JENKINS & CO.; OR, THE EGOTIST.

A NOVEL, by E. WEIi.N'ER

(Specially Translated for the Auckland Star from the German by E. Nicholson), Author of "Student's Manual of German Literature," " Clironoloßioal Guide to Knglish Literature," &c.

CHAPTER IX.

FATHER AKD DAUGUTER.

AGAIN a minute of silence, then Sandow turned, tremblingly and slowly, but turned to go. Gustav quickly laid his hand on his arm. "One word, Frank, before you go. Frieda knows nothing of tho past but what sho was obliged to know, not a syllable mors. Sho has no suspicion why you have

doserted her, and what fearful thought has

banished her from her father's heart all theso years. I could not bring myself to reveal that to tho child. She thinks that you hate her mother because, after an ill assorted union, sho left you and married

another man. The motive satisfied her : slio asked no other reason ; so let it suffice. I think you will soo that I could not let your daughter have an idea of tho real depths of your misery, and so was silent as to tho worst. If you do not reveal it, she need never know."

"I thank you." The- older brother grasped the hand of the younger, and pressed it warmly. Then, turning from him, Sandow went away with rapid strides.

"He is going to her," said Gustav, with a sigh of relief. " Thank God ; now they may sottlo it themsolves." Frieda had flown to her room in the upper story of the house. Any other girl would have givon herself up to tears, or havo sobbed out her heart to the sympathising Jessie, but she did neither ; with feverish haste she prepared for her journey. Her father's rejection burnt like a fire in her breast, and left room for one thought only, that of getting away from the houso where they had dismissed her so insultingly, and getting away as quickly as possible. Frieda had drawn out her travelling trunk, which yet stood in the corner of the room, and was collecting her things. Sho did it all in tearless silence, but in fiery haste, ns if she was flying from misfortune. She was kneeling before the open box, in the act of putting in some articles of dress, when she heard steps outside the door. It must bo her uncle coming to look for her ; she knew he would come, and sho would ask him to take her to an hotel. They could arrange about the return journey there. She would agree to everything, obey him in everything, but he must not ask her to stay there any longer. The Bteps came nearer, the door opened, and on the threshold stood her father.

Frieda shrank back, tho linen she held fell to the ground, and she remained still as if petrified with astonishment. Sandow entered and shut the door. Ho looked at the open box, and the things lying about. " You are going away ?"

"Yos !"

Both question and answer were short and stem. It seemed as if tho chasm between father and daughter would never close in this world. Sandow was silent for some seconds, evidently struggling with himselt. At last he said : " Come here—to me—Frieda !" She ross trembling and stood undecided for a moment, then approached him slowly, till she stood quite close to her father. He put his arm round her, and lifted her face to his. Then, bending over her, he seemed to study her, feature for feature, line after line, as if his eyes would search her through and through. The old mistrust rose once moro — for tho last time —then vanished farther and farther away the more the lather found his own features repeated in his child. A deep sigh of relief rose from Sandow's breast, and the anxious, gparehing gaze melted in tears, which fell hot and fast on Frieda's brow. " I gave you pain before," ho said, " but do you think it was easy for me to send away the only thing that could bring me joy again on earth ? Gustav is right; it ■was a dark, wicked delusion. Lot it be for gotten for ever. My child," and his voice broke with agitation, " will you love your father V A cry of joy broke from his daughter s lips. Before this tone, the first that came wholly frorrfhis heart, all tho bitterness of the past hour vanished, and with it vanished all alienation and shyness. Frieda threw both her arms round her father's neck, and as he pressed her warmly to his heart, they both felt that the old shadow which had stood between them for so long was banished for ever. Gustav, too, had slowly returned to the house. A3 he entered the conservatory Jessie came anxiouely to meet him. "Mr Sandow, what can be the matter? Frieda rushed into my room ten minutes ago quite beyond heraelf, threw her arms round my neck, and said ' Good-bye.' She said she must go away ; that she would not stay an hour longer, and would not stay to hear any questions, but referred me to you for an explanation, and hurrisd away. "What has happened ?" Gustav shrugged his shoulders. " What I feared, when I wanted to defer a discovery. An accident betrayed our eocret to my brother, and we were obliged to confess the truth. His anger at the decep tion burst out, and overwhelmed us both. Frieda could not stand the scene, but de clared she would go away, and is probably packing up her things." "And you are not with her ! cried Jessie. " You have not stood by her and protected her. Could you really leave her alone at such a time ? Go to her." "At present I should be quite euper fluous," returned Gustav, with an equa nimity that seemed the height of egotism to Miss Clifford. "What remains to be done Frieda can fight out for herself. I must think of myself now." His eyes, resting on Jessie's face, sparkled aa they had done when Frieda made her revelation to him. In this con templation he quite forgot that his words would be misunderstood, which happened very completely. " You have all along thought too much of yourself," replied Jessie, getting angrier than ever. " But if you have a spark of love in your breast, you must feel that your place is beside your betrothed." Gustav smiled, and coming close to the angry girl, he said significantly : " Frieda is not engaged to me, and never Jessie looked at him as if she had not heard aright. "Not engaged to you? «' No • remember I introduced her to you distinctly as my charge. It was you, Miss Clifford, who invented another connection, and I left you in your self-imposed error. Now however, that my duties as protector are at an end, I may confess to you that my feelings are elsewhere enslaved. _ He bent over her hand and pressed a passionate kiss upon it, which fully ex plained his words. But the game which ho had played in fun now rebounded on him self. He had pretended to be a heartless egotist too long, and had to repent it now. Jessie drew her hand indignantly away. " You go too far, Mr Sandow. Now that Jfrieda, to whom you were engaged, is turned out, and you see no chance of ob iaining consent, you dare to come to me. -y O v try to deny your Betrothal to me, and • pretend it was a farce. This is too bad I" "But, Mks Clifford, for Heaven's sake Z-'—" cried Gustav, now shocked in earnest, She however, left him no time for a word, but' went on as if she had lost all self- C°"l'knew you emphasized tho word charge that you might have a loophole to get out of If you could not have the fortune with Frieda, you would have it without w The heiress would still remain who waa first intended for you, and you wsh to make sure of the heiress ldi d B Dtorm Pof Cttearß checked her speech. Gustav tried to soothe entreat, explain, but in vain. She hurried into, the next room, and when he tried to fo low her, Z locked the d«or. Direct y afterwards he heard the further door close after her, and Jessie was quite beyond reach of his * Tnus left behind, he began to vent his anger on the empty air. •'Well, this is too bad I And auior sacrificing myself to the interests of others. My brother stormed at me .like a big bully bscause I am kind to my niece, and now I am treated like a scoundrel because 1 am not kind enough to her. I should have taken Jessie into our confidence ear er. That comes from my aboimnableloveof fun It waß such a jest ta» me,and— —it ,*»ade her cry bitterly, N^ * T./P 086 ' * I i ~.. . , .... v ,j ■;..,:,■ , • : '

