Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-25

N"u ounhcu VI dII lVlnS tHluRS. leu
mad they dug little ditch and per
mitted the invisible terror to flow quiet
~ downward until It's potency was dis
sipated by sea and air they might
have mined the whole cliff with i'm
punity.
| The unfortunate unknown, ]. She
OF the whtened bones-mght have
done this thing too. But he only pos
sessed the hnlf knowledge of the work.
! ing miner and while stunning the
plague stricken quarry adopted the
more laborious method of making an
adit to strike the deposit. He succeed.
! ed, TO perish miserably in the hour
when he saw himself n millionaire.
Was this portent of the fate about
to ovcrtake the latest corners? jerks.
Of course, stood up. He always stood
square on his feet when the volcano
within him fred his blood
"No!' be almost shouted II will
break the spell. am sent here by
| Providence, not to search for gold. but
to save womans life and II all TIA
devils Of China and Malay are in league
against me I will beat them
The sound OF his own voice startled
him. What was all the fuss about?
With a barrow load of gold he could
not buy an instants safety for Iris,
not to mention himself. The language
difficulty was insuperable. Were it
otherwise the Dyaks would simply
huinbng him until he revealed tho
source of his wealth. and then murder
him as an effective safeguard against
foreign Interference.
| Iris. Not once since she was hurled
ashore in his arms had jerks so long
forgotten her existence. Should he tel
her? They were partners in everything
appertainng to the island. Why keep
this marvellous intelligence from her?
Yet was he tempted. not ignobly,
but by reason Of his love for her.
Once years ago. when his arduous pro.
fessional studies were distracted b.
n momentary infatuation for fai'
face. a woman had proved tickle when
tempted by greater wealth than ha
possessed. For long he was a con-
firmed misogynist, to his great anG
lasting gain as leader Of men. Bue
with more equahle judgment came q
fixed resolution not to marry unless
his prospective bride cared only for
him and not for his position. To
staff corps officer. even one with q
small private income. this was no
unattainable ideal. Then he met with
the shame and agony of the court mar
tal. While his soul still quivered
under the lash Of that terrible down
fall Iris came into his life. He knew
not what might happen il they were
rescued. The time would quickly pas,
until the old order was resumed, shs
to go back to her position in society.
he to become again a disgraced ex-
officer, apparently working out mere
existence before the mast or handin;
plates in a saloon.
Would it not be a sweet defiance o.
adversely were he able, even unde'
such conditions, to win her love and
then disclose to her the potentialitieI
Of the island? Perchance he nigh:
fail. Though rich as Croesus. he woulI
still be under the social ban melted gu:
to cashiered officer. She was girl
who could command the gift Of coro-
nets. With restoration to her father
and home. gratitude to her preserver
would assuredly remain; but. alas, love
might vanish like a mirage! Then he
would act honorably. Half of the
stored wealth would be hers to do "a
she chose with it.
Yes, this was a possible alternative.
In case of accident to himself and her
ultimate escape he must Immediately
write full details Of his discovery and
intrust the document to her, to be
opened only after his death or six
months after their release.
The idea possessed him so thorough.
ly that he could brook no delay He
searched for one Of the notebooks tax
en- from the dead officers of the Sir
dar and scrubbed the following letter:
Dear Miss Doane-- Whether I am living
or dead when you read these lines, you
Will know that | love you. Could
peat that avowal a million times in as
many varied forms should find no better
phrase to express the dream l have cher
ished since happy fate permitted me to
snatch you from death, So l simply say
81 love YOU l will continue to love you
while life lasts. and It is my dearest hope
that in the life beyond the grave I may
still be able to voice my love for you.
But perhaps I am not destined to b.
loved by you. Therefore, in the event OF
my death before you leave the island,
wish to give YOU Instructions how to find
a gold mine of great value which is hidden
in the rock containing the cave You re-
member the sign on the piece of tin which
we could not understand. The figure So
denotes the utmost depth of the excava-
ton. and the signifies that one foot be-
low the surface. on reaching the face OF
the rock, there is rich vein of gold. Tho
hollow on the other side Of the cliff be-
came filed with anhydrate gas. and this
stopped the operations of the Chinese,
who evidently knew of the existence OF
the mine. This is all the information tho
experts employed by Sir Arthur Deana
will need Tho facts are unqusstionable.
Assuming that l am alive. we will, OF
course be copartners in the mine. II /
am dead, wish one-sixth share to bo
given to my uncle. William Anstruther
Crossthwaite Manor. Northallerton, York
shire. as a recompense for his kindness
to me during my early life. The remain
der is to be yours absolutely.
ROBERT ANSTRUTHER.
He read this remarkable document
twice through to make sure that il ex-
actly recorded his sentiments. He even
smiled sarcustically at the endowment
Of the uncle who disinherited him.
Then, satisfied with the perusa. he tore
l.atf.