Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TEL??~?xw?i?r of the Orient's twelve fonder shells, suddenly burst in the ^teidst of the group of officers it would ^lave created less dismay than this un 'W?ected avowal. Court martialed! T3ashiered.f None bat a service man 'can grasp the awful signifies nee of these words to the commissioned ranks ^rf the army and nary, v Ai?trutner well knew what he was fleing. Somehow he found nothing hard $& the performance of these penances taw. Of coarse the ugly truth mast %e revealed the moment Lord Yen tn or feeard his name. It was not fair to the ^good fellows crowding around him and ^ottering every attention that the frank hospitality of tike British sailor could Suggest to permit them to adopt the tone of friendly equality which rigid ^sdpline if nothing else would: not al* i ?low them to maintain. The first lieutenant by reason of his I fcank was compelled to say something. "That is a devilish bad Job, Mr. An ?nither," he blurted out "Well, you know I had to tell you." Be smiled unaffectedly at the won* bering circle. He, too, was an officer fend appreciated their sentiments. They /were unfeignedly sorry for him, a man ^6 brave and modest, such a splendid type of tibe soldier and gentleman, yet iy their common law an Outcast Nor wold they wholly understand his de* fceeanor. There was a noble dignity in Iiis candor, a conscious innocence that disdained to shield itself under a par? dal truth. Tbe first lieutenant again phrased ! %he thoughts of his juniors. **I and every other; man in the ship ^cumot help but sympathize with you. feat whatever may be your record-if ^oa were an escaped convict, Mr. An fctrether--no one could withhold from ^ou the praise deserved for your mag? nificent stand against overwhelming xr?ds. Our duty is plain. We will bring ? ^?c to Singapore, where the others will ^? doubt wish to go Immediately. I ^02 tell the captain what you have been iRood enough to acquaint us with. Mean? while we will give you every assistance ^ad-er- attention in our power." -A. murmur, of approbation ran through the little circle Robert's face fcaled somewhat" What first rate chaps j they were, to be sure! *T can only thank you," he said un- r Steadily. "Your kindness is more try- J Sag than adversity/' A rustle of silk^the intrusion into the j latent knot of men of a young lady in j <a Paris gown, a Paris hat carrying a [ ^Crouville parasol and most exquisitely gloved and booted, made every one .'Oh, Robert dear, how could you? I Actually didn't know you!" Thus Iris, bewitchingly attired, was 3ga*2hg now with provoking admiratia-a ^Jt Robert who certainly offered almost great a contrast to his former state ^ l?id the girl herself. He returned t&C look with interest *WOuld any man believe," he laugh <5?tX "that clothes would do so much for fe Woman?" *What a left handed compliment! ^Qt come, dearest Captain Fitzroy ^fc?d Lord Ventnor have come ashore With father and me. They want us to *bow them everything! You will ex? cuse him, won't you?" she added, with seraphic smile to the others. They walked off together. "Jimmy !" gasped a fat midshipman ^ a lanky youth. "She's got on your %>gsr Meaning that Iris bad ransacked the "Orient's theatrical wardrobe and pounc? ed on the swell outfit of the principal female impersonator in the ship's com? pany. CHAPTER XVI. EORD VENTNOR was no fool. While Iris was transforming herself from a semisavage con? dition into a semblance of an 5*a2tra ebie Parisienne, Sir Arthur *-Deaoe told the earl something of the Estate of affairs on the island. ?4s lordship, a handsome, saturnine *&an, cool, insolently polite, counseled patience, toleration, even silent recog? nition of Anstruther's undoubted ^iaJaiis for sen-ices rendered. "She is an enthusiastic, high spirited ?g?ri." he urged upon his surprised bear? er-, who expected a very different ex Iwesslon of opinion. "This fellow An $t?ut?!er is a plausible sort of rascal, ta ^>0?>d*nan in a tight place, too-just the ?of fire eating blackguard who Wout? fill the heroic bill where a fight .?& co?t-erned. Hang him, he licked me twicer Fur-ther amazement for the shipown "*Yes, it's quite true. I interfered "With -J*-; tttle games, and Le gave me 3&>e usual rewai'd of the devil's apothe ^ry. 'Leave Iris alone. At present Sit? is strung up to an intense pitch of gratitude, having barely escaped a ter &i?e fate. Let her come back to the firmal. Anstruther's shady record ?fi?st gradually leak out. That will <lis $S8t her. He is hard up-cut off by his ?*\->p!e and that sort of thing. There .?9** probably have the measure of his $?&eming. He knows quite well that can never marry your daughter, lt -'?.ll a matter of price." S?r Arthur willingly allowed himself $8 fee persuaded. At the back of his $KS*d there was an uneasy conscious? es?? that it was not "all a matter of '???