Bret Harte's New Romance.

|| WE CARQUINEZ WOODS

A TALE OF CALIFORNIA.

CHAPTER VIII

Mbrief hour of darkness that preceded dawn was that night intensified by a .moke, which, after blotting out ho ri_n untl sky, dropped a thick veil on hie'l roiu' alu' "ie s''enk streets of Indian Spring-- As the buggy containing riff Dtuui and Brace dashed through tool, entity Brace suddenly turned to his ".gome one ahead. The two men bent forward over the • board. Above the steady plunging of Kw horses hoofs they could hear the ickei' irregular beat of other hoofs in the &_«- before them. Hit-that horse thief," said Dunn in a f a g. whisper._._ ''Dear to tbe right antl '"fefciiboFtho cruel lash, and their 'jjsmvl horse, bounding at each stroke, So a wild canter. °Tbe frail vehicle „wetl from side to side at each spring ot I_i .i" shafts. Steadying himself by Ih-rd on the low rail Dunn drew his Liver with tbe oilier. ' bmg out to mm ' pull up or we'll lire. My voice is clean '„> l,e added in a husky whisper. They were so near that they could distin m ,i=li th o bulk of a vchiclo careening from Ipto side in the blackness ahead. Dunn deliberately raised his weapon "Sing >be repeated impatiently. But Brace, ho ,v.13 still keeping in the shadow, rfenly grasped his companions arm "Hush! It's not! Buckskin, he wins pet-etl hurriedly. r« _re you sure ? .. bon't you see we 're gaining m him. replied tire other contemptuously. Dunn ccasped liis companion s hand and pressed iHleiitly. Even in that siirpremcmoment this horseman's tribute to the fugitive Buck skin forestalled all baser considerations of pursuit antl capture. fln twenty seconds they were abreast of to Stranger, crowuuig his horses and baggy nearly into the ditch, brace keenly watchful, Dunn suppressed and pale. In half a minute they v.cc leading him a length, and when their horse again settled doivnto lii< steady work the stranger was already lost in the circling dust that followed them. Hut the victors seemed disappointed. The obscurity had com pletely bidden all but the vague outlines of the mysterious driver. "He's not our game, anyway,' whispered Dunn. " Drive on." " But if it was some trieuds of his, sug gested Brace uneasily, "what would you "What I said I'd do," responded Dunn, sava«ely. "I don't want five minutes to do it in either; we'll be half an hour ahead of that d.—d fool, whoever he is. Look here, all you've got to do is to put me in the trail'to that cabin. Stand back of me, out of gunshot, alone, it you like, as my deptuy, orivith any number you can pick up as my pom. If ho gets by me as Nellie's lover, jownay shoot him or take him as a horse thief, if you like." "Then you won't shoot him on sight ?'' "Not till I've had a word with him." "But " "I've chirped," said the Sheriff, gravely. "Drive on." For a few moments only the plunging hoofs and rattling wheels were heard. A dull lurid glow began to define the horizon, They were silent until an abatement of the smoke, the vanishing of the gloomy horizon line, and a certain impenetrability in tlie darkness ahead showed them they were searing the Carquinez. Woods. But they we surprised on entering them to find the dim aisles alight with a faint mystic aurora. The tops of tho towering spires above them had caught the gleam of the distant forest fires, and reflected it as from a gilded dome. "It would be hot work if the Carquinez Woods should conclude to take a hand in this yer little (game that's goin' on over on the Divide yonder," said Brace, securing his horse and glancing at the spires over head. " I reckon I'd rather take a back seatatlnjin Spring when the show com mences." Dunn did not reply, but, buttoning his coat, placed one hand on his companion's shoulder and suddenly bade him " lead the way." Advancing slowly and with diffi culty, tho desperate man might have been taken for a peaceful invalid returning from an early morning stroll. His right hand was buried thoughtfully in the side pocket of his coat. Only Brace knew that it rested on the handle of his pistol. From time to time the latter stopped _i consulted the faint trail with a minute ness that showed recent careful study. Suddenly he paused. "I made a blaze* hereabouts to show where to leave the trail. There it is," he added, pointing to a slight notch cut in the trunk of an adjoining tree. "But we've just passed one," said Dunn, "if ttat's what you're looking after, a hundred yards back." Brace uttered an oath and ran back in the direction signified by his companion. Presently he returned with a smile of triumph.

