The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WWW 1' The Gypsy’s Sarita okr‘ssz A SECRET REVEALED ; WWWMW They represented almost a fabulous] Sum. Even allowing for the lOSS in realization, they would supply him with a. large income. He could sell them at Amsterdam. The countess or Royce would not care to prOSC-cnte him. He would be a rich man. and â€"he would do it. He looked at his watch. There would be time to se- cure the jewels and catch a. train for London. He would go on, stopping, to Holland, and thenâ€"well, His face flushed with renewed hope and pleasant. anticipation; it would be a charming way of revenging him- self. Royce might have the titleâ€" though that was not certainâ€"but that gypsy vagabond of a wife of his should never wear the Landon diaâ€" monds. He rang the bell and ordered the brougham; and his voice, though rather thick, was suave as usual. Then he went up and packed a Small portmanteau, put on his loose, fur-lined traveling coat, and sat. down for a few minutes to gain coolâ€" ness and courage. When in the house the .ieWels were kept in a small safe in the countess‘ dressingâ€"room; it was very probable that in the conâ€" fusion and excitement of last night that they were, most of them, lying on the dressing-table. Even if Louise had been thoughtful enough to put them in the safe he might be able tol get. the key. At the worst, the thing was stronger in appearance than reality, and he could force the lock. He waited a quarter of an hour, then, with a small black bag con- cealed under his loose fur coat, he went quietly along the corridor and entered the countess' dressingâ€"room. He tried the safe; it was as he had every jewel ! He thought for a moment. then a'coat up around his face, and clutch-t brilliant idea struck him. He went out into the corridor and waited. Presently Louise came out of the countess' room. She started slightly as she saw him, and noticed the hectic flush on his face and his swollen eyes. “How is her ladyship now?" asked. "Better, my lord," said the maid, pausing a moment with her hand upon the handle of the door. he “I am glad, very glad!" said Soy-- mour. “Will you tell her, please. that I have to go to London at once? Andâ€"oh, Leuise. I want you to lock up these rings in her lady- ship’s safe: I have lost the keys of mine. If you are busy I will do it." His heart beat fast. Would she rc~ fuse to give him the key? For a. sec- ond she did hesitate, then she took it from her pocket. "Here is the key, my lord," said. Seymour returned to the dressing- room, unlocked the safe, and emptied the contents of the moroccoâ€"lined cases into his bag. He took every- thing, even such triflcs as a plain gold bracelet and neck chain. The bag weighed like lead. He went. back to his heart knocking against his ribs. she room, his The bell, which was rung when a carriage‘ that had been ordered was rang softly. He looked around the room, with a sigh, for he was saying goodby to Monk Towers, goodâ€"by to his title, to his characterâ€"to everyâ€" thing save the jewels. He clutched the bag under his arm, beneath the fur cloak, and went stealtbily to- ward the door, though there was no special need for stealth; but it open- ed inward, and Jake stood before him. Ho cry, but shrank back. Jake closed the door, and leaning against it surveyed the white, cowardly face with an angry glare. “I might have known it!" he. said in a husky whisper. “I thought you meant to go back on me! You was so ready and willing to agree with everything. You're a mean haund, my son, and I’m flanged if I ain’t ashamed of you!" “Whatâ€"what do you mean?" “You were olf! You were going to cut." “It’sâ€"it’s a lie! said Seymour. “1 uttered no was going to the bank for your money.” “Bank! At this time of night! What do you take me for? You were. off; you meant to give me the slip. And why, eh? What’s your little game? Ah; the diamonds! got 'em! They're mine, you thief!" and he advanced a step. “They’re mine! She gave ’em to me!" “IIâ€"-ush! Theyâ€"they will hear you. I have not got them. 1â€"1 was goingâ€"that is, I was coming back to-morrow. Go away before they find you. I swearâ€"” Jake had been watching him close ly. and saw a movement of his arm. "You swear!" he retorted in a harsh whisper. “I wouldn't believe you if you swore till you were black in the face. What's that under your arm? It’s them! Give 