Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-05
CHAPTER xvI-tContinued)

CHAfTER NNI-(Continueb
"T CANNOT bear TO think OF more lives
Il being sacrificed" she protested "Per-
haps II these men are treated mercifuily and
sent 20 their homes after some punishment
their example may serve as deterrent
to others"
so II was settled that way. The anchor
ratified up TO It's berth and the orient
turned her hend toward Singapore As
she steadily passed away into the deep
ening azure, the girl ane her lover watched
the familiar outlines OF Rainbow Island
Erowing dim In the evening light. For a
long while they could sec Mir JAMS tall
thin hgure motionless on a rock at the
extremity OF Europa Point Their hut.
the reef, the ledge, came into view as the
cruiser swung around TO more north
erly course
Iris had thrown an arm across her
fathers shoulders The three were left
alone Just then, and they were silent for
many minutes, At last the flying miles
merged the solitary palm beyond the lagoon
with the foliage on the cliff The wide cleft
OF Prospect Park grew less distinct. Mir
Jams white-clothed figure was lost in the
dark background, The island was becom-
ing vague, dream-like, a blurred memory.
Robert" said the girl devoutly, God
has been very good to us"
Yes" he replied. 81 was thinking. even
this instant. OF the verse that N carved
on tho gate Of the Memorial Well at Gavin
pore These are they which came out OF
great tribulation.' We too. have come
out OF great trlbulation. happily with our
lives-and more. The DEGREES OF fate are
indeed inscrutable"
Iris turned 20 him a face roseatc with
loving comprehension.
DO you remember this hour yesterday
she murmured-"how we suffered from
thlrst-how the Dykas began their second
attack from the ridge-how YOU climbed
dENNfV NNa lad NglNs uHaA IA
father. darling" she went on impulslvely.
Tightening her grasp, you will never know
how brave he was, how enduring, how
he risked all for me and cheered me TO
the end, even though the end seemed TO be
the grave"
'T think am beginning TO understand
now" answered the shlpowner. averting
his eyes lest Iris should see the tears In
them. The Calvary was ended. they
thought--was II for him to lead them again
through the sorrowful way? II was "A
heartrending task that lay before him,
task from which his soul revoted. lie
refused even to attempt II. He sought for
getfulness In a species OF mental ntoxica-
tion and countenanced his daughters love
tdyll with such apparent approval that
Lord Nentnor wondered whether Sir Ar
thur were not suffering from senile decay.
The explanation of the shipowners posi-
tion was painfully simple. Being a daring
yet shrewd fnancier, he perceived in the
troubled condition OF the far East a mag
niflcent opportunity to consolidate the trad
ing influence Of his company. He negotiat-
ed two big loans, one, OF a semiprvate ma
ture, TO equip docks and railways In the
chief maritime province OF China, the other
OF a more public character. with the Gov
ernment of japan. All his own resources
together with those of his principal di-
rectors and shareholders, were devoted &c
these objects. Contemporaneously, he de.
| termined 20 stop paying heavy Insurance
premiums on his fleet and make II self.
supporting. on the well-known mutual prin.
| ciple
His vessels were well equipped. well
manned. replete with every modern i'm.
| provement and managed with great com.
| mercial skill. In three or four years. glver
| ordinary trading luck. he must have doubled
| his own fortune and earned a worldwide
| reputation for far-seeing sagacity
No sooner were all his arrangements
| completed than three OF his best ships
| went down, saddling his company with al
absolute loss Of nearly 100000 and seri
| ously undermining his financial credit.
| fellow-director, wealthy and influential re-
| signed his seat on the board and headed Q
| clique OF disappointed stockholders. Al
| once the fair sky became overcast. A SOUND
| and magnificent speculation threatened tC
dissolve In the Bankruptcy Court.
| Sir Arthur Deane'B energy and financla
| skill might have enabled him 10 weather
| this unexpected gale were II not for tho
apparent loss OF his beloved daughter with
| the crack ship OF his line. Half-frenzieC
with grief, he bade his enemies do thell
worst and allowed his affairs TO get int
| hopeless confusion while he devoted himself
| wholly to the search for Iris and her com
panions. At this critical juncture Lore
| Ventnor again reached his side. His lord
| ship possessed large private fortune and
| extensive estates. He was prudent withal
and knew how admirably the shlpownerl
| plans would deyelop II given the necessar,
| time. He offered the use Of his name ant
money. He more than filled the gap created
by the hostile ex-director.