Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-05


society lady whom he once saw figuring as
Grace Darling al a fashionable bazaar.
But Miss 1ris's thoughts were serious.
'Do YOU mean" she said slowly. with
out moving her gaze from the distant meet
ing place OF sky and water, that we may
be imprisoned hero for weeks. perhaps
months?
"If YOU cast your mind back a few hours
you will perhaps admit that we are very
fortunate to be here at ALL"
She whisked round upon him do not
fence with my question, Mr.. jerks. Answer
me-"
lie bowed. There was perceptible re-
turn Of his stubborn cynicsm when he
spoke
loss of the Sirdar will not be definitely
known for many days. II will be assumed
that she has broken down. The agents in
Singapore will await cabed tidlngs OF her
whereabouts She might have drifted any.
where In that typhoon. Ultimately they viii
send out vessel TO search, impelled to that
course little earlier by your fathers
anxiety Pardon me. I did not intend to
pain you. I am speaking my mind"
Go on" said Iris bravely
"The relief ship must search the entire
China Sea- The gale might have driven
a disabled steamer north, south, east or
west A typhoou travels in whirling
spiral. you see. and the direction of drift
ing ship depends wholly upon the locality
where she sustained damage. The coasts
of China, Java, Borneo and the Philippines
are not equipped with lighthouses on every
headland and cordoned with telegraph
wires There are river pirates and savage
races TO he reckoned with. Casting aside
all other possibilities and assuming that
a prompt seach is made to the south OF
our course this part Of the ocean Is full
Of reefs and small islands. some Inhabited
permanently, others visited occasionally by
fishermen" He was about to add some
thing. but checked himself.
ITO sum up" he continued hurriedly,
I'VE may have to remain here for many
days, even months There is always
chance for speedy help. We must act, how
ever, on a basis OF detention for an in
definite period. am discussing appear
ances as they are. A survey of the island
may change all these Views"
I'm what way7"
He turned and pointed to the summit
of the tree-covered hill behind them.
From that point" he said. I'VE may see
other and larger islands II so, they will
ce. talnly be inhabited. I am surprised this
one is not"
time. Before Iris could join him he was
already hauling a large undamaged case
out of the water.
He laughed unmirthfully Champagne |"
he said "a good brand, tool"
This man was certainly an enigma. Iris
to place him in a fitting category. His
words and accent were those of an edu-
Gated gentleman, yet his actions and man
ners were studlously uncouth when he
thought she was observing him. The veneer
of roughness puzzled her. That he was
naturally of refined temperament she knew
quite well, not alone by perception but by
tts plain evidence of his earlier dealings
with her. Then why this affectation of
coarseness, this borrowed aroma of the
stewards mess and the forecastle?
To the best of her ability she silently
helped In the work of salvage They made
a queer collection. A case of champagne
and another Of brandy A box Of books.
A pair of nightglasses. A compass. Sew
eral boxes of ships biscuits, coated with
salt, but saved by their hardness. having
been Immersed but few seconds. Two
large cases OF hams in equally good condl-
tlon. Some huge dish covers. A bit of
twisted ironworll, and great quantity OF
cordage and timber
There was one very heavy package which
their united strength could not lift. The
sailor searched round until he found an
iron bar that could be wrenched from it's
socket. With this he pried open the strong
outer cover and revealed the contents-reg-
ulation boxes of Lee-Metford ammunition.
each containing 500 rounds.
"Ah" he cried, now we want some
rifles"
"What good would tney per inquired
Iris,
He softly denounced himself as a fool,
but he answered at once ITO shoot birds,
of course, Miss Deane. There are plenty
here, and many OF them are edible"
''You have two revolvers and some
cartridges"
yves. They are useful in a way, but not
for pot-huntlng."
How stupid of me! What you really
need is n shotgun"
He smiled grimly At times his sense
of humor forced a way through the out
ward shield OF reserve, of defiance 1t might
be.
THE only persons I ever heard Of" he
said, "who landed under compuson on a
desert island with shipload Of requisites
were the Swiss Family Robinson"
Good gracious! !" cried Iris irrelevantly:
at had not even thought OF Robinson
Crusoe until this moment Isn't 1t odd?
Two"
She pulled herself up short firmly re-
solved not to blush. Without winching
she challenged him to complete her sem
tence. He dared not do it. He could not
be mean enough to take advantage of her
slip.
Instantly he helped her embarrassment.
II hope the parallel will not hold good" he
said. I'm any event, you, Miss Deane, fill
a part less familiar in fiction"