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“ When the house was quiet I put on a pair of list slippers and made my way to Mr 05 mond’s bed 100m. The door th unlocked and I went in. A night lamp was burning on the dressing table. Theifull moon shoneiu through the uncut-tamed w‘niow, and its revs slumen right across the sleeper’s face. He lay there, sleeping the sleep 01 the drunken. with one hand clenched, and a. frown on his face as if he were sti-l threatening Mr Daring. It was hardly the work of a. minute to possess myself of the It, was close upon midnight when Pierre Jan- Vm‘d, alighting frmn a fly at the door of his hotel, found his two lodgers standing on the steps smuking a. cigar before turning in for the night, In this there was nothmg unusualâ€"nothing to excite suspic_ion. “ Hallo! Janvard, is that you ‘8" cried Tom, assuming the tone and manner of one who has taken a little too much wine. “ I was just wondering what had become of you. This is my bilthdlty; so vou must come upstairs with us, and drink my health in some'd your owu wine.” " Alas I monsieur, my memory needs no re- freshing. The incidents of that night are far too terrible to be forgotten." With a. hand that still shook slightly be poured himself out another glass of wine and drank it 01? at a draught. Then he continued : “ On the night of the quarrel in the billiard room at Park N ewton I was sitiing up for my master, Mr St George. About min. nuht the hen mug for me, and. on answering it, my master put Mr Osmond into mv hands, he being somewh it the worse for wine, wirh in- structions t'i see him safely to bed This I did, and then I left him. As it hm pened,I had taken 9. violent fancy to Mr Osmond’s splendid ruby ringâ€"the very ring monsieur has now in his pos- sessmnâ€"and that night 1 determined to make it my own. There were several new servants in the house, and nobody would suspect me of having taken it. Mr Osmond had drawn it off his finger, and thrown it carelessly into his dressing bag and locked it up before getting int-n bed, afterwards putting his keys under his pillow. "Another timea rir, I rhall be most happy ; but mrnightâ€"" Author of East Lynne, The Chnnniugs, Roland Yorke, em, etc, “ Now is our time,” said Tom to Lionel as soon as the man had lefb the room. “ We may not have auch an opportuIqipy‘ugxpin.’f "13111; me no buts,” cried 'l‘omv "1'11 huve no excusesâ€"none. Come along. During, and we'll crack another bottle of Junvar Rs Mu. d‘iem, We’ll poison mine host with his own tqgwlefi " Willyou allow me to examine it for a mo- ment ?” asked Lionel gravely, as he held out his hand. For the second time Janvard half ros from his seat, and for the second time he sat down without a word. Tom handed the ring across to Lionel. But that only makes it the more valuable in my eyes. A family heirloom, without doubt And see! inside she hoop are three initials ; some- what diflicult to deciper, but if I read. them Might they are M K L." “ Yes, yes, monsieur,” said Janvard uneasily. “ As you say, M K L. The initials 01 the friend who gave me the mug." He held out his hand as it expecting th at the ringshouid at once be given butcik to him, but Lionel took no noLice of the 8.0 on. fie seized J anvard by the arm and dragged him upstairs, trolling out the lust. popular am as he (11930. ‘ Lionel followefi leisugely. V “Ybu’reix géoarsibi'b, :IfiLVéfd4gvVery good sort," said Tom, lMoinsii'eur is very kind,” said Janvmd, with [L 8111116 and a shrug; and than in obedience to u. waive from Tom 3 hand. He sat down at the table. Tum now begun to fumble with a. bottle and a. corkscrew. “ Three very curious initials, indeed," said Lionel, musiugly. “ One could not readily fit them to many names. M K L. They put: me in mind of a. curious cOlllCidellCB â€"of u very remar- kable coincidence indeed, I once had 11 frisnd Who had a ruby ring very similar 1: this one, and maide the 1100p of my friend’s ring were three: in- itials. The three iuitiuls in question were M K L. Precisely the same as the lettexs eugmvud outgylur ring, Monsieur J EDVtLI‘d. Curious, is it no _“ Ivnm ieddy, ifiéfisi'eurf" he mid quietly; as he Wlped his thin lips and made a. ghastly effort to smile “I gt your“ service." IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT "‘7‘Allbxéihélfidnsieur,” said J anvai‘d politely, as be relieved Tom of the articles in question and proceeded to-open the bottle With the ease of 1011;: practice. 7 “ May I be allowed to examine it; ?” smd Tum as he poured out the wine with a hand that was Bliugkgtly qucgmdy “ I should be mos! happy to oblige monsicur,” said Juuvard nustily, “ but the ring fits me so tightly that I am afraid I should have some difliâ€" e;leth in Egan;ng it off mv finger.” The Frenchman flushed slightly, drew ofl the ring wuh some iitrtle difliculty, and passed it across the table to Tom. Tom‘s lingers clutched it like a vice. Junvard saw the movement and half rose as if to reclaim the ring ; but it was too lat_e, and 119 56:11 gown without speaking. Tom pushed the bug L arelessly over one of his fingers and turned in towards the light. "A very pretty gem indeed 1" he said. " And worth something considerable in sovereigns, I should say.” “ Mills diablés I I ambetmyed I” cried ervard, as he started from his seat and made nsnatch at the ring. The ring had disappeared, but Juuvard hag it not, He turned with a. snarl like that of a wild anim- al brought to buy, and looked towards the door. But between him and the door now stood Tom Bristow, no longer With any signs of iuebriety about him, butas colgi. quiet, and collected 5% ever he had looked {in his life. Tom’s right hand was hidden in the bosom 01' his vest. and Jim vai'a’r-z emu were smi ten by the ominous click of of urevulver. His eyes wandered :ack to the stern face of Llonel. There was no hope for him there. The paior of his face deepened His wonâ€" derful nerve foronce was beginning to desert him H9 Kits trembling visiijly. “ Sit dovvruféiréi’usaid Lfonel, sternly, “ and re- fresh yourself with another glass of wine. I have sogetqing of much_ inypoxtqllhce to say to yomu‘." he shrugged his shoulders and sat down. His sang-from was coming buck to him. He drank twpvglassses of wine rapidly pne Miser qugther. ‘ _" What I Want from you, and what you must give me," said Lionel. ‘ is a. full and particular account of how this ring came into your possesâ€" sion. It belonged to Percy Osmond and it was on his finger the night he was murdered.” “ Ah ciel I 110W do you kn w that ‘2” “ It is enough that what I say is true, and thut you cannot g .41ng it. But this ring was not. on the finger of the murdered man when he was found next morning. Tell me how it came into yo_1_1r p0 session." For a moment or two Janvard did not speak Then he raid, sulkily: “Who are you that come here under false pretences and question me and thrgmten we in this way ‘2” “ I um not he e no answer your questions You are here to answer minel" " What if i refuse to answer them '2’, “ In that cuae the tour walls of u. :risou will hold You in less than half an hour. In your pos ses- sion 1 find a. ring which was on the finger of Mr Osmond the night he “as murdered. LOr-S than that has brought many a better 1mm than you to the gallows ; be careful that it does not lend youvtherefi’ _y uu,nuu vv uuv Luau vv uu m. Again Janvxml was silent for a. little while. His eyes were bent an the floor. He was conaidering deeply within himself. At length he Spoke, but it was in the same sullen tone film; he had used before. 7 V V 7 " What guarantee have Ithut when I have told you anything chat I may know, the informs).- tion will n rt be used against me to my own harm ‘2” ' “ You have no guarantee whatever. I could not ‘ve you auysuch promise. For aught I know to t e |contrarÂ¥ you, and you a one, may be the myrderer of ercy Osmond.”‘ “"i‘hat’s défieet thing in rings you've got on ycgu:fingersY said from aqlmiringlyh “ Hangit alltxndn: €1.16 fez):th you can do is to try_n_” sqjd Tom. ” What proof have youAWhnt proof was there adduced at the trial. that Llonel Daring was the murdeâ€"rer of l’ercyl Osmond ? ‘Did your eyes or those of anyone else, soc him do the bloody deed ‘.’ Wre’ich ! You knew from the first that he was in nocent I If you yourself are not the murderer. you,know the man who is.” Janvard shudnxerrd slightly. " I am not the murderer of Percy Osmond," no sud quietly. " Who, then, was the murderer?’ “ My late musteriMr Kester St George." There was a pause which no one seemed in- clined to bfenk. Although Janvurd’s words were but a confirmation of the suspicious which Lionel and Tom had all along entertained, they seemed. to fall on their ears with all the force of a startling re velatlon. Of the three men there, J anvard was the one who seemed the least concerned. " «11 I wan: from you is the simple truth, and that you must tell me." “Buu,1’nousieur ” began Janvm‘d appeal‘ inglj, mad thqn 1:10 stoppeq.