Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-05-27

CudL she duu LOTu F0uJuOI p1dAlnSO
the affair for which Anstruther was
tried by court-martial. 1t must have
been beastly business, for Costobell
was sweating with rage, though his
words were icy enough. And you
ought to have seen Ventnor's face
when he heard of the dispositions,
sworn to and signed by Mrs. Costobell
and by several Chinese servants whom
he bribed to give false evidence. He
promised to marry Mrs. Costobell If
her husband died, or, in any event,
to bring about divorce when the
Hong Kong affair had blown over.
Then she learnt that he was after Miss
Iris, and there it no doubt her fury
helped on the fever. COstobell said
that, for his wife's sake, he would
have kept the wretched thing secret,
but he was compelled to clear An
struther's name, especially as he came
across the other old Johnnit--"
"Pompey, you are incoherent with
excitement Who is the other old
Johnnie'?" asked the first huff severe
ly.
Didn't I tell you? Why, Anstruth-
er's uncle, of course "a heavy old swell
with just a touch of Yorkshire in his
tongue. I gathered that he disinherited
his nephew when the news of the
court-martial reached him. Then he re-
Tented, and cabled to him. Getting no
news, he came East to look for him.
He met Costobell the day after the
lady died, and the two swore-the
stout uncle can swear a treat-any-
how, they vowed to be revenged on
Ventnor, and to clear Anstruther's
character, living or dead. Poor old
chap! He cried like a baby when he
asked the youngster to forgive him.
1t was quite touching. I can tell you
Playdon affected to search for his
pocket-handkerchief.
Do tell us, or it will be worse for
you," cried his mentor.
"Give me time, air, drink What
you fellows want is a photograph. Let
me see. Well, Costobell shook Vent
nor off at last, with the final observa-
tion that Anstruther's court-martial
has been quashed. The next batch of
general orders will re-instate him in
the regiment, and it rests with him
to decide whether or not criminal
warrant shall be issued against his
lordship for conspiracy. Do you fell
lows know what conspir--?"
"You cuckooi What did Miss Deane
do?"
"Clung to Anstruther like a weep
ing angel, and kissed everybody all
around when Ventnor got away. Well
hands off. I mean her father, Ans
truther and the stout uncle. Unfor-
tunately / was not in on that scene.
But, for some reason, they all nearly
wrung my arm off, and the men were
so excited that they gave the party a
rousing cheer as their rickshaws went
off in bunch. Will no Christian
gentleman get me a drink"
The next commotion arose in the
hotel when Sir Arthur Deane seized
the first opportunity to explain the
predicament in which his company
was placed, and the blow which Lord
Ventnor yet had it in his power to
deal
Mr. William Anstruther was an in
terested auditor Robert would have
spoken, but his uncle restrained him.
Leave this to me, lad" he exclaim-
ed. when l was coming here in the
Sirdar there was lot of talk about
Sir Arthur's scheme, and there should
not be much difficulty in raising all
the brass required, if half what
heard is true. Sit you down, Sir Ar
thur, and tell us all about it"
The shipowner required no second
bidding. With the skill for which he
was noted, he described his operations
in detail, telling how every farthing
of the first instruments of the two
great loans was paid up, how the
earnings of his feet would quickly
overtake the deficit in capital value
caused by the loss of the three ships,
and how, in six months time, the lead
ing financial houses of London, Paris,
and Berlin would be offering him more
money than he would need.
To a shrewd man of business the
project could not fail to commend
itself, and the Yorkshire squire,
though a trif1e obstinate in temper,
was singularly clear-headed in other
respects. He brought his giant fist
down on the table with a whack.
"Send cable to your company, Sir
Arthur" he cried "and tell them that
your prospective son-in-law will pro-
vide the ten thousand pounds you re-
quire. I will see that his draft is hon.
ored You can add, if you like, that
another ten will be ready if wanted
when this lot is spent. l did my lad
one d-er-deuced bad turn in my
life. This time, think, I am doing
him a good one"
"You are, indeed said Iris's father
enthusiastically "The unallotted cap
ital he is taking up will be worth four
times it's face value in two years"
"Al the more reason to make his
holding twenty instead of ten," roared
the Yorkshireman. "But look here.
You talk about dropping proceedings
against that precious earl whom l saw
to-day. Why not tell him not to try
any funny tricks until Roberts mon
ey is safely lodged to your account?
We have him in our power. Dash it
all, let us use him bit"
Even Iris laughed at this naive