may wait till to-morrow bofore she makes her appearance again, and the misunder standing cannot last an hour longer." He won stamping his foot impatiently and angrily, when suddenly ho heard a voice behind him saying— "Excuse me—they sho vied me in hero. Gustav looked round. He saw astrangcr standing in the doorway, a little man with a red face, who bowed politely. " Have I the honou:- of seeing the head of the firm of Cliflbrd ?" ho said, somewhat anxiously, for Gustav'a angry pantomime had not escaped him. "I have already been to the oHico, and heard there that Mr Sandow had left town. As my business was very pressing, I have come on to his

hou?o." "My brother cannot be spoken to, replied Gustav, in a curt tone, for his im patience made tho interruption in tho last degree annoying to him. "Ho has an im portant engagement, and sees no one to day."

At the word "brother," the little man bowed still lower, and approached him con fidentially.

" Ah, Mr Gustav Sandow ! The great German journalist! lam delighted to have the opportunity of making tho acquaint ance of such a celebrity, a celebrity which is justly valued by our firm."

"What do you want?" asked Gustav, with a look that expressed his extreme desire to kick the admirer of his talents through tho doorway. "I am the agent of Jenkins and C 0.," explainod the stranger, emphasizing the namo with great self-satisfaction. ''1 have just arrived hero with a batch of emigrant?, and was obliged directly to apply to our respected friend. As Mr Sun dow, however, cannot be apokon to, 1 can quite ns well apply to you." This completely annihilated what little patience Gustav had loft. To interview an agent of Jenkins & Co. at such a moment was beyond him. Ho roughly told the representative of tho hated name — "Ireceivo no communications meant for my brother. Bring your report to tho oflico to-morrow. 1 wish—" and here tho English he had addressed tho American in failed him, and ho broke into pretty abusivo German. "I wish the devil would fetch Jenkins and Co. and all their agents, and send the whole sot out to their d d lands oat West, that their philanthropic speculation might fall on their own heads !" With which he left the astounded agent to himself, and went out by another door. The agent gazed after him with perplexed looks. He had not understood tho German part of the speech, but enough was clear to show that the words of the great Gorman journalist meant something rude. And, to his groat annoyance, ho saw thore was no prospect of making his report that day. The elder Mr Sandow was invisible, and tho younger . The little man shook Mb head thoughtfully as he beat a retreat:

"Queer people these German journalists are ! They are so nervous and excitable, in deed quite violent. If you compliment them, they are rude. Our gentleman of the press are much more polite when you speak to them of their wide fame !" Jessie had really shut herself into her room, and let her tears have full sway. Never in her whole life had she been so unhappy, so miserable, as at that moment. Sho now fully realised how firmly the love of this man had become implanted in hor heart; and now sho must reject him at any cost. Sho had long cherished a secret in terest in this brother of her guardian while he was still in Germany. She did not know him, but his pen was an invisible link between them. With what glowing enthusiasm sho had read his articles, and with what zeal had she followed his flights into the ideal world ! Now the idealist had arrived, and in contradiction to his whole past,

had joined in his brother's speculations, lie now hid tho inclinations of his heart from his brother like a coward, heaped intrigue upon intrigue, merely not to lose the promised fortune, and when this fortune was risked he denied his betrothed, and wooed thehoiress. The moat miserable egotism and tho meanest calculation were really the motives of his actions. Jessie hated and despised him with all hor soul ; but that it should be this man among nil others whom she must needs despise, broke her heart.

