OUT OF THE STORM; Or, GRACE WRAY'S TRIALS.

.BY MAJOR ALFORD ROCHEPORT.

CHAPTER XXV,

OJf THE GRAVE'S BRINK,

When Mrs Thornton reached home, after 'having taken her doctor to see Grace Wray, -and left him there, she found that Alice ■ Seville had just returned.

The face of the beautiful adventuress was ms calm and her manner as collected as if she had just come from a service at church, .instead of a meeting with an outlaw, in which sho had planned tlio destruction of 'One fellow-mortal and the ruin of another. But Mrs Thornton was not trained to Ihide her emotions. Her fine face showed the anxiety ot her heart, and when she .spoke her voice was tremulous. " Why, my dear Aunt Thornton, you do hot look at all well I" said Alice Seville, when she came down, dressed for the' even ing, and met the old lady in hor sitting room.

"And I do not feel well," said Mrs Thornton; and thereupon she told Alice .Seville about Grace Wray's illness, and the fact that the doctors thought she was in .great danger. "Oh, the poor, unfortunate girl!" cried Mrs Seville, with wet. assumed anguish. "Why did I not hear of that before? I will go at once to tbe hotel and see if I can ■help nor." "The doctors say that it is better that she should bo kept quiet," said Mrs Thorn ton ; adding, with a sigh, "I wish sho were here, where we havo plenty of room, and she could have the care and quiet she so needs."

"Why cannot we have her brcught -here?" asked Mrs Sovillo, eagerly. "I would give all my time to her care, and it has been said that I was a good nurse."

"She is in tho doctor's hands," replied Mrs Thornton; "and whatever ho thinks best will bo done."

While they were speaking, Ralph came in ; and he seemed to be as heavy of heart as his mother ; but he had not; heard of ■Grace's illness.

Mrs Sevillo watched his face eagerly while his mother told him what the doctors said ■about Grace's fever.

He could not have realised the danger, for he made no comment, except that he would call.

But while Ralph Thornton did not express ■anxiety at this time for Grace Wray, Alice ■Seville could not but feel that his manner to her was vory different.

He had never been an ardent lovor, his conduct from the first being that of an old friend or a brother rather than that of a prospective husband. But this evening, though he was as ■courteous as over—perhaps more studiously ■so—she felt that he was colder, and that ho beld himself back.

She well knew that if this coldness wero permitted to continue it would soon grow into indifference or actual dislike.

She had a hold on him, and an influence •over him, and she resolved to use all her powers to hold him in her grasp. She succeeded in keeping him home that night, and she had no troublo in getting him into the conservatory. Hero they sat down under a dwarf palm, their chairs so •close together that she could lay her hand on his shoulder to enforce her remarks. With that wonderful insight that' dis tinguished her, she knew that he was think ing of Grace Wray and her uncle, and instead of leading his mind into othor ■channels—as a novice might have attempted —she wisely talked on those subjects that most troubled him.

Her voice, always distinct, and often very sweet, was wondrously flute-liko to-night, and it brought a feeling of rest and harmony to his excited nerves.

It seemed as if she novor would weary of talking about "beautiful Grace Wray," and the "poor blind uncle;" and Ralph could not hut feel how truly noble this woman was; and he blamed himself for the injustice he had dono her in his heart. How could he—frank, generous follow— see that in speaking about Grace and plan ding for her future, Alice Seville was doxter ously displaying those qualities of head and heart which she was anxious to have him be lievo she possessed. When she arose to go to her room that •night, Ralph Thornton's kiss was on her lips, and she had the assurance ropoatod that the Easter festival would see her his wife.

But, with all her power, there was ono thing Alice Seville could not do, and that -was, she could not keep Ralph always with her, even if she chose to do so, which sho certainly did not. While in her presence, like steel in the vicinity of a magnot, ho was drawn to hor -and became filled with her strange, subtle influence; but so soon as ho left her his freedom came slowly back, and With it something of disgust at his own weakness. Heretofore he had done nothing in all his life to weaken his own self-respect, and so long as a strong man retains that ho can afford to snap his fingers at the opinion of the world, but now Ralph saw and felt that he was not acting a manly part. In justice to himself he could not love one woman with a love that ruled his thoughts ■and his feelings with increasing power, and •at the same time be engaged to another woman,

This he fully understood, and yet he could not bring himself to break with Alice ■Seville, or to banish for ever Grace Wray from his thoughts. He was up and breakfasted the next morning before his mother and Mrs Seville, and he at once started down to Bauer's Hotel.

