XYZ.

A STORY TOLD BY A DETECTIVE.

BY TIIE AUTHOR OP

''THE LEAVENWORTH MURDER," "A STRANGE

DISAPPEARANCE," "TIIE SWORD OP

DAMOCLES," ETC

CHAPTER I,

THE MYSTERIOUS RENDEZVOUS.

Sometimes in tho course of his experience, a detective, while engaged in ferreting out the mystery of one crime, runs inadvertently upon the clue to another. But rarely has this been done in a manner more unexpected or with attendant circumstances of greater interest than in tho instance I am now about to relate.

For some time the penetration of certain Washington officials had been bafiled by tho clever devices of a gang of counterfeiters who had inundated the western portion of Massachusetts with spurious Treasury notes. Somo of the best talent of tho Secret Service had bcon oxponded upon the matter, but with no favourable result, when one day notice was received that a number of suspicious-looking letters, addressed to the simple initials, X. Y. _~ Brandon, Mass., were being daily forwarded through the mails of that region; and it being deemed possible that a clue had at last boen offered to the mystery in hand, I was sent northward to investigate. It was in the middle of Juno, ISBI, and tho weather was simply delightful. As I stepped from the cars at Brandon and looked up the long straight street, with its double row of moplo trees sparkling fresh and beautiful in tho noonday sun, I thought I had never seen a prettier villago or en tered upon any enterprise with a lighter or more hopeful heart. Intent on my task, I wont straight to tho post-otlico, and after coming to an under standing with the postmaster, proceeded at once to look over tho mail addressed to tho mysterious X. Y. 'A: I found it to consist entirely of letters. Thoy wore about a dozon in number, and woro, with ono exception, similar in general appearance and manner of direc tion, though inscribed in widely different ■ handwriting and posted from various New England towns. Tho ox oeptJon to which I allude had thoso few Oxtra words written iv the lower left-hand corner of tho envolopo : "To be kept till called for." As I bundled up tho lotters preparatory to thrusting them back into the box, 1 noticed that tho latter was tho only ono in a blue envelope, all tho others being in the various shades of cream-colour and buff.

" Who is in tho habit of calling for thoso lottors ?" I asked of tho postmaster. "Woll," said ho, "Idon't know his name, Tho fact is, nobody knows him around horo. Ho usually drives up in a buggy about nightfall, calls for letters ad dressed to X. \. '/,., and having got them, whips up his horso and is off again before one can say a word."

" Describo him," said I,

" Well, ho is very loan and very lank. In appearance he is both green and awk ward. His complexion is pale, and sickly. Wero it not for his eye, which is keen and twinkling, I should call him an extremely inoffensive-looking person." The type was not now to mo. " I should like to see him," said I. " You will have to wait till nightfall, then," roturned tho postmaster. "Ho never comes till about dusk. Drop in bore, gay at seven o'clock, and I will see that you have the opportunity of handing him his mail."

I nodded ncquioseonco to this, and saun tered out of tlio enclosure dovoted to the uses of tho post-offico. As I did so I ran against a young man who was hurriedly ap proaching from tho other ond of tho store. " Your pardon," ho cried ; and I turned to look at him, sogontlcmanly was his tone, and so oasy the bow with which he accom panied this simple apology. He was standing before tho window of tho post-office, waiting for his mail; a good fooking, well-matte young man, of a lino countenance, but with a restless eyo whose alert and anxious expression I could not but note oven In tho casual glance I gave him. Thero appoarcd to bo somo difficulty in procuring him his mail, and each minute ho was kopt waiting seemed to increase his impatience almost be yond tho bounds of endurance. I saw him lean forward and gasp out a hurried word to the postmaster, and was idl v wondering ovor his anxiety and its probable causos, when I heard a hasty exclamation noar mo, and looking around, saw the postmaster him self beckoning to mo from tho door of tho enclosure. I immediately hastened for ward.

