Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-29

n disgraced man." Yes, that was II. Could
that stain be removed7 Mir Jan was do
Ing H. Why not he7--by otner means.
Tor his good name rested on the word OF n
per1ured woman Wealth was potent, but
not al-powerful. He would ask Iris 10 wait
until he came to her unsoiled by slander.
merited.
And all this goes to show that he. a man
wise beyond his fellows, had not yet learned
the unwsdom OF striving TO lift the veil of
tomorrow, behind whose mystic curtain what
Is to be ever jostles out Of place what is
hoped for
Iris, smiling in her Dreams was assailed
by no torturing doubts. Robert loved her
that was enough Love sufiices for a wom-
an; man asks for honor. reputation. an
unblemished record.
To awaken her he kissed her ; he knew not
perchanco IL might be their last kiss on
earth. Not yet dawn. there was morning in
the air, for the first faint shafts OF light
were not visible from their aerie owing to
its position. But there was much to be
done. II the Dyaks carried out the plan
described by Mir Jan, he had a good many
preparations TO make.
The canvas awning was rolled back and
the stores built into barricade intended to
shelter Iris.
What is that for?" she asked. when she
discovered its nature. He told her She
definitely refused to avail herself OF any
such protection
Robert. dear" she said, IF the attack
comes to our very door. SO to speak, surely
I must help you. Even my slight aid may
stem rush In one place while you are busy
In another"
He explained to her that IL hand-to-hand
fighting were necessary he would depend
more upon crowbar than a rife to sweep
the ledge clear. She might be in the way.
Very we'll The moment you tell me to
get behind that fence / will do so. Even
there can use a revolver"
That reminded him. His own pistol was
unloaded. He possessed only Ave more
cartridges of small caliber. He placed them
In the weapon and gave It to her
Nov you have eleven mems lives in your
hands," he said. '"rry not to miss II you
must shoot"
In the dim light he could not see the
spasm Of pain that cloudcd her face No
Dyak would reach her while he lived II
he fell. there was another use for one of
those cartridges.
The sailor had cleared the main floor of
the rock and was placing his four rifles and
other implements within easy reach when
a hiss came from beneath.
Mir JAM" exclaimed Iris.
What now?" demanded jerks over the
side.
"Sahib. they come"
81 am prepared. Let that snake get back
to his hole in the rock. lest a mongoose
seize him by the head"
Mir Jan. engaged In a scouting expedition
on his own account, understood that the
officer-sahibs orders must be obeyed He
vanished Soon they heard a great crack
ling among the bushes on the right, but
jerks knew even before he looked that the
Dyaks had correctly estimated the extent
OF his fire zone and would keep out of IT,
The first physical intimation OF the
enemy's design they received was a pun
gent but pleasant smell OF burning pine
borne to them by the northerly breeze and
hlling the air with its aroma. The Dyaks
kindled huge fire. The heat was percep.
tible even on the ledge, but the minutes
passed and the dawn broadened into day
| without any other result being achieved
Iris, a little drawn and pale with sus
pense, said with timid giggle-
This does not seem to be so very seri
| GUS. 1t reminds me OF my efforts to cook
There is more to follow. fear, dear one
But the Dyaks are fools They should have
waited until night fell again. after wearing
US out by constant vigilance all day. II
| they intend to employ smoke 1t would b.
| FAR worse for us at night"
Phew! A volume OF murky vapor arose
| that nearly suffocated them by the frs
Whit Of its noisome fumes. 1t curled like {
| black pail over the face of the rock ant
blotted out sea and sky. They coughed in
| cessantly and nearly cholxed, for the Dyak
had thrown wet seaweed on top of tn,
burning pile of dry wood. Mir Jan, borI
| in interior India, knew little abont the SCI
OF its products. and when the savagei
talked of seaweed he thought they mean
| green wood Fortunately for him, the as
cending clouds of smoke missed the cave, OF
infallibly he must have been stined.
Lie fiat on the rockr' gasped Senks
| Careless Of waste, he poured water over
| coat and made Iris bury her mouth anC
| nose in the wet cloth. This gave her i'm
mediate relief, and she showed her womani
wit by tying the sleeves of the carmen
| behind her neck jerks nodded compre
| hension and followed her example, for b,
this means their hands were left free
The black cloud grew more dense each
| few seconds. Nevertheless owing to tn.
| slope Of the ledge and the tendency of tn.
| smoke to rise, the south side was far more
| tenable than the north. Quick TO note thi.
| favorable circumstance, the sailor deduced
| further fact from IT, A barrier erected or
| the extreme right OF the ledge would be q
| material gain. He sprang up, dragged the
huge tarpaulin from its former location
| and propped IL on the handle OF the pick
AK, driven by one mighty stroke deep into
| a crevice of the rock
II was no mean feat Of strength that he
performed. He swung the heavy and cum
brous canvas into position as II II were a
dust cloth. He emerged from the gloom OF
the driven cloud red-eyed but triumphant
Instantly the vapor on the ledge lessened
| and they could breathe, even talk. Overhead
and in front the smoke swept in ever-in-