He met the doctor at the door, and in answer to his inquiry, "How is she?" the doctor shook his head and.said :

" Poor girl, it will go hard with her, I fear."

Ralph went up to the little parlour, where "he found Mrs Bauer talking in whispers with a trained nurse-woman whom the doctor had brought. " Oh, Mr Ralph, dem 'pleece hafe kilt the poor child," sobbed Mrs Bauer, as she took his hands and let her tears fall on them. "But—but she is still alive?" he gasped. "Yes; dot's her talkin': you kin hear dose worts."

She led him to the door of the darkened Toom, where the poor girl lay rocking her burning head on the pillow, and Mrs Bauer raised her finger for him to bo still, It was Grace's voice, low and piteous, speaking in disconnected sentences, through which ran the thread of the awful thought that was on her mind when the fever came like a mercy to blot it out. ■ ",No, no 1 How should I know who put them there? I wish some one would see Mrs Lansing and Uncle George, and tell her I will be to work to-morrow. I like her —I loved her from the firßt, and I see her face in my dreams. He's to marry Mrs Seville. I hope they will be very happy, for he is handsome and noble.

"Mr Thornton, did you say ? Oh, no, he knows I could not do V wrong. But he

said ho would find out. Wait till Uncle George can see and he is tall and strong again. Ah, the battle of life would be easy with my grand old ally as ho used to bo. Yes, Mrs Murphy knows all about it. And with that sage green velvet to cover tho frame, a light pink plume with another dark, very dark. It depends much on the lady's complexion and the rest of tho costume."

And bo she went on.blending her trouble and her work.

And Ralph, standing trembling there at the dark door of that little room, was more powerfully touched by the poor girl's wan dering talk than he had been by the well chosen words and flute-like voice of Mrs Seville.

His eyes filled with tears, and he had to turn away to hide from Mrs Bauer and the nurse what he thought was a sign of weak ness, but which was in truth a sign of greater strength than he had yet mani fested. He sat down near tho fire, and he was in this attitude when Mrs Seville and his mother came in.

He was not confused at meeting them here; indeed, he made no attempt to ex plain his presence, and he would have resented any inquiry on that point. Mrs Seville came round, she said, to help nurse the Bick girl. She claimed to be a cool hand in a sick room, and without doubt she was. Sho would not hear to Mrs Bauer's nor the nurse's objection, but laid away her bonnet and wrap; and she certainly did look cool and wholesome in her plain dress. She would rest Mrs Bauer and the nurse for four hours, and would follow out the doctor's instructions as to the medicine.

Thero was no denying her, and after the first faint opposition Mrs Bauer and tbe nurse yielded, and said among themselves afterwards that thoy thought her a very noble and a very good woman. Ralph went off with his mother in the carriage, but instead of going home they drove to the houso of tho oculist who had charge of George Wray. From the day he had gone to that place Grace had visited him regularly, and he measured the dark days by the hours before and after her coming. Neither Ralph nor his mother co-Id plan how to tell George Wray about Grace's ill ness without very seriously affecting his own case, for they knew that his life was wrapt up in hers. They solved this trouble by deciding to tell the doctor and leaving to him the beat method of telling George Wray that his nieco was ill.

"It is a season," said tho doctor, as if ho wore rehearsing apart, "when any one is subject to colds, A cold should be taken in time and carefully nursed. That is the only way to guard against bronchial affections and consumption. Miss Wray has a heavy cold, and Mrs Thornton and hor friends think it is better she should stay in the houso for a few days. Her uncle is one of the most sensible mon I ever talked with, and he will, without doubt, be of the samo opinion. I'll go right in and prepare him." Tho oculist, who was also one of the most skilful surgeons in the city, was about to start off, but Mrs Thornton stopped him by asking : " Dr. Gouldpar, how is our patient!" "Mr Wray?" " Yes, Doctor."

"Ho is doing wonderfully well. He has an unusual constitution, and when ho gots Out again he will walk as well as over he did. He is still a young man just in tbe prime of manhood, though! did not think so when I first saw hit a. *,

" But his eyes?" " Ono is gono, you know." "But tho othor?"

