Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-03

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PARDON ME, MONSIEUR"
plight. he said something In his own
language. for his English had the pre-
else staccato accent Of the we'll edu.
Gated foreigner. and another man ap-
peared. The sight Of the newcomer
startled Iris more than any other event
that had happened since the Androm.
eda reached the end of her last voyage.
He wore the uniform of those dread.
full beings whom she had seen on the
island
She shrieked. Hozier fancied she
had sprained an ankle. but before she
could utter any sort Of explanation the
apparition In uniform was by her side
and murmuring words that were evil
dently meant to be reassuring Seeing
that he was not understood. he broke
into halting French.
dently an officer. and his eyes dwelt
on the girls face with no lack of ami
nation as he led her into cave which
seemed to have been excavated from
the inner side of small crater.
"You can rest here in absolute safe
ty, madame" he said. Permit me to
arrange seat. Then shall bring you
some wine"
Iris flung OF the hand which held
her arm so persuasively.
"Please do not attend to me. There
are wounded men who need attention
far more than l." she said. speaking in
English, since 1t never entered her
mind that the Portuguese officer had
been addressing her In French.
He was puzzled more by her action
than her words. but Hozier. who had
followed close behind. explained In SEN
tences built on the Ollendortfian plan
that mademoiselle was disturbed. ina
demoiselle required rest. mademoiselle
hardly understood that which had ar
rived. ct VOLTA tout.
"Mademoiselle without doubt Is the
daughter Of monsieur the captalnT
"No." said Hozier rather curtly. turn
ing to ascertain how Iris bad disposed
of herself in the interior Of the cav
ern. II was his first experience OF a
South American dandy's pose toward
women. or. to be exact. toward women
who are young and pretty. and II
seemed to him not the least marvellous
event of an hour cranmed with mar
vels that any man should endeavor to
begin an active Irritation under such
circumstances.
He saw that Iris was seated on a
camp stool. Her face was buried In
her hands. A wealth Of brown hair
was tumbled over her neck and shoul'
ders: the constant showers Of spray
had loosened her tresses, and the un'
avoidable rigors Of the passage from
shin to ledge had shaken out every
hairpin. The tam-o'-shanter cap she
was wearing early In the day had dis
appeared at some unknown stage of
the adventure. Her attitude bespoke
a mood of overwhelming detection.
Like the remainder of her companions
she was drenched to the skin.
Their trials were far from ended
when their feet rested on the solid
rock. There was every indication that
their rescuers were refugees like them
selves. The scanty resources visible
In the cave. the intense anxiety OF the
elderly Portuguese to avoid observa'
ton from the chief island of the group.
the very nature Of the apparently inac'
cessible crag in which he and bis as
sociates were hiding-each and all OF
these things spoke volumes.
Hozier did not attempt to disturb the
girl until the dapper officer produced
a goatskip and poured small quanti-
ty of wine into a tin cup. With Gu.
rious eagerness he anticipated the 9TH
cr's obvious intent.
"Pardon me. monsieur" he said, SELF
Ing the vessel. and his direct Anglo
Saxon manner quite robbed bis French
of its politeness. Then his vocabulary
broke down. and he added more suave-
ly in English: 81 will persuade her to
drink a little. She Is rather hysterical.
you know" 49,.
The Portuguese nodded as though ne
understood. Iris looked up when Ho-
Eier brought her the cup.
"Is there no water?" she asked plain
lively.
1--WE have no water, mademoiselle.
the officer said. Then he glanced at
the group Of bedraggled sailors. "And
very little wine." he added.
"Be quick. please" put in the elderly
Portuguese With tinge of impatience.
I'VE have no second cup. and there
nre wounded men
"Give It to them," said Iris. lifting
her face again for AL instant. Il do
not need 1t. have told you that once
already. suppose you think SHOULD
not be here"
81 am sure our friend did not mean
that" said Hozier. looking squareiy
into those siDgularly bright eyes. be
caught and held them.
81 did not mean that the lady should
be left to die. II that Is the interpre
tation put OH my remark. came the
uuiet answer. but II was an act OF
the utmost folly to bring a delicate
girl on such an errand. cannot imag'
inc what your captain was thinking
Of when he agreed to It"
"Wot's that. mister" demanded
Coke. Now that his dc Of rage had
passed the bulky skipper of the An
drorneda was red faced and imper'
turbable as usual. The manifold perils
be had passed through showed no mort
! lasting effect on him than shower Of