'em hereâ€"" He advanced and Seymour drew back, clutching the bag. “Comeâ€"come a. step nearer and I'll ring the bell, and give you into cus- tody" he gasped. "Not you! Give it here, I say!" He made a grab at the coat, but Seymour stepped back out of his reach, and with the frenzy of an ani- without but » ready, . You‘ve ‘ not ' niul driVen to buy, struck at. him. The blow fell short, but it maddened Jake. “What! strike your own father!” he cried hoarscly. "You unnaturalâ€" He made a dash at Seymour as he. lspokc, and Seymour in attempting to escape tripped and folkâ€"fell with a dull crash and the ring of metal; 1his head had struck the fender. Jake stooped down and tore the 'bag away. "Hah!" he cried exultingly. “Look ‘here now! I knew I was right. Get up!” But Seymour (lid not move. Jake ~bent down over him and touched ihim. “He'sâ€"he’s only fainted," he ,growlcd. “Confound him, it serves To strike his own father! got some Seyâ€" him right. He went across the room and the water bottle and poured water on the wnite face; but mour lay motionless. A knock came to the door, and a ‘voice said: “The carriage is ready, my lord." Jake sprang to the small modera- tor lamp that was burning on a side table and turned it down. In doing ,so it fell, but noiselessly, on the ,thick carpet. The rooln was plunged lin darkness. ‘ “The carriage is ready my lord," repeated the footinan. ' "Very well," said Jake as smooth- :ly as he couldâ€"and his voice, for the lbest of reasons, was not very unlike :the one be simulated. l IIe waited until the man's footâ€" steps had died away; then he knelt ,down, felt for Seymour, and with ‘some little difiiculty took off the fur ‘ :cloak, and exchanged his ulster for‘ fearedâ€"locked. LOUISe had Put fl“'aY;it. He found and put on Seymour'Si hat, drew the Wide collar of the fur ‘ing the bag under his arm as Sey- Imour had done, opened the door and' ‘weiit slowly down the stairs. -‘ A footinan stood at the hall door. ; “Will you have the carriage winâ€" dow up, my lord?" he asked. l Jake nodded, and touched his face; ,as if he had the toothache. The man put the window up, and 'held the door for a moment. "Where to my lord?" he asked. “The station," said Jake under the coat collar. l The footman looked at him rather curiously, but closed the door, and the carriage started. 1 Jake leaned back ‘noiselessly. l “I’ll teach him to play tricks on this father," he growled. “I reckon ,he’ll be rather wild when he comes Lto." l The picture of Seymour’s surprise and disgust when restored to con- sciousness amused him for seine min- utes, as the brougham rolled smooth- ly along; then suddenly a more ser- ious reflection came. , “I suppose the diamonds are ,right," he said, and he opened .bag and held it to the window to icatch the light from the back of the 'carriage lamps. E For a moment he was almost and laughed all be- ;wildered by the sight that met his eycs. Then his face flushed, and he gasped: “ilc's cleverer than I thought! He was making oil‘ with the whole swag! And I've got it! I've got it! Hooray! Hoeâ€"ray!" CHAPTER XXXVIII. An hour later, Giles, the second groom. happened to be going from lthe stables to the house, fancied he isaw smoke issuing from one of the ,upper windoows. The night was dark and gusty, and Giles, thinking that his eyes were playing tricks with ihim, and being in a hurry to .the other servants at tea, passed on, and said nothing. Who gave the first alarm no one knew, but suddenly, as if a hundred throats were shouting it, there arose the awful cry of “Fire!” As usual, evurybody rushed hither and thither, throwing open the doors and creating a splendid draught, unâ€" der which the fire flourished at once and gloriously. In less than ten minutes from the .corridor was filled with smoke, through which tongues of flames proâ€" l truded. Flames were also coming gfrom the windows of the south wing, and the crackling of timber and shivering of glass mingled with the shouts and screams of the terrified household. One of the footinen bad the sense to run and ring the great bcll, and its souorous tones rose grimly above the din which added to the confu- sion. In an incredibly short time a the place, and the hutlnr, who was the first to recover his presence or .mind, got together a band of volun- and house buckets. There was an enormous tank on the top of the south wing, which was supposed