" That is saved. In a few weeks his eye will be as sound as ever it was. Mr Wray will have powder marks and scars about him till the day he dies, and one hand will be •crippled and his left leg a bit weak if ho walks too far, but still ho will bo in strength and activity tho master of ninety-nino hundredths of tho young men you seo. A temperate life is a good investment, and the best fortune parents can leave to thoir children—though few of them know it—is a good constitution.-1' The doctor was in the aqtof mounting his hobby when Mrs Thornton hastened to in dorse his views and to thank him for what ho hnd said about George Wray.

Whilo Mrs Thornton and her son wore talking to tho uncle, Mrs Sovillo was alone with the niece.

Had she deliberately planned and worked for this opportunity it could not havo happoned better. Shrewd, far-sooing woman,. sho always wont prepared to avail hersolf of her chances.

For years sho had been walking on tlio undulating crust of a volcano, and nono knew it so woll as herself.

Sho realised that any moment exposure might come, and sho contemplated this fact with all the calmness of a general making arrangements for defeat whilo planning for victory. Sho had no religious feelings. She was a modorn pagan, and like tho pagans of old, she looked upon death as an ally while she lived and wanted others out of tho way, and as a friend, should she find that her own life was undesirable.

Sho knew more about poisons than the most skilled chomists. . Sho wore a beautiful ring ; sho said it was a present from her dead husband; it was in the shape of a snake, with rubies for eyes, and a spear-shaped emerald for a tongue.

She could press with a pin, or a needle point, one of the eyes of this snake, and liko a flash of keon, hollow lancet, not so painful as the prick of a rose-thorn, would pierce the skin under tho ring and drop into the bloodless wound a tiny atom of colourless fluid. But that atom would co agulate every drop of blood in the body within an hour and no skill could detect the cause, and the doctors would say, without hesitation" that it was a case of heart disease.

As an excuse for carrying a little silver flask—not much larger than a thimblo—she claimed to have neuralgic pains in her ear at times, and she would inhale the odour gt the little flask, ono drop of which, taken into the system, would produce death with in twenty four hours, and the effect would be like that of pneumonia on the lungs.

Alone with Grace Wray, and Mrs Sovillo went in and sat down beside the bed.

She laid her cool, soft hand on the hot brow, and the touch soothed the poor girl, for she stopped talking, and with a question ing expression looked at the woman beside her.

" You, Mr Thornton 1" said Grace, with a glad smile. "Sheloves him, poor fool!" said Alice Seville, as she bit her lip, and fastened her snake-like eyes on the beautiful flushed face.

She felt a sense of triumph in her posi tion,

She had no secrets from herself; every hour of her own life/ from the earliest memory, she knew. ( But this girl might a_s well have been the daughter of a nameless pauper so far as the knowledge of her awn past was con " There she lies, tiie blood of the Sevilles in her veins and an/immense fortune at her command; but jvba* avails It when she is ignorant of the fact! '.'•..' . .

" Thero sho lies ; the ono bar -between mysolf and Ralph Thornton ; with her gone, the rest will not be hard, for I can see Iny way to the end.

" I cannot blame him for'boing attracted. I have seen a few women in my time, and I havo thought that if I wero a man I would love thorn madly. But, as compared with this girl, thoy wero commonplace. " Did poet or painter over imagine any thing more beautiful thon she is ? "Bettor die now than when tho gold bronzo hair is gray and tho soulful oyos flattened and bleared. Better die whilo the teeth gleam like pearls through a ruby casket, and tlio glow of tho sea-shell is on hor cheok, and tho young blood throbbing on her brow.

" Wero thero over such shapely hands with lifo in them ? Was there over such a throat outside of marble or canvas ?"

Alice Sovillo pushed back the laco collar from the beautiful throat to get a better view, and in doing so hor fingers —tho fingers of her left hand, for those of the right held tho littlo silver flask—became entangled in the gold chain that hold tho locket to Grace's neck:

"Why did I not think of that before?" sho asked herself aloud. "I must havo it. Monckton Sovillo—l should say Peter Monks—has seen it before, and ho knows that ho left it with his own hands about his baby daughter's neck the night ho fled with me. I told him that she lived. This will convince him, Ah, lam in luck, after all."