+-??1 Jj*, ?. were he_ would, never By LOUIS ?m TRACY g:!" Copyright, 1903, by -V Edward J. Clode ? trust a man's face again. But Yent no^s well balanced arguments swayed him. The course indicated was the only decent one. It was humanly im? possible for a man to chide his daugh ter and flout her rescuer within an hour of finding them. Lord Ventnor played Ms cards with a deeper design. He bowed to the in evitable. Iris said she loved his rival. Very well To attempt to dissuade her was to throw her more closely into that rival's arms. The right course was to appear resigned, saddened, com pelled against his will to reveal the distressing truth. Further, he counted on Anstruther's quick temper as an active agent Such a man would be the first to rebel against an assumption of pitying tolerance. He would bring hitter^ charges of conspiracy, of un? believable compact to secure his ruin. All this must "recoil on his own head when the facts were laid bare. Not even the hero of the island could pre? vail against, the terrible indictment of the court martial. Finally, at Singa pore, three days distant, Colonel Cos? tobell and his wife were staying. Lord Ventnor, alone of those on board, knew this. Indeed, he accompanied Slr Ar? thur Deane largely in order to break off a somewhat trying entanglement He smiled complacently as he thought of the effect on Iris cf Mrs. Costobell's Indignant remonstrances when the bar? onet asked that Injured lady to tell the girl all that had happened at Hong? kong. However, Lord Ventnor was most profoundly annoyed, and he cursed Anstruther from the depths of his heart But he could see a way out He came ashore with Iris and her father. The captain of tte Orient also joined the party. The three . men watched Robert and the giri walking toward them from the group of offi? cers. "Anstruther is a smart looking fel? low/' commented Captain Fitzroy. ?'Who is her ' Truth to tell, the gallant commander of the Orient was secretly amazed br the metamorphosis effected in Robert's appearance since he scrutinized him through his glasses. Poor Sir Arthur said not a word, but his lordship was quite at ease . "From his name and from what Deane tells me I believe he is an ex officer of the Indian army." "Ah! He has left the service?" "Yes. I met him last in Hongkong." 'Then you know him?" "Quite well, if he is the man I im? agine" "That is really very nice of Ventnor," thought the shipowner. "The last thing I should credit him with would be a forgiving disposition." Meanwhile Anstruther was reading Iris a little lecture. "Sweet one" h explaiifed to her, "do not allude to me by my former rank. I am not entitle! to it Some day, please God, it will be restored to me. At present I am a plain civilian, and, by the way. Iris during the next few days say nothing about our mine." "Oh, why not?" "Just a personal whim. It will please me." "If it pleases you, Robert I am satis? fied." He pressed her arm by way of an? swer. They were too near to the wait? ing trio for other comment. "Captain Fitzroy," cried Iris, "let mc introduce Mr. Anstruther to yon. Lor.: Ventnor, you have met Mr. Anstruthe: before." The sailor shook hands. Lord Vent? nor smiled affably. "Your enforced residence on the is? land seems to have agreed with you," he said. "Admirably. Life here had its draw? backs, but we fought our enemies in the open. Didn't we. Iris?" "Yes. dear. The poor Dyaks were not sui5cientiy modernized to attack us with false testimony.'' Ills lordship's sallow face wrinkled somewhat So Iris knew of the court martial, nor was she afraid to pro ia-in to al! the world that this man was her lover. As Tor Captain Fitz? roy, his bushy eyebrows disappeared into his peaked cap when he heard the manner of their speech. Nevertheless Ventnor smiled again. "F.ven the Dyaks respected Miss Derne*' he said. But Anstruther, sorry for the mani? fest uneasiness of the shipowner, re? pressed the retort on his lips and forthwith suggested that they should walk to the north beach in the first instance, that being the scene of the wreck. During the next hour he became audi? tor ratler than narrator. It was Iris who tola of Iiis wild f.;-.Iit against wind | and waves: Iris who showed them J where he fought with the devilfish; I Iris who expatiated on the long days ! of ceaseless toil, his dauntless eour- ! age in the face of every difficulty, tho ! way ia which he rescued her from the j dutch of tlie savages, the skill of his preparations againsl the anticipated attack and the last great achievement of all, when time after time he foiled the Dyaks' host laid plans and flung them off. crippled and disheartened, during the many phases of the thirty hours' hattie. There were tears in her eyes when she ended, ? but they were tears of thankful happiness, and Lord_Ventnor, ?