The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-22
"Who is itY she asked.

"But this time want to tell you
something"
philip. dear. am weary. | must
rest-and-I dare not meet YOU"
"Dare not"
81 am afraid Of myself. Please leave
me-"
He caught the sob In her voice, and
1t unnamed him. He stalked of, rag.
Ing. While OF duty be kept strict
watch and ward over the ganrway
In which Iris cabin was situated. II
was useless. She remained hidden.
AS Coke had told Iris she might ex.
pect to be ashore about 2 o'clock
she waited until half past ere COM
Ing on deck. Despite her unalterable
decision to abide by the hideous com.
pact entered into with her uncle and
Bulmer. her first thought now was to
find Hozier.
Iris was thoroughly wretched and
not little disturbed by the near pros
pect OF winding In foreign country
which would probably be plunged into
civil war by the mere advent of De
Sylvia. 1t need hardly be said that
under these circumstances Hozier was
the one man in whose company she
would feel reasonably safe. But she
could not see him anywhere.
At last she hailed One Of the Androm-
eda's men whom she met in a gang
way.
"Mr. Hozier. miss?" said he. "Oh.
he's forrard. right up in the bows,
keepin' a lookout"
This information added to her dis.
tress. She ought not to 60 to him
Full well she knew that her presence
might distract him from an all i'm
portant task. SO she sat forlornly on
the fore hatch. waiting there until he
might leave his post.
The steamer crept on lazily, and Iris
fancied the hour must be nearer s
o'clock than when she heard Ho-
ziers voice ring out clearly:
Buoy on the port boww
There was movement among the
dim figures on the bridge. minute
later Hozier cried again:
Buoy on the starboard bowl"
She understood then that they were
In marked channel. Already the road
was narrowing. Soon they would be
ashore. at last Hozier came He saw
her "a he jumped down from the fore
castle deck.
"Why are you here, lris?" was oil he
said. She looked so bowed. so hum
bled. that he could not find 1t in his
heart to rcproach her for having
avoided him earlier.
II wanted % be near you" she whis-
pered. Il am frightened. Philip.
am terrified by the unknown. Some
how on the rock our dangers were
measurable; here we shall soon be
swallowed up among a whole lot Of
people"
They heard Coke's Eruff order to the
watch to clear the falls Of the jolly
boat. The Unser Fritz was going dead
slow. On the starboard side were the
lights Of large town. but the op.
posite shore was somber and vague.
"Are we going to land at once in n
small boat?" said Iris timidly.
u
foot. A gunboat Ia moorcd half
mile downstream. You missed her be-
calse your back was turned. She has
steam up and could slip her cables IN
q minute. They saw her from the
bridge. o. course. but did not reporc
her, as there was chance that lcy
hail might be heard. and we came In
so confident L. that We are looked Oh q,
a local trader"
He took her ny the arm with that
masterfu rcntleucss that is SO com.
fOrting to woman when danger Is
rife. They reached the bridge Some
sailors were lowering boat as quiet.
ly as possible.
Dom C0rria approached with out.
stretched hand.
"GOodby. Mss Yorkc." he said. ~
am leaving you for few hours. net
longer. When next We meet | ought
to have Il sure grip Of the presidential.
ladder. ana | shall climb quickly
Won't YOU wish me luck:"
IL wish you al good fortune. DoDl
Corria.' said Iris. May your plans
succeed without bloOdsheG."
D "Ah, this is South America, remem-
Der. Our conflicts are usually short
and fierce. Au revoir Mr.. Hozler BY
daybreak we shall be better friends"
San Benavides also bade them fare
well with IN easy grace not wholly
devoid Of melodramatic pathos The
dandy and the man Of rags climbed
down rope ladder, the boat fell away
from the ships side. and the night
took them.
"Mr. Hozier" cried Coke.
Eyes. sir"
"ls ell clear forrard to let go an
chor?'
"Yes, sir"
"Give her thirty. You go and see to
1t, will you?
Hozier made Off at q run.
Iris recalled the last time she heard