" I don't know what it means," he whispered ; " but here is a young man different from any who have been hero before, asking for a letter addressed to X Y. Z." " A letter?" I repeated. " Yes, a letter." "Givo him the whole batch and see what he does," I returned, drawing back where I could myself watch tho result of my instructions. The postmaster did as I requested. In another moment I saw tho young man start with amazoment as a dozen letters were put into his hand. " Theso are not all for mo !'' he cried, but even as he mado the oxclamation, drew to ope side, and with a look of mingled perplex ity and concern, began opening them ono after another, his expression deepening to amazement as he glanced at their contents. Theoneintheblueenvelope, however, seemed to awaken quite different emotions. With an unconscious look of relief, he hastily read tho short letter it contained, then with a quick gosture folded it up and thrust it back into tlio envelope he held, together with the other letters, in his left hand.

"Thero must be another X. Y. Z.," said he, approaching the window of tho post office and handing back all tbe letters he had received^ with the exception of the one in the blue -envelope, which with a quick movement ho had separated from the rest and thrust into his coat-pocket. "I can lay claim to none of these." And with a repetition of his easy bow he turned away and hurriedly quitted the store, followed by the oyes of clerks and customers, to whom he was evidently as muoh^ of a atranger as he was to me. Without hesitation I went to the door and looked after him. He was just crossing the street to tho tavern on the other side of the way. I saw him enter, felt that he was safe to re

main there for a few minutes, and.conscious of the great opportunity awaiting me, hastened back to the postmaster. "Well," cried I, in secret exultation, " our plan has worked admirably. Let me see the letters. As they have been opened, and through no fault of ours, a peep at them now in the cause of justice will harm none but tho guilty." The postmaster demurred, but T. soon overcame his scruples; and taking down the letters once more, hastily investigated their contents. I own that I was consider ably disappointed at the result. In fact, I found nothing that pointed toward tho counterfeiters; only in each letter a written address, together with fifty cents' worth of stamps. i . i "Some common fraud," I exclaimed. " One of those cheap affairs where, for fifty cents enclosed, a piece of information cal culated to insure fortune to the recipient is promised by return of mail." And, disgusted with the whole affair, I bundled up the letters, and was about to re place them in tho box for the third time when I discovered that it still held avoided paper. Drawing this out, I opened it and started in fresh amazemeut. If I was not very much mistaken in tho appearance of the letter in the blue envelope which I had seen the young man read with so much in terest, this was certainly it. But how came it here ? Had I not seen him thrust it back into its envelope and afterward put en velope and all into his pocket? But here was no envelope, and here was the letter. By what freak of necromancy had it been transferred from its legitimate quarters to this spot? I could not imagine. Suddenly I remembered that his hand had been full of thcother letters when he put, orendeavoured toput, this special ono back into its envelope, and, liowover unaccountable it may seem, it must be that from haste or agitation he hod only succeeded in thrusting it between two letters instead of into the envelope, as ho supposed. Whether or not this explanation bo true, thero was no doubt about my luck being in the ascendant. Mastering my satisfaction, I road theso lines written in what appeared to be a disguised hand : "All goes well. The time has come; everything is in train, and success is certain. Bo in tlio shrubbery at the north-east corner of the grounds at 9 p.m. precisely; you will bo given a mask and such other means as aro necessary to insure you tho accomplishment of tho end you havo in view. Ho cannot hold out against a surprise. The word, by which you will know your friend, is Counterfeit."

"Ah, ha I" thought I, "this is more like it." And moved by] a sudden impulso, I hastily copied tho letter into my memoran dum-book, and thon returning to the ori ginal, scratched out with my penknife tho word north-east, and, carefully substituting that of south-west, put the letter back into tho box, in the hope that when he came to consult the onvelopo in his pocket (as he would be sure to do sooner or later) ho would miss its contents and return to tho post-office in search of it. Nor was I mistaken. I had scarcely ac complished my task, when he re-entered tho store, asked to see the letters ho had re turned, and finding amongst them the one ho had lost, disappeared with it back to tho tavern. "Ifhe is surprised to read south west this time instead of north-east, he will think his memory played him false in the first instance," cried I, in inward comment ovormy last doubtful stroke of policy ; and turning to the postmaster, I asked him what place thero was in the vicinity which could be said to possess grounds and a shrubbery. . "Thero is but one," he returned, "Mr Benson's. All the rest of the folks are too poor to indulge in any such gimcracks." " And who is Mr Benson ?"