~"l3IehT~??s teuer who missed nen word nor look, felt a deeper chill in cold heart as he realized that this man's love could never be his. 1 knowledge excited his passion more. His hatred of Anstruther i became a mania, an insensate resc to mortally stab this meddler who ways stood in his path. Robert hoped that his present ore was over. It had only begun. He \ called on to answer questions with number. Why had the tunnel b< made? What was the mystery of valley of death? How did he mam to guess the dimensions of the sundi How came he to acquire such an am ing stock of out of the way knowle of the edible properties of roots ? trees? How? Why? Where? Wh< They never would be satisfied, fer : even the British navy, poking its n into the recesses of the world, of comes across such an amazing sb as the adventures of this couple Rainbow island. He readily explained the creation quarry and cave by telling them of 1 vein of antimony imbedded in the rc near the vault Antimony is one of 1 substances that covers a multitude doubts. No one not excepting the d' tors who use it knows much about and in Chinese medicine it might b? chief factor of exceeding nastiness. Inside the cavern the existence the partially completed shaft to t ledge accounted for recent distm anees on the face of the rock, and ne comers could not, of course, distingu? the bones of poor "J. S." as being t remains of a European. Anstruther was satisfied that none them hazarded the remotest guess to the value of the gaunt rock th were staring at, and chance helped hi to baffle further inquiry. A trumpeter on board the Orient w blowing his lungs out to surhmon the to luncheon when Captain Fitzroy p a final query. * . "I can quite understand,'* he said Robert, "that you have an affection f this weird place, but I am curious know why you lay claim to the islan You can hardly Intend to return here He pointed to Robert's placard s tux on the rock. Anstruther paused before he a: 8wered. He felt that Lord Ventnor dark eyes were fixed on him. Ever, body was more or less desirous to ha^ this point cleared up. He looked tl questioner squarely ia the face. "In some parts of the world," he sali "there are sunken reefs, unknown, ni charted, on which many a vessel ha been lost withqut any contributor fault on the part of her officers." '"Undoubtedly." "Well Captain Fitzroy, when I wa stationed with my regiment in Hon? kong I encountered such a reef an wrecked my life on it At least tha ls how lt seemed to me then. Fortuu threw me ashore here after a long au bitter submergence You can bardi blame me if I cling to the tiny spec! of land that gave me salvation." "No," admitted, the sailor. He kne^s there was something more in the a] legory than the text revealed, but i was no business of his. "Moreover," continued Robert smil ingly, "you see I have a partner." "There cannot be the slightest doub about the partner," was the prompt re ply. Then every one laughed, Iris mor< than any, though Sir Arthur Deane'! gayety was forced, and Lord Ventno; could taste the acidity of his own>smile Later in the day the first lieutenan told his chief of Anstruther's voluntary statement concerning the court martial Captain Fitzroy was naturally painec by this unpleasant revelation, but h( took exactly the same view as that ex pressed by the first lieutenant in Rob ert's presence. Nevertheless he pondered the matter and seized an early opportunity of men? tioning it to Lord Ventnor. That dis? tinguished nobleman was vastly sur? prised to learn how Anstruther had cut the ground from beneath his feet "Yes," he said, in reply to the sailor's regnest for information, "I know ali aDcluT'it. It could not "well be other? wise, seeing that next to Mrs. Costobell I was the principal witness against him." "That must have been awkward for you," was the unexpected comment "Indeed! Why?" "Because rumor linked your name with that of the lady in a somewhat outspoken way." "You astonish me. Anstruther cer? tainly made some stupid allegations during the trial, but I had no idea he was able to spread this malicious re? port subsequently." "I am not talking of Hongkong, my lord, but of Singapore, months later." Captain Fitzroy's tone was exceed? ing dry. Indeed, some people might deem it offensive. His lordship permitted himself the rare luxury of an angry scowl. "Rumor is a lying jade at the best" he said curtly. "You must remember. Captain Fitzroy, that I have uttered no word of scandal about Mr. An? struther, and any doubts concerning his conduct can be set at rest by pe? rusing the records of his case in the adjutant general's office at Hong? kong." "Hum!" said the sailor, turning on bis heel to enter the chart room. The girl and her father went back to the island with Robert. After taking thought the latter decided to ask Mir Jan to remain in possession until he returned. There was not much risk of another Dyak invasion. The fate of Taung S'A li's expedition would not en? courage a fresh set of marauders, and the Mohammedan would be well armed to meet unforeseen contingencies, while on