"They've suspected something' It's a clever trick, but it won't hold water. That blaze which was done to muddle you was cut with an axe; this whicli I made was (lonewith a bowie knife. "It's the real one. We're not far off now. Come on."

They proceeded cautiously at right angles - th the "blazed" tree for ten minutes nore, Tho heat was oppressive ; drops of perspiration rolled from the forehead of the Sheriff, and at times when he attempted to steady his uncertain limbs his hands shrank rom the heated, blistering bark of the trunks ho touched with ungloved palms ; Here we are," said Brace, pausing at *»t. "Do you see that biggest tree with tne root stretching out half-ivay across to tne opposite one ?" "No, it's further to the right and abreast oi the dead brush," interrupted JJffl- quickly, with a sudden revelation Jtati this was the spot where ho had found ..mf d, bearon the ni _ht Teresa escaped. That's so," responded Brace in astonish ment

antl the opening is on the other side, "PPOMtethe dead brush," said Dunn. .Then you know it?" said Brace, sus piciously. umi reckon I" responded Dunn, grimly. ihats enough! Fallback!" lo the surprise of his companion, hclifted to head erect, and with a strong, firm step wilted directly to the tree. Reaching it, "c Planted himself squarely before tho opening. * J "Halloo," he said, ci vas no reply- A squirrel scamp "W away close to his feet. Brace far in "c distance, after an ineffectual attempt wdistinguish his companion through the ™e_etung trunks, took off his coat, leaned ■ggga tree, and lit a cigar.

h JLnotch cut in the bark of a tree by Western tts. or exPlorcrß a* a guide in the wilder-

