Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-05-27
1.-THE Wings
of the Morning"
Copyrighted by E. J. Clode)
BY LOUIS TRACY

weeks would elapse before he would
be a richer man than his rival. Tne
chief sufferer was Sir Arthur Deane.
Had Iris guessed how her father was
tormented, she would not have re-
NAMED on the bridge, radiant and
mirthful, whilst the grey-haired bar
onet gazed with stony-eyed despair at
some memoranda which he extracted
from his papers.
"Ten thousand pounds!" he NUT
tered. mot a great sum for the mil
lionaire financier, Sir Arthur Deane, TO
raise on his note of hand. A few
months ago men offered me one nun
dred times the amount on no better
security. And now, to think that set
of iabbering fools in London should
so destroy my credit and their own,
that not bank will discount our pap
er unless they are assured Lord Vent
nor has Joined the board! Fancy me,
of all men, being willing to barter my
child for few pieces of gold!"
The thought was maddening. For
little while he yielded to utter de-
spondency It was quite true that
comparatively small amount of money
would restore the stability of the
firm. Even without it, were his credit
unimpaired, he could easily tide over
the period of depression until the first
fruits of his enterprise were garnered.
Then, all men would hail him as
genius.
YEARLY turning over his papers, he
suddenly came across the last letter
written to him by Iris's mother. How
she dotted on their only child! He re-
called one night, shortly before his
wife died, when the little Iris was
brought into her room to kiss her and
lisp her infantile prayers. She had de-
vised a formula of her own
"God bless father! God bless moth
er! God bless me, their little grill"
And what was it she cried to him
from the beach?
"Your own little girl given back to
you!"
Given back to him! For what-to
marry that black-hearted scoundrel
whose pastime was the degradation or
women and the defaming of honest
men? That settled it. Instantly the
cloud was lifted from his soul. A great
peace came upon him. The ruin OF
his business he might not be able to
avert, but he would save from the
wreck that which he priced more than
all else-his daughters love.
The engines dropped to half speed
they were entering the harbor of
Singapore. In a few hours the worst
would be over. If Ventnor telegraphed
to London his withdrawal from the
board nothing short of cabled draft
for ten thousand pounds would pre-
vent certain creditors from filing
a bankruptcy petition. In the local
I, oI0
and to his credit. Surely among the
rich merchants of the port, men who
knew the potentialities of his scheme,
he would be able to raise the money
needed He would try hard. Already he
felt Drawer The old fire had returned
to his blood The very belief that he
was acting in the way best calculated
to secure his daughters happiness
stimulated and encouraged him.
He went on deck, to meet Iris skip
ping down the hatchway.
ooh, there you are!" she cried. 81
was Just coimng to find out why you
were moping in your cabin. You are
missing the most beautiful view-all
green's, and blues, and browns! Run,
quick! 1 want you to see every inch
of it."
him gleefully up the steps. Leaning
against the taffrail some distance
apart from each other, were Anstruth-
er and Lord Ventnor. Need it be said
to whom Iris drew her father?
"Here he is, Robert" she laughed.
81 do believe he was sulking because
Captain Fitzroy was so very attentive
to me. Yet you didn't mind it a Bit"
The two men looked into each 9TH
er's eyes They smiled. How could they
resist the conta gion of her sunny ma
ture?
81 have been thinking over what you
said to me just now, Anstruther," said
the shipowner slowly.
"Oh!" cried Iris "Have you two
been talking behind my back?"
cit is no secret to you-my little
girl" Her fathers voice fingered
on the phrase. when we are on shore,
Robert, l will explain matters to you
more fully. Just now I wish only to
tell you that where Iris has given her
heart l will not refuse her hand"
"You darling old dad And is that
what all the mystery was abOut?"
She took his face between her hands
and kissed him. Lord Ventnor. won
dering at this effusiveness, strolled
forward.
what has happened, Miss Deane?"
he inquired. "Have you just discovered
what an excellent parent you pos
sess?"
The baronet laughed, almost hyster-
ically. "Pon my honor" he cried,
you could not have hit upon a happier
explanation
His lordship was not quite satisfied
Il suppose you will take Iris to
Smiths Hotel?' he said with cool i'm
pudence.
Iris answered him.
yes. My father has just asked Rob-
ert to come with us-by inference,
that is. Where are you going?"
The adroit use of her lovers Chris