his (Anstruther's) representations j the Orient would land an abundance of stores. In any event it was better for the native to live in freedom ott Rainbow island than to he handed over to the authorities as an escaped convict which ?mist he his immediate j fate no matter what magnanimous j view the government of india might j afterward.take of his services. Mir Jan's answer was emphatic. He took off his turban and placed it on Anstruther's feet. "Sahib." he said. "I. am your dog. If some day I am found worthy to be your faithful servant, then shall I know that Allah has pardoned my transgressions." In spite of himself Sir Arthur Deane could not help liking Anstruther. The He looked the questioner squarely in the face. man was magnetic, a hero, an ideal gentleman. No wonder his daughter was infatuated with him. Yet the fu? ture was dark and storm tossed, full of sinister threats and complications. Iris did not know the wretched circum? stances which had come to pass since they parted and which had changed the whole aspect of his life. How could he tell her? Why should it be his miserable lot to snatch the cup of hap? piness from her lips? In that moment1 of silent agony he wished he were dead, for death alone could remove the burden laid on him. Well, surely he might bask in the sunshine of her laughter for another day. No need to embitter her Joyous heart until he was driven to it by dire necessity. So he resolutely brushed aside the woebegone phantom of care and en? tered into the abandon of the hour with a zest that delighted her. The dear girl imagined that Robert, her Robert, had made another speedy con? quest, and Anstruther himself was much elated by the sudden change in Sir Arthur Deane's demeanor. They behaved like school children on a picnic. They roared over Iris' trou? bles in the matter of divided skirts, too much divided to be at all pleasant. The shipowner tasted some of her sago bread and vowed it was excellent. They unearthed two bottles of cham? pagne, the last of the case, and prom? ised each other a hearty toast at din? ner. Nothing would consent Iris but that they should draw a farewell buck? etful of water from the well and drench the pitcher plant with a torren? tial shower. "Robert carefully secured the pocket? books, money and other effects found on their dead companions. The baro? net, of course, knew all the principal officers of the Sirdar. He surveyed these mournful relics with sorrowful interest. "The Sirdar was the crack ship of my fleet and Captain Ross my most trusted commander," he said. "You may well imagine, Mr. Anstruther, what a cruel blow it was to lose such a vessel, with all these people on board and my only daughter among them. I wonder now that it did not kill me." "She was a splendid sea boat, sir. Although disabled, she fought gallant? ly against the typhoon. Nothing short of a reef would break her up." "Ah, well," sighed the shipowner, "the few timbers you have shown me here are the remaining assets out of ?300.0*0." "Was she not insured?" inquired Robert. "No-that is, I have recently adopted a scheme of mutual self insurance, and the loss falls pro rata on my other ves? sels." The baronet glanced covertly at Iris. The words conveyed little meaning to her. Indeed, she broke in with a laugh: "I am afraid I have heard you say. father dear, that some ships in the fleet paid you best when they ran ashore." "Yes, Iris. That often happened in the old days. It is different now. Moreover, I have not told you the ex? tent of my calamities. The Sirdar was lost on March 18, though I did not know it for certain until this morning. But on March 25 the Bahadur was sunk in the Mersey during a fog, and three da-rs later the Jemadar turned turtle on the James and Mary shoal in the Hooghly. Happily there were no lives lost in either of these cases." Iris was appalled by this list of casu? alties, yet she gave no thought to the serious financial effect of such a string of catastrophes. Robert, of course, ap? preciated this side of the business, espe? cially in view of the shipowner's re? mark about the insurance. But Sir Arthur Deane's stiff upper lip deceived him. He failed to realize that the fa? ther was acting a part for his daugh? ter's, sake. fTO BE CONTINUED.] An Alphabetical Marvel. Little Irma had been on an excursion j to her father's downtown office and j saw f<?r the first tim.* a typewriter in j use. "0!i. mamma." she said on her ; return home, "dou't yen know, I saw j the funniest sewing machine down to j papa's office. It sewed A ii C's!"