‘ ‘51};V11Vard's shBhldéré rose and fell again "I cannot help myself,” he said. “I have no choice but to comply with the Wishes of mon- sieur." “ Sensibly spoken. Try another glass of wine, 115111;}; h_elp tokgfresh your memory.” " V“WYeisi,i 1t IS rathéx‘iifiné Stdiié,”suid Janvm‘d drfily. v 2711: ydu'kuow anything of the affair at all, you must know that the murderer of Mr Osmond was tried and foungguilty long Egg” “You a. e afraid, andjustly so. ’ You are in my power, and I can use that power in any way than Imuy deem best. At the the name time, understand me. I am no constable â€"n0 offica-r of the lawâ€"I am simply the broth r of Lionel Daring, and knowing, in I do, that he was accused and found gm’lty of u crime of whicn he was (LS innocent as I am, I have vowod that I Will not rest night; or day till I hlLVU discoveer the murderer and brought him :0 justice. Such being the case I tell y u plainly that the best thing you can do is to make a full and fmnk confession of all that you know respecting this terrible business, leaving it for me afterwards to decide as to the use which I may find it requisite to make of your confession. Are you prepared to do What I nsk of you ?" “You are doubtless prepared to substantiate yqug aptemgnt~t9 preve your W01 ‘dp ?" i 7‘71 thriidtfiii'nnt ‘to prdve any‘hing. I want to pold my tongue, but: you will not let 7 #111911; kins the first to speak. “This is a seri- ous charge to make against a. gentleman like Mr Sggeorge," he said._ “I’litiwréix'najde no charge againss Mr St George,” said Janvurd. “It is you who have forced the confession frnm me.” V“VArniia.gfiniirfiicEfit stone indeed," said the latter1 :but somewhat oldinshioned in th9_se_1ti11g. BY MRS. HENRY WOOD, “ Janvard, you are one of the vilest wretches tha' ever disgraced the name of mun !” “ Monsieur s’amuse." “ I shall at once proceed to put down in writ- ing the heads of the confession which you have just made You will sign the writing in question in the presence of Bristow as Witness. You need be under no apprehension that any immediate harm will happen to you. As for Mr St Greer, e, I will deal with him in my own time, and in my own way. There are, however,two points that I Wish you to bear particularly in mind Firstly, if, even by the vaguest hint, you dare to let Mr St George know that you have told me What you have told me to night, it will be at your own proper peril, and you must be prepared to take the consequences that W111 immediately ensue. Secondly, you must hold yourself en- tirely at my service. and must come to me with out delay whenever I may send for you, ~ and wherever I may be. Do you clearly under- stand ‘2” “ Yes, sir. I understand.” “ For the present, then. I have done with you. Two hours later I will send for you again, in order that you may sign a certain paper which Will be ready by that time. You may go}- Here Diamond, judging from the earnestness of Tom’s tone that his thoughts were otherwise, and deeming the opportunity a, favurable one to steal a. little breathing time, gradually Blackened hi1 slow pace into a mill sluwer one. till at last he came to a dead stand. Admonished by a. crack of the Whip half a. yard above his head that Tum was still wide awake, he put on a. tre- mendous spurtâ€"for himâ€"which, an they were goi gdown hill at the tune, was not difficult. But no sooner had they reached a level bit; of StillJ nekept silence. Only from the little hand, which had somehow found its way back .yn to his arm. there came the faintest pOssible pressur ghardly heavy enough to have crushed a butterfly. “ I told hi -1 that I loved you," resumed Tom, “ am I he could not say it was a crime to do so. But when I told him that I had never made love to you, 01 asked you to marry me, he seemed in- clined to doubt my veracity. However, [ set his mind at rest by giving him my word of honor that, even supposing you were willing to have meâ€"a point respecting which I had very strong doubts indeedâ€"1 would not take you for my wife without first obtaining his full consent to do so. “ The footsteps came nearer and nearer, and than someone entered the room. The sleeping man still breathed heavily. NOW and then he moaned in his sleep. All my fear of being found out could not keen me from peeping out of my hiding-place WhatI saw wasmy master, Mr Kuster St George, standing over the sleeping 1na11.withalook on his face that I had never seen there before. He stood thus for a. full min- ute, and then he came round to the near side of the bed, and seemed to be looking for Mr Osmond’a knys. In u_ little while he saw them in the dressingâ€"1mg Where I had left them. Then he crossed to the other side of the room and pro- ceeded one by onOJAtill; 113; had :31.qu the keys. In another minute the dressina case was opened and the ring my own. Mr 05-, mund’s portmunteuu stood inviti gly open ; what more natural than that I should desire to turn over its contents ligh\ly and deiicately? In such cases I um possessed by the simple cur- iosity of u 011 Id‘ 1 was down on my knee»; before the portmanteau admiring this, that and the nther, when to my horror 1 hanrd the muse of coming footsteps. No couce leeut was possible save that afforded by the long curtains which shaded one of the Windows. Next moment I was surely hidden behiudthem. right one, in the lock of Mr Osmond’s writing cas He opened the case, took out of it Mr Osmond’s cheque book. and from that he tore either one or LWn blank che ues He had just relockevi the writing-ruse W on Mr Osmond nuddenly awoke end alerted up in bed. ‘ Villain I what are you doing there ‘2' he cried, as he flung back the bed~ clothes. But before he could set foot to the floor, Mr St George sprang at his throat and inned him down almost as easily as If he had been a b )y. What happened during the next minute I hardly know how to describe. It would seem that Mr Osmond was in the habit of sleeping with a dagger under his pillow. At all events there was one there on this particular night. As soon as he found himself pinned down in had, his haml sought for and found this dagger, and nextmoment he made a. sudden steb with it at the brennt of M1 St George But mv master was too quick furhim, Th re was an instant’s strug- gleâ€"e flashâ€"a. cryâ€":undâ€"yo-i may guess the regs. It seemed as if June had nothing to say either for or against this statement. She only breathed a little mqre quickly, and a lovelier color flushed her cheeks. But just then Diamond swerved towards a. tempting tuft of grass. The c zrriage gave a slight jerk and Toni fanciedâ€" but it might be nothing more than fancyâ€"4mm, instinctively, June drew a. little cl ser to him. And when Diamond had been punished by the eligntest possible flick with the whip between his ears, and was again jogging peacefully on, J zine did not get farther away again, being, per- haps, still slightly nervous; and when Tom looked down there was it little gloved hand rest jug, light as a feather. on his arm. It was im- anSlble to resist the temptation. Dispensing with the the Whip for a moment he lifted the little hand tenderly to his .lips and kissed it. He 'Was nrgt‘repulsed. “YeE, dearest.” he went on, “I am abso- lutely forbidden to make love fio you. I can only imagine that your aunt; has been talk- ing to your father about us. Be that us it may, he has forbidden me to walk out with you. or even to see you alone. The reason why I asked you to meet me to-day was to teli you of these things} ‘Amu mur of horror escaped my 1i 3. In another moment my master hud sprung across the room and had tom away the curtains from before me. ‘ You here 1’ he said. And for a. few seconds I thought my fate would be the same as that of Mr O:-~nond. But at lant. his hand dropped. ‘ mexard, you and I must be friends,’ he said. 'From this night your interests are mine, and mine me yours’ Then We left the 100111 together. A terrible night. mouaieur,us yquumuy well believe 1'.’ ‘ . , ,1, A”, A... Two or three minutes passed in silence. Then Pom spoke “ June.