to be always filled with a case of fire, but though the water was there no one seemed to know lhow to get at it. and the only wa- iter that was thrown upon the now :roaring flames was obtained from the stable taps. from . the i join, I first moment of the alarm the upper mob of villagers had gathered around 1 teers and supplied them with Stable, large quantity of Water available in. The nearest fire brigadeâ€"a volun- tccr oneâ€"Was five nillos (ill, nutl though the butler had started (hit-s off on horseback to fetch it, an hour must elapse before it could reach the Towers. “If only Mr. loch was here!" groaned the butler to the I'vclol' of the parish, who had been among;- I‘m- first to arrive, and was working away in his shirt sleeves with him. “But both he and his lordship are away." “The courso‘.’" ladies are all of panted the rector. “Yes, yes! They were in the west. wing, and I saw the countess a, few minutes ago with Louise and Marion Everybody's out. of the house." and he. lunkvtl around at the terrified group collected on the lawn. "I think you ought. to telegraph to ,‘his lordship,” said the rector. “What's the use, sir? He has orly ‘jusl left the Towch for London, and {by the time be got bereâ€"lmrd, bow it flames no\v!â€"â€"the whole place will ibe gone!" and he groancd as he sprang forward. bucket. in hand. The scene baffled description. right, The flames, and the murky sky was lit now and again shot up a volume (f sparks and smoke, as portions of the roof and the castcllatcd coping fell with a dull crash into the body of the fire. Black and half mad with excite- mcnt the little band of men with Ifrenzied zeal, lecrcd on by the mass of spectators. At. intervals, carâ€" riages and horses bearing neighbors and friends arrived, adding to the confusion, for none of them could do any more than was already being done. Servants and villagers were so mixed up in the group on the lawn that it was difficult to find the rcountcss, or, indeed, distinguish one person from another; but at last Lord llalfarras gained her side. She was leaning against the pedes- .tal of a statue, her hands clasped, i certainly as calm as the statue above her, her lips moved Convulsively now and again. “Thank led, you are safe!" said Lord Balfarras. “Are all out? Lady Irene, Mrs. Landon " “Yes,” said the countess almost inaudibly. “Yes, M’adge has gone, Irene was in the next room and is here," she looked around: "I saw herâ€"when?" and she put her hand to her. brow. Lord Ilalfarras looked among icrowd eagerly. “I do not see her!" he said. "Per- haps she is with Royce or Mrs. Lanâ€" don." A servant overheard him. “Master Royce is away, my lord," he said hurriedly. At that moment a roar arose from the crowd; the flames had broken out in the center of the building. As they did so a light was thrown upon the windows which had hitherto been ‘darkencd by the smoke. and the roar was followed by screams and .‘yells of “look! look! There's some ‘one there~looklâ€"the window!" “My God!" exclaimed the butler ,seizing the rector's arm. “There is §s0mo one standing at that windowâ€" Ethe second! It’sâ€"it's a woman! It's l ‘Lady Irene!" 'l‘he rector turned white and dropâ€" ped the bucket he was carrying. , Irene was standing at the open window, her hands grasping the ‘frame, her white face set up by the ‘flames, which licked against the stone walls as if eager to devour her. A shriek of agony arose above the ,din. It came from the countess who lsprang forward, to be instantly seiz- ‘ed by Lord Balfarras. The horror of the situation silenced ithc crowd for a moment, then a score of men rushed toward the hall door; but as they reached it, it broke forth a volume of fire and the have passed alive. “Save her! save her!" yelled crowd. “Get a ladder, a ropc Some men tore to the stables and brought a ladder, but it only roach- ,ed to the top of the first floor, and there were no means of climbing be‘ iyond it.” Lord Balfarras gave the countess linto the charge of his wife and rushâ€" lcd to the house; but he could do no ,more than others, and stood gazing the n 'upward with an anguish which be nevcr forgot to the hour of his death. The white figure of Irene stood mo- tionlcss in the hideous light of the ,flames, as if she knew that she was ldoomcd and was resigned, and her very attitude almost drove the specâ€" ;tators mad. Suddenly a shout "The went up engine! the engine!" and a lane was imade through which the brigade {drove the horses at a wild gallop. jA hundred hands wore at the lirecs- 3cape ladder, but before it could be undone and run up to the. building a :figul‘c was SCL'll to dart through the !