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Once more the marquis looked his companion attentively up and (lmvn. "A perfect. double," he mutteredâ€"â€" "perfect! I'm hanged if I’m going to waste him!" Then, raising his voice: “You're sure you won't take three thousand to come here for those five years and play at being G©©©©©© G3 ‘ I © . "That’s rather awkward,” said the peer. “But you'll Want capital?" “Certainly,” replied young Evans. “VVeH, 141 give you a thousand at the end of five if you come here inâ€" stead. And 111 pay your bins as well. You'll have everything the smue as myselfâ€"the some clothes, the salne hosieryâ€"â€"so there can be no ufistakeâ€"or.rathen nothing but one long nflstnkef' And thelnarqum sufiled. ‘K.ay a thousand?” he conâ€" cluded judichflly. The young hosier hesitated, "I’ll make it, two thousand. Come. four hunarcu a year for five years and two thousand down at the end?" entreated the nlarquis “Couldn't do it]' observed the young hosier. “I'll Want at least ten. You see, leaving the firm now will spoil my credit with the manuâ€" facturers.” The day’s work over, Ernest Prosâ€" per Evans would often leave the shop in Duke street. and go {or a stroll among various squares and highways from which Mr. .Jawis drew his large and fashionable clienâ€" tele. Often he knew the address, and had waited on the male occupants. Outside a certain house in Purk Lane he would murmur: "The Hon- ourable Bruce Lambâ€"silk vests, a dozen at a time, and no marking but the plain initials." Outside an- other house in Belgrave Square it Was difi‘erent. Here he would say: "Lord Gargoyle, and coroncts down to his dressingâ€"gowns!" The young" hosier took an infinite delight in. these excursions and the Uioughts they inspired. If he could not share in the state secrets of a rising politician. he at least knew the exact size of his collars, his taste in neckwear, and his prefer- ences in linden-clothing. ICvans hofltated. The proposal Was very tempting. He longed to play the part; but on four hundred â€"â€"and funerals, pubhc dinners, and Aunt, June! "Thanks, very much," said he: “but iVs hardly feusflfle. I have prospects that I nuust not over- look." "Name them. returned the other. "Well, I hope some day to open out a. hosiery establishment of my own." 8 The Portman dent on his favorite relaxation, young Evans had gone North one evening to call on a certain duke whom he had served the previous afternoon. Standing against the railings of Portman Square, he look- ed up at the tall mansion opposite. There were lights on three of the floors, but the blinds were drawn. He passed on with a sigh, walking in the direction of Seymour street. where dwelt Mr. Neill, another and less potent customer. The door of one of the big houses opened as he crossed over, and a. young man 0111- erged. A pleasant light escaped from the great hall. Ernest Prosper So did the young man. Then, stepping forward, he said, with a laugh: “Why, you're me! Come inâ€" side, and let’s have a look at you!” Completely taken by surprise, the young hosier dumny allowed himâ€" self to be conducted into the brilâ€" liant hall, where, looking at his companion, he discovered that inâ€" deed here was his other self. The likeness was remarkable ' “I was going out," said the young man. "but this is really more im- portant." And he led his willing double into a spacious diningâ€"room, Whose Windows overlooked the square. Evans halted for a moment 'l Square Conspiracy. from which Mr. .Jm‘vi: arge and fashionable clien‘ 0 address, and male occupants. house in Park ‘mur: "The Hon- vented a new shape in scarves. “You’re all right. now!" said the marquis‘one evening, when they were discussing matters over their cigars. "There’s the opera for you to go to tonight; and, mind, I de- test Wagner, and don't forget to say so if anybody asks you. And keep clear of old Lady Mallet lator'on. She's trying hard to land me with that girl of hers, and if you give her half a chance I'm cornered.” “I shall stick to Aunt Jane," said the young hosier with a. grin. “I‘m oil to the Empire. and sup- per at Jimmy Harding's." said his lordship. uraking‘ for the hall. The next day, at three o'clock preâ€" cisely, Ernest, Prosper Evans left the house in Pottman Square, hailed a A TRAIN WRECKED BY BOERS NEAR GREYLINGSTAD. Recently a pilOt train, consisting of three trucks, with the engine be- hind, was blown up while crossing a culvert midway between Vaal and Greylingstad. The trucks were stop- ped when half way across the cul- vert, and brought the engine to a standstill. A party of Boers, who were hidden in some kraals 400 yards from the line, opened a, heavy fire on the train, and several shots hit the engine. An armored train which was following the pilot train, brought its pom-pom and men into action. More Boers then appeared on the scene, bringing the number of r -*"u ~ 110 hid taken part in a. debate in! the House of Lords, he had riddeu‘ in the How, dined with Aunt June, and attended several funerals. Thc‘ marquis. on the other hand, in: structed by his accomplice. had serv- ed in JiLI'ViS'S shop, cleverly avoid-l ing recognition by such of his acâ€"V quaintzmces as patronized it: lm‘de made up accounts. measured numer- ous customers for shirts. and inâ€" vented a new shape in scarves. 