“ 110 said, and it was the first time he had ever culled her b ’her Chris Jan name. "Jane, your father has orbidden me to make love _to ypnul” “Youdheve neeemiCe-d clearly enough for the murder, but you have not yet told us how it happened that; Lionel Daring came to be accused of the crime." “ That is the worst part of the story. sir. \thse thought is was first, whether Mr St George’s or mine, to lay the murder at the door of Mr Daring, I could not now tell you It u 3.5 a. thought that sevmed to come into the heads of both of us at the same moment. As monsieur knows, my master had no cause to love his cousin. He ha i every reason to hate him. Mr Daring had got all the estates and property th'rt ought to ha, 6 been Mr St George’s. But if Mr Daring were to die without children, the estate would all come back to his cousin Reason enough {91: wishing Mr Daring den-q. N ,twithstmuding all this, matters were so ar- ranged between the Squire and Mrs McDarmot that no opportunity was gi ven Tom for being alone with June even for five minutes. The first time this happened he thought that it might perhaps have arisen from mere accident But the next time he went up to Pincote he saw too clearly what was intended to allow him to remain any longer with doubt. That night, after shak- ing hands with Tom at pinning. Jane found in her palm & tiny note, the contents of which were two lines only. “ Should you be shopping in Duxley either toâ€"morrow or next da. , I shall e at the tollgete on the Snelsham road rom twelve . ill one o’clock.” Next day at hqu pest twelve to the minute, J auu and her pony carriage found themselves at the Snelshem tollgate. There was Tom. sure enough, who got into the (mp and took the reins. He turned presentlx into a by- end that led to nowh- re m particum‘, and there earned the grat- itu ie 01 Diamond by lenting h1m lapse into a quiet walk which enabled him to take sly nibbles ut the road-side grass as he jogged contenteely algng. id no talk much about it. my master and I. We understood one another Without many words. There were cermm th ngs to be done which Mr St George had not the nerve to do. I had the nerve to do them, and I did them? It was I who put Mr Dering’s stud under the bed. It was I who tookfihis handkerchief, and â€"” ” Ac laéxiryou cad prociailfi’your innoaence to the world.” “It seemed to me that I heard the voice of Percy Osmond sailing to me from the groveâ€" the smne voice that I have heard so often in my dreams." “‘How your hand bums, Lionel. Shake off these Wild fancies. I implore you,” said Tom. “Wham {L blinding flash was than 1” “Thev are no wild fancies to me, but most dread realities. I tell yom t "s 05 uonu's voice I hear. I know it 'but too well. ‘Thou shalt: re- venge 1’ it: says to me. Only three words: 'Thou shalt avenge l’ ” «I FINDS HIS TONGUE. Neariy a week elapsed after Tom’s inter- :iew with the Squire before he was again invited to Pincote, and after What hml passed between himself and Mr Culpepper he would not go there again without a special invita~ tnon. It is probable that the Squire would not have sent for him even at the end of a. week had he not grown so thoroughly tired of having to cope with Mrs McDermot Single handew that he was ready to call in assistance from any quarter that promised relief. He knew that 'l‘um would assist him if only a. him; were given that he was wanted to dose. And Tom didrelieve him ; so that for the finite time for many days the Squire really eiij eq‘liig giinner; A Enough I" smd Lionel with a shudder. “ Sure- ly no more devilish plot was ever hatched bv human himself I You#you who sit so calmly there, had but to hold up your little finger to save an innocent man from di grape my: denjsh !’_’ “ an would mousxeur have ?" said Janvard. with (mother of his indiscribable shrugs. " Mt St G0 :rgo was my master. I liked him, and I was heuldes, to have a large sum of monuy given to me to keI-p shence, Mr Derng was a stranger to me. Viola, tout.” “ But,monsieurâ€"” " Not 11. word. G0." Tom held. the door for him. and Janvard passedpufi yinhouis apotherlword. H . mas}; Défixié i 7.1375185 éiiéiythinq is made clear I” said Tom, as he crossed the room and aid his hand ufieutionrafiely on Lionel’s shunldgar. “Yes, my task is nenlvdone," sail Lionel sadly " And I thank heaven in 8.11 sincerity thauitis so. But the duty I have still to per- Iorm isa. errible one. I almos,feel as it‘ now, at this, the eleven ch hour, I could go no further. I Shlink in horror from the last and most terri’ ble step of all. ‘ Hark! 'Whose vpice yug than 7' 7 7 “I ijéur nothing save the moaning of the wind, and the low muttering of thunder far away among the hills.” CHAPTER XXXIII. it. In truth. she was rather pleased than other. wise to have Tom there It was dreadfully monotonous to have to spend one evening alter another with no company save that of her bro- ther anlJane. She was tired of her audience, and her audience were tired of her. Mr. Brisvow, as she knew already, could talk well, was lively c mpanv, and. above all things, was an excellent listener. She had done her duty by h r brother in warning him of what was going on between Mr Brisnow and her neice 2 if, after what, the Squire chose to let' the two young people come thefiiwher, it was not her place to dispute his right 0 so. CHAPTER XXXIV. EXIT MRS. MACDERMOT. Tom and his portmnnteau reached Pincote to- gather a few days after 1115 last conversation with the Squire. Mrs. McDermot understood that he had been invited to spend a. week there in order to assist her brother with his buuks and farm accounts It seemed to her a. very injudi- gioug thing to 510, but shy? did not say much ntgont “ We’ll have a. glass of sherry together and drink to your success. By-the-bvye, have you cou- trived yet to purge your brain of that lovesick mmfiolm ?" “ If, sir, you intend that phrase in apply to my feelings with regard to Miss Culpepper, I can only say ,t-hat they are still totally un- changed?” I ” What an idiot you are in some things, Bris- 50W 1” said the Squize, crustily. " Remember this â€"{'l_l-ha.ve n_q love making he'r‘e next wee_k.’: road again then the spurt toned itself down to the customary slowztrot, with, however, an extra whisk of the tail now and then which seemed to imply: “ Mark well what a. fiery steedI could beij {ugly chose t9 exert myself.” “ All this but brings me to one point," said Tom : “that I hnve never yet tod you thatl loved you, that; I have never yet asked you to become my wife. To-dav, then- hereâ€"this ver moment.I tell you that I do love you as tru y and sincerely as it is possible for man to Inve; and here 1 ask you to become my wife, Geialongh Diamond, 69, sir-‘1’ H "Dearest, you are not blind,” he went on. “You must have seen, you must have known, for along time past, that my heartâ€"my loveâ€"were wholly youls ; and that I might one day win you for my own has been a hope, a blissful dream, that has haunted me and charmed my life for longer than I can tel]. I ought, perhaps, to have spoken of this to you before, but there were certain ransom for my silence which it is not necessary to dilate upon now, but which, if you cure to hear them, 1 will explain to you another time. Here, then, I ask you whether you feel as if you could ever learn to love me, whether you can ever care for me enough to become my Wife. Speak to me, darlingâ€"whisper the one little word I him to hear. Lift your eyes to mine, and let me read there that which will make me happy for life." “ It is, of course, militia possibIe that I may fail," said Tom, “ but somehow, I hardly think that I shall.” pi: i; 51'1- fééorxfirthgrfiiidmondrwas the first to "30°F; “ Do as you like. boy. I'll take no notice. But she's an old soldier, is Fan, and if for a. single mo- ment bhe suspects What you are after she‘ll nuil her colors to the mast; and defy us all, and stop heye for sizg months longer.” Except they two, there Was no human being,y visible. They were a.) one with the trees, and the birds. and the sailing clouds. There was no one to overh-‘ar them save that; sly old Diamond, and he pretended to be not listening :1 bit. For the second time he came to m stand-shill, and this time his artfulnesa remained unreproved and unnoticed. “ You may safely trust; me notto do thus. But you must glve me an invitation to come and stay with you at Pincute fo' a. week." " With all my heart." “ I shall devote myself very assiduously to Mrs McDermot, so that you must not be surprised if we seem to be very great friends In the course of a. cquple of days." > Jame . mbled :1 little, but her eyes were still cast dawn. Tom tried to see into their depths but; could not. “You promised 8.1m that; you would not. take me from him W1 how; his con- Srnb", she said, speaking in little more than a. wpigper. “Thac copsen_t_ y_ou )v11}_never obtain.” "‘7‘ Thzfi consent I shall thain it you will only gig) me ypurs‘firsts." “ And I feel equally sure that he will. I have no fear on that scoreâ€"none. But I will pull the question to you ‘11 another way, in the short bus- iness-like way that comes most naturally to a. man like me. Jane, dearest, if I can persuaue your father to give you to me, will you be so given 1’ Will you come to me and. be my own»â€" my wifeâ€"for ever ‘2" A . l A... L, ,,,,,,L Wife 5135);; “flirinilry and unhesimtingly. Jane could hardly believe her em‘i. She looked up at him in sheer surprise. For he first time their eyeg rm at; U‘TYBh aon’t know pupa. as well as I doâ€"‘how obstinate he is, how full of whims and croohets Ngâ€"po ; I £691 sul‘g‘that hel‘willl glevelj‘tzongr‘l . Still no answer. Only imnreceptibly she crept a. little closer to his sideâ€"a very little. He took that for his answer. First one arm went round her and then the other. He drew her to his heart‘ he drew her to his lips; he kissed her and called her his own. And she ? ~ Well, painful th ‘ugh it be to write i‘. she never reproved him in the least, but seemed content to Hit there with her head restng on his shoulder and to suffer Lgvefs sweet plinishmght of kisses in sile . The Squire shook his head. " You don’t know ngngy Mopermot as wgll 9,5 I 910,? he gaid. “ Hive Iyour permission Why the experi- ment ‘2” " If I had yéur sanction to doing so, sir, I think that I conld induce her to hasten her denarture from Pincote." _ The Squire rubbed his nosethoughtfully. “You are 3, queer fellow, Briatow," he said, “ and you have done so ue snrcmge things, but to induce my sister to leave Pincote before she’s ready to gq V3111 cap lull‘thxt you’ye_done_yet.’i I m “ I cannot of cnurse induce her to leave Pin cote till she is willing to go, but after a little quiet talk with me, it is possible that she may be wxlling. and even anxious, to Bet away as quickly aegosslble.