"Come out of that cabin," continued Dunn, i„ a, ch__ resonant voice. "Come out belore I drag you out!" " All right, ' Captain Scott.' Don't shoot and 111 come down," said a voice as clear and as high as his own. The hanging strips of bark were dashed aside, and a woman leaped lightly to the ground. ' Dunn staggered back: "Teresa! by the Eternal. It was Teresa ! The old Teresa ! Teresa a hundred times more vicious, reckless, hysterical, extravagant, and outrageous than before. Teresa, staring with tooth and eye, sunburnt and embrowned, her hair hanging down her shoulders, and her shawl drawn tightly around her nock. " Teresa it is ! the same old gal ! Here we are again I Return of the favourite in her original character ! For two weeks only! lloup la! Tshk !" and, catching her yellow skirt with her lingers, she pirouetted before the astounded man, and ended in a pose. Recovering himself with an effort, Dunn dashed forward and seized her by the wrist. "Answer me, woman ! Is that Low's cabin ?" "It is." j " Who occupies it besides '-" "I do." "And who else '.-" " Well," drawled Teresa slowly, witli an extravagant affection of modesty, "no body else but us, I reckon. Two's company, you know, and three's none." "Stop! will you swear that there isn't a young giil, his—his sweetheart—concealed there with you ':" she answered steadily: " Well) it ain't i my style Ie put up with that sort of thing ; ; at least it wasn't over at Yolo, ami you know it, Jim Dunn, or I wouldn't be here." " Yes, yes," said Dunn hurriedly, "Hut I'm a d—d fool, or worse, the fool of a fool. Tell me, Teresa, is this man Low jour \ lover ?" ' j Teresa lowered her eyes as if in maidenly ! confusion. " Well, if I'd known that yon had any | feeling of your own about it—if you'd I spoken sooner—" " Answer me— you devil !" "lie is." "And he has been with you hero—yes-I terdav—to-night V" "lie has."" "Enough.." He laughed a weak, foolish I laugh, and, turning pale, suddenly lapsed j with a.ptick instinct Teresa sprang to bis side am1 supported him gently to a root. The action over, they both looked as tounded. ".1 reckon that wasn't much like cither you or me," said Dunn, slowly; "was it? But if vou'tl let me drop then you'd have stretched out the biggest fool in the Sierras." He paused and looked at her curiously. "What's come over you. Blessed if I seem to know you now." She was very pale again and quiet: that was all. "Teresa! D—n it—look here! When 1 was laid up yonder in Excelsior I saitl 1 wanted to get well for only two things. One was to hunt you down, the other to marry Xellie Wynne. When I came here I thought that last thing could never be. I came here expecting to find her here with Low, and kill him—perhaps kill her too. 1 never even thought of you ; not once. You might havo risen up before me—between me and him—and I'd have passed you by. And now that I find it's all a mistake, and it was you, not her I was looking for — why ' " Why," she interrupted bitterly, "you'll just take me, of course, to save your timo and earn your salary. I'm ready." " But I'ni not, just yet," ho saitl faintly. " Help me up.'' She mechanically assisted him to his feet, "Now stand where you are," he added, "and don't move beyond this tree till 1 return." He straightened himself with an effort, clenched his fists until the nails were nearly buried iv his palms, an.l strode with a linn, steady step in the direction he had come. In a few moments he returned antl stood before her. "I've sent away my deputy—the man who brought me here, the fool who thought you we're Nellie. He knows now he made a mistake. But who it was he mistook for Xellie he does not know, nor shall any living being know other than myself. Antl when I leave the wood to-day I shall know it no longer. You are safe here as far as I am concerned, but I cannot screen you from others' prying. Let Low take you away from here as soon as he can." " Let him take me away. Ah, yes. For what ?" "To save you," said Dunn. " Look here, Teresa ! Without knowing it you lifted mc out of hell just now, and because of the wrong I might have done her—for her sake, I spare you and shirk my duty." '• For her sake !" gasped the woman; " for her sake! Oh, yes 1 Coon." " Well," said Dunn, gloomily, "I reckon perhaps you'd as lieve left me in hell for all the love you bear inc. And maybe you've grudge enough agin me still to wish I'd found her and him together." "You think so," she said, turning her head away. "There, d—n it ! I didn't mean to make you cry. Maybe you wouldn't then. Only tell that fellow to take you out of this, and not run away the next time ho sees a man coming." "He didn't run," said Teresa with Hash ing eyes. " I—l—l sent him away," she stammered. Then, suddenly turning with fury upon him, she broke out: "Hun ! Kun from you ! Ha, ha ! You saitl just now I'd a grudge against you. Well, listen, Jim Dunn. I'd only to bring you in range of that young man's rifle and you'd have dropped iv your tracks like--"

"Like that bar the other night," said Dunn, with a short laugh. "So thai was your little game?" He checked his laugh suddenly—a cloud passed over his face. "Look here, Teresa," he said, with an as sumption of carelessness that was as trans par, it as it was utterly incompatible with his frank, open selfishness, "what became of that bar? The skin—eh? that was worth something ?"

" Yes," said Teresa quietly. " Low ex changed it and got a ring for me from that trader Isaacs. It was worth more, you bet. Antl the ring didn't fit, either—" " Yes," interrupted Dunn, with an almost childish eagerness. " And I made him take it back, and get the value in money. I hear that Isaacs sold it again and made another profit, but that's like those traders." The disingenuous candour of Teresa's manner was in exquisite contrast to Dunn. He rose and gra*pe.l her hand so heartily she was forced to turn her eyes away.

"Good-by !" he said. "You look tired," she murmured with a sudden gentleness that surprised him; " let me go with you a part of the vva. •" " It isn't safe for you just now," he said, thinking of the possible consequences of the alarm Brace had raised.