" Well, hois Mr Benson, the richest man in theso parts and the least liked as I take it. Ho came hero from Boston two years ago and built a house fit for a king to live in. Why, nobody knows, for he seoms to tako no pleasure in it. His children do though, and that is all ho cares for I sup poso. Young Mr Bonson especially seems to bo novor tired of walking about the grounds, looking at the treos and tying up tho vines. Miss Carrie is different; all she wants is company. But little of that has her fathor ovor allowed her till this very day. Ho seems to think nobody-is good enough to sit down in his parlours ; and yet he don't sit there himself, the Btrango man ! but is always shut up in his library or somo other out-of-tho-way place."

" A busy man ?" " I suppose so, but no one ovor sees any thing he does." " Writes porhaps ?" "I don't know; ho never talks about himself."

" How did ho get his money ?" " That wo don't know. It soems to accumulate without his help or interference. Wlion he came here he was called rich, but to-day ho is said to be worth three times what he was then."

" Porhaps he speculates?" " If he does, it must bo through his son, for ho novor leaves home himself."

" Has two children, you say ?" " Yes, a son and a daughter : a famous young man, the son; not so much liked as perhaps universally respected. He is ' too severe and reticent to bo a favourite, but no ono ever found him doing any thing unworthy of himself. Ho is the pride of tho county, and if ho were a bit suaver in ' manner might havo been in Congress at this minute." "How old?" " Thirty, I should say." " And the girl ?" " Twonty-nvo, perhaps."

" A mother living ?" " No ; thero wero somo strange stories of hor having died a year or so before they came here, under circumstances of a some what distressing nature, but they thorn selves say nothing about it." " It soems to mo they don't say much about anything." "That's just it; they are tho most re served people you ever saw. It isn't from them we have heard thero is another son floating somewhere about the world. They never spoak of him, and what's more, they never write to him ; as who should know

better than mysolf ?" * An interruption here occurred, and I took the opportunity to saunter out into the crowd of idlors always to be found hanging around a country Store at mail-time. My purpose was, as you may conceive, to pick up any stray bits of information that might bo float ing about concerning these Bensons. Not that I had as yet discovered anything definite^ connecting this respectable family with the gang of counterfeiters upon whose track I had been placed; but business is business, and no clue, however slight or unpromising in its nature, is to be neglected when the way is as dark as that which lay before me. With an easy smile, therefore, calculated to allay apprehension and awaken confidence, I took my stand among these loungers. But I soon found that I need do nothing to start the wheel of gossip on the subject of the Bensons. It was already going, and that with a force and spirit that almost took my breath away. "A fancyball I" were the first words I heard. " The Bensons give a fancy ball, when they never had three persons at a time in their houses before !"

"Yes, and what's more, they are. going to have folks over from Clayton and Lawrence and Hollowell, and devil knows where. It's to bo a smash up, a regular fandango, with masks and all that kind of nonsense." " They say Miss Carrie teased her father till he had to give in in self-defence. It's her birthday or something like that, and she -would have a party." " But such a party ! who ever heard the like in a respectable town like this I It's wicked, that's what I call it, downright wicked to cover up the face God has given you and go strutting around in clothes a Christian man might well think borrowed from the Evil One if he had to wear them in any decent company. All wrong, I say, all wrong, and I am astonished at Mr Ben son. To keep his doors shut as he has, and then to open them in a burst to all sorts of folly. We are not invited at our house," "Nor we, nor we," shouted some half

dozen. "And I don't know of any one in this town who is," cried a burly man, pre sumably a butcher by trade. " We are not good enough fortheßonsons. They say he is even going to be mean enough to shut the gates and not let a soul inside who hasn't a ticket. And they are going to light up the grounds too !" " We can peep through the fence." "Much we will see that way. If you had said climb it—"

"We can't climb it. Big John is going to be there and Tom Henshaw. They mean to keep their good times to them selves, just as they have kept every thing else. It's a queer set they are anyway, and the less we havo to do with them the better "