She had thrown herself on the sofa, and hidden, her face sobbing on the cushions, when suddenly she heard her own name, and, turning in affright,saw Gustav Sandow standing in the middle of tho room. She sprang up. " Mr Sandow, how did you come here ? I had "

"Yes, you had bolted the drawing-room door," interrupted Gustav, " and your maid had orders to admit no one ; but I was not deterred by that, and have come to you in spite of bolts and maids. I must speak to you ; it concerns us both." " But I will not hear you !" cried Jessie, with a vain effort to command her resolution.

" But I will be heard !" returned Gustav. "I thought at first that I would send Frieda as my mediator, but that would take too long. She is still with her father."

"With whom?"

"With her father—my brother."

Jessia stood as if petrified. The revela tion came so suddenly that for the first moment she ctulcl not take it in. It was only when Gustav said, " May I justify myself now V that a ray of hope and happiness entered her mind. She allowed him to take her hand, lead her to a sofa, and seat himself beside her.

"I have a confession to make, Miss Clifford," he began. " I must go far back into my brother's past to explain all to you. Later it may be made more completely, but now I can only tell what will justify my self."

He still held her hand in hie, and Jessie made no opposition. Sho began now to believe in the possibility of his justification.

" My brother had a very sad experience of domestic life. An apparently happy mar riage ended for him in a dreadful discovery. He saw himself betrayed by his wife and his dearest friend, and the results of the catastrophe were such that he lost not only hie home, but his position in society. He could not and would not remain at home any longer, and he went to America, where he found a refuge with your parents. But he had left a daughter behind him in Ger many, an only child, very few years old. In his hatred and bitterness against every thing, he would not own the child; she remained with the mother, who, after the necessary divorce proceedings, married that man."

He paused for a moment. Jessie listened with breathless attention ; a slight flush rose to her pale, tear-strained cheeks, when Gustav continued :

"I was then at the University, and had no chance of interceding for Frieda, since my representations were disregarded, but I have never forsaken my little niece. Tho poor child had a comfortless youth with her family, pushed about by them all as a butt. Unwillingly endured by her step father, treated with indifference and even dislike by her mother, she was considered an interloper by her step-sisters and brothers, and felt more and more lonely the oldsr sho grew. As soon as I had a means of livelihood of my own, I put in my claim as her uncle, and rescued my niece from her surroundings. I sent her to a school, where sho remained till her mother's death. This death loosed the bonds that galled my brother to ever fresh bitterness, and I determined to struggle for his daughter's rights whatever it might cost!" "And that is why you came to America?" asked Jessie, shyly. " For that only. Iliad previously tried by letter, but Frank refused mo sternly. He threatened to break off our correspond ence if I mentioned the subject again. Then I rested my whole confidence on the personal impression Frieda would make, but it seemed almost impossible to carry out the plan. I could not let the child cross tho ocean alone, and if she appeared with me my brother's suspicions would have been raised. V"our father's death, Miss Clifford, made him think of taking another partner, and he thought of me. Under other circumstances to agree to throw over board my native land, my calling, my in dependence, indeed all the interests of my former life, for the sake of material wealth, would have been a proposal I should, of course, have refused to accede to, but now it seemed a Heaven-sent opportunity. I pretended to accept, and set out with Frieda. She remained in New York while I reconnoitred the country, and then she entered l-.er father's house under an assumed name. Tho discovery entailed one more distressing struggle. There was a scene which threatened to destroy everything, but fatherly feeling prevailed at last with my brother, and now he and his child are united."

Jessie sat through this nairative with lowered eyes and flushed cheeks, feeling one sting after another fall from her mind. It seemed to her as if she were saved, when the dark veil fell which had hidden the 1 Egotist' from her so long. "Yes, Miss Clifford, the inheritance had nothing to do with it!" said Gustav after a somewhat mischievous pause. "It was offered me, and I took the trouble to win it, but for the benefit of tho rightful heiress. Unfortunately, I must also give up the honour of being partner in the house of Clifford and Co. The united staff of the C Gazette has forced me to swear to re turn as Eoon as my leave expired, and my •adding up figures' will not prolong it. I take up the old banner /.pain, which I have

I not deserted quite so shamefully as you were i pleased to reproach mo with. Do you still find my efforts at tho office-desk quito so contemptible '!" Jessie looked up at him with shame and penitence, but yet with a feeling of infinite happiness. "I havo done you groat injustice, Mr Sandow. It was your own fault, but I will a.'-lc your pardon."

She could not hold out her hand to him, for ho had never loosed his hold of it; ho bent over it and pressed a kiss on it, which this timo was suffered in silence.

" I have been rejoicing in tho thought of this explanation for weeks," ho paid, smiling. "Do you think I would have stood my brother's lordly admonitions and your conjj tempt for an hour, if 1 had not been sure of your excuses in the end ':"

"And Frieda was really only in your charge ?" asked Jessie, with her heart fluttering so that sho could not control it. " You are not in love with her !"