"Not the way you came," she replied; " but one only known to myself." He hesitated only a moment. " AH right, then," he said finally, " let us go at once. It's suffocating here, and I seem to feel this dead bark crinkle under my feot." She cast a rapid glance ai osnd her, and

then seemed to sound with her eyes the far-off depths of the aisles beginning to grow 1 pale with the advancing day, but still hold ing a strange quiver of heat in tho air. When she had finished her half-abstracted scrutiny of the distance, she cast one back ward glance at her own cabin antl stopped. " Will you wait a moment for me." she asked gently. " Yes—but—no tricks, Teresa !It isn't worth the time." She locked him squarely in the eyes with out a word. " Enough," lie saitl. "Co !" She was absent for some moments. He was beginning to become uneasy when she made her appearance again, clad in her old fadetl black dress. Her face was very palo and hor eyes were swollen, but she placetl his hand on her shoulder, and bidding him not to fear to lean upon her, for she was quite strong, led the way. " You look more like yourself now, and yet—blast it all!—you don't neither," said Dunn, looking down linon her. "You've changed iv some way. ' What is it '! Is it on account of that Jnjiii? Couldn't you have found a while man in his place." "I reckon he's neither worse nor belter for that," she replied, bitterly, "and per haps ho wasn't as particular in his taslc as a white man might have been. Dot,'' she added, with a sudden spasm of her old rage, "it's a lie; he's ii,,i an Indian, no more than 1 am. Not unless being bum of a mother who scarcely knew him, of a father who never even saw him, ami being brought., up among white men and wild beasts -less cruel^ than (bey were—could make him I) mm looked al lioriusurpriseuot unmixed with admiration. "li Nellie," he thought, "could but love me like that." But he only said : " for all that lie's an [njin. Why. look at his name. It ain't Low. It's' L'Kau Doi mtinle, Sleeping Water, an liijiii name." "Ami what .locs that prove?" returned Teresa. " Duly that Indians clap a nick name tin any Strang..', while or red, who may camp with them. Why, oven his own father—a white man the wretch who begot him and abandoned him, he. bad an Indian name- -l.nti/i Xu .',-." "What name did yt in say ?" "Le Loup Soir, die I.lack Wolf. 1 sup pose you'd call him an Indian too'; . h ' What's Ihe mailer: We're walking ton last. Stop a moment and rest. There there ■ lean ..n ice !" Slic was none too soon, for, alter holding him upright a moment, his limb" failed, and stooping gently she was obliged It. support him half reclining against a tree. " It's Hie beat !" be saitl. " Cive mo some whisky from mv lla-k: never mind the water, lie added taiiitlv, with a forced laugh, after be bad tli.st.oiig snirit : " tell me more about the other water' -the Sleep ing Water vnii know. How do yon know all this about Iriru am! bis —father. ' "Partly from him and partly from Curson, who wrote tome about him, "she answered with some hesitation. Bui Dunn dil not seem to notice this in congruity of correspondence with a former lover. "And be told yon."' "Yes,'and 1 saw the name on an old memorandum book he has, which he says belonged to his father. It's full of old accounts of some trailing post on the fron tier. It's been missing for a day or two, but it will turn up. Hut 1 can swear 1 saw it." Dunn attempted to rise to bis feet, " I'ut your hand in my pocket," he saitl, in a hurried whisper. " No. There ! -bring out