“ “ You haveâ€"and my devoutest wishes tor your success. Only you must not compromise me in mil way in the Angatperlf “ Considering the mwtter in all its bearings, nine thousand pounds may be regarded as a very moderate sum. ’ “ I won’t ask a. penny less.” " With it you Will be able to clear 01f Eboth the mortgage and the loan of two thousand, and will then have a. thousand left for your expenses in connection with the villus." The Squire rubbed his hands. “ I Wlsh 8.11 my speculwions had turned out as successful as this one," he said. " This one I owe to you, Bristow. You have done me a service that I can never for- 392:" T'fom rose to go. “ 15 Mrs McDermot quite well, sir ‘21:! he said, with the most innocent air in the wor . “ If the way she ants and drinks is anything to go by. she was never better in her lite. But if you take her own account, she’s never wellâ€"a. confirmed invalid she calls herself. I’ve no pa- tience with the woman, though she is my sister. A day’s hard scrubbing at the wash tub every week would do her a. world of good. If she would only pack up her trunks and go, how thankful I should be !" “ If you Wish her to shorten her Visit m: Pm- aote. lathink you mlght easily persuade her to 0 so. - " I’d give aomebhing to find out how. No, no, Bristow you maydepend that she's aflxture here for the 'next three or four months. She knewsâ€"no woman alive betterâ€"when she’s in comfortable quarters.’j While standing there he had fallen into a. snooze, and had dreams that another pony had been put into his particular stall and was at that moment engaged in munchinfiI his particular truss of hay. Overcome by is feelings, he turned deliberately round and started for home at a. gentle trot} l hus disturbed, Tom and J ane comeback to suhlunnry matters with a. laugh and a. li-tle confusion on J ane’s part. 'I‘om drove her back as far as the toolgate and than shook hands and left her. Jane reached home as one in a. blissful dream ' “ Someivhére about nine thoushnd pounds, sir, I should thmktwoglgi be} a fair urge.” “ I think they will, air, if th~ affair is judiciously managed. How can they refu~e in the face of 1L mortgage for six thousand pounds ?" “ There’s something in that, certainly." ” Then there are the villas yet unbuilfl it is trueâ€"but the plans of which are already (it awn, and the foundations of some of which are alâ€" ready laid. You W111 require .to be literally re‘ munemted for your disappointment and outlay in respect to them." if: I see it all now. Splendid idea. that. of the Th days later Tom received a. note in the Squire‘s own crubbed hand-writing, asking him to go up to Pmcote as early as possible. He was evidently wanted for something out of the or- dinary way. Wonderinga lithe, he went. The Squire received him in high good humor and was émtliong in letting him know Why be had sent or un. “ Hung me, if I don‘t believe you knew some- thin of this all along I” said the Squire. “If not, 0W 0‘ uld you have raised that heavy mort- gage for me ?” H “mm rm”. h c nun .‘v. mnmln [vivan 1nd. in. mun: rI‘here was a twinkle in Tom’s eyes but he said nothing. Mr Culpepper might have been still further surprised had he known that the six thousand pounds was Tom’s own money, and that, although the mortgage was made out 111 (mother name, it was to Tom alone that he was indebted. ‘ " No, 1106 yet. I'm fact it was partly to consult yopNon thug point} that I_seu§ for you_.” “ Yes. e new passenger station, with plenty of siding accommodatlon." ” Ah 1 you know somethi' g about it, do you ?" “ I know this much, air, that the proposal of the new commmy to run afresh line into Duxley has put the 0111 company on their mettle. In place of the dirt-y ram-checkle station with which we have all had to be content for so many years, they are going to give us a new station, hand some and commodioue ; and Prior’s Croft is the place named as the most probable site for the new terminus.” “ Have you made up your mind as to the price yogimem‘i to ask, sxflr ?’I’ ._ The Squire shook his head. "‘ They will never 8W6. @Pytlame like}? 1.1111214. as tllvet-i‘ . M’Iv‘éfil’s eyebrows went up a little. “ I thought, sir, it would prove to be a profitable speculation bylfind by; .Did they 1.1311118. any pricem‘f ” “I have had some fellows here from the railway gomf'gguy," he said. “They want to buy Prior's .ro . ’ "No, nothing was said as to price. They simply wanted to know whether I was Willing to sell it.” “And you told them that you were?" “I tuld them that I would take time to think gouty. I didn’t want to seem too eager, you ow. Dr'il'l‘a‘t 3 right, sir. Play with them a. little be fo;je_you finally peck thank." “ Fdrom what they sfivthey want to bufld a station on the Croft.” Toni was very attentive to her at dinner that " You need have no fearvon that score. sir." “Out of the clock? said Tom. “ We can soon see whether auybody’a hidden there.” ~*Spemking thus, he withdrew h 5 arm and flung 0 _en the door of the clock Enough light came from us lamp on the stairs to show that the 01d case was empty of everything, save the weights, chains, and pendu- “The voice! did you not hear the voice ?” she 882529512 Hut; voice? Whose voice ‘2 ” said Tom, with an arm round her must. case, and next instant from the‘Sume place came the sand of a. hollow, ghostrlike VOiCr. “Fannyâ€"Funnyâ€"list! Iwmnt to speak to you,” said the voice, in slow, solemn tones. But Mrs McDrrmot did not wait to hear more She screamed, dropped her candle, and staggered. back against the opposite wall. Tom was by her side in a. moment. "M; 5151: Mr}; McDermotr whatever V is; the matter 5’ " he said. "A'voice which spoke to me out of the clock 1 ’ she said, with p. shiver. The rule at Pincote we to keep ear y hours. It was not much past ten o’clock when Mrs McDer mot left the drawing room, and having obtained her bed candle, set out on her journey to her own room. Half Way up the staircase stood Mr Bris- tow. The night being warm and balmy for the time of year, the stmircese window We 5 stil half open. and Tom stood there, gazing out'into the moonlit garden. Mrs McDermot ptogped. . and fluid a few gracious words to hi' i he would have liked to resume the conversation of the pre- vious evening, but that was evidently neither the time nor the place to do so: so she said good night, shank hands, {mi went on her way, leaving Tom still standing by the window. Higher up, close to the head of the stairs, stood fl- very la: ge old- fashioned case clock. Mrs McDermot held up the cradle to see the time as she was passing it. It was nearly twenty minutes past 1761!. But -&t the very r oment of her noting this .fect, there came three distinct taps frfvm the inside of jhe day. Of Jane he took no notice beyond what the occasion absolutely demanded, Mrs McDermot was agreeably surprised “He has come to his senses at last, as I thought he would," she said to herself. "Grown tired of Jmlaf’ssociety,and no wonder There’s nothing In er." “I have grie 2' ed to see you so far from well, Mrs. McDermot,” he said as he pouzed himself out another glass of wine "My father was 3. doctor, and I su pose I caught the habit from him 6f :eadir’lg the signs of health or sickness in people‘s ewes. As soon as the cloth was removed, J2me exr cused herself on the score of 1L headache and left the room. The Squire got into um easy chair end se‘tled himself down for IL post pmudiul nap. T9531 moved his chair nlitble nearer that of the W1 ow. . “Yes,” she said, “I have not; been well for some tune past. BubI was not aware that the traces oilmy indispositmn were so plainly visible to o rrs.” 7 Mia. McDermot was visfbly discomposed. She was a. great coward wit-h regard to her health, and Tom knew it. Next d y, too, Tom carefullv avoided the widow. His object was to afford her ample time to think over what he had said. That day the vicar and his wife dined at Pincote, and Tom be- cameimmersed in local politics with the Squire and the Parson. Mrs Mel ermot was anxious and uneasy. Tnut evening she talked less than she had ever been known to do before. “They are vinible to me beczuae, as I tell you, I 8.111 1mle doctor both by birth and bringing up. You seem to me. Mrs. McDermot, pardon me for Buying sovto have been fadingâ€"to have been going backward. as 11; were, almost from the day of your an‘ ml at yin‘cote.