She rose, and, bending over the bed, tried to unfasten the chain, so as to slip off the lockot, for she was far too shrowcl to re movo tho chain, which must havo been seen by tho othor attendants.

She did not think sho would havo any trouble, but, to her groat surprise, Graco sat suddenly up in bed, and, with a strength that sent Alice Scvillo staggering to the other end of tho room as if sho had beon pushed by a strong man, Grace called out: " You aro a thief! You aro a thief!"

Alice Seville blanched; for the moment sho believed that the girl was restored to reason, and that she had overheard and undorstood her own musings. But she was not long in torture, for Graeo fell back on the bed, and, with hor hands clasped ovor tho locket, sho sighed :

" I am so weary—so weary, and I want to sloop." "You shall sleep, my dear," said Mrs Seville, coming back and holding out tho tiny flask as if sho wero presenting it, "I shall give you nice medicine, and hence forth you shall sleep on without need of rocking or lullaby."

She camo to tho side of tho bed, and began to unscrew the top of the tiny flask, " Quo drop in tho month ; two drops rubbed into the skin;" that was what tho Chinaman who sold Alico Sovillo tho poison in California said.

"I shall rub hor arm," thought Alico Sovillo. "It soothes her to have mo touch hor."

Sho rose and pushed back tho curtain to admit more light, for sho did not want to waste a fluid tliat was more precious than liquified diamonds. She camo back, and, aftor moistening tho odgo of tho flask so that tho fluid would fall in drops from hor steady hand, sho raised tho vessel and steadily balanced it above tho white nrm till tlio two drops foil.

CHAPTER XXVI.

HARRY OKAY ACTS WITH STARTMN'tI DECISION.

The two drops fell, perhaps more, but thoy did not fall on tho white arm, as thoy certainly would havo done had not tho parlour door opened and two persons walked quickly towards the room in which the sick girl lay. Ono of thoso persons was Mrs Bauer. Tho other was Mrs Lansing, the lady who employed Grace to trim hats. " You vill tint Mrs Seville in dero ; tint I villsoon back gocommin," said Mrs Bauer, as she noddod to Mrs Lansing and closed tho parlour door behind hor. Mrs Seville hoard tho noise, and, spring ing quickly to hor feet, unmindful of tlio fact that tho droits fell on the sheet, sho quickly screwed down tho cover and put tho tiny flask into her pocket. Sho heard Mrs Bauer mention Mrs Lan sing's iiamo ; sho knew who Mrs Lansing was, though sho had never soon her, all her business with tho millinery estniblishmont boiug conducted through tlio forewoman, Katrtna G—whartz.

Alice Sovillo supposed that Mrs Lansing camo to see tlio girl as any omployor would come to sco a sick employ!.. Quick as a lightning flash, Alico Sevillo comiwsed hor dress, features, and bearing, and, petting Grace's right arm under the cover, sho came out of iho room and into tho full light of the littlo parlour in which Mrs Lansing was standing. " Mrs Seville, I believo?" said Mrs Lan sing, as Alico advanced from the dark ness.

" Yes, madam. You aro Grace Wray's employer?" said Alico, in her sweetest accents, and still coming nearer to tho placo where the light poured through tho window. "lam, but—hut—" cries Mrs Lansing, starting back. " But what, my dear madam ? You soom to bo alarmed," said Alico Seville, as Mrs Lansing, with lior hands upraised, staggored back.

" Your name is not Sovillo !" cried Mrs Lansing, as she dropped into a chair. " It is, madam." " No, no I"

" What do you mean, Mrs Lansing?" cried Alice Sovillo, now thoroughly alarmed. " I do not understand you." "And you do not know me?" cried Mrs Lansing. "You aro a milliner—a seamstress." " Curse you, Alico Weld !" "What?" "I am the wife of Monckton Seville ! the man whom you seduced from me I Curse you ! Curse you ! Do you dare to bear the name that is honestly mine, for I never did a wrong? I have waited to meot you— looked forward to this hour through all the yoars of my tortured life ! You stolo my husband I You stolo my child ! Where aro thoy ? Wretch! wretch! whore aro thoy ?" Into the white face tlio blood rushed : the pationt eyes blazed like thoso of a tigress ; the soft white hands grew strong os steel. She drew herself back, and the nostrils dilated as if she were about to spring on tho cowering woman before her ; then she reeled as if sho had become suddenly drunk, and fell heavily on the floor.

