The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-22

s20o0 that you promised me for the job was more than I could resist But for all the gold in Victoria I wouldn't do such a job againl'
 Wardlaw smiled coldly at his outburst He had been playing a desperate game for too many months 10 care about any thing except his own hide. Almost from the beginning he had mismanaged the affairs os Nvardiaw & Son. He had gone Into col ,ssal speculation and had lost. This daring insurance swindle would-put him on his feet again. and then, he swore, .. he wouldn't speculate again, but play safe game.
 Wylie had scarcely finished his story be- fore the door opened and disclosed Gen. eral Rolleston. Nardlaw leaped up with q glad cry Then he asked "Why, fwhere Is Helen?'
 "Helen?" said the general in surprise. "Helen is not with me. followed her after she sailed because I discovered that for years she lad been hiding from me the fact that she had lung trouble She sailel before ire on the Proserpipe,
 Arthur Wardlaw fixed a gaze of horror on the yeneI di His face became livid He cried. The Pioserpine!" and fell for ward on the table with face working fearfully.
 The general looked from one to another Slowly Wyle told him what had hap pened-that tne Froserpine had sunk at sea and the cutter with his daughter had set off for Juan Fernandez, which 1t evil dently never had reached. The old warrior grirped the table and bowed his head under the blow N'tf cut one word. N
 Then Warlldw, Sr., stepped into the case. Arthur broke down completely. The old merchant came from his retlre- ment to take the heiJr for time Under his keen direction tho steam sloop spring bax was prepared fol Q long voyage Tn a week General Rolleston was steaming down the channel to seal ch the South Pa cific.
 At that very moment Helen Rolleston and Robert Penfold were safe and sound on a gloriously beautiful island In the Pacific-safe and sound, but cut hopeiess- ly off from the world. Like Wylie's boat, the cutter had drifted and sailed for more than two weeks. Long before the end of that time hunger and thirst had near ly maddened the castaways. Penfold had kept up their courage by all sorts Of ex- pedients. He even had managed to dis till some water with bottle and rup- Der bag; but the crude apparatus had burst and there was nothing to replace it.
 At last the men drank what was lelt of the rum and decided to kill the girl Two sailors stood by Penfold. In the fight two of the attacking party were killed. but the two loyal men also got their death wounds. The other sailor went mad and leaped into the sea. Before the two loyal men died they insisted on making their declarations that the ship had been scuttled, and Penfold recorded their affdavits and signatures in his prayer book
 When the little boat came in sight of an island at last Hazel and Helen were the only survivors.
 Helen had learned to depend on Penfold more and more. She had been inspired by his heroism in the boat and awed by his unselfshness. With her quick wom- ans wit she soon perceived that he loved her. Therefore it impressed her all the more when his every action after they landed showed her that he would make no advances and that she had to fear nothing from him.
 He found a cave for her, while he him self slept in the boat, just far enough away so that he could hear her should she call. He made the case wonderful with mother-of-pearl shells which were found in prodigious quantities. He brought her the finest fruits, the best fish and birds that he caught with infinite skill and patience. Each day she marveled more and more at his knowledge, his resourcefulness and his strength. Each day his respectful at , titude became still more respectful. and, as was natural. each day she began to think a little more of this admirer who might so easily have urged his cause and who refrained so steadfastly She told him about her health. He started at once to give her course Of , treatment based on his reading of the new medical teachings about consumption and lung troubles He made rich broths for her and forced her to live almost entirely ir the air and the sun. This and the won derful climate of the island worked won ders Very soon she found no trouble In breathing and began to grow strong ana brown, while her step was no longer drag ging and listless.
 Penfold worked necessarily. The island was rich in fruits and game and had ln- numerable rills of fresh water. Fooo' therefore was abundant, and he had time for more difficult matters. He loaded the cutter with paint made from e pltumen