“ Mrs McDermot coughed and moVed uneasin in her chair “I hmve been a. confirmed invalid for years," she saxd,querulously, “and yet no one will believe me when I tell them so.” “I can very readily believe it,“ said Tom, gravely. Then he lasped into an ominous silence. “ You seem to me to be much older-looking, much more careworn, with lines making their appearance round your eye; and mouth, such we I never noticed before. So, at least, it: strikes me,butI may be, and a. dare saylum quite “£9118? _ The w dOW seemed at a. loss What to my. Tom’s words had evidently rendered her very uneasy. “ Then What would you advise me to do 1’” she said, after a. time. " If y u can detect the disease so readlly, you Should have no difficulty in speci- fying‘the remedy." ._ ,‘ ,,,:u -I, ".0 V..- ifluwvh, . “ Ah. nowI am afraid you are getting beyond my depth," said Tom, with a Smile. “I am litcle more than a. theorizer, yA-u know : but I should have no hesitation in saying that your disorder is connected with the mind.” “ Gracious me, Mr Bristow l” “ Yes, Mrs McDermot ; my opinion is that you are suflering from an undue development of bijaii'n power." “One of the worst symptoms of the cerebml disorder, frum the earlier btages of which you are now sufiering, is that the patient hears voices â€"or fancies that he hears them, Whlch is pretty much the same thing. Sometimes they are stunge voices; sometimes they are the voic's of relatives. or srieuds no longer among the living. In short, to state the case as briefly as possible, the patient is_ haggnted.” “ All this is most deeply interesting to me Mr Bristow, but at the same time it; makes me very nervous. rPhe Very thoughb of being haunted in the way V011 mention is enqugh to keep me from sleeping fora weekv." I l H ‘ At this momeat J2me came into the gpomvand a few minutes la'ter the Squire awoke. "Tom had said all that he wanted to my, and he gave Mrs McDermot no further opportunity for private conversation with hum. “ I â€"I did not know 15118,? I was looking any worse now than when I first came to Piucote." she said at last V7II‘ééhlnjré; Mr anm'w, that; you quite frighten me! ’ “But there are no such symptoms as these about you at present Mrs McDemmt. The mo‘ want you he've the least experience of themâ€" should such a misfortune ever overtake youâ€" then take my advice, and seek the oniy remedy that can be of any real benefit to you." “And what. may that be ? " “Immediate change of sceneâ€"a. change total and complete, Go abroad. Go to Italy; go to Egypt;go to Africanâ€"in short, to any place Where the change is a radical one. ButIhope that, in your case, such a. necessifiy will never arise.” Ther Qvuib‘w looked puzzled. “ I was always consvlered rather intellectual," she said, thh IL glqype at hot brothel: Butfine Sguire still slept “You are very mtellnctual, mad um ; and that IS just. where the evil lies.” “Excuse me, but I fail in follow you ” “You are gifted with a very large and u. very powerful brain,” said Tom, with the ufimoet gravity. The Squire snorted suddenly m 1315 sleep. The widow held up u warumg finger. There wws silence in the room till the Squn‘eis lung-drawn snares announced that he was Dappl- 1y fast aqleep._ ~z‘ai‘ac-ielgiflné! Mr Bristow, What a picture! But I hope you donot put me 'down as a misery tollgnysglf and, all around Lpe,” :L M” u, 1- “Far from ibavery Jar from itâ€"my dear Mrs McDermot. You are only in the premonitury stage at present. Let us hope that, in your case, the later stages will not follow.” “I hope not, with all my heart.” “Of course, you have not been troubled with healing Ivoices. ? ” __O V v, 'Hearing ireices! Whatever do you mean, Mr Bristow ? ” say " “ Your nature being large and eminently sym- pathetic, but not finding sufficient vent for itself for lack of other aliment, with the concerns and daily doings of those mound it. giving them the benefit. of its vase expo ience and intuitive good sense : but after being met sometimes w1th cold- ness ii stead of sympaty, it collapses, falls back upon itself. and .ecomes morbid for want of pro- per intellectual companionship. May I hope that yol1~f'0110w me 7" r .L,n “:1 u“ “The brain thus xhrown back upon itself en- genders an irritability of the nerves, which is mltugether abnormal. Fits of peevishness, of ill- temper, of causeless fault finding, gradually su pervene ;till at length all natural amiubility of disposition vanishes entirely, and there is 110- thing left. but a. wrrtched hypochondriac, in, misery tr.) himself ayd gll'uruuud laiin‘a." r. “Very few of us are so specially gifted," resumed Tom. “But every special giftnecessimtes a spe- cial obligation in retuzn You, with your mus- sive brain, must find that plenty of work to do â€"a. suflicieucy of congenial employmentvother- wise it will inevitably turn upon itself, grow m r bid and hypochtmdriacal, and slowly but surely deteriorate, till it ends by becomingâ€"what I hardly‘l‘ike‘ to say.” L- u." "Yesâ€"yegfiperfecbly." said the Widow, bvt logkjpg §om_ew13ut mystified'notiwifllstapding. “My dear madam, I agree with you in toto. Your Spartan views with regard to the duties of every-day life are mine exactly. But we must not forget that we still have another dutyâ€"that of carefully preserving our health, especially when our lives are invaluable to the epoch in which we live. You, my dear madam, are killmg yourself by inches." h “ Oh, Mr Bristow, not quite so bad as that, I ope ." “ Whmtl Hey, I say advisedly. I think that withuut difficulty I can apecifiya few symptoms of the cerebral disorder to which you are it vic- tim. You will bear me out it" what I say is correct." “ Yes. yes ; please go on " “ You are a. sufferer from sleep‘essnees to a, certain extent The bodv would min zest, being tired and worn out, but the active brain will non allow it to (logo. Anal right. Mrs MncDermot ?” w"..- , we .0..- “ It is as you say. I feel that I am lost hereâ€" that I am altogether out of my element; I stay here more as a, matter of dutyâ€"of principleâ€" than of anything else. Not that it is any gratifi- cation to me, as you may well imagine, to be buried alive in this dull hole. But my brother is getning old and infirmâ€"breaking fast, I’m afraid, poor man.” here the Squire gave a, louder snore than common: “ whi e Jane is li‘tle more than a foolish girl. They both need the guidance of {L kind but firm h mi. The interests of both demand a clan! brain to look after: them.”_ "Really, Mr, Bfistow, this conversation is to me most intere~ting," said the ~widow. “Your views are thoroughly original but, at the same time, I feel 15an they fire perfectly corrgct "’ “The sphere of your int plectuul activity is far too narrow and confined,” resumed ’l‘om; “your brain has not aufllcient pubulu-n to keep it in a. state of healthy activity. You want to mix more with the world «to mix more with clever people, :ike yourself. It was never intended by Nature that you should lose yourself among the narrow coteries of provincial life ; the metropolis claims you; the world at large claims you A conversm-ionaliat 50 b illmnt, so incisive, with such an exhaultless fund of new ideas, can only hope to find her equals among the best circles of London or Parisian socigty." ‘ . . - L, m l “1.. h..:... “ thoroughly you appreciate me. Mr Bris- tow 1” said the Widow, 11.11 in a flutter of gm‘ified vatpifiy, as she edged 1331‘ c‘hfiy still closer to Tom. , 1...A_ LA.” 1‘ cgn-nvot dfiiéfiuitewthe ébcfiraoy of what you At length Mother Mim's cottage rwas reached. Everything about it looked precisely the same as When "about; half-Way across the moor he halted for a momaht to gather breath. On evefy side of him spread the dull trealess expapse' Nowhere was there another human being tQ" be! seen‘. He was utterly alone. “ If a man cvnssi ing here we 9 suddenl strivken with death,” he» muttered to himself,"4,what a place this' would; be tn die in l H is body mightyhe here foxj daysâ€"4 for weaks ev‘enâ€"bemr‘é‘m wasiuund.” f Tue w'ind biew in hbllow fitful gusts. Any one learned in such lots would have said that p. chaqge of yveafihgr _n_a.s imminent. Very bleak and cold was the walk across the desolate, luner moor, but Kasper‘ 8!; Ge orge, b .riefl in his ovgn thoughts. hardlyjelt orheeded anything of it .'All the sky was clouded and overcast, but‘flnr away to the north 8. sti‘l dam‘re‘r bank of cloud was creeping slowly up from the horizon. Toa. man such as Raster a three miles’ walk was a rather formidable uud flakingâ€"one!) least, it was an uncommon one. But there was no avoiding it on the present occasion; unless he gave up the object of his journey and went back home. But he could by no menus beer the thought of doing that. In proportion with the