('1‘()\\‘<l, pause a moment under 7window, and then dart around to the back. i For a moment the flames lit up ltho figure. and a cry of curiosity 'ai'ose amid the shrieks and yells. "Who is it? A gypsy?" shouted some one. "She was (irisst like. ionc." was the response. "I saw her red shawl. \Vhere's she goneâ€"who is :she?" I No one seemed able to answer the ’question; and Madge, with no one to !hinder her, flew around to the walled agardcn and through the door by 'whieh Irene and she. had gone out cu lthe morning after her arrival at the l’l‘owers. , Her face. was white, but not with ‘fear. With Sci. lips and flashing eyes she ran through the hall and up the stairs. whole. of the south wing was now in' .up with a lurid glare, through Whl\‘.l’l . .her white face turned toward the burning house; and, though she was; smoke, through which no man could. the . I “Oh, God, don't b-t me be late!" she. prayed. “Let me save her! I.ct inc save A moment. afterward the crowd saw ‘. two figures that were at. the window. ‘ . . . l Scarci-ly bcllcvxng thcn' eyes they i sent up a wild yell. l l The flames lit Up both faces, and at. last Madge was 1‘<'(‘t:gnilo(l. 1 "It's Muster lioyco's wife!" shout.â€" otl the butler. “it's her, it's She'll be burnt too!" A groan arose from those who had‘ heard him, and the llll'll rushed the ‘Pscapo to the face of the building. lt ircul'i-d itself short of the window by llmif a down fcv-t. ‘ The captain of the brigade ran up llbe escape-ladder. “Jump! One at. a time! Jump!" Madge put her arms around ircne, who stood senseless with terror, and quite unconscious that anyone was with llt'l'. l “.Ireno, Irene!" she cried. "Oh, my! dearest, can you do it?” l her! , i too ‘ clutching at. her and sobbing out her l her!" i l lrciu- St‘l‘lllt'll to awake, and clutch- ed Madgc's arm. "You, too, Madge!" then shr- bid her face 'l)()SOlll and sbuddored. “I cannotâ€"I ‘cannot! But, you go! Leave me! I. cannot. move. Leave me, Madge! Thinkâ€"think of Royce!" A strange expression shone on- B'Izulgc's while face-tho look of a‘ woman at her bpsl, when self is slainl and all her nobility of heart is in iasvcnrlnnt. "I am thinking of him," she mur- :n’llll‘C'fl. “No, I will not. leave. you. I have come. to save you, or die with l wailcd, on Mar go's slzc ,you, dear," she added simply. "If: 1you cannot jumâ€"â€"--â€"" ‘ “For (lod's sake. come down!" shouted the. captain, making a Nil-l ‘offort to climb up the wall, an effort 1utterly futile. l Madge shook her head sadly. They :saw her face, calm and almost serene I‘in the light of the flames. And then! ltbey saw her put. her arms round iIrene, and lift her bodily on hurl ‘shoulder. 1 “She, is going to carry her! She ,cannot do it!" rose the try. I There are moments when human istrength passes the ntuiral and beâ€" comes superhuman. This “as one! {of them. Setting her teeth hard, Madge stepped back from the window, and Ewes lost to the sight of the mob be- !neath. Slowly, feeling each step of :the way, Madge carried the. now ‘scnsclcss Irene through the corridor -‘and into the hall. lly this time the smoke was as dense as a wall. She shut her eyes and staggered on, but. 3cven as she did so she wound her: shawl round Irene's head, that she 'might not sufiicaie by the smoke. For an instant or two she lost her way in the thick, foul darkness; then a flash of flame showed her where she was, and she made for the door. At that moment a portion of the window railing fell. It was of oak, solid, and heavy as iron. Madge felt la blow on her side and bosom. which ‘sent her reeling against. the wall; 1but she did not relax her hold of 1Irene, and staggered on again. She reached the door. A veil of ‘flame and smoke hid them from the lhowling, crying, yelliiig~inob; thenl ithe two figures were seen standing on the threshold. With a roar like the breaking of the, sea the crowd rushed forward; but! Ibefore they could reach her a horse-I man dashed through them, throwing gthem right and left, and Royce flung. {himself out of the saddle. His left arm was in a sling, and! 