" Frieda is my dear little niece, and I am her much-respected uncle, and that is the foundation of our mutual relations. But, now sho lias found her fathor, I shall bo quite unnecessary a person to be looked up to. As we are speaking of love—Jessie—I have a question to ask you." The question seemed to be guessed, for Jessie's face was in a glow. She dared not look up, but thero was no need, for Gustav wag now at hoi- foot, and sho must needs look down at him, as he burst out in warm, passionate words. "My beloved, my own dear Jessio, it is for me to ask pardon. I have intrigued and lied to you too, it cannot bo dotiied, but 1 havo had to do penance tor it since 1 havo had bitter tilings to hoar from you. But ono thing has remained faithfully tho samo since our first meeting—the feeling that awoke in mo when 1 first looked into your bluo eye?. Let mercy prevail over justice I" Jessie seemod inclined to mercy: her bluo eyes confessed it before her lips spoko it. Ho sprang up in a storm of joy ; the pardon was duly sealed, and in fulness of formalities left nothing to bo desired, llu.lt an hour later they both entered Frieda's room, where Sandow still was with his daughter. Gustav held Jessie's hand on his arm, and led her to hU brother.

" Frank," ho said gaily, " in your whole nonsensical schemo tlicro was at least some thing reasonable—indeed, very reasonable Yes, my little Frieda, don't look so sur prised at your uncle and your future aunt— thoso are things which you don't understand yet—with our united penetration wo havo only been able to find ono reasonable idea, and we now introduco ourselves as an en gaged couple."

(To be Continued.)

The Speed of Steamships.

Tho Fastost Time on Record- The Fatb

of Progress.

The extraordinary passago recently mado by tho steamship Oregon from Queenstown to Now York scoros the highest rate of speed ever accomplished across the Atlantic. A voyag« of nearly 3,000 miles in six days 9 hours and 22 minutes may well bo ex ulted over by ovory lover of progress as a triumph in steam navigation that gives tho Oregon the claim of having carried off from all competitors tho blue pennant of tho At lantic Ocean. In the history of tho nine teenth century mechanical appliances to locomotion by land and sea afford material for tho most sensational chapters, but do cidely the strides made in the design and finish of ocean palaces leave in distance tho greatest feats connected with railway construction. Some arc yot living who recollect well tho great excitcmont union;' ship-owners and seafaring men when tho startling news was hoard of a steamer having performed the voyago across tho Atlantic in 2(i days. This steamer's carrying capacity was only .'550 tons, and tho engine power whs equal to that of 150 horses. She left Savannah on the 2Gth of May, ISIQ, and arrived at Liver pool at noon on the 20th of Juno. The "run" was not looked upon with any degree of favour by maritime mon, tho "crack" sailing vessels of tho day, fumed as Livorpool liners, having frequently dur ing tho summer months crossed over in much less timo. Engine power was very limited in tho early days of steamship con struction.

In April, IS3S, tho steamship Sirius loft Cork for New York, and after a run of 18 days landed her passengers in tho commer cial metropolis, thus gaining for tho owners tho honour of having made tho first trans atlantic voyage from Iroland to America. The popular and well known ship built at Bristol, England, and known na the Li rent Western, left that port four days after tho Sirius sailed from Cork, and in the evening of April 22 reached Now York, and wis greeted by thousands of tho populueo. The great success of the Cunard line stirred upon both side.} of tho Atlantic a considerable spirit of competition, the late E. K. Collins of New York taking tho lead. That enter prising shipowner onco declared ho would build a steamer capable of making tho passage between New York and Liverpool in ten days, a feat at that period supposed to bo beyond possibility. The last and fleetest of tho Collins lino, the Adriatic, performed one voyage between Galway, Ireland and Now York in some thing under nine days. A still moro re markable feat was accomplished by this steamer. Captain George Nicholson, who commanded tho Adriatic during tho short term of the Galway lino of transatlantic steam navigation, made tho voyage from Galway to St. Johns, Newfoundland, a dis tancc of I.GGO miles, in a few hours over four days, the shortest run ever mado be tween the Old World and the Now. Mr Collins ofFected many improvement* in ship building. Ho had his vessels constructed with flat instead of sharp floors, and intro duced several changes and improvements in spars and rigging which are still in vogue, but the most effective of his novel ties was the augmentation of the driving power of his fleet. While referring to the wonderful improve ment in the remodelling of ships' hulls, the masting and sail rig, the most valuable of all the advantages conferred on ocean travellers has been the increase of pro pulsive power. The Cunard steamer Asia, built in 1850, was of 2,220 tons and 750 horse-power, and the Great Britain, of 3,440 tons, had been fitted up with 1,000 horse power engines. Average voyages in those days across the Atlantic were rarely under twelve days, but progress in engineering art brought about great changes. In July, 1863, the Cunard steamer Scotia steamed from Liverpool to* Now York in nine days two hours. The Inman liner City of Brussels, in December, 1867, made the voyago from Sandy Hook to Koche's Point (Queenstown) in seven days twenty-two hours. Other lines of Atlantic steamers shared the success, the White Star liners taking a high place in rapid passages. Tho " greyhound of tho Atlantic," as the Alaska, of the Guion line, has been called, is of 10,000 tons burden and 10,000 horse-power, and astonished the martime world by a voyage of 0 days and 20 hours ! Still, great as was that triumph of speed, it has been exceeded by a recent voyago of the Oregon, lately purchased from the Guion by tho Cunard Company. The record which she beat was her own of G days 10 hours and 10minutes. TheOregonleftQueenstownat4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, August 17, and was sighted off Sandy Hook at 9 o'clock p.m., Saturday, the 23rd, making hor timo 6 days 9 hours and 22 minutes, where she got the flood tide over tho bar and came to quarantine, where she lay over night. Her passengers who attended church in Queens town the morning of the day she sailed were in time to attend services on the following Sunday in New York City.