"I would like to see Hartley Benson in masquerade costume, I would." "Oh, ho won't wear any ofthofol-de-rol; he's too dignified." And with that there fell a sudden hush over the crowd, for which I was at a loss to account, till, upon looking up, I saw approaching on horseback a young man in whom I had on difficulty in recognising the subject of the last remark. Straight, slight, elegant in appearance, but with an undoubted reserve of manner apparent even at a distance, ho rode up to where I stood, and casting a slight glanco around, bowed almost imperceptibly, and alighted. A boy caught the bridle of his horse, and Mr Benson, without a word or further look, passed quickly into tho office, leaving a silence behind him that was not disturbed till he returned with what was evidently his noon-day mail. Remounting his horse, he stopped a moment to speak to a man who had just come up, and I seized the opportunity to study his face. I did not liko it. It was handsome without doubt; the features were regular, the complexion fair, the expression gentlemanly if not com manding ; but I dia not like it. It wasto impenetrable perhaps ; and to a detective anxious to probe a man for his motives, this is ever a most fatal defect. His smile was without sunshine; his glance wasan inquiry, a rebuke, a sarcasm, everything but a revelation. As he rode away he carried with him tho thought of all, yet I doubt if the admiration he undoubtedly in spired was in a single case mixed with any warmer feeling than that of pride in a fellow townsman they could not under stand. "Ice," thought I; "ice in all but its transparency I" So much for Benson tho son.

The ball was to take place that very night; and the knowledge of this fact threw a differont light over the letter I had read. The word maskhad no longer any special significance, neither the word counterfeit, and yet such was the tenor of the note it self, and such the exaggerated nature of its phrases, I could no£ but feel that some plot of a reprehensible if not criminal nature was in the process of information, which, as a rising young detective engaged in a mysterious and elusive search, it be hoved me to know. And moved by this consideration, I turned to a new leaf in my momorandum-book, and put down in black and white the following facts thus summarily collected :

"A mysterious family with a secret. "Rich, but with no visible means of wealth.

" Secluded, with no apparent reason for tlio same.

" A father who is a hermit. " A son who is impenetrable. '.'A daughter whose tastes are seldom gratified. "Tho strange fact of a ball being given by this family after years of reserve and non-intercourse with their neighbours. "Tho still stranger fact of it being a masquerade, a stylo ofontortainment which, from its novelty and the opportunities it affords, makes this departure frc>m ordinary rules seem marked and startling.

" The discovery of a letter appointing a rendezvous between two persons of the malo sex in the grounds of the party giving this ball, in which the opportunities afforded by a masquerade are to be used for forwarding some long cherished scheme." At the bottom of this I wrote a deduction:

"Some connection betwoon one or more mombe—i of this family giving tho ball and tho person called to the rendezvous; the en tertainment being used as a blind if not as a means."

It was now four o'clock, fivo hours before tho time of rendezvous. How should I em ploy tho interval ? A glance at the livery stable hard by determined me. Procuring a horse, I rode out on the road toward Mr Benson's, for the purposo of reconnoitring the grounds; but as I proceeded I was seized by an intense desire to penetrate into tbe midst of this peculiar household, and judge for myself whether it was worth while to cherish any further suspicions in regard to this family.* But how to effect such an entrance? What excuse could I give for my intrusion that would be likely to Borvo me on a day of such tumult and pro-occupation? I looked up and down tho road as if for inspiration. It did not como. Moanwhilo, tho huge trees that surrounded tho house had loomed in sight, and presently the beauties of lawn and parterre began to appear beyond the high iron fence, through winch I could catch now and then short glimpses of hureying forms, as lanterns were hung on the trees and all things put in readiness for the evening's entertainment. Suddenly a thought struck mo. If Mr Bonson was the man they said, he was not engaged in any of these arrange ments. Mr Benson was a hermit? Now what I could say that would interest a hermit ? I racked my brains; a single idea came. It was daring in its nature, but what of that? The gate must be passed, Mr Benson must be seen—or so my adventurous curiosity de cided—and to do it something must be ventured. Taking out my card, whjch was simply inscribed with my name, I wrote on it, "Business private and immediate," and,aßsuming my most gentlemanly and in offensive manner, rode calmly through the gate to the front of the house. If I had been on foot I doubt if I would have been allowed to pass by the servant lounging about in that region, but the horse carried me through in more senses than one, and almost before I realised it I found myself pausing before the portico, in full view of a dozen or more busy men and boys. Imitating the manner of Mr Benson at the post-office, I jumped from my horse and threw- the. bridle to the boy nearest me. Instantly and before I could take'a step,-a

