Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-04
CHAPTER xvI-tcou,lnu.d,

NhhA NNA-ANouNANNNNN
ANsrRUTHER was satisfied that none OF
"A them hazarded the rcmotest guess as
to the value Of the gaunt rock they were
staring at and chance helped him TO bafie
further Inquiry
A trumpeter on board the orient was
blowing his lungs out to summon them 60
luncheon. when Captain Fitzroy put nnal
query,
II can quite understand" he said to Rob.
ert. that YOU have an affection for this
weird place"
II should think SO indeed" muttered the
stout midshipman. Riancing az Iris
But I am curious 20 know" continued
the commander, why you lay claim 70 the
island7 You can hardly intend TO return
here"
lie pointed to Roberts piscard stuci, on
the rock.
Anstruther paused before no answered
He felt that Lord Ventnor's dark eyes were
fxed on him. Everybody was more or less
desirous TO have this point cleared up. lie
looked tho questloner squarely I'm tho face.
''ln some parts OF the world" he said.
"there are sunken reefs, unknown, un-
chRrted on which many a vessel has been
lost without any contributory fault on the
part OF her officers"
Undoubtedly"
well Captain Fitzroy when I was sta.
toned with my regiment In Hongkong I
encountered such a reef and wrecked my
life on IT, AZ least, that ts how Il seemed
to mo then. Fortune threw me ashore
here, after long and bitter submergence.
You can hardly blame mo II cling TO the
tiny speclS Of land that gave me salvation"
mo" admitted the sailor. lie knew
there was something more in the allegory
than the text revealed, but It was no bust
ness OF his.
Moreover" continued Robert smilngly.
you see l have a partner"
"rhere cannot be the slightest doubt
about the partner" was the prompt reply.
Then every one laughed. Iris more than
any though Sir Arthur Deane's gRyety was
forced, and Lord Ventnor could taste the
acidity OF his own smile
Later in the day the first lieutenant told
his chief of AnstrIther's voluntary state
ment concerning the court.martial. Captain
Fitzroy was naturally pained by this un-
pleasant revelation, but he took exactly the
same view that expressed by the FIRST
lieutenant In Roberts presence.
Nevertheless he pondered the matter. and
seized an early opportunity of mentioning
IL 20 Lord Ventnor. That distinguished
nobleman was vastly surprised to learn
how Anstruther had cut the ground from
beneath his feet.
"Yes." he said, i'm reply to the sailors
request for information, IL know all about
Il. II could not well be otherwise. seeing
that next 10 Mrs. Costobel was the prin-
cipal witness against him"
THAT must have been d----d awk.
ward for YOU" was the unexpected com.
ment.
Indeed! Why"
Because rumor linked your name with
that OF the lady in somewhat outspoken
way"
''You astonish me. Anstruther certainly
made some stupid allegations during the
trial; but / had no idea he was able to
snread thIs malicious reDort sybseduentiy" 4"
II am not talking OF Hongkong. my
lord. but of Singapore, months later"
Captain Fitzroy's tone was exceedingly
dry. Indeed. some people might deem II
offensive.
His lordship permitted himself the rare
luxury of an angry scowl.
"Rumor Is a lying jade at tho best" he
said curtly. you must remember, Captain
Fitzroy. that have uttered no word OF
scandal about Mr.. Anstruther. and any
doubts concerning his conduct can be set
at rest by perusng tho records OF his case
in the Adjutant-Generars office at Hong
kong"
Hum v said the sailor. turning on his
heel TO enter the chartroom. This was no
way to treat a real live lord. a parsonage
of some political Importance, too such as
the Special Envoy to Wang Hal Evidently,
Iris was no mean advocate. She had al
ready won for the "outcast" the suffrages
of the entire ships company
The girl and her father went back to the
island with Robert. After taking thought,
the latter decided TO ask Mir Jan to remain
I'm possession until he returned. There was
not much risk OF another Dyak invasion
The fate OF Taung SAlrs expedition would
not encourage a fresh set of marauders
and the Mahommedan would be well armed
TO meet Unforeseen contingencies. while on
his, Anstruther's. representations the Orient
would land an abundance of stores. In
any event, Il was better for the native