The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-04-22
CONTINUED from page g.

thoroughly reliable sort OF chap,
eh?"
''The best. Just the right kind OF
| second for the Andromeda's last
cruise. Smart as new pin. You
could trust i'm on the bridge of bat
tleship. Now. Watts is a good man,
but tot of rum makes i'm fair daft ~
"Ah." purred Verify, you must keep
| a tight and on Watts. like an appe-
| tizer meself wen I'm off dooty, so to
| speak. but it's no joke TO ave boozer
| In charge of tine ship an vallyble
| freight. or course you're responsible
as master. but you can't be on deck
mornin'. noon an night. Choke Watts
off the drink an you'll ave no trouble.
Well. come along. Let's lubricate."
The Andromeda sailed on the Tues
day afternoons tide. She would drop
the pilot off Holyhead. and If she fol-
lowed the beaten track on her long
run to the river Plate-as sailors will
persist in miscailing that wondrous
Rio de la Plata-she might be signaled
from Madeira or the Cape Verde is
lands. But shipmasters often prefer
to set course clear of the land till
they pick up the coast of South Amer
lea. If she were not spoken by some
passing steamer there was every pos
sibility that the sturdy old vessel
would not be heard of again before
reaching her destination.
But David Verify heard of her much
rent the heavens could have startled
him more than the manner Of that
hearing.
Resolving to clinch matters with re-
gard to Iris and her elderly sister, he
invited "Owd Dickey" to supper on
Sunday evening. The girl endured
the mans presence with placid dig
nifty that amazed her uncle. On the
plea Of headache she retired at an
early hour. leaving Bulmer to goat
over his prospective happiness and
primed to the point Of dementia.
He was quite willing to accompany
Verify to the bank next morning. A
relief when the visitors were gone,
and be was free to look at the item
bills discounted" on \erity's page in
the ledger. More than that. lawyer
was instructed to draw up partner
ship deed. and the representatives of
various shipbuiluing firms were asked
to supply estimates for two new YES
sells.
Altogether Dickey was complaisant
and David enjoyed a busy and sue
ceSsful day. He dined III town. came
home ut a late hour and merely grin
ned when Il servant told him that Mr.
Bulmer had called twice. but Miss Iris
happened to be ont on both occasions.
Nevertheless at breakfast on Tues
day he warned his niece not to keep
her admirer dangling at arms length.
''E's queer ovid codger." explained
the philosopher. PLAY up to i'm bit.
an you'll be able to twist i'm around
your little finger. | b'lieve he's goin
dOtty, an you can trust me TO see that
the marriage settlement is o. *"
will you be home to dnner?" was
her response.
NO. Now that the firm is in smooth
water again. ] must show myself bit.
It's all thanks to you. lass. an I'll not
forget it. Goodby"
Iris smiled, and Verify was vastly
pleased.
IL am sure you will not forget" she
said. "Goodby"
There's no understanding wimmin."
unused David as his victoria swept
through the gates of Linden House
bin dose of rat poison. Now she's
ready to swaler i'm as if 'e was a
chocolate drop"
Again he returned some few minutes
after midnight. Again the servant an
nounced Mr.. Bulmer's visits. three OF
them. and again Miss Iris had been
absent In fact. she had not yet come
home.
Not 'ome" cried David furlously.
IVY. it's gone IL. Were the-w'ere
is she?"
No one knew She had quilted the
house soon after Verify himself and
had not been seen since. Storm and
rage as he might and did. David could
not discover his nieces whereabouts.
But enlightenment came on Thursday
morning. A letter arrived by the FIRST
post 1t was from Iris:
My Dear Uncle-Neither you nor Mr..
Bumer should have any objection to my
passing the few remaining weeks OF my
liberty In the manner best pleasing To
myself. On Sunday evening in your pres
ence Mr.. Bulmer urged me to fix an early
date for our marriage. Tell him that |
shall marry him when the Andromeda
returns to England from South America.
You will remember that you promised last
year to take me TO Rio de Janeiro and
Buenos Aires this summer. 4 have been
learning Spa ish so as to help our sight
seeing. Unfortunately business prevents
you from keeping that promise, but there
Is no reason why | should not so. | am
on board the Andromeda and will prob
ably be able to explain matters satisfac-
torily to Captain Coke. the vessel Is due
back at the end of September. | believe.
so Mr.. Bulmer will not have long to wait.
II is more than likely that Captain Coke
will not know | am aboard until Thurs
day. and 1 have arranged with a friend
that this letter shall reach you about the
same time. Please convey my apologies
to Mr.. Bulmer and accept my regret for
any anxiety you may have felt owing TO
my unaccountable absence. Your affec-