nesitstion and reluctance which he had previ- ously shown to spcertuin either the best or the worst of the affair, was the anxiety which now possessed him to reach his journey’s end. His imagine/tie” pictured all kinds of possible and impossible evils 215111:er to magento him-Lem} bemused himself u'gain‘vnnfl‘ag' .for his négli‘ genus in not making= the jouifnoy long ago. It would not have taken him long to reach the edge of Burley Moor had not his horse suddenly fallen lume. For the last two miles of the dis- tunce his pace was reduced to a slow walk. This so annoyed ' Kester that he decided to leave his horse .at the rode-wide tavern in the last hamlet he had to pass through, and to traverse the remainder of the distance on foot. A short three miles across the moor would take him to Mother Mim’s gottage. i ” Wherever else 1756 voice may have come from‘ it is plain that it couldn’t come from here,’ saidd’ll‘om, as he proceeded to relight the widow’s can 9 Heavy and lowering looked the sky, ahrilly through the still bare branches Whistled the ice- cold wind, as Kaster St. George. deep in thought, rode slowly through the park. He buttoned his coat mo~e closely around him, and pulled his hat more firmly over his brows as he turned out of the long gates, and setting his face full to the wind, urged his horse into a gallop, and W333 loat to View down the Windipg goad.‘ “ Whatever it mav have been. it was very ter. â€" ble,” said Mrs McDermot, dwwing her skirts round her with a shudder. “ I have not forgot- ten what you field me yesterday ” “ It came from there. I'm quite certain. There wglrg tltl‘ree distincp mpg from the ingide mg well. ’ “ Is it not; possiblé‘thififi izidx7'fiaiée"beefi a mere hallucination on your part ‘? You have not bgep'lvelll, younknowkfor sqme time past.” " Allow ine ix} aceouipéil} 'mybu as far as your room duqr,” 3914 Tom For nearly 2: fortnight past the weather had been remarkably mild. balmy, and open for the time of the year. Everybody said how old winâ€" ter was dying. But during the previous night there had. come it bitter change. The wind had suddenly veered round to the northeeet, and was still blowing steadily fr om that quarter Steamiin Luna bitterly itblew, chilling the hearts of man and beast with its icy bretth, stopping the growth of grass and flowers, killing every faintest gleam of sunshine, and bringing back the reign of winter in its cruellest form. “ Thanka. I shall» 'feel obliged bv your (wing so. You will say nothing of all this downstairs ‘2” “ I should not think of doing so." The following day Mr Bristow was not at luncheon. There were one or two enquiries, but no one see me} to know exactly what had become of him. It was Mrs McDennot‘s usual practice to rfst'igc to the library for rm houruiteylunchgon ~Which room She generally had all ‘0 herself at such timesâ€"for the ostensible purpose of reading the newspapers, but, it may be, quiie us much for the sake of a. quiet sleep in the huge leetheru chair that stood by the library fire. 01) going. there as usual miter luncheon (30-day, what, was the widow‘s Rurprisa to find Mr Bristow sitting there lust asleepnvith the Times at his feet Where it, Add dropped from‘his relexed fingers: She stepped up in him on tiptoe and looked cluser at him. “Rather nice look- ing," she said to herself. ” Shall I disturb him, or not ‘2" . Her eyes caught; sight; of some written docu- ments lying outrspread on the table a. little dis- tance away. The temptutzou was too much for her. But hardly had she stooped over the table when the same hollow voice that had sounded in her ears Ihe previous night spoke to her again, and forze her to the spot Where she was standing. “ Funny McDermot, you must get away from this house.’ said the voice. if you ston here you W111 be a dead W. man in three months 1" Then there was silence, and in a. minute 01‘ two the Widow ventured to look round. There was no one (here except Mr pristowJa-st asleep. She m9.» a.ng to feuch the door without disturbing him, and from thence made the best: of her way to her own room. The answer c‘ime. “ I? rey.‘ Be_ warned mutime She was too terrified to look round or even to stir, but her trembling lips did at last falter out; thgwords : “ \Vho are you '2” Two hours later Tom was encountered by the Squire. The latter was one broad stalls. “ She’s gung urns: “ he said. “ Off toâ€"morrow like a. shot. Just, told me.” It was one day when thus left alone, and when the solitudeiwus becoming utte 1y intolerable to to him, that Kester made up his mind that he would no longer bea coward, but would g » that very alternoon and see for himself whether Mother Mini were alive or dead. But even after he had thus determined that there should be no more delay on his uart, he played fast and louse with himself as to whether he should go or not. Had there come to him any important letter or telt gram demanding his presence fifty miles away, he would have caught at it as a drowning man Fetches at a straw. The veriest excuse would have sufliced for the putting off of his journey for at least one day. But the dull hours wore themselves aan Without relief or change of any kind for him, and when three o‘clock came, having first . dosed -himself heavily with brandy, he rang the bell and ordered his horse to be brought round. What might not the next few hours bring to him? he asked himself as he rode down the avenue. They might perehance be pregnant with doom. Or death might already have lif ed this last bitter burden from his life by sealing with his bony fingers the only lips that had power to do him harm. “ Then, with your with 3 on this evening man." . But before this came about, Kester St Ge wrge had. been left for the time bemg, wlth the excep- tiun of certain servants, the sole occupant of Park Newton. Lionel Daring had gone down to Bath to seek an interview with Pierre Janvard, with what result has already been seen. ' Two days afterLioue1’8x eparture,Genem1 St George was called. away by the sudden illness If an old Indium friend to whom he was most warmly at- tached. He left home expecting to be back in four or five days in; the latest ; Whereas, as it fell flute, he did not reach home again for several wee s. v" But how on earth usygd thge Squirp. “ “ BV means of a. lime simple ventriloquia ? â€" nothing mure.- But 1899 her cdmlng this way, I‘m off." A (1 off he went, leaving the Squire stm‘itiiig after him ii] open-mouthed astonish men . Day after day he‘ waited with smothered impa- tience for some further tidings of Mother Mim. But day after (1 iy he waited in vain. Most men under 5; 10h circumstances would have gone to the place and have made personal enquiries for themselves. This was precisely what Kester St Geolge told him~e1f that he ought to do, but for all that he did not do it. He shrank with a re pugnauee which he could not overcome, from the thought of a.in further contact with either Mother Mim or her suiroundings. His tastes, if notrefined, were fastidious, and a shudder of dis gust ran through him as often as he remembered that if what Mother Mim had said were trueâ€" amd there was something that rang terribly like truth in her wordsâ€"thrn she was~â€"that wretched crea ureâ€"his mother, and the filthy hut in which she lay dying his sole home and heritage. He knew that for the sake of his own interestâ€"of his own safetyâ€"he ought to go and see again this woman who called herself his mother, but three weeks had come and gone before he could screw his courage up to the pitch requisite to induce him to do so. CHAPTER XXXV. DIRTY JACK. There was one thing thst puzzled both General St George and Lionel Daring, and that. was (.119 persisient Way in which Kester M; George stayed on at Park Newton. It had, in the first place, been a matter of some difliculty to get him to Park Newton at all, and for some time rlifter his arrival it had been avrdent‘to all concerned that he hudmade up his mind that his stsv there should be as brief as possible. But .after that ne er-to-he-i'Orgotten night when the nuise of ghostly footsteps was heard in the nailed 11p roomia. circumstance which both his uncle and his cousin had made up their minds would drive him from the house Ior ever~he ceased to talk much about going sway. Week passed after week and still he stayed on‘. Nor could his uncle, had he been desirous of doing so, which he certainly was not, have hinted to him. even in the most drlicste possible way, that his room would be more welcome than his company, after the pressure which he had put upon him only a short time prey/loust to indyee high t9 remain - But much as he would have liked to do so Kester had a. very good reason for not leaving Perk Newton at present He was, in fact, afraid to do so. After the affair of the footsteps he had decided that it would. not be advisable to go awev for a lit le while. It would never do for people to say that he had been dri en away by the ghost of Percy Osmond. It was While thus lingering on from day to duy that hehad ridden over to sue Mother Mim. One result of his inter- view was that he felt how utterly unsafe it would be for him to quit the neighborhood till she was safely deed and buried. She mihgt send or him at any mo- ment, she might have other things to speak to him about which it behoved him to hear. She might change" her mind at the last mo- ment, and decide to tell to some other person what she had already told him ; and when she should die, it would doubt- less be to him that application would be made to bury her. All things 001.151 :ered,it was certainly uua. lvieble that he should leave Perk Newton yet awhile. Nothing could have suited Lionol’s plans bet- ter than that his cousin should continue no live on at Pal-K Newton, but; he was certainly puzzled to know What his reason was for so doing ; and, in such a. case, to be puzzled was, to a. certain extent to_be_disqu‘ietei‘. H ‘ _ > 1321:] your husband, Geoff- have you managed it '2” permission, I won’t dine I don’t Want to flee her --The London Lancet advocates stocking}! made like gloves to prevent so“ coma. NEW Yong, Oet. 6.