"I dote I heord somo noise," said Mrs Bauor, as she stood panting in the little parlour door. "So you did," said Alico Seville, now herself and a thousandsuch persons besides. "Mrs Lansing has fainted Bring somo cold water.

" Oh, de poor woman !" cried Mrs Bauer, and she ran back to get the desired article. Alice Sevillo should havo been paralysed, but she was not.

There, on the floor before her, lay the wife of Monokton Seville —the woman whom sho, Alice Weld, had driven from her hus band after having blasted her character by every trick within the conception of her fertile brain.

There lay Mrs Seville— nee Lansing—the mother of tho girl in tho next room, yot as ignorant of tho fact as sho was of tho geo graphy of tho sun.

Alice Sovillo knew hor now, and hor un expected prosonce brought in a now olemont ot danger, liko tho move of a strange chess player opposed to a man who has boon looked upon and thinks himself master of the game. Alice Sovillo had no time to guess or dally. &

She know the necessities of tho moment, and had them to hand.

She took the little silvor flask again from her pocket. With tho cool hand of a practised duellist cooking his pistol, she unscrewed the lid, and balancing hor hand abovo tho low broad forehead, she lot fall, not two, but a dozen drops. Suddenly the thought flashed through her brain that if she rubbed this fluid in with hor hand she would absorb the poison as much as did hor victim.

She took out her gloves, and was in the act of putting ono on her hand, when Mrs Bauer camo back with tho water.

Mrs Bauer's experience with people who had fainted was quite limited, but sho had often heard—perhaps soon—that tho noccs sary thing to do in cases of suspended animation was to douse the person in water. " I'll fix hor 1" she cried.

And before Mrs Sovillo could inquire how the fixing was to bo done, Mrs Bauer dashed tho pitcher_of ice cold water ovor Mrs Lansing's head, and then dropping on her knees, sho began to rub her face and handß as if life dopended on it. Alice Sovillo did not stop Mrs Bauer, but kept saying : "Rub her head ! Rub her head ! "

And Mrs Bauer did as sho was told till at last the poison was taken up into her own arms, and sho fell back as one dead.

Alice Sovillo was still as calm as a .man playing chess. Sho rang tho boll, and when tho servant —the samciat, good-natured servant—came, sho directed her to call help and tako Mrs Bauer to her room.

About this time Mrs Murphy camo in, and learning that Mrs Bauer had fainted and that sho must bo takon to hor room, sho lifted her in her arms ns a strong man would carry a child, and boro her off.

In tho meantime Conrad Bauer camo in, and without waiting for him to mako an inquiry, Alice Sovillo called out:

" Ordor a carriaro at onco, sir, and thon come to mo, for I want to tako this lady home."

Conrad Bauor was accustomod to obey ing a woman's commands. He ran out, und soon camo back again to say that ho had ordered a carriago and that it was then at tho door,

" Aro you strong?" asked Mrs Seville. " 1 _rty strong," replied Conrad. ' "Can you carry this lady to tho carriago?' " Who is she ? " " Mrs Lansing." "Iguess so." '•Then do it." "Whore is sho to bo tuk ?" " Home." " Who's to tuk her 1" "I will, Mr Bauor." " All alono ?" "Yes."

Alioo Sovillo throw on hor bonnot and cloak, and coming back, sho added : "Do not wait. lam ready."

Conrad Bauor had a habit of spitting on his hands whonovor ho was going to lift a load, and looking at Mrs Lansing now, tlio forco of habit camo to him, and no spat on his hands and lifted hor up with as much ease as if sho had weighed ten times less.

Mrs Sovillo followed him down to tho street, b)' which timo Mrs Lansing had somewhat recovored, and was able to sit on tlio back seat by holding on to tlio straps. " Whore to? asked tho drivor. Mrs Seville hastily scratched a fow words on a card and handed it to him.

"Do you moan to Mouks's Club ?" asked the driver. " Yes." " Does sho livo thoro ?"