'bound to his side, but he caught at Madge with his right and dragged her out of reach of the flames. She still held Irene in her armsâ€"held her in a grasp like that of a vise. The crowd closed round them, a ,(lozcn men stretched out their hands to touch her, a hundred throats yellâ€"I ed "Bravo!" the women sobbing “God bless her! God bless her!" Madge stood, her precious burden in her arms, her faCe turned toward ,the sky. Blood was streaming down it, and turning her burnt, red shawl ‘a deeper crimson. For a moment she seemed lost to everything, as if she had passed beâ€"I yond the boundary which divides‘ death from life and the desire of life; ‘ ll - roads : says: then she looked at Royceâ€"Royce nameâ€"and bcld Irene toward him. “Take her," she breathed. "'l‘ako her, Royce! I have saved herâ€"for you!" The woman took Irene from her. and Royce put his arm around Madge, calling upon her wildly, madly. ller heed rested on his breast, and she put, her burnt bands round his ,ncck and smiled up at him peace fully, serenely; then her eyes closed, .a faint shudder ran through her, and she fell ‘forward. (To be Continued.) â€"â€"â€"â€"+ EPIGRAMS OF REPORTERS . A Great Deal Said in a. Very Small Space. "A man in Maryland the other day ale fifteen dozen raw oysters for a wager. The silver trimmings on his coffin cost $12.25." It is impossible to state the name of the humorist who originated the above manner of describing a fatal occurrenCc; but it seems to be quite generally followed by American news- paper paragraphers nowadays. It is delicate way of putting it, and much better than when one “lie died amid the most. horriâ€" ble and excruciating agouies.” The whole, story is told and the reader's sensibilities are not shocked. This an opportunity for CXt-rcising the genuity. Variety, freshness, and cheerful, not to say vivacious, face- liousnoss can be mingled with the brit-ftr-st. notices of fatal casualties that otherwise may be neglected by the, reader or very briefly glanced at. Here are a few selected examples: “A young man in Imuiseville ex- amined a keg of damaged gunpowder With a rod~hot poker, to see if it was good. It is bclievwl by his friends that be. has gone to Europe, al- style of paragraphing affords in- a though a man has found some human bones and a piece of shirtâ€"tail about twenty miles from Louisville." "John Smith, jun., in Nebraska, said he could handle a rattlesnake the same as a snake-charmer. The churlishucss of the undertaker in de- manding pay in aannce delayed the funeral four days." “Richard Strongarm, better known as the 'champion trunk smasher of Missouri,’ found a box last week marked ‘Dynamile. Handle with care.’ 'Ha, ha!’ said he, dynamite,'- in a scornful voice, as be seized it by the handle, braced one foot against the load, and yanked it on the platform. He never came back." "A circus rider in Arizona tried to turn three somersaults on horseback the other day. The manager sent back to New Orleans for another somersault man.” “A man warned his wife. in Chicaâ€" go not to light the fire with kero- sene. She did not heed the warning. Her clothes fit his second wife re- markably well." “A small boy was hanging around a circus in Brooklyn the other day, when he opened the lid of a box marked 'Iloa Constrictor.’ That small boy doesn't hang around any more circuses." “A boy in Quebec disregarded his mother's injuctions not to skate on the river, as the ice was thin. His mother does not cook for as many as she formerly did." “In Massachusetts the other day a. man thougt he could cross the track in advance of a locomotive. The services at the grave were very impressive. ' ' +â€"â€"â€". A MISSIONARY OAK. In Stoke Park, near Guildford, England, is an oak tree which has a world~wide interest. Regularly once a year a missionary mccting is held beneath its branches, when people who have a (ll-sire for work in the mission fields are inVilod to sttp for- ward. The annual gathering has just, been held, when sixteen young men and women rose from their seats as the sign 01' their intention to under- take missionary work, The result is that in almost every portion of the globe there are men and women who look upon this trce as the scene as the turningâ€"point in their lives. l f" i. Lion ‘{ _ it w . TIII'I SAFE TY CROWN. ‘ .y l . - .(£14153: «neon m - . Bomb proof crown designed for the Czar by loving relatives who do not want his job. (Russian patent app lied for.)