â€"Bradstreet’s special telegram reportsnonsiderable improvement} in the corn crop: .15‘The Seniember‘cotton're- port. published to-morrow, will show that the general condition of the crop is favorable, encepf in Texas, where it is distinctly good. No damage is reportedlby worms except to a certain extent in Mississippi. In- Louisiana} and Albany there is small chance for a. top crop.~ Finished iron is weaker. Pig is firm. Goal is active, and petroleum reacting on ac- count of the reports of increased production again. There were 121 failures in the United States, reported by Bradstreet during the weekâ€"52 less than last week, and 35 more than in the corresponding week of last year. Canada has llâ€"a decrease of 7. - , He remained thus two hours, but at last lhe levee broke, and the men who were bail- ing out the water found rhey coilld do no more. They held his head above the water, which rose slowly above his body. The men found they must make a final efiort. Then his head was lowered (and they d1 caught hold and pulled deperatelyi; It was .in ly'ain. They could not move him. They raised his head again. The water rose slowly but urely. It {reached his chin. A friend held his hand over the drowning man's mouth. The water rose to his nostrils. Nothing more could be done and he was drowned. BRADSTREET’S WEEKLY RE- PORT. when he had seen it East. It seemed only like a few hours since he had left it. There, at o, crouch- ed on the low wavl outside, with her skirt drawn over her head, was Mother Mim's grund- daughter the girl wish the black glittering eyes, looking as if she find never stirred from the spot since he was last there. ‘ he made no movement. or Sign of recognition when he walked up to her, but her eyes were fud of n. cold keen criticism of hiIIL far b '3 ml)“ 1‘ age and uppe vrtmce.~ A " Haw is your grandmother ‘2” said Kester, abrupth'. He did not like being stared at as she stared at him. “ She’s dead “ “ Dead 1" it was no more than he «expected to hem: and yet he could not hear it altogether'un- moved. ' ‘ Ayé as dead as a. door nailv And a igood job too. It was time she wont,” “ How long has she been dead ‘9” said Kester, ignoring the latter part of the girl’s speech. “ Just half an hour." Azotuer surprise for Kester. He expected to hear that she had been dead several daysfia week perhaps. But only half an hour ! An Appalling Incident That Calls to Mind the Story of Tantains. San Francisco Chronicle. On the track between South San Leandro and the High street station. Alameda, half a mile on the San Leandro side,isa long trestle bridge over an estuary of the buy. For over a mile the trestle runs over the marsh land, the tide rising on each side of the em- bankment. Ever since the railroad has been built there has been trouble keeping the rail- road bed from sinking. A few weeks ago the track at this point sunk 150 feet, and traflic was suspended for a short time. Last evening, as the through freight train from Alameda, drawn by engine No. 10, a large and heavy machine and six ears arrived at this particu- lar point, the track sunk, apparently more on one side than the other. The engine was overturned and the cars piled on top. The fireman, Dan Driscull. died a horrible death. When the engine turned over he was held to the ground by an iron bar across his breast and one foot was caught by another. He was fully conscious at the time of his death. He was held fast and the tide was rising rapidly. It was evident that he would be drowned in a short time. Six men were on hand and labored to save him They wrapped sheets about his body and exerted their combined strength to pull him from his appalling position. He cried piteously again and again. but With the same result. A levee was built about his head to keep down the rising tide. Buckets were brought, and by faithful bailing it was atâ€" tempted to keep the water. from teaching his head. He was lying under the cab and a hole was cut through the cab throughx‘which l he could put his head. They raised his head above the water as much as possible. “ Who was with her When she died ?" he asked after a. minute’s pause. “ Me and Dirty Jack." “ Dirty Jack ! who is he .9” “ ‘Vha, Dirty J: ck. Everybody knows him. He lives in Duxley and hue a. wooden leg, and does writings for folks.” “Does writings for folks l” a. shiver ran through Kester. “And has he been doing anything for you grandmother ‘2‘” “ lhnt he hes. A lot.” “ A lotawhat about ‘2” “ About you." “ About me ? Why about me ‘1’" “' Ah, you never came near. Nobody never came near. Granny got tired of it. ‘ I’ll have my re- venge,” she said. So she sent; for Dirty Jack, and he took it all down in writing.” “ Took it all down in writing about me 1’” She nodded her head in the aflirma. ive. “ If v01). know so much, no doubt. you know what it was that he took downâ€"eh ?” “ ()h I know right enough.” “ Why not tell me ‘2” f} knowfill about; it, but I ain’t argoing to Such a. confessionâ€"if not absolu y dangerous to himâ€"she having assured him that none of the witnesses were now livingâ€"might be made a. source of infinite snuo once to him. Such a story once made public might bring forth wit- esses an: evidence from thnty hitherto unsus- pected quarters, and fetter him round link by link, with a chain ‘of evidence from which he might find it impossible to extricate himself. At every sacrifice, Mother Mim's confession must be destroyed or suppressed, I Such were some of the thoughts that assed through Kester’s mind as he stood there iting his nails. Again and again he cursed himself in that he had allowed any such confession to emanate from the dead woman, whos e silence is little extra kindness on his Part would have efieftually' secured Ewdently nothing more was to be got from her. But she had said 6- ough already to confirm his woer fears. Mothnr Mim out. of spite for the neglect with which he had treated her, had made a confession at the last moment, similar in put- port {0 What Ashq had _ gold h in when last there. “ I should like you and I to have had a drain toâ€" gether. I suppose you don 1: do anything in this line ‘2’" From «me pocket he produced an old clasp knife. and from the other a. cake of leaf tobacco. Then he cut himself a. plug and put it into his mouth “ When one friend fails me, tnen Ifall back upon rnothur,” he said. "When I can’t get whiskey I must have tobacco.” split." Further persuasion on Kester's part had no other efieco than to induce the girl to assert in amll more emphatic terms that “she wasn’t a.- gniug to split?” _ hiy-ifihégrvdfifi 1.3;?- “I am John Skefis, Esquire, attorney-at-luw. at your service. (1 whom may you be, sir? But there â€"I know who you me well enough. You are Mr Kester Sb George, of Park Newnon. I have been you before. I saw you on the day of the murder trial. You were one of the witnesses, and white enough you looke i. Anybody Who had u. good look at you in the box that day wgplrl never he‘likely to forget your face 33.58.39.” Kester turned aside for a I‘hozfient to hid} the suglgen nervoug‘bwieqhfin‘g of his 1_ips. u “ He’s in theie'L indicating the but with a jerk oflii‘gr tieadf” fagt apleep.” “I'm sorry the Whisfey IS déue," said Mr Slgeggs, Kip}; a. regretfgl'l‘ook~ at th_e e_mpt_y bptfile. Such was the vision of loveliness that met the gaze of Kester St George as he paused for a. mo- ment or two just inside the coataga door. Then he coughed and {advanced 1L step or two. As he did so the man suddenly opened his eyes, got up quickly but awkwardly out of his chair, and laid his hand on something that was hidden in an inner pocket of his coat). “No, you don’t I” he cried, with a Wave of his hand. “ No. you don‘t 1 None of your hanky-panky tricks here. They won’t go (310an with Jack'Skeggs, so you needn’t try ’em on .” Kester stared at him in unconcea‘.ed disgust. It was evidenb that he was still under the partial influence or what he} had 13691.1 drjuking. “ Who are you, sir, and what are "you doing hgyg ‘2" askqd Kfle‘ster, stgrnly: “ Fast. asleel’) in the same room with your grandmother !