a book. There, 1 haven't looked at i; yet. Is that ii ':" he added, banding her the book Brace had given him a few boars before. " Yes," saitl Teresa, in surprise. "Where did you tinil il !" ".Never mind! Now lot mo sec if. quick. Open it, for mv -ight is failing. There- -thank you -that's all !" " Take more whisky,' said Teresa, with a strange anxiety creeping over her. " You arc faint again." " Wait! Listen, Teresa—lower—put your car lower. Listen .' I came near kill ing that chap Low to-day. Wouldn't il have been ridiculous';" He tried to smile, but his head fell back. He had fainted. CHAITEH IX. Foil the first time in her life, Teresa lost her presence of mind in an emergency, She could only sit staring at the helpless man, scarcely conscious of his condition, her mind tilled with a sudden prophetic intuition of the significance of his last words. In the light oi that new revelation she looked into his pale, haggard face lor some resemblance to Lev, but in vain. Yet her swift feminine instinct met the objection. "It's the mother's blood that would show," she murmured, " not this mini's." Recovering herself, she began to chafe his hands and temples and moisten his lips with tbe spirit. When bis respiration returned with a faint colour to his checks, she pressed his hand eagerly and leaned over him. " Are you sure J" she asked. " Of what?" be whispered faintly. "That Low is really your son ';" " Who said so?" he asked, opening bis round eyes upon her. "\"oii ft iiid yourself a moment ago,' she said quickly. " Don't you remember':" "Didl?" " You did. Is it not so ':" He smiled faintly. " I reckon." Sho belli her breath in expectation. Bui only the ludicrousness of the discovery seemed paramounttohis weakened faculties. " Isn't it just about the ridieidousest thing all round S" he said with a feeble chuckle. "First jtat, nearly kill me before you know lam Low's father. Then I'm just spoil;,i' to kill him before I know he is my sou ; then that Cod-forsa_eii fool, -lack Brace, mistakes you for Nellie, and Nellie for you. Ain't . just the biggest thing for the boys to get hold of? But we must keep it dark I until after 1 marry Nellie, don . you see? i Then we'll have a good time all round, and I I'll stand the drink . Think of it,Teres ha ! j You don' no me, I do' no you, nobody knowsh anybody el. .1. 1 try kill Lo.' Lo wants kill Nellie. .No fha.-b no ri'," but Iho potent liquor, overtaking his exhausted ! senses, thickened, impeded, anil at last stopped his speech. His head slipped to her shoulder, and he became once more nn j conscious. j Teresa breathed again. In that brief I moment she bad abandoned herself to a wild inspiration of hope which she could scarcely define. Not that it was entirely a wild inspiration ; she tried to reason calmly, What if she revealed the truth to him? What if she told the wretched man before j her that she had deceived him—that she | had overheard his conversation with Brace ! —that she had stolen Brace's horse to bring Low warning—that, failing to find Low in his accustomed haunts, or at the camp fire, she had left a note for him pinned to the herbarium, imploring him to fly with bis companion fc'om the danger that was coming, and that remaining on watch slie had seen them both --Brace and Dunn—approaching, and had prepared to meet them at the cabin? Would tbis miserable and maddened man understand her self-abnegation ? would he forgive Low and Nellie ?—she did not ask for herself. Or would the revelation turn his brain, if it did not kill him outright ?