1 A month of evening parties, a few days at Ascot and Kempton Park, carried out under the marquis's guidance, had put. the finishing touches to his educa‘fion. By a, pruâ€" dent avoidance of} krtuin subjects. all carefully tickcte he could pass as the Marquis Canning in any comâ€" pany. "Yes," said the young hosier. "I've asked Mr. Jarvis for a. day off +3. wedding, my only sister'sâ€"and I'm ready." A Week later he received a letter, stamped with the Canning coronot and cipher. “Come round this evening." it read. "I think We can find the cap ital .for that business of yours.” This time he was shown into a smaller room, and one more suited to an informal tote-aâ€"tete. “Now, look here, Evans,” said the marquis, hs soon as they were seatâ€" ed. “You’ve got; to be me after all, for one month, free, gratis, and for nothing! And then, if you like, you can be yourself again. I’m not go- ing to pay you; 'but if you like to help yourself, there's a. fortune in it” Four Weeks later the two young men sat together in the same cosy room in Portman Squat-e:- But young Evans only shook his head. "How does this an‘ect me?" asked the hosier. The marquis smiled. "I’ll answer that . question if you'll promise to come here every evening for a month, and be inâ€" structed. I've a plan." the marquis “Well, it' to be tbmorro II said It was not till early in the follow- ing year that the money-lender gave the enemy up to 300. The 4.7 gun at Greylingstad also opened fire on the enemy, who uncoupled the en- gine. and sent it at. full speed back towards the armored train. The latter, however, promptly hacked, and the engine, mounting an in- cline, was brought to a. standstill without material injury. Two trucks, laden with petroleum, izal and flour, however, were totally wrecked and burned. No casualties occurred on the train. Two Boers were seen to fall from the fire of the armored train, and shells from Grey- lingstad burst in their midst, knock- ing a, few men over. Two of their horses were killed. By the end of the month the young hosier had, with the assistance of his fellowâ€"conspirator, not, only eflected the desired exchange, but deposited the Whole of the forty-thousand pounds. in a. dozen banks. He had also grown 1L mustache, ordered clothes totally unlike anything worn by the Marquis Canning, and comâ€" pletely emancipated himself from the Old Portnmn Square voice and manner. At the same time he had reluctantly disappeared from the brilliant circles in which he had been Wont to disport himself, Despite his riches. he still continued to serve behind Mr. Jarvis's counter. “I got Ananias this filorningâ€" straight from the stable,” he said. “It’s a, dead cert. Shall I put a bit on for you?” "I’d sooner back your lordship," replied Baxter. Whereupon the young hosier bow- ed, and, with a smiling “goodâ€"after- noon.” closed the transaction. He made straight for Baxter’s bank, and obtained notes in exchange for the cheque “Excellent!” he said. “We must. get these changed for gold, and then we're safe." The marquis met him at dinner- time. The young hosier pocketed the cheque, drew on his gloves, and lit, a cigarette. cab, and was shortly afterwards to be seen driving down Jermyn Street, in dangerous proximity to his place of business. Arrived at Mr, Baxâ€" ter’s office, he gaily entered, an- nounced himself as the Marquis Can- ning, and was reverently conducted into the presence of the great Bax- ter himself. “Good-afternoon, my lord," said Baxter, u. plump Scotsman, with sandy hair, small eyes, and a dis- cordantly cheerful manner. "It's some time since I've seen your lordâ€" ship.” 'CA htflef’ The moneyâ€"lender gave a small sigh of relief. "Plunging?" he said. “Plunging!” he repeated to hhnsdf as he wrote out the cheque. “\VeH, hefll be here again before very long, and he can have~ am he hkes up to a hundred thousand . ” “I can’t say I’ve missed you," said young Evans. "No; people generally don’t, teel it comes to a peench," sing-songed the Scot. “Now, What can I do for you this time? How much is it to be?” Mr.’ Baxter disdained the smaller figure. The marquis was safe, and the bigger the loan the bigger his profits. . “Say forty, if you like,” he said, with a tempting prolongation of the numeral. . Young Evans hesitated, smiled. “Well, if you will have it so,” he agreed . Evans signed "Canning" with a. flourish. "It's a wee bit firmer than it used to be,” said Baxter, stooping over the‘ signature. “Age, my dear boy,” returned Evans. “ And now for the coinâ€"an open cheque or notes will do‘" “Going racing?” asked Baxter. Ethelâ€"That detestable Mrs. Brown said that I looked thirty! Maudâ€" How perfectly absurd! Ethel elatâ€" edâ€"Frankly, now, how old do you really think I look ? Maudâ€"About forty. I. z. the friend news. the marquis the sport he had plan- ncd. The money-lender'sâ€"It's never too late to lend. The lawyer‘sâ€"A friend with deeds is the friend we need. . The tobacconist’s-A puff’s as good as a. feast. The barber'sâ€"Two heads are bet- ter than one. ‘ The cook's --Thc‘ pan is mightier than the sword. The widow'sâ€"Two weds are better than one. The bachelor'sâ€"A little widow is a. dangerous thing. The dentist'sâ€"It's a good thing to look down in the mouth some- times. The a! your lot: 7 The bur find them The sequel to Evan's explo somewhat, tragic. "Baxter’s gone raving mad! the marquis. one day. wh friend came in to hear the first him splracy.” continuec “That fetched him. here with his paper: before breakfast L asleep. but. he fairly " ‘A forgery,’ I s: when he showed me 'I'm sorry, Baxter; and spir ” 'I can sweer it was you! My clerk' can swecr it, was you!’ he cried, waving his papersâ€"you know his funny Scotch accent. "Not just nowâ€"not just now!” said Baxter, purpling. “The next article?" said Ernest Prosper Evansâ€"London Answers. “ ‘chur away,’ said I. Then. laying),r on the silk again: The date?‘ I asked. "He mentioned it and the hour. “of course I produced my diary. " ‘On that afternoon,’ I said, 'I was up at Heath street laying the foundationâ€"stone of the new soup- kitchcns. You will find a. full re- port of the proceedings in the ‘Ilampstead and Highgate Express' of that particular date; also my portraitâ€":1 very ba(l,onc, but wellâ€" meaning, I believeâ€"and the trowel is up in the drawingâ€"room! “At this he grew furious. “ 'Rut my moneyâ€"you’ve got my beautiful money!’ he cried, his hands working desperately. I could alâ€" most see him wallowing in the sov- ereigns as he spoke. ‘You’ve got my beautiful moneyl’he shrieked, purple in the face. “What line is yours, may I ask?" politely inquired the proprietor. “Erâ€"banking," said Mr, Baxter. “And he owes me eighty thousand pounds,” he added with a flourish. "You don’t wish to open any more accounts?" lightly asked the hosier, whose identity the reader Will easily recognise “ ‘I’m blest if I have!’ And I rang for breakfast. “ 'But. I’ll county-court, you! I’ll have the lawâ€"I’llâ€"’ “I cut him short. " ‘All right, Baxter,’ I said; 'you’ve been done, and I’m jolly glad. Case of the biter bit, don’t you know. Congratulate the other fellow for me when you see him. You can go, now.’ And I handed him over to Draper, who declared afterwards he had never heard such language." He was so far successful in these newer and more laudable ambitions that the autumn found him involved in various forms of romantic expenâ€" diture. Included was a large and somewhat gorgeous trousseau. This he purchased at a brand new shop in Bond street. "E. P. Evans” was inscribed in gold leaf over the win- dows, and there was something fa.- miliur, yet elusive, about the moveâ€" ments of the assiduous proprietor. “Do you knoW,” said Mr. Baxter one day, “you remind me of a nobleâ€" man whom I was once proud to number among my clients.” The marquis laughed heartily be- fore proceeding. “I had to go north that day,” he resumed; “so I handed Baxter over to my lawyers. I wrote to you about, it. He took some time beâ€" lieving usâ€"made stupid inquiries at my bank, and wasted more money over a detective. Now, he’s given up. The truth has dawned upon him, and he’s gone raving mad.“ -Evans figeted in his seat as the marquis concluded. “I’ve done pretty well," he said, reviewing his past activity; and one must take risksâ€"they’re part of the game. I'll marry money, and go and live in the country." ad AOI' 'ou remember. I returned his account, with a. note asking what the deuce 1m mount by it, threatening an action for con- bachelor'sâ€"A little widow is 0. tons thing. dentist’sâ€"It's a good thmg to down in the mouth some- auctioneor’sâ€"Bc content with TRADE TRUTHS ‘glar's exclaimo 1;; an action for con- ltinued the marquis. him. He came down papers next, morningâ€" nst L00. 1 was half fairly woke me." ',’ I said. quite kindly, ‘â€"Take things as you w’an’s expioit was your signature. but, you’ve been the youn . when his the latest. said hos- THE HEALTHIEST TRADES CALLINGS LIKELY Ta MAKE YOU A CENTENARLLN. The Tar-Worker‘s Life Averages Eighty-Six Yearsâ€"Tending Cowstables Very Healthy. The best and healthiest trade in the world is (lyeâ€"xllaking from coal tar. There is no manual work that comes near it, for tar, and the smell of it, is the finest of all tunics and tissue-builders; so much so that the life. of n tarâ€"worker come. out at eightysix years. The mortality is eighty per cent. lower too. than in other factory trades. Distilling succharin from the tar is equally good, and the bony framework and circulation of a. worker in tar is always firstclass. Malignant diseases