- . Lippincott's Magazine. CASTOR IA For Infants and Children, nie Kind You Have Always Bought Signatare of THE FIRST DOLLAR SAVED IS .THE BEST. The Sumter Banking and Mercan? tile Company, of Sumter, S. C., will open a saving department and receive deposits of one dollar and over on wldcb 5 per cent, per annum will be allowed, payable quarterly. The way to have a bank account Ls to start, and you will find it eas} enough to keep it growing. Save your pennies and nickles and you will soon have dollars. Call and get particulars as to In erest, deposits, etc. Deposits, subject to check solicited. SUMTER BANKING AND MERCAN? TILE COMPANY, Sumter, S. C. Mar 21-tf IIt should be borne in mind that every cold weakens the lunga, logr? era the vitality and prepare? tho system for the more serious ?jj* eases, among which are the two greatest destroyers of humas lil?, pneumonia and consumption. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy I has won its great popularity by its I prompt cures of this most common Iailment. It aids expectoration, re* lieves the lungs and opens the secretions, effecting a speedy and permanent cure. It counteracts any tendency toward pneumonia. Price 25c Large Size 5?c. *L? II wnw i m 11.ammmumuwmai I PATENTS Promptly obtained or no fee. Write for our CONFIDENTIAL LETTER before applying for patent : it is worth money. We obtain PATENTS THAT PAY. and help inventors to success. Send model, photo or sketch, and we send IMMEDIATE FREE REPORT ON PAT? ENTABILITY. 20yeajtfpractice. Regis? tered Patent Lawyers, write or come to os at 605-507, 7th St. WASHINGTON, D. C. DSWIFM .A nvone spnd?nj; 3. sketch and description may qnickly ascertain onr opinion free whether a.! invention is probablv patentable. Comnimica tions strictly conndcntiaL Handbook on Patents sent free. Oldest neency for securing patents. . iJa:entg taken tn rouen Mu::u & Co. receive spf<*>c( notice, without charge, in the Scientific Ensenes*!. A handsomely illnstrared weofc'y. I>rcest cir 2ncotio'ri ot any {?'.?entine ?"urna!. Verms. $C a v??-;r: four months, *L Sold by ail newsdealers Rw Tort i Earp Geo. S. Hacker & Son -MANUFACTURERS OF DCORS, SASH. BLINDS, Moulding & Building Material. office ami Wnrerooms, King, opposite Ca DOD Street, CHARLESTON, S. C. Parcfaas?* our make, which we guarani superior to any sold South, and thorebr .^ave money. Wiriow and Fancy Glass a Special:;? October 16 -o THE HEGE LOG BEAM SAW MILL WITH HEACOCK-KING FEED WONKS ENGINES AND BOILERS, WOODWORKING .MACHINERY, COTTON GINNING. BRICK MAKING AND SHINGLE AND LATH MACHINERY, CORN MILLS, ?TC. ETC. GIBBES MACHINERY CO.? Columbia, S. C. THE GIBBES SHINGLE MACHINE DeLORflE'S PHARMACY, 23 South Main St. Open from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. ; Sunday, 9 a. m to 1 p. m. Having consoLiated my two stores, i will be pleased to see all my customers at the above stand, where I am better pre? pared than ever to serve them. Your prescriptions will be called for and delivered. Phone 45. Full line of Drugs, Garden Seed and Cigars. Your patronage solicited. Call bell for night work. MONEY PICKED UPI! BY Writing Life Insurance In The Penn Mutual Insurance Go. I 1BERAL contracts to live agents V* in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY MOSES, JR. General Agent, Sumter, S. C. $100,000.00 Capital. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Sumter, S. 0. THE Comptroller of the Currency hav? ing approved the increase of the Capital of this Bank to $100,000.U0, depositors now have as security for their deposits : Capital, - - $100,000 00 Stockholders' Individual Lia? bility, - - - '00,000 00 Surplus and Undivided Prof? its, - 25,000 00 Total Security fer Depositors, $225,000 00 ONLY NATIONLA BANK I* CITY OF SUMTER. Largest Capital of any Bank in this section of South Carolina. Strongest Bank in Eastern part of this State. Interest allowed on deposits to a limited amount. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A. J. CHINA, President. NEILL O'DONNELL, Vice President. H. D. BARNETT, R. D. LEE, G. A. LEMMON, JOHN REID, E. P. BICKER. R. L. EEMUNDS, Cashier. R. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. McC?)lutn, D. J. Winn, Jr. Oliver L. Yates. THE BANK OF SUMTER, SUMTER, S. C. City and County Depository. Capital stock paid in, $75,000 00 Undivided surplus, 16,000 00 Individual liability of stockhold? ers in excess of their stock, 75,000 00 Transacts a general banking business; also has a Saving Bank Department. De? posits of $1 and upward received. Inter? est allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. W. F. B. HAYNSWORTH, President R. I. MANXTNG. W. F. RHA?EE, vice-President. Cashier. Jan. 31. _ THE SUMTER SAVINGS BANK. HORACE HARBY, President. I. C. STRAUSS. vice-President. GEO. L. RICEER, Cashier. Capital Stock, S25.00G. Liability of Stockholders, 2^,000 Every Facility For the transaction of business is afford? ed those who deposit their money with The Sumter Savings Balik, lui portant papers can be drawn up and signed in a-private room set aside for use of our clients and any information de? sired will be cheerfully furnished by the management. Savings deposited here draw interest at the rate of 4 per cent per arr.uu:. $1.00 will open an account and secure a bank book.