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


orders will renstate him in the rcgi-
ment, and II rests with him TO decide
whether or not criminal warrant
shall be issued against his lordship for
conspiracy"
what did Miss Deane do?"
"Clung to AnstrIther like n weeping
angel and kissed everybody all round
when Ventnor got away. Well-hands
of. mean her father Anstruther and
the stout uncle. Unfortunately I was
not on in that scene But for some rea-
son they all nearly wrung my arm off.
and the men were so excited that they
gave the party rousing cheer us their
rickshaws W snt Of in a bunch"
The next commotion arose in the no
Tel when Sir Arthur Deane seized the
FIRST opportunity to explain the prcdic-
ament in which his company was
placed and the blow which Lord Vent
nor yet had 1t in his power to deal.
Mr.. William Anstruther was an in
terested auditor. Robert would have
spoken. but his uncle restrained him.
Leave this to me, lad" he ex-
claimed. When I was coming here in
the Sirdar there was lot OF talk
about Sir Arthur's scheme, and there
should not be much difficulty in rails
ing all the brass required If half what
! heard be true. Sit you down, Sir Ar
thur. and tell us all about it."
The shipowner required no second
bidding. With the skill for which he
was noted he described his operations
in detail, telling how every farthing of
the first installments of the two great
loans was paid up, how the earnings
Of his feet would quickly overtake the
deficit in capital value caused by the
loss Of the three ships and how in six
months time the leading financial
houses of London, Paris and Berlin
would be offering him more money
than he would need.
To shrewd man Of business the
project could not fnil to commend it.
self. and the York shire squire, though
trife obstinate in temper, was singu-
Iarly clear headed in other respects.
He brought his great Est down on the
table with whack.
Send cable 10 your company, Sir
Arthur" he cried. land tell them that
Jour prospective son-in-law will pro-
vide the 10000 you require. will
see that his draft is honorcd. You can
add. II you like. that another ten will
be ready II wanted when this lot is
spent. I did my lad one deuced bad
turn in my life This time. think,
am doing him a good one"
You are, indeed" said Iris father
enthusiastically. The unallotted CAPT
tai he Is taking up will be worth four
times it's face value in two years"
"All the more reason to make his
holding twenty instead of ten" roared
the Yorkshircman. But, look here.
You talk about dropping proceedings
against that precious earl whom
saw today. Why not tell him not to
try any funny tricks until Roberts
money Is safely lodged to your ac-
count7 We have him in our power.
Dash It all, let us use him bit"
Even Irs laughed at this naive sug-
eestion. 1t was delightful to think
that their arch enemy was actually
helping the barOnet's affairs at that
very moment and would continue to
do 50 until he was flung aside as being
Of no further value. Although Ventnor
himself had carefully avoided any
formal commitment. the cablegrams
awaiting the shipowner at Singapore
showed that confidence had already
been restored by the uncontradicted
Use Of his lordshlp's name.
Robert at last obtained hearing
You two are quietly assuming the
attitude Of the financial magnates Of
this gathering" he said. Il must ad-
nit that you have managed things
very we'll between you, and do not
propose for one moment to interfere
with your arrangements. Nevertheless.
Iris and ! are really the chief moneyed
persons present. You spoke of fnan-
cis) houses in England and on the con-
tinent backing up your loans six
months hence, Sir Arthur. You need
bankers
The baronet laughed with a whole
hearted gayety that revealed whence
Iris got some part at least of her
bright disposition.
will you sell your island, Robert?"
he cried II am afraid that not even
Iris could wheede any one into buy
ing it,"
But. father, dear" interrupted the
girl earnestly, what Robert says is
true We have gold mine there. 1t
Is worth so much that you will hardly
believe IL until there can no longer lie
any doubt in your mind. | suppose
that Ia why Robert asked me not to
mention his discovery to you earlier"
NO, Iris, that was not the reason
said her lover. and the elder men felt
that more than idle fancy inspired the
astounding intelligence that they had
just heard. Your love was more 10
me than all the gold in the world. I
had won you. ! meant to keep you,
but refused to buy you"
He turned to her father. His pent-
up emotion mastered him. and he
spoke rs one who could no longer re-
strain his feelings.
Il have had no chance to thank YOU
FOR the words you uttered at the mo-
ment we quilted the ship. Yet | will
treasure them while life lasts. You
gave Iris TO me when | was Door. dis
graced, an outcast from my family
and my profession. And | know why