She looked at the sunken orbits of his eyes I antl the hectic flush on his check, and shuddered. I

V\ hy was this added to t he agony she already suffered ? She had been willing to stand between them with her life, her liberty, and even—the hot blood dyed her cheekat tho thought—with the added shame of being thought the cast-oft' mistress of that man's sou. Yet all this she had taken upon herself in expiation of something—she knew not clearly what; no, for nothing only for him. And yet this very situation ottered her that gleam of hope which had thrilled her ; a hope so wild in its improba bility, so degrading in its possibility, that at first she knew not whether despair was not preferable to its .shame. Antl yet was it unreasonable? She was no longer passion ate: she would be calm anil think it out fairly.

She would go to Low at once. She would Ibid him somewhere ; anil even if with that girl, what mattered? antl she would fell him all. When lie knew that the lite anil death of his father lay in tbe scale, would ho lot his foolish passion for Nellie stand in the way? Even if lie were not in lluenccd„by filial affection or mere compass ion, would his pride Id him sloop to a ' rivalry wilb the man who had deserted his I youth? Could be take Ilium's promised bride, who must havi coquetted him to j have brought him to this miserable plight" • Was this like Ihe calm, proud youm- ~-od she knew? Yet .-lie bad a,, uneasy iiPstinct thai calm, proud young gods and goddesses dii .things liko this, ami Mt the weakness of her reasoning Hush her own conscious check. I " L'eresa !" She started. Dunn was awake antl was gazing at her curiously. " I was reckoning it was only the square nicking here iluil ruairy y.m out and out." ".Marry me!" 5.,i,1 Teresa in a voice that wilb all her efforts -he could run make I cynical. "Yes," he repeated, " alter I've married Nellie: tote you dowii to San Angeles, an.l there rake my n one like a man, and give it toyou. Nobody'll ask after Teresa, sure - you bet your life. A.,.1 i! they tin, you can stop their jaw: just you call en Ihe old man. H . might*- queer, ain't il, Ti I'c.i, to think of your beiii" my i daughter-in-law?" It seemed here as if he was aboul (~ lapse. l again i"t leunsciiuisi,, s- over Ihe purely ludicrous lisped of (be subject, but he haply recovered his scrionsiic-s. "He'll have a- much money tr ai mc as lie wants logo into busine.s- wit!,. What s hi. line ..t business, Teresa V" a-k. d this prospective fill hei -in-law in a large lib,-ral way. " lie is a botanist," said Teresa, it ith a sudden childish animali a thai seemed to ket [i up Ihe grim humour of ihe paternal suggestion, "and oh! hei- too | -to buy books, i soul for one m two for him my seli the other day" she hesitated -"'it v..c all the in. ucy I had, but if wasn't enough for him to go on -villi his studies." Dunn looked at' her sparkling eyes and "lowing cheeks, and became thoughtful. "Curson must havo been a ,1 il fool," he said finally. Teresa remained silent. She was begin ning to be impatient and uneasy, tearing some mischance that might delay her dreaded vet longed-for meeting with Low. Yet she could not leave this sick and ex liaused man, his father, now bound to her by more than mere humanity. ' "Couldn't you manage," she said, gently, " to lean mi me a lew steps further, until 1 could bring you to a cuulcr.-put, and nearer a.-.-istance?" Ilenoddcd. She lifted him almost like a child to his feet. A siain of pain passed tear his lace. " Haw far 1- il ?" he risked. " Not nice than b n minutes," she re plied. "I can make a spurt for that time," lie saitl, coolly, and lagan to walk slowly but steadily on. Only hi- face, which was white and set, and the convulsive grip of his hand on her arm, betrayed the effort. At the end of ten minutes she stopped. They stood before the splintered, lightning. sctrrcd .-haft, in the opening of the woods where Low bad built her lirst camp tire. She carefully picked up tho herbarium, but her quick ey« bad already detected in the distance, before she had allowed Dunn to enter the opening with her, that her note was gone. Low bad been there before them; he had been warned, as his absence from the cabin showed : lie would not return there. Thoy were free from interruption—but where had he gone ? The sick man .'new a long breath of relief as she seated him in the clover grown hollow where she had slept the second night of her stay. "It's cooler than those cursed woods," he said, "1 suppose it's because its a little like a grave. " What are you going to do now ?" he added, as she brought a cup of water and placetl it at his side. "1 am going to leave you hove for a little while," she said cheerfully, but with a [tale face and nervous hands. "I'm going to leave you while I seek Low." The sick man raised bis head. " I'm good for a spurt, Teresa, like that I've just got through, but I don't think I'm up to a family party. "Couldn't you issue cards later on ?" " You don't understand,"sho said. "I'm going to get Low to send some one oi' your i friends to you here. 1 don't think he'll I begrudge leaving her a moment for that," ' she added to herself bitterly. "What's that you're saying?" he queried with the nervous quickness of an invalid. ■' Nothing—but thai I'm going now." i .She turned her face aside to hide her moistened eyes. " Wish me good luck, won't you?' she asked half sadly, half petfi.shly. " Come here . She came ami bent over him. He sud denly raised his hands, and, thawing her lace down to his own, kissed her forehead. "Cive that to him," he whispered, " from She turned and lied, happily for her sentiment, not bearing tbe feeble laugh that followed us Dunn, in sheer imbecility, again referred to the extravagant ludicrous ness of the situation. "It is about the biggest thing in the way of a sell all round,'' he repeated, lying on his back, confi dentially to the speck of smoke-obscured sky above him. He pictured himself repeat ing it—not to Nellie ; her severe propriety might at last overlook tho fact, but not tolerate the joke—but to her father ! It would be just one of those characteristic ( .iliforniun jokes Father Wynne would admire.