Employment for Lords.

An ingenious French nobleman, out at elbows, has discovered a new oponing for impecunious members of his class. It is to " recognise " children who aro inscribed at mayoralties as being those of unknown fathers. The code allows one boy or girl so recognised to bear the name of the recognising party, however illustrious it may be. The nobleman in question is a marquis, and is making a good income out of the ueo to which ho turns his patro nymic. A few years ago, at the request of a prince from the Lower Danubian State, he gave his name to a little boy living in a sort of pavilion which his Highness had built for an ex-member of thocorpsdeballet. This put it into the marquis's head to strike out into the business he now follows. He recently remarked to an old friend, whom he met in Paris : "The business I have created for myself is an excellent one. I only recognise for a good round sum, and I Bee that a further sum is placed in the hands of a notary for the exclusive benefit of the recognisee. If, therefore, the mother should be reduced to poverty, the child can be decently sohooled and set up in a trade or profession. I have thus no responsibility of any kind, no marital enres, and enjoy thorough independence, while awaiting an opportunity to sell my coronet to somo parvenu heiress."

How I Got Promoted.

"Tom," said tho chief, "there has been a l'ithcr mysterious robbery at Barrowtown, and it'.-f likely to givo tho 'locals'some trouble So I wish you to go down as soon

as possible."

Thisorderlreccivcdonohotdayin August, on tho day lifter tlio robbery had takon place. Of course 1 did not let much time pas 3 beforo I was at tho station and fairly started. Once there, Barrowtov/n is a quaint, picturesque little town, like many another in goodly England. It seemed almost too dull to be able to boast the doubtful honour of having had a full-grown robbery. Still 1 like the quiet little town, for it was thero that I gained my first promotion. I was mot at tho station by tho local inspector, a stout, pompous, ex citable little man, who looked doubtful as to the prudence of the Scotland Yard authorities in sending down such an ordinary-looking mortal as myself. "Oh," ho remarked at last; "so it's you, young man, is it ? I don't think we are likely to trouble you much this time. The fact i 3, ahem ! wo have caught the culprit ourselves."

I merely bowed, and expressed a wish to sco the prisoner ; and we both set off for tho county gaol, perhaps a mile or so away.

Well, it certainly secmul ns plain as day to me that the unhappy wretch on whom Inspector Muggridgo had laid his fell grasp could easily have proved an alibi, had not that worthy officer continually interrupted him with : " Bettor keep all that for your examination, my (.rooJ fellow ; or it'll all bo brought up against you, my man, you know."

1 told him seriously, as noon as I could, in private, that the man he had arrested was no moro guilty than 1 was ; but ho simply smiled incredulously, and asked who elso could be (.ho culprit, as this was tho only really abandoned character of tho town, and it was plainly the work of eomo ono who know tho place.- " liosides," ho added, "it isn't very likely that anyone could beat me on my own ground, where I know everybody, you know ; and if he didn't do it, who did ?" With which really unan swerable argument ho accompanied mo to tho scono of tho robbery, where wo woro shown over tho promises by tho miatroes of tho house

When 1 saw tho ground-floor window by which access had been gained to the house, I quite agreed with the worthy " local " that it was tho work of a "now hand;' and that from tho fact that his footprints, wherever wo could traco them, showed no hesitation, but rather a thorough acquain tance with tho grounds, the culprit, who ever he was, must hovo had somo opportunity of visiting tho scene of operations, and probably lived somowhero in the neighbourhood. It soomed that tho thiof had entered tho house by a window in tho rear, and canied oil' a small box of valuables from tho room of the master of tho house, whn had been staying at a friend's on that night. Both tlioso facts showed an intimate knowlodgo of the premises on tho part of tho culprit, and tsrongthened our former belief. Wo were informed that tho lost casket—an ordinary tin cash-box—had been almost filled with various articles of jewellery, and therefore the loss was rather heavy. Of course tho knowledge that thoro would bo a good reward for tho recovery of tho missing property did not abate my zeal. Still, in .spite of my eagerness to discover the culprit, I could make but littlo of the case, and might even have come over to the opinion of tho "local," but for one very important fact, namely, the footpiints in the garden-bed wore all smaller than thoso of tho prisoner ! Now, although a man may wear boots several sizes too largo for him on occasion, yot he can hardly walk with comfort in shoos an inch or so too short.

Very much annoyed nt my want of success, mid dreading the chaff I would 1)0 sure to irat when, compelled to givo it up, 1 should return to town, 1 was not particu larly delighted next morning to sco Mr Muggridlo coming up the road to the house, accompanied by tho editor of the " Barrow town Weekly Banner," who haddctormined, he siiid, to write up the account of the robbery himself. But thero was noescapo ; and so, prepared for a host of questions, jj was walking slowly tomcot them, when my oyo was caught by something bright among tho bushes by tho roadside. Yes, thero could bo no doubt of it; thoro lay tho lost box, empty of couiso. Without stopping, however, 1 walked as calmly as possible on to tho inspector, and was introduced to Mr Shears, tho editor. It was simply won derful how obliging I hud become. I even, when Mr Muggridgo hinted that ho was pressed for timo, volunteered myself to give Mr Shears the information ho wished, and to go over tho premises with him. Once left alone with tliu zealous representative of the press, I gavo that gentleman| all tho points of llie caeu, and a few moro as you shall see.