‘ “ Why not ? He hada. bottle of whiskey with him which he kept. sucking 8.1:. At last he got half screwy, and when all was over Le said he would have a. snooze by the fire and pull himself together a pit before going home. " Kueter and no more: but going up to the hut, opened the door and went in. On the pallet at the farthest end lay the dead woman, her bodv mintly outlined through the sheet that had been drawn over her. A clear fire was burning in the broken grate, and close to it, on the only chair in the place, sat a man fast asleep. His hands were grimy, his linen was yellow, his hair was frowsy. He was a big bulky u an, with a. coarse, hard face, and was dressed in faded thread- bare black. He had awooden leg, whichjnst now was thrust out towards the fire and geiemed as if it were basking in the comfortable aze. 0n the chimney piece was an empty spilit bottle, and in a comer near at hand were de- posited a. broad brimmed hat, greasy and much the worse for wear, and a formidable looking wglkipg sticlgfi ~ is art would have eflectually secured I“ Whey? i5 ghig Dirty Jack, as you 021.11 HELD DOWN TO DIE [To My. coNTINUEDJ â€"“ Do let me have your photograph, Mr. Howard,” said a dashing belle to a gentle man who had been annoying her with his at. tentions. The gentleman was delighted. and in a short time the lady received the picture. She gave it to the servant with the quest" ‘ “ Would you‘ know the original if he should call?” The serialnt replied in the affirma- tive. “ Well, when he comes, tell him I am engaged.” â€"â€"Wit of the Wee-Woes : 1. Two little brothers were looking at the moon. The youngest. two years old. had never seen it before. The next morning, hopping about in his nightdress, he suddenly ran to the window, exelaiming, “ Where moon? ” “ Oh, don’t you know,” said wise four-year-old, “ it’s blowed out in the morning? " 2. Once upon a time Ava was naughty, and mamma had to frown at her. “ 0 mamma. mamma,” Ava cried, “ don’t shut up your forehead that way, ’oause then I know you are going to cold.” » â€"“Is Mrs. Brown in ?" inquired a gentle- man of the servant who responded to his ring at a door bell. “ No,eir; she is not at home.” “Well, I am sorry.” said the gentleman in a xegretful tone, "as I owe her some money and I came to pay it.” Whereupon a. voice from above the balustrades was heard: “Oh. I am inâ€"to be sure I am ! Why, Sally, didn’t you know that? Ask the gentleman to walk in !” â€"â€"A man financially is a good deal like a mud turtle physically. Let either be flat on his back, and he finds it extremely difficult to rise.â€"Rbshester Post Express. In this neck of woods it doesn’t make much difference whether a man is flat on his back or not ; if he is level or. his head he can generally man- age to get an. 'â€"â€"“(‘:nmananinity” is a bioody way to spell relationship. under the stem of his craft, He was such an obstinate angler, Until the creature tipped over his heat, When he became a wrecked angler. â€"A canard was set afloat some time ago to the effect that Richard Wagner had carried his anti-Jewish prejudices so far as to insist upon Herr Levi renounoing Judiaem before he would' allow him to conduct the orchestra 1n Parsiful. But the story was so generally credited that Herr Levi has been obliged to publish a card authoritatively contradicting it. He is soon, by the way. to be married to Fraulein Daniela von Bulow, a stepdaughter of Wagner. â€"A cut shows its content to purrâ€"fection “Wm; can’t be endured should be speed iiy cured. ~An cxtmurdmary thing in ladys’ bonnets â€"an unpowdered face. ~ Emma Thursby singa in eleven languages. but snares only in one. And the dreamy autumn hours lapse on until.... Swtth’e aweet evening star, that night by night Drpgglumiuoue like anever-talling tear, Dozvxi‘dy’mg twilights of the dying year. .. a -â€"Hail to thee, Autumn ! Thee We honor, ~ Queen of the seasons, without a peer 1 Spring ? She had promises of beauty on her, But thine are the glory and crown of the year, First in worship why did we set her, Springâ€"the wayward, the cold. the coy ‘1 Aye, in our hearts. we have loved thee better, Autumn, the gracious, the bringer of joy! â€"An Arkansas boy who had been reading a humorous paper remarked to his father, who was in the field “ cradling" wheat: “ Say, pap, why, does your cradle out unwil- lingly ?” “ Because it’s dullI I reckon,” re- plied the old man. “ No,” said the hey, " because it goes against the grainyâ€"Arkane-‘x saw Traveler. v â€"What we are at heme is a pretiy sure teal. of what we really are. -- It is the late cat that catches the early baotjack.â€"â€" [Bufi‘alo News. â€"Though Swelve dozen is agross, the My who sells sugar is a grocer. â€"â€"ALove laughs at locksmiths, but it mexely tisters at its first “ mash.” -â€"-Worse than blind is the man that puts happineba in the custody of ambition. â€"When an opportumty presents 11 self don”; let. it slip. unless it’s a good chance to slide. â€"â€"-Mau wants his own good dead set up in long pximer, his neighbor’s in diamond type. â€"It was Joubert who incisiver remarked : “ Children have more need of models than of critics." â€"â€"Asttouomioal: No new comet is genuine unless it has Dr. Blauk’a Liver P1113 printed on the tail. â€"-“ There’s always room at the top," bummed a mosquito, as it got its work in on a. bald head. «Man ofcen has to pay dear enough for his owu whisue, but the heavy expense oomei to him when a. Western cyclone packers its mouth. â€"-Lightning is partial to barns. The tron- his is on account of the straw therein. It barns were stuffed with feathers instead. them would be no danger. 74-1 traveler saw in Portland, Me., while wfifiing-half an hour in a railroad station, a barrel of ale rolled into a. saloon, an intoxi- o ‘T plan fight a hack driver. and two men d kyhiskey from a bottle. He concludes it ' 'ssible that the Maine prohibition law is sometimes broken in Portland. â€"In the otllefifnppn all windy sounds are still : £21399 {guys the cricket’s chirp takes â€"â€"-‘ Frightened mouse" is the name of a new odor. Pub no trust in its not fading. We should expcot it rapidly to disappear. â€"“As we charged,” says a war corres- pondent,“tbe bugle blew.” It must have been a. trumpedmp charge. -â€"“ Founded on fact,” said the editor, musingly, as be cast aside the thrilling MS., “ and I wonder how long it took the idiot to manufacture his facts.” â€"If a woman desires to become oonspiclb ous, let her appear in the same dress twice. After this she will be well enough known to justify a publisher in bringing out her poems at his own riskâ€"Puck. â€"“ Peter, what are you doing to that boy 7’ said a schoolmaster. “ He wanted to know it you take ten from seventeen how many will remain ; so I took ten of his apples to show him. and now he wants me to give ’81!) back." “ Well, why don’t you do it :7” “ Coz’, am, he would forget how many was leltv" «Curran was once asked how a. member of Parliament had spoken. The answer was, “ Hie speech was a long parenthesis.” He was asked to explain. “ Why,” said he, “Hon’t you know that a. parenthesis is a paragraph which may be omitted from be- giyning ‘to end. without any loss of meaning.” ~A knockdown : “ Can you find room for a. scribe on your paper 2’” “ Not unless you want to subscribe.” And again was that scholarly youth crusbul. â€"The withered banners of the com are still, And gathered fields are glowing strangely wan ; While; dgqgh, ppetig death, with hands that color what théituuch V Waves in the Autumn wood her tapestries of gold and brown. â€"-An Englishman, in attempting to rescue two women from drowning. lost his life, but the women were saved. This proves that it is impossible to live with two women at one time. The guldeH-rod gleamé by $116 Bedrgéfbfiéfib’ifi, As though the dying summer in the frost-king's teeth -London Truth astonishes the English with the statement that “ in some of the smaller Western cities of America there are more telephones than there at present in England.” â€"Mabel (to her grandpapa)â€"-“ you really remember George the Grandpapaâ€"“ Yes, little one ; you a. good deal older than you are." â€"Mabel (to her grandpapa)â€"-“ AndA an you really remember George the Fomt ‘3” Grandpapaâ€"“ Yes, little one ; you 566,} am a. good deal older than you are." Mabelâ€" " How much older muel I grow before I shall be able to remember him ?" â€"-_1‘_he asper glows the the falling leaves beneath -Mr. Wright went out to fish, And he became 8. Wright angler. He thought. he would try and catch a. shark, And became a. try angler, He laughed to think howsmurt he was And he became a. cute angler; But he_ dig nog see flu} shag-k with its nos. Had hurled her gauntlet down. COMIC BUDGET-