"That matters not to you." " Only it is not a lady s houso." " Do as I say." " You must pay in advance" " How much, sir?" " Five dollars. Now hurry." Mrs Sovillo sprang into tho carriago and closed tho door,

Tho driver sprang on to his soot and cracked tho whip, and away dashed tho temn. Ho had tho tivo dollars in his hand.

Tho cold air coming through tho open doors of tho vohiclo promised to revive Mi- Lansing, and again Alico Sovillo poured out tho white drops from tho silver flask till all of them wore gono, and rubbed them into her palm. The always observant Sam was at tho door of Monks's Club House whon the carriage drove up, and recognizing Mrs Sovillo, ho ran out to see hor. "Sam!"

"Yes, madam." " Is Mr—Monks homo." " He is not, Mrs Seville." "When will ho bo?" " I don't know,' " I havo a sick lady with mo." "So I seo." " Can I got a room for hor _" "This is not a placo for ladies to rest in." "I don't care about, that Sam. I want a room with a bod in it for a fow hours." " Till tho lady recovers ?" "Yes, Sam." " Oh, very well. I guoss I can do that. Can tlio lady walk ?" " No. Can't you carry hor?" "I'll try." "Do so, Sam, and I will give you five dollars." Mrs Sovillo sprang out, and Sam callod , to Mrs Lansing to do the same.

Sho undorstood him, and, liko ono in the mesmeric state, she obeyed.

She did not noed to bo carried. Indeed, she was stronger than usual, for tho drug was doing its deadly work by first stimulat ing her into an unusual vitality. But sho needed to bo guided. Her eyesight failed. Sho saw an opal glow, with shadows through it, and she took tho oxtonded hand of ono.

Sam took Mrs Lansing—and, of course, Mrs Seville—up to a spare room adjoining that occupiod by Potor Monks, and ho helped to lay tho sick woman on a bed. Mrs Seville gave him somo money, and thon asked:

"Would it be possiblo for us to stay hero all night without his knowing it ?"

"Without whose knowing it?" asked Sam.

" MrMonckton—l should say Mr Monks," " Yes, if there is no noise made." '■ This lady will make no noise. She is very sick."

"But you?" "I will go home and will drop in again about midnight. You will admit me then ?" "If you make it worth my whilo." " How much do you want ?" •• It depends on the danger." "WiU a hundred dollars do to start With?"

"By way of a retainer, as the lawyers say, yes. But if there is to bo trouble, I'll want more."

" Of course, Sam," said Mrs Seville, and she opened her pocket-book and handed him tho desired sum,

Tho woman on the bed lay with her eyes closed tightly, her nails buried in her palms, and her breast rising and falling with the rapidity that often precedes death. "Be true to me, Sam," said Mrs Seville, as sho turned to leave, "and you will want for neither money nor a friend." "If I have the money, madam," said Sam, ' _'ll take caro of tho frionds; the ono {follows tho other. I'll wait for you, though it may be a dangerous game if the old man finds it out."

" Tho old man?" I " Yes ; don't you know him ?" "Ido not, Sam." "It's Monks." " You are as sharp as ho is, if I can read men."

She gave him her hand, and with it a look that thrilled him as he had never been thrilled in his.life, and then hastened down to the carriage and asked to bo driven to Thornton's on Fifth Avenue.

Alice Sovillo should be weary, and she was.

Sho had been overwhelmed with unex7] pectod things; but so far she had mot them as if thoy were expected. Sho was in tho midst of that struggle for which sho had been planning all her life. Sho was alarmed, like a bravo man in his first battle, yet sho gloried in the struggle and in her own power. "Where is Ralph?" This was her first question when sho mot Mrs Thornton after dismissing tho driver.

"Ho was here till an hour ago," replied Mrs Thornton.

"Then where did ho go?" " Mr Gray—Harry Gray—came horo and took him off in a hurry." "Thoy aro old friends?"

" Old playmates, Alice, and I think thoy havo gone oil'to dinner together," said Mrs Thornton,

Alico felt relieved, and aftor saying that she loft Grace Wray a littlo sooner than sho oxpected, but left her woll, sho went to her own room to change hor dress. Harry Gray had taken Ralph Thornton away, but it was not to dinner. Harry Gray novor thought so little about dining us ho did that day, for his emptiness of stomach was quite forgotten in tho full ness of his head.