servant issued from tho ojien door, and with an expression''of anxiety somewhat surprising under the circumstances took his stand before me.in a wayTto hinder my advance. 'j , ■ " Mr Benson does not receive visitors to day," said he. "I am not a visitor," replied I; " I have business with Mr Benson," and I handed him my card, which he looked at with a doubtful expression. "Mr Benson's commands aro not to be disobeyed," presisted the man. "My master sees no one to-day." '' But this is an exceptional case," 1 urged, my curiosity rising at this unexpected op position. "My business is important and concerns him. Ho cannot refuse to 866 me." The servant shook his head with what appeared to me to be an unnecessary ex pression of alarm, but nevertheless retreated a stop, allowing me to enter. "I will call Mr Hartley," cried he. But that was just what I did not wish. It was Benson the father I had come to see, and I was not to be baffled in this way. "Mr Hartley won't do," said I, in my lowest but most determined accents, "If Mr Benson is not ill, I must beg to be ad mitted to his presence." And stepping inside the small reception room at my right, I sat down on the first chair I came to. The man stood for a moment confounded at 'my pertinacy, then with a last scrutinising look that took in every detail of my person and apparel yirew slowly off, shaking his head and murmuring to himself. Meanwhile the mingled splendour and elegance of my surroundings were slowly making their impression upon me. The hall by which I had entered was spacious and imposing ; the room in which I sat, a model of beauty in design and finish. I was allowing myself the luxury studying its pictures and numerous works of art, when the sound of voices reached my ear from the next room, A man and woman were conversing there in smothered tones, but my senses are very acute, and I had no difficulty in overhearing what was said. "Oh, what an exciting day this has been I" cried the female voice. "I have wanted to ask you a dozen times what you think of it all. Will he succeed this time ? Has he the nerve to embrace his opportu nity, or what is more, the tact to make one ? Failure now would be fatal. Father —"

" Hush I" broke in the other voice, in a masculine tone of repressed intensity. " Do not forget that success depends upon your prudence^ One whisper of what you are about, and the whole scheme is destroyed." " I will be careful, only do you think that all is going well and as we planned it?" ■"It will not be my fault if it does not," was the reply, uttered with an accent so sinister I was conscious of a violent surprise when, in the next instant, the other, with a burst of affectionate fervour, cried in an ardent tone:

"Oh, how good you are, and what a comfort you are to me!" I was just pondering over the incongruity thus presented, when the servant returned with my card. (To be continued.)

Best Thoughts of Best Men.

Better one thorn plucked out than all re main.

Men are more prone to pleasure than to virtue.

Sinners are like the blasts that precede storms.

To have partners in misfortune is some comfort.

A handful of common sense is worth a bushel of learning.

And the best I have felt or known Is less than tho least I dreamed. He who is ashamed of his poverty will surely be arrogant of his wealth. What is generally called fast living is really nothing but dying as quick as pos sible.

Tho world was sad—the garden was a wild; And man, tho Hermit sighed—till woman smiled. — Campbell.

The greatness that would make us grave is but an empty thing. The desire of rule is the most powerful of all the affections of the mind.

Govern your thoughts when alone, and your tongue when in company. He that is truly famous never dies, but he is truly dead whom all despise. A man's good-breeding is the best security against other people's illmanne—i.

Hhakts and Heads.—Some people carry their hearts in their heads ; very many carry their heads in their hearts. The difficulty is to keep them apart yet both actively working together.— Hare. Pleased with Eveeythinq.—Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so Far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for ; and with obscurity, for being unenvied.— Plutarch.

