y
,eiond she had learned now to
Indv Tozer. Here 1t was impo
"a the older woman fastened up
.a,.,,te Miss Iris Deane was
aop,n norsel for gossip. Not yet
tUnna the only daughter OF W
j boronet who owned meet ol
a,ips-the sirdar among them, :,
who had been mistress OF ner ;,
house since her return from l.
three years ago--young. beautif
here was combination for
men thanked judicious heavef
women sniffed enviously: