The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-19

ing Take" or Bring" compels one TO
say "Take-go" and ''Take-come."
One problem deted solution-that of
providing raiment for Iris. The united
skin OF the sailor and herself would
not induce unraveled cordage to supply
the need of thread. 1t was either too
weak or too kn0tty. and meanwhile the
girls clothes We're falling 70 pieces.
jerks tried the tiberS Of trees, the
snews of birds-every possible expedi-
ent he could hit upCl-aud Derhaos
UIter experiments covering some weeks
he might have succeeded. But modern
dress stufTs, weakened 10y auiliGe dyes
and stitfened with Chinese clay. per
nit OF no such exhaustive research. 1t
must be remembered that the lady
passengers on board the Sirdar were
dressed TO suit the tropics, and the hard
usage given hy Iris 10 her scanty stock
was never contemplated by the Man
chester or Bradford looms responsible
for the durability OF the material.
AS the days passed the position be
came irksOme. II even threatened
complete collapse during some critical
ulOultlll, anu lIlt Nv u often SiltIllN SUI
veyed the large number of merely male
garments i'll their possession. OF course
in the matter Of coats and waiStcOats
there was no difficulty whatever. Iris
had long been wearing those portions
of the doctors uniform. But when 1t
came to the rest
At last one memorable morning she
crossed the Rubicon. jerks had climb
ed, as usual, to the Summit rock. He
came back with the exciting news that
he thought-he could not be certain,
but there were indications inspiring
hOpefulnesS-that toward the west of
the farof island he could discern the
smoke of n steamer.
Though he had eyes for a faint cloud
of vapor ut least fifty miles distant,
he saw nothing of Il remarkable change
effected nearer home. Outwardly Iris
was attired in her wonted manner, but
if her companions mind We're not Who'll
ly monOpolized by the blush haze de-
tected on the horizon he must have no.
ticed the turned up ends of a pair of
trousers beneath the hem of her tat
tered skirt.
1t did occur to him that Iris re-
ceived his momentOuS announcement
with an odd air of hauteur. and it was
accompany him when. after boiling his
breakfast, he returned to the observa-
tory.
He came back in an hour, and the
lines on his face were deeper than be-
fore.
"A false ALARM he said curly in re
Spouse to her questioning look.
And that was all, though she nerved
herself to walk steadily past him on
her way to the well. This was discon-
certing, even annoying, to a positive
young woman like Iris. Resolving to
end the ordeal, she stood rigidly before
him.
We'll" she said. i've done it!''
Have you?" he exclaimed blankly.
Yes They're little too long, and l
feel very awkward, but they're better
than-than my poor old dress unsup-
ported"
She blushed furiously, to the sailor
complete bewilderment, but she brave
ly persevered and stretched out an I'M
willing foot.
ooh, l seew he growled, and he, too,
Redeemed
And during the remainder of the day
he did not once look at her feet In
deed, he had far more serious matters
to distract his thoughts, for Iris, fe-
verishly anxious to be busy, suddenly
suggested that it would be a good
thing were she able to use a rifle if Il
fight at close quarters became neces-
sary.
The recoil of the Lee Metford is so
slight that any woman can manipulate
the weapon with effect. provided she
is not called upon to fire from stand
in position, in which case the weight
J. liable to cause bad aiming. Though
came rather late in the day, jerks
lught at the idea. He accustomed
her in the first instance to the use of
blank cartridges. Then when fairly
proficient III holding and sighting-a
child can learn how to refill the clip
and eject each empty sheli-she fired
ten rounds of service ammunition. The
eighty yards, and those of the ten
shots that missed the absolute mark
would have made an enemy at the
same distance extremely uncOmforta-
BILE.
Iris was much pleased with her pro-
ficiency. Now" she cried, instead of
being a hindrance to you l may be
some help. In any case the Dyaks will
think there are two men to face, and
they have good reason to fear one of
US"
Then a new light dawned upon
jerks.
why did you not think Of it be-
FORE he demanded. Don't you see.
Miss Deane, the possibility suggested
by your words? l am sorry to be com
PEELED to speak plainly, but l feel sure
that if those scoundrels do attack US in
force it will be more to secure you
than to avenge the loss Of their fellow
tribesmen. First and foremost the sea-
going Dyaks are pirates and maraud-
ers. They prowl about the coast look
ing not so much for a fight as for loot
and women. Now, if they return and
apparently find two we'll armed men
awaiting them, with no prospect of
plumber. there is a chance that they
may abandon the enterprise"
IrTr - no II.