The next forenoon, as soon as a copy of tho " Banner " came to tho house whore tho robbciy had occurred—l had for tho last two days spent from tho forenoon until dusk there—l turned to the ond of the column devoted to tho "Great Robbery," and read with a chuckle thoaniioiincement that " tho loss of tho jewels would be less felt had thcro not been between tho two bottoms of the box almost two hundred pounds in bank notes, of which, unfortunately, the numbers had not beon taken."

Probably the intelligent reader sees my plan ; but certainly 1 did not choose to ex plain it to Mr Muggridge, when, an hour later, that worthy but excitable gentleman rode, very hot and very red, up the shade less road, to complain of my having "made a confounded mess of the account, you know." I simply advised him to wait for a very fow days, and then 1 would be happy to explain everything.

That evening, n 3 usual, I left tho grounds at duck, after spending some of the day in watching—though apparently engaged in something else—whether anyone went near tho spot, a few hundred yards from tho prounds, where lay the box on which I especially depended as a bait to hook the thief. By walking slowly, I managed to let the shades of evening close around me before I was far beyond tho spot where I had made up my mind to watch and wait.

Eight! Nine! Were they never coming? and was my trap laid and baited in vain ? Ten ! Surely they should have come by this time. Still Was that a sound on the road ? Yes, and coming from the village too. There were evidently several of them, and I began to regret not having brought some help. Nearer they camo, laughing and talking, as I cautiously drew father back from the road. And now they wero opposite tho spot where tho box lay hid. But—what! They've gono by ; and in the hearty guffaw of the man farthest away of tho three, I rocognise Farmer Lobbiiiß, an honest follow, whose acquain tance I had made during my short stay. After this sell, I had almost given up, and was actually making up my mind to aban don the affair, when a faint sound from down tho road made mo crouch as low as possible once more. It was no hoax this timo.

A short thin man, whom I easily recog nised as a man-of-all work who had bern helping tho gardener that day, was creeping stealthily down the road, close to tho bushes. As soon as ho reached tho spot where the box had been thrown, ho lit a small lantern to aid him in his search. This time I felt sure ; and so, when the man blew out tho light, after securing the supposed treasure, the capture was made. "Oh ! why, yes," observed the worthy Mr Muggridge, who was in tho office when I brought in the prisoner that night, " I thought as much ; I've had my eye on that follow all along." The man made confession ; indeed, he was caught in the act, and could not deny it. The jewels were all recovered, and tho reward proved vory useful in helping me to marry and settle down quietly, when, one month later, I received my promotion.— "Chambers' Journal."

The Mysterious Man

Thkrk has always been a delicious air of romanco about a brigand. It has over seemed less offensive to havo one's eyes gouged out, nose slit, or ears chopped off by a dark-skinned person in black hair and romantic garments than to be garrotted by a British rogue in mere fustian. But it may be wagered that nothing so romantic appears in the chronicles of brigandage as is related in the memoirs of thoso two eminent Mexicans, Churcho el Poto and "the Mysterious Man," both now defunct in consequence of unpremeditated collision with military bullets. Churcho has thioved in every grade of the profession; nothing was too unclean for his un hallowed hands. After his death it came to knowledge that all his earnings were devoted to the education and maintenance of his daughter, a charming young lady of eighteen, who had no idea that the wealth she wallowed in was "borrowed" "The Mysterious Man," young, dashing, brave, beloved by the ragged rascals he commanded, was pre eminent for his cruelty and lust of blood. When the soldiers searched for the eight bullets that had entered his heart they dis covered that he was only a woman ]

BATTLE WITH A SHARK.

Fifty Bathers Pursued by a Fierce Mmv

Eater,

Heroic Rescue of a Young Man by a

Courageous Diver,

The Narrows, off Stapleton, 5.1., is a favourite bathing ground for young men and boys, who congregate there in largo numbers, especially on warm Sunday mornings, for the purpose of enjoying a cool and refreshing bath in the surf. Several narrow escapes from drowning have been recorded, and in one instance a life was lost by a young man diving from the old dock and striking his head on a hidden pile. The most thrilling episode of the bathing ground took place yesterday morning, and it is safe to predict that very few bathers will, in tho iuture, be seen horo. Though no lives were lost, the escape of at least one of tho bathers is nothing short of a miracle.

AN UNINVITED GUEST.

About fifty young men and boys were sporting in the cool water yesterday morn ing off tho old ferry dock, much to the delight of a large crowd of spectators who had gathered on the spot. Many of them had already been in the water, and were quietly watching their companions at their sport. Suddenly a voice rang out clear and shrill:

" Swim for your lives ! There's a shark ! There's a shark I"

With one accord the spectators and bathers looked seaward, and thero, sure enough, was seen a monster shark making towards a group of bathors, his whito fides glistening in tho sunlight, lie had not yot noticed tho bathers, but tho spasmodic efforts thoy made to get ashoro notified him of their prceonco, and ho turned and darted toward them.