In general, men are less mourned by their families in proportion as they are the more mourned by the community. The great are seldom aim .able, and those who are the least lenient to our errors are invariably our own relations.— E. B, Lytton. Old Aok.— I venerate old age, and love not the man who can look without emotion upon the sunset of life, when the dusk of evening begins to gather over the watery eye, and the shadows of twilight grow broader and deeper upon the understand ing. —Longfellow. No climate, however balmy, no s__es,how over bright, no circumstances, however 'adventitious, can avail for man's benefit, unless he himself be suffioiently vigorous and intelligent to take advantage of them for his own purposes. This necessary vigour and intelligence can be gained only through continued effort and energetic action.

In Quest of Knowledge.—When a.king asked Euclid, the'mathematician, whether he could not explain his art to him in an easier manner, he was answered that there was no royal road to geometry. Other things may be seized by might, or pur chased with money, but knowledge is to be gained only by study and study to be pro secuted only in retirement. Persons who indulge in a dreamy and visionary habit of mind are frequently both unpractical and unsuccessful; but this pro ceeds not from an excess of imaginative power, but from the lack.of training it aright and of supplementing its action by determined industry. Like every other faculty, the imagination needs wise direc tion and vigorous culture; and, if itreceives this treatment, it will put a vital and energetic force into every part of life and give a new impetus to tho most practical of its realities. . i The range of friendship has hardly a limit. Intercourse is not needful to its continuance. Equality in years is not a requisite. Nor is parity of position essen tial. . The finest natures triumph over social inequalities ; mutual trust and affection can bridge over the chasm between wealth andpoverty. ___Jc__E.—A principle is a reliability, something you can trust in, safety as up holding you, security as protecting you, and serenity as enfolding you; symbolically it is your rudder to steer your conduct, and your compass to guide your conduct to the pole of right, as the end for which your conduct- pursued.— Wilson.

A Strange Story Sworn To.

Thirtst Me- Make Oath in Qoiirt op What T__i Saw at Steomboi.i, i A correspondent writes thus to the'edit of the New York "Sun ":—Sir:. Tothoss whose minds are troubled with doubt as t whether or not there is a hell, the folW B from the "BritishNaval.Chronicle,'' Jgn? may not be uninteresting : '" '» An Abstract from the Journal of &_jd Sphinx, in the Year 1686, up the Strai_.. P May 12.—When we arrived at Maris™, we found three .ships lying therafj~» London, commanded oy the Capts, ]},L.r Brown, and Burnaby ; all going to LinJS to load. -,-;- .

May 13.—These three ships jailed '. company with the Sphinx (wind-TAyi? Lipari, where they anchored in tvllZ fathoms water (wind S.S.W.) JtojSSKS

May W.—The four captains and aMr Bell, a merchant, went on shore upon tho Island of Mount Stromboli to shoot rabbit! Abont 3 o'clock they called their men to! gether to go on board their respective shlrw when, to their inexpressible astonishment they saw the appearancejof two men comin» very swiftly through the air toward them • one of them appeared to be dressed in bW and the other in grey clothes; they pS close by with the greatest rapidity, __7a_ their extreme consternation, descended amid the burning flames, into the month of that dreadful volcano, Mt. Stromboli, At their entrance there issued tremeridonß noises ; the flames rushed out most terribl and Capt. Burnaby cried out, "TheLoiri bless me ! the foremost of tho two in W_u?t clothes, is old Mr Booty, my next dm ' neighbour at Wapping; but Ido not W the other. He then desired them all towritn down in their pocket-books, or note it o something, what they had then seen- fftaj was immediately done by the threeSsKtS and Mr Bell, and likewise enSK* different ships' journals at the same time When these four ships had taken in their loadings at Lipari, they sailed together for London. When they arrived in the W_ Thames, at Gravesend, Captain Butnabv's wife came from London'to him.' He then sent for the other three captains to come on board his ship to congratulate Jbim on his wife's arrival. After they had thus met a little conversation passed between them in the cabin, when Mrs Burnaby suddenly started from her chair and said to her hue; band, "My dear, I'll tell you some news" Old Mr Booty is dead I" a neWß<,

He directlyanswered, "Weallsawhiiaeo into hell!" and told her what they had seen, as before related, to her serious alarm.