To his exhaustion fever presently suc ceeded, and he began to grow restless. The heat, too, seemed to invade his retreat, and from time to time the little patch of blue sky was totally obscuned by clouds of smoke. He amused himself with watching a lizard who was investigating a folded piece of paper whosfe elasticity gave the little creature lively apprehensions of its vitality. At last he could stand the stul-i ness of his retreat, aud his supine position no longer, and rolled himself on. of the bod of leaves that Teresa had so carefully pre pared for him. He rose to his feet, still' and sore, and supporting himself by the i eTrest tree, moved a few steps from the dead ashes of the camp fire. The move ment frightened the lizard, who abandoned

I the paper and lied. With a satin. ■■'. recol lection of Brace and his "ridiculoe-" lis . covery through the medium of this animal, he stooped and picked np the paper. " '.ike as not," be said to himself with - i-i:n irony, "these yer lizards are in the discovery business. I'r'aps this may lead to another mystery," and he began to unfold Iho paper with a smile. But the smile ceased as his eye .suddenly caught his own name. A dozen lines were written in pencil on what seemed to be a blank leaf originally torn from some book. Ho trembled so that he was obliged \o sit down to read these words : " When you get tbis keep away from the woods. Dunn and another man are in deadly pursuit of you and your companion. I overheard their plan to surprise you in our cabin. Don't go /here, and I will delay them ami put (hem off tlie scent. Don't mind me. Cod bless you, and if you never see me again think sometimes of Tekksa." His trembling ceased, he tlitl not start, but rose in an abstracted way, and made a few deliberate steps iv the direction Teresa had gone. Even then he was so confused that ho was obliged to refer' to the paper again, but with so little effect that he could only repeat the last words, "Think some times of Teresa." He was conscious that this was not all; he had v full conviction of being deceived, aud knew thai l.eheld the proof i„ his hand, but he- could not formulate it beyond that sentence. "Tere sa" -yes, hcwnuld think ofher. She would explain if. Aud here she wa.- ret ui'uing. In that- brief interval her face and manner had again changed. She was pale and breathleas. She cast a swift "lance at Dunn and the pane ho mechanically held I out, walked up to'him, untl ton i; irom his hand. "Well," she -aid hour.-ely. " ' .': at ire you going to do about il ?" lie attempted to speak, bm ' is .'vice failed him. Even then lie wa ,-. a-eious that if he had spoken he would havo only repeated, "think sometimes of 'f. ~--.. '" He looked longingly bill !.,■ ~|, J•■' • the spt.f where she had 'thrown the , .p. r, -,s if il contained his mint lured word-. ' " Yes," .-he wenl on to herself, as was a mute indifferent spectator, " cs Ihcv'reoone. Thateiidsit.nl!. The '.-.-'s played out. Well?" sudden' ,' t' ii.ing upon liim, "now you know it, ; .'. Vom j Nellie was here, with him, and ■. . -.','. ' :, n i hoi«. Do you hear? Make th- _: of it; I " .--,'".; -i.i'.t ;''nl. ' ; ' T, r ,.«- ' | She stopped, stared at him, 'hen ; ikiuy j him by the hand led him like a child back to his couch. "Weil," she saitl, ill half savage explanation. " I told ytvi ihe ~i'.h when I said the liiil wasn't al ihe ".bin last night, and thai i didn't know her. What areyouglowoi'iii'.il'.' No! 1 haven't liotl to you, I swear to Coil, except in one thing. Do you know what thai was:? To save him J took upon me a shame ! don't deserve. I let you think 1 was hi- mi-tass, You think so now. don't yon ? W, 11, before Cod to-day and lie may tako me when :!c likes I'm no more to him than a sister I I reckon your Nellie can't say as much." She turned away, and, with '.he quick, impatient stride of some cagetl animal, made the narrow circuit of tho ojioning, stopping a moment mechanically before Ihe sick man, antl again, without looking at him, continuing her monotonous round. The heat; had become excessive, but she held her shawl with both hands drawn! ightly over her shoulders. .Suddenly a wood duck darted oul of the covert , blindly into the on. ning, .struck against the i blasted trunk, fell half dunned near hei feet, and then recovering, ilutfered away. She had scarcely completed ant I her circuit I before the irruption was f0110w...] by ,t whirring bevy of a quail, a li. hi ja_ -', ! the wood like a torn;.do. She turned inquir ingly '. i Dunn, wile had ri-cri i i his fo-.'', ! but the next moment .-it.- can hi c.ivul sivelv at his wrist ; a woll had ju. i da-hed through the untleiln v.i nut ail. /.. ;i yards away, and on either side they could hear the scamper and rustle of be. ryiuj ;■_._!. like ihe outburst of a summer -hover. A cold wind arose fr.au the opposile direction as if to contest this wild exo.lu.-, but it was followed by a blast of sickening heat. Teresa sank at Dunn's feet in an agony of terror. "Don't let them touch me!" .-he _i-.-.c.1: "keep them oil! Tell me. for I 10. i - -ako, what has happened 1" He laid his hand firmly on her arm and lifted her in his t urn to her feet like a [child. 11l that supreme moment of physical danger his strength, reason, and manhood returned in their pientit.o.le of power. He [Minted coolly to Ihe ti .il -he hatl quitted, and said : | -'The Carquinez Woo:!- arc on lire !" {'folic Continued.)