Harry Gray had been placed in charge of Ralph's affairs, and as they wero tangled ho did not come to his employer to explain ovory knot ho untangled. lie hud already acquainted Ralph with tho fact that Peter Monks was his uncle, but ho had not as yet impressed on him tho necessity for this man's arrest.

In Ihs researches Harry Gray had been largely controlled by Horace Wold, tho man whom the gamblers called " Moses," tiio man whom Monckton Sovillo had so groviously wronged, and tho man who through all theso years had waited for his chance without appealing to tho law, as a good citizen would havo dono. But Horace Weld, though not a model, was ono of thoso who believe that,

" Thero never yet was human power That could escape If unforglven, Tho patient search and vi_.Ua long Of him who treasures up a wrong."

Ho know all Monks's crimes. Ho had followed him liko a sleuth-hound for sovonteon years.

Ho had tried to mako him penniless, as wo havo seen, but failed; and now, os a last resort, ho determined to do what ho should have dono nt first, and that is, to placo this man in tho power of tho law. I'eter Monks went down town this nftcr^ noon on some business of his own, nnd Harry Gray, learning of it through Moses, mado up his mind to act at once.

Ho leaped iuto a coup<_ and drovo till he found Ralph ; and on the way back he told him that he was going to arrest his uncle, and placo tho officers of the law in charge of his gambling-house.

Ralph could only say : " You know better than I do. I leave it to you." Ralph and Harry wero together with tho officer when Peter Monks camo walking up Broadway with all the calmness of a man who was at peace with tho world.

4'Monck ton Sevillo," theso were thootlieer'a first words, and ho held a cocked pistol in his hand to enforce thorn, "you aro ray prisoner." " You are mi*takon, sir; my name is Monks," said that person, drawing back, and glancing from Ralph to Harry. "You can call "yourself Georgo, for all I caro," said the officer. " Here is my warrant, and here," pointing to Harry Gray, "is the man that swore to it; so you've got to come along." (To be Continued.)

Alarm Caused by Balloons.

Many are the stories told of the alarm caused by the descent of balloons. " Diuna ye think tho world will soon bo at an end ?" was the remark of an okl Scotchman when ono desconded near Glasgow in tho year 17—>. " Eh, missus, but he's corao at last, and no mistake !" was the observation of nn old cttiintryman ono night when Coxwoll descended noar Croydon. " Who's come at last ?" cried his better half, running out with another light. "Look ye, Sally," said he, pointing to the dun, dark outline of the mysterious visitor, "That's tho old gom'man himself, or olse I'm a Dutchman." Coxwoll tells another story of doseonding near a virago late at night, and being abso lutely denied shelter or refreshment at several houses, two of them inns. Ho had to sleep in the car, with ballast-bags for pillows, nnd curtains—silk curtainß—formed by the folds of tho balloon, in tho middle of a Held. Noxt morning somo workmen ap preached, and ho lay still purposely, to see now thoy would behavo. "On jumping up, liko Jack-in-a-box, tho worthies looked per fectly bewildered ; two ran off, and tho rost wore powerless as to speoch. ' Why, lads, it's a balloon,' said I;' don tbo frightened.' 'And what be you?' inquired tho bravest of the lot. 'Why, tho aeronaut to be sure! tho party who goes up.' ' Ah,' said ho, ' I thought you wa'ant a mortal man.' ' But I am though—feel me,' said I. ' No, da'anged if I come any closer;' and immediately a sido movomont was mado for the gate." The landlords who had denied him tho night before apologised, hut ono of them said, " Lord lovo yo,sir, a man coming out of the clouds, what could ho expect on this hero wicked earth ?" Look ing at the matter in this light, one can understand tho alarm of a young girl tendi ng sheep, who, from no apparent source, once saw a deal chair descending from the skies. Arago tells us that Griy-LussßC, when he had reached twonty-two thousand and odd feet, wished still to ascend, and the chair being readily available, over it went. Its workmanship was sufficient to prove that it was not of celestial origin.— A d ventures Above the Clouds. By Frederick Whymper, in " Good Wotds."

A country preacher said he knew it was the proper thing for him to be poor and humble; "and brethren," ho added, "I know that I can confidently depend on you to keep me poor, and let us hope that the- Lord will make me humble."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, OCTOBER _7, 1885.