When Mrs Burnaby had returned to lon ' don she went to an acquaintance and re lated this serious event—that her.husband hid seen the soul of Mr Booty go into hell *''! on the 14th of May last. This gentlewoman then mentioned the same to Mrs Booty widow of the deceased, who immediately took a writ out of the Ring's Bench Court in ' the penal sum of £1,000 damages, and arrested Captain Burnaby for .defamation upon her late husband's souL jCaptftiaßur. naby gave bond to stand trial j and he then took out of the Court of the King's Bench in Westminster Hall, summonses for all the people that had attended the late Mr Booty in his last sickness 'and at the time Of h_a death ; also the sexton of the parish who buried him, and the clothes he last wore before his sickness, he had taken care of, to be introduced in Court on the day of trial. When the trial came on the different per sons with the black clothes, were brought into Court, and , were there met by« Cant. Burnaby, the captains of the other three ships, and the men of the four boats, w'.th Mr Bell, who were all on the said Island of I Stromboli and saw the two apparitions j descend into the burning flames on the ' aforesaid 14th day of May last. Ten of tiie men of the boats made oath thatthe buttons a on the coat which the apparition tad on were like the one present, being monlda covered with black cloth; the same sorfc'that the coat was made of. The different per- a sons who were with Mr Booty at the time ,i of his decease made oath that his death ■ f happened at 3 o'clock at noon on the 14th 1 of May last, which was in the year 1688. •i: The jury then asked the captain of the a; Sphinx if he knew Mr Booty in his lifetime. He answered that he never saw him in his lifetime, but plainly observed the dress the apparition had on, whiob Mr Burnaby said was Mr Booty, in company with another, unknown.

The Judge then spoke : "The Lord grant ; that I may never see such a sight as that, : for I think it impossible for thirty men to be mistaken!" The jury then gave their verdict against > ■ the widow Booty, plaintiff to pay the costs of the Court. The foregoing are facte, ex- a tracted from the journal of the ship Sphinx's voyage up tho Straits in the year 1686. • . - 'a The above trial is now to be seen on the

The above trial is now to be seen on the - records of the Court of the King's Bench, in Westminster Hall, the Mrs Booty, plain tiff, againstCapt. Burnaby, defendant, * These records are written on parchment in Latin, in the lawyer's old text-hand writ- ' ing, and are kept in a glass case in the Clerk's office, wpere, for the sum of one shilling, they may be seen by aU whose doubt or curiosity may induce thorn to it W.'AII.

Catching a Bull by the Horns.

An incident showing great presence of mind and extraordinary muscular strength, hap- ■■*.•. penedat Cranachan Farm the other.day./ "!' Mr Archibald Macdonald, one of the five T brothers who occupy the above I—_i «*s -1 going over the farm, accompanied by jtne shepherd, and, when they were-- passing/ a through a fieid in which cattle were grazing, a bull that hadjon previous occasions:shown , j an inclination to chose people-gave them . V chase. The shepherd, it is alleged,-ran and left his master to his fate. Mr Mac donald could not run, he having suffered a | good deal from rheumatism, and being ~j now obliged to use -crutch-?-The P bull approached and began to attack falm, j. he doing his best to keep-him'at bay a with the aid of his crutches. Afl gOM T luck would have it, Mr John Maodbnald, an_ a elder brother, happened to be about the house at the time, and having heard the . cries ran to thO rescue. In his hurry he forgot to bring any .instrument with which to Fell the brute, but it occuiredtohimthat if he caught the bull by the horns he might keep him from doing more misohi d <tul ~;, some help arrived. Accordingly, :' at the spot, he caught the animal by tiie M horns, and with one supreme effort-*™ * | sudden twist to the head, dislocating the y neck by his jerk, aud in a moment; the. y, animal lay helpless at his feet. FortuM-ly | Archibald; was not seriously injured. It | may be mentioned that John MaodpnaW | was at one time champion athlete of Scot-- y land.—" Dundee Advertiser."

A fine young gent, in turning swiftly on his heel, ran his head against a young lady. He put himself in a po-tiontoapoto-j; gise. " Not a word," said the quickwttea.a; beauty, "It isn't hard enough to hurt any: A body." The coxcomb frowned, and' we young lady smiled and -irtsiedasgraoe** j fully as an angel. ''""\.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, OCTOBER 37, 1883,

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