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

/ OF. / mean nef Iatner, Ahstf uedef ant
| the stout uncle. Unfortunately / 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 as their
riekshaws went off in bunch
The next commotfon arose IN the fIp.
tel when Sir Arthur Deane seized the
first opportunity to explain the predic-
ament in which his company was
placed and the blow which Lord Vent
nor yet had it in his power to deal.
Mr. William Anstrather was an in
terested auditor Robert would have
spoken, but his uncle restrained him.
Leave this to me, lad he eX-
claimed when / 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
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 a shrewd man of business the
project could not fail to commend it
self, and the Yorkshire squire, though
a trifie obstinate in temper, was singu-
larry clear headed in other respects.
He brought his great fist down on the
table with a whack.
"Send a cable to your company, Sir
Arthur he cried, land tell them that
your prospective son-in-law will pro-
vide the 10000 you require l will
see that his draft is honored You can
add, if you like, that another ten will
be ready if wanted when this lot is
spent. / did my lad one deuced bad
turn in my life. This time, 1 think,
am doing him good one"
You are, indeed" said Iris father
1.-The unallotted CAPT
tai he is taking up will be worth four
times its face value in two years.
''All the more reason to make his
holding twenty instead of ten,'' roared
the YorkShireman. But, look here.
You talk about dropping proceedings
against that precious earl whom l
saw today. Why not tell him not to
try any funny tricks until Roberts
money is safely lodged to your ac-
count? We have him in our power.
Dash it all, let us use him Bit
Even Iris laughed at this naive sug-
gestion. 1t was delightful to think
that their arch enemy was actually
helping the baronets affairs at that
very moment and would continue to
do so 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. lordship's name.
Robert at last obtained a hearing
you two are quietly assuming the
attitude of the financial magnates of
this gathering" he said. Il must adj
nit that you have managed things
very well between you, and l do not |
propose for one moment to interfere |
with your arrangements. Nevertheless, |
Iris and L are really the chief moneyed |
persons present. You spoke of finan- |
,ial houses in England and on the con- |
-inent backing up your loans six |
months hence. Sir Arthur. You need |
not go to them. We will be your
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?"
lie cried. Il am afraid that not even
ris could wheedle any one into buy
ng it,
But, father, dear" interrupted the
,irl earnestly, what Robert says is
rue. We have a gold mine there. 1t
S worth so much that you will hardly
,elieve it until there can no longer be
my doubt in your mind. l suppose
hat is why Robert asked me not to
MENTION his discovery to you earlier"
NO. Iris, that was not the reason"
aid her lover, and the elder men felt
4
intelligence that they had
ust heard Your love was more to
ne than(all the gold in the world. I
lad won you. l meant to keep you,
ut refused to buy YOU o.
He turned to her father r. His pent-
10 emotion mastered him, and he
poke as one who could no longer re-
train his feelings.
Il have had no chance to thank you
or the words you uttered at the mo-
nent we quilted the ship. Yet 1 will
reasure them while life lasts. You
ave Iris to me when l was poor, dis
raced, an outcast from my family
nd my profession. And / know why
on did this thing. 1t was because
on valued her happiness more than
IcheS or reputation. l am sorry now
did not explain matters earlier. 1t
Tould have saved you much needless
Offering But the sorrow has sped
Ike an evil dream, and you will per-
APPS not regret it, for your action to- r
ay binds me to you with hoops OF j..
leel. And you, too. uncle. You tray-
led thousands of miles to help and
,mfort me in my anguish. Were | as S