Tho frightened bathers put forth every effort to reach shallow water, and were cheered and encoutaged by the shouts of their friends on shore. For a few moments it seemed as if all would reach a place of safety, as every man and boy lashed the water into foam in his desperate struggle for life.

One of the bathers, however, Thomas Koehler, had ventured far out beyond the rest, and did not hear tho first warning shouts of his friends. When he did turn for the shore, howevor, he was far in the rear. Ho mado a gallant struggle, but the shark got between him and the others, and his only chance of escape was cut off. The monster man-eater soon discovered that most of his anticipated prey would escape, and so turned and headed forKoekler. Tho spectators set up a wild cry of alarm as Koehlor suddenfy disappeared from view. As the shark approached him he dived, and continued swimming under water quito a distance. When ho came to tho surface he hod got on tho shoro side of his enemy, but was exhausted. His foe turned again, and this time darted toward him like an arrow, turning over on his back.

Koehlor's moments see Tied numbered

A NOBLE DEED WELL DONE

Among the spectators on the wharf was John Taylor, formerly in the employ of the Coast Wrecking Company, a man who ha« had groat experience as a diver and whose business hau made him somewhat familiar with sharks. Taylor took in the situation at a glance. Ho saw that tho young man's lifo was in danger, and that only prompt action would save him.

From a friend lie quickly borrowed a tailor's sheath-knife, and ran to the end of the pier whero the shark would have to pass in order to reach its \ictim. Ac the shark came near tho crowd saw that, it was a monster, eight feot long, of tho man eating typo.

Taylor is a largo man, of powerful frame and undaunted courage. As the shark ap piooched he .stood motionless on tho string piece, grasping the keen-edgo knifo in his right hand. As the monster swept past on his onward courao, and was just ready to grasp Koehler in his extended jaws, Taylor jumpod forward with tho knife extended in both hande.

NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON,

He jumped about fifteen feet before striking tho water and struck by the side of tho shark. His whole weight was thrown on tho knifo, which ho plunged into tho monster's stomach as ho darted past him. Instantly tho water was dyed with blood, and tho water was lashed into boiling foam for a fesv minutes, and Taylor was covered with crimson as ho rose to the surface. He had not been a moment too soon to save Koehlor, however. The shark made ono terrible plungo, raised itself half out of tho water, turned on its stomach, and disap peared from sight within threo feet of its intended victim.

Taylor swam ashore without tho knife, and was tho lion of tho hour, though he paid little heed to tho words of praise heaped upon him. In speaking about the matter to rur roporter, he said :

"I left the knife sticking in tho cuss. Tho carcase will bo found floating some whore in a couple of days. I havo seen tho natives down in Florida and Bermuda do that. It is a common trick there. \Vhen a shark turns on its back, which it has to do to bito anything, it cannot turn its course easily, becauso tho eyes are under. There is no danger so long as a man jumps behind tho head and does not get struck by tho tail. I cut a gash in that follow about one foot long, and six inches deep."—" New York Truth."

A Silver King's Daughter.

The announcement that Miss Eva Mackay, step-daughter of the famous Californian Silver King, has just been betrothed to an Italian noble, Prince Colonna, opens a curiouß train of thought to whoever loves to trace the rise and progress of great families. Miss Mackay is the stepdaughter of an ad venturous liijhman, who forty years ago was utterly unknown, except as a young labourer, full of onorgy, hard-headed re solute, and ambitious, yet with no prospect of becoming anything more than a farmer in tho Emerald Isle. Young Mackay, how ever, emigrated, and when the Californian gold discoveries drew fortune-hunters from all quarters, found his way to San Francisco. There he did not take much part in actual gold-digging; his instincts being com mercial, ho preferred to trade, and, like many other shrewd adventurers, found traffic easier and more profitable than hai'd, physical work. After several changes ho became owner of a drinking saloon, in which he rapidly accumulated capital. With this he was always on tho look-out for good bargains and safe investments. One of his favourite devices was to buy a share in a claim the othor owners of which had no capital, and then to "starve them out" until they relinquished all to him for a nominal sum ; when, applying his resources and shrewdness, ho again and again made large sums where others had gone off in despair. But all his successes were eclipsed by tho fortunate venture which made him chief owner of one particular spot. Mr James Fair, a mining engineer, was con vinced that this was, if properly explored, a veritable hill of silver. Nor was he alone in his opinion, for a strong company held it and persevered in a search which, however, had not proved remarkably productive. Fair contrived to draw Mackay into a partnership, with the object of securing the whole. They had to work cautiously, since their shrewdness was so well known that where they were seen to lead a crowd of speculators would always follow. How ever, they succeeded. After lengthened and ingenious financial scheming, which was, in spite of their caution, watched with general interest, Mackay, Fair, and two others secured almost all the shares— Mackay (it is reported, though the exact truth has never been disclosed) holdingone half. Then they set to work with a will. Ere long they found themselves masters of an almost pure and astoundingly extensive massof silver ore, morercmunerativethanthe richest gold mine ever opened. All the four wero millionaires—nay, trebly so and more. Not yet old and feeble, the Irishman who left his native shores a penniless youth is now richer than the richest European noble ; nor is his "pile " of that unsubstantial and transitory kind which some of us think a peculiarity of all great Transatlantic for tunes, but is solid ; and while presumably growing daily through tho fact that he cannot spend all his income, it is daily in creasing also by the unexhausted produc tiveness of the Bilver mountain. All things considered, probably no one now living, not the richest Rothschild, or even all the Koths childs together, could at a week's notice produce so much ready money as he can. It is this gentleman, without children of his own, whose step-daughter is to marry Prince Colonna. —" Liverpool Courier."

