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

Al. p ~
He looked the q,,cstioncr squdre'u in tho
face.
man was magnetic, a hero, an ideal
gentleman. No wonder his daughter
was infatuated with him. Yet the fu-
ture was dark and storm tossed, full Of
sinister threats and complications. Iris
did not know the wrctched circum-
stances which had come to pass since
they parted and which had changed
the whole aspect of his life. How
could he tell her: Why should it be his
miserable lot to snatch the cup of hap
piness from her lips? In that moment
of silent agony he wished he were
dead. for death alone could remove the
burden laid on him. Well. surely he
might bnsk In the sunshine Of her
laughter for another day. No need to
embitter her joyous heart until he was
driven to it by dire necessity.
So he resOlutcly brushed aside the
wocbeCOne phantom of care and en-
tered into the abandon of the hour
dear girl imagined that Robert. her
Robert. had made another speedy con-
quest, and Anstruthcr himself was
much elated by the sudden change in
Sir Arthur Deane's demeanor
They behaved like school children on
a picnic. They roared over liis' trou-
blcs in the matter of divided skirts, too
much divided to be at all pleasant. The
shipowncr tasted some Of her sage
bread and vowed it was excellent.
They unearthed two bottles of cham
payne. the last of the case, and prom
Used each other a hearty toast at din
ner. Nothing woulG content Iris but
that they should draw farewell buck
etful Of water from the well and
drench the pitcher plant with a torren-
tial shower.
Robert carefully secured the pocket
books money and other effects found
on their dead companions. The baro-
net. Of course, knew all the principal
officers Of the Sirdar. He surveyed
these mournful relics with sorrowfu,
interest
1.-The Sirdar was the crack ship Of
my fleet and Captain Ross my most
trusted commander" he said You
may we'll imagine, Mr.. Anstruther,
what cruel blow it was to lose such n
vessel, with all these people on board
and my only daughter among them.
wonder now that it did not kill me-"
"She was splendid sea boat. sir.
Although disabled, she fought gallant
~ against the typhOon. Nothing short
of reef would break her up"
"Ah. WELL" sighed the shipowner,
"the few timbers you have shown me
here are the remaining assets out Of
1900, 600"
"Was she not insured?" inquired
Robert.
"No-that Is, I have recently adopted
a scheme Of mutual self insurance, and
the loss falls pro rata on my other YES
sells"
The baronet glanced covertly at Iris.
The words conveyed little meaning to
her. Indeed she broke in with a
laugh:
Il am afraid I have heard you say,
father dear. that some ships in the
fleet paid you best when they ran
ashore"
Eyes, Iris. That often happened in
the old days. 1t is different now.
Moreover, have not told you the ex.
tent Of my calamities. The Sirdar was
lost on March Is, though l did not
know 1t for certain until this morning.
But on March % the Bahadur was
sunk in the Mersey during fog. and
three days later the Jemadar turned
turtle on the James and Mary shoal in
the Hooghly. Happily there were no
lives lost in either of these cases."
Iris was appalled, by this list OF casu-
alties, yet she gave no thought to the
serious financial effect of such string
of catastrophes. Robert, Of course. ap-
preciated this side Of the business. espe.
ciaily in view of the shipowner's re-
mark about the insurance. Bvt Sir
Arthur Deaue's stin upper lip deceived
him. He failed to realize that the IA
ther was acting . part for his daugh-
ter's sake.
Oddly enough. the baronet did not
seek to discuss with them the legal
looking document affixed near the cave.
1t claimed all rights In the island in
their joint names, and this was topic
he wished to avoid. For the time,