are almost un- known in aniline-dye factories, and even in epidemics the workers sufi‘er little. And there is nothing like a. tar works for keeping- ol‘l' influenza. Yet the work of actually making the tar. which falls to gas and coke works, is virulently unhealthy, be- cause of the sulphur fumes; but when the finished tar is passed on to dyeâ€"works it brims with health “As for me," says M. Flammarion, speaking of the inhabitants of Mars. "1 rather envy them. A world where it is always beautiful, Where there are neithertempeats nor cy- clones, where the years are twice as long as ours, where the kilog‘;-.L.n is of 376 grams. and where, thereâ€" fore, men and women who her-J weigh seventy kilos there weigh only tWamty-six. and Where. in a word, is of 376 grams. and Whurc. there- fore, men and women who hes-J weigh seventy kilos there weigh 00!): [Wants-six. and Where, in a word, everything is lighter, more delicate and more refined." And in another place he goes further. pointing out. that if the Martians Wished to com- municate with us they Would doubt.â€" less have made the efiort many times in the past and probably long ago abandoned it, deciding it a. hopeless business to attempt comuvmicatm with a planet so stupid. distilling, which affords as good a. set-up to the system as spiritâ€"drink- ing pulls it down. The vapors of a. distillery are extremely health-giv- ing. and a. fatal foe to disease and sickness germs of every kind. Disâ€" tillery workers, who are not given to intemperance, by the way, show the excellent average of eighty-one years for life, and seldom sufl‘er from illness; while brewery employees, on the other hand, have the decidedly bud average of fortyâ€"seven. Finally, barring accidents, there would be no trade to beat the steeplejack’s for keeping life going. The task of working at enormous heights from the ground keeps the nervous system in such perfect order â€"a.nd that is two-thirds of the bat- tleâ€"that steeplejacks Who are not killed by accident show the magnifi- cent. average of eighty-nine. when the finished tar is passed on to dyeâ€"works it hrims with health and strength, and the weakliest men improve when Working it. ' Eightyâ€"six years is a marvellous average, by the Way, for the aver- age of the population if forty-nine. Still better, although not a fac- tory trade like tarâ€"working, is cow- keeping. Not herding cows in the country, for that is neither more nor less healthy than any other farming work. but _ Here the average length of life is eightyâ€"five, and scores of stalledâ€"cow keepers live over the age of 100. This is because a cow is the only an- imal Whose presence is thoroughly healtlLV for manâ€"the very breath of a cow is beneficial. Consumption, and kindred ills, are utter strangers in cow stables; and the best thing a. man can do to lengthen his life is to look after cows. and, if possible, sleep in a room above the stable. There is a very strange difference in trades that go on side by side in the Way of life-lengthening. The la.â€" bor of wheeling a Wheel-barrow iri particular, has such a strengthening effect on the muscles and joints that confirmed barrowâ€"wheelers show the best average in all the building tradesâ€"nearly seventyâ€"seven years, and agreat many touch the 100. This is largely because, if a man wheels :1. barrow properly, the wide- apart arms open the chest, and help to strengthen the lungs in a Wonder- ful way. Whereas, though wielding a. pickâ€"axe seems as if it should be a. fine exercise, it really knocks the life- average down to forty-live. The partly stooping position, and the bent inwards position of the arms, contracts the chest dangerously, cramping the lungs till they are easy victims to pneumonia. IRONâ€"SMEL’I‘ING. puts ten years on to the average life of at man, if he has good lungs to start with; but if he is weakâ€"lunged it is liable to cut, him off altogether. The hard work and perspiration are lifeâ€"givers to the strong, but fatal to the weak. Coalâ€"mining is not good; but copperâ€"mining brings the aver- age up to eighty years with a. run, for the composition of the ore, when powdered. has an extremely strength- ening elTect on the blood and nerves. This seems odd, because crude cop- per is at poison; but the ore in which it lies is a fine tonic-giving mixture when breathed in small quantities, and the allâ€"round work has a. very good etTect on the muscles. Few copperâ€"miners die before they are eighty three or four; whereas copper- smelters are lucky if they see fifty. A firstâ€"class trade to put a. few ex- tra years on to your life is whiskey distilling, which affords as good a. set-up to the system as spirit-drink- ing pulls it down. The vapors of a. distillery are extremely health-giv- ing, and a fatal foe to disease and INHABITANTS OF MARS TENDING COW STABLES ,, for tar, :Lnd the smell finest of all tunics and s; so much so that the worker come. out. at, us. The mortality is