VERMUDYN'S FATE.

A "Palo of Halloween,

CHAPTER I.

A little knot of miners woro gathered round the fire in Pat Murphy's drinking saloon, situated in that delightful locality known to tho diggers as P»attlesnake Gulch. Thoy were listening «agerly to the dotails of a story related by Gentleman Jack, a mem ber of their fraternity who had recently vis ited San Francisco. Ho had gone there with tho two-fold with the object of having what was facetiously called n " tling1," jnst to relieve tho monotony of existence, and also with tho intention of exchanging the gold he had accumulated during tho past six months for notes and coin. He had likewise in some mysterious way contrived to get rid of the burden of his wealth, and now returned almost penny less to the bosom of his friends ; but this fact in nowise dim inished the cheerfulness with which the wanderer greeted his mates,or disturbed the equanimity with which he recounted hi 3 ad ventures since their last meeting. He had just ended his narration with the account of a curious discovery of which ho had hoard the details that morning on his way back to the Gulch.

" A mighty queer story, any how," ob served Pat, alias " Flash " Murphy, as he empt».:d his glass, "Mighty queer," repeated the chorus, following suit. "Spin out that yarn again, mate I" de manded a gentleman who rejoicod in the sobriquet of Old Griz/.ly. This personage had only entered tho "bar" in time to catch tlio concluding words of tho narra tive. "Lot's have it, .Jack !" ho repeated impatiently.

Tims invited or oncouragcd, tlio young man rejoined oai"olosnly :—" It was nothing much, only tlio finding of a man—all that was left of him at least—in v place tlicy call tho Devil's l'annikeu, when tliey wore blast ing tho rock for tho new railroad between Sandy Bar and 'Frisco " "I know the placo—travolled that road years afore thoy over thought of running cars through it," interposed Oil Grizzly. " But what about tho man V"

" Well, that's the queer part of the story ; not that they found a man, but that they should have found him where they did, and with co much gold on him, too," answered Gentleman Jack with his slow, languid drawl. " Say !" ejaculated Old Grizzly, who was listening with a curiously eager, \ excited face to the indifferent, careless utterances of the younger man. " Cut it short, mate, and tell us iiow they found him."

""Well, they were blasting a big rook, and as it broke it disclosed a cave right in the heart of the limestone ; but there must once have been an entrance to it, for the skeleton of a man lay there. Ail his clotl a had fallen to dust, but there was a ring on one finger, and about seventen ounces of gold lay in a little heap under him. It had evidently been in his pockets once, but the bag that held it and the skeleton's clothing were alike a heap of dry, light dust. Thero was nothing to identify him, nothing to show how long he'had been there. The very ring he wore was of such a queer, outland ish fashion that the fellows who found him could mako nothing of it."

"Was that all?" demanded the elder man.

"All that I can recollect. Stay ! I think ho had had a rusty knifo somo whero near him, but nothing more. It's a queer story altogether. How ho got there, if ho died in the cave, and by what means it was after ward closed up—theso are all mysteries."

Old Grizzly smoked in silence for somo time, and the miners had resumed the usual occupation of their ijlo hours, drink ing, smoking, playing poker and quarelling which amiable amusements had been mo mentarily suspended in order to welcome the return of the " wanderer" with due empressment, when suddenly the deep voice of Old Grizzly was heard above the babel of tongues, saying: "This story of Jack's about the Devil's Panniken and the man they found there puts mo in mind of what beft 1 mo &nd a mate of mine when wo were riding through that same place one October night hard upon twenty ago. His Satanic Majesty had a hand in that job, if ever he. had anything." " Spin us your yarn, old chap I" shouted a dozen voices : and passing the word for a fresh supply of whisky, they gathered closer round the log-tire, filled their pipes, and prepared to listen with the keen interest of men who lead an isolated and monotonous life far from the stir and life of big cities, and are, therefore, ever ready and eager to hail the smallest incident with pleasure; wliilo a good etory-tclloi' ie regarded with universal lvspect. Rattlesnake Gulch was at that period a comparatively new claim, on the very outskirts of civilisation, and news from the cities was long in reaching the denizens of this locality.

" What I am now going to tell you, boys, has never crossed my lips from that day to this, and most likely never would if I hadn't chanced to come along just now as Jack was speaking about the body those navvies found in the Devil's Panniken."

Being politely requested by his hearers to "shell it out," Old drizzly continued: " Whether you believo what I'm going to gay is no matter now. I believe it, though 1 can't understand how it all camo about. Well, as I said before, the timo was hard on twenty years ago, and tho night wag the last in October."

" Bcdad, and it's that same night now !" put in Murphy, " So it is !" acquiosced Old Grizzly ; "but I never thought of it till this minuto ; and now the whole thing comes round again on All-Halloween, of all nights in the year. Those of you boys who've been raised in tho old country will know what folks believe, in most villages and country placeß, of Hallow een, and tho strange things that happen then to men abroad at midnight, and to lads and lasses who try the Halloween spells for wives and husbands. "Sure