Lucky Men.

Stilti: years ago, when the ins: team ol English cricketers went to Australia, they were accompanied by two men named Spiers and I'ontl, who lauded at Sydney with only a penny apiece in their pockets. They closely followed the amateurs, how ever, and managed to earn money I . j enough to buy small lots of refreshments. j The cricket fields were noted for the poverty | of refreshment.-lanils. Spiers and Pond in- I vested their little capital in food and drink. They coined guinea after guinea, until at i last they were strong in pocket, and con fident in their ability to o;.en up a witle range of business. They took leases ol railroad companies lo maintain buffets at tho stations'along the lines of travel in England ami Scotland. I' r ,ears there bail been great complain*. One by one the small beginners opened new : laces, undone by cue they established drinking palaces in London until their b :-ine.-s grew to enormous proportions. Some time iago i'ontl died, leaving pro] rtv '...ith throe-quarters of n million. The oir.i has employed IO,(KK) girls since its start, and now gives employment, fo nearly ",.'_:> bar maids, who arc under discipline a- -'.rit' .vr that of the regular army.

UNKNOWN

Tin: Siamese ape is stated to be in great

request among Siamese merchants as a cashier in their counting-houses. Vast

quantities of base coin obtain circulation in Siam, and the faculty of discrimination between good money anil bail would appear to be possessed by these gifted monkeys in such an extraordinary degree of develop ment, that, no human being, however care fully trained, oan compete with them. Tho cashier ape immediately puts into his mouth each coin presented to him in business pay ments, antl tests it with grave dolibeiaticn. If it be genuine, be bands it over to bis muster. If it be counterfeit, be sets it down on the counter before him with a solemn grimace of disp.c.'.suie. His method ot testing is regarded in com mercial circles as infallible ; and, as a matter of fact, his decision is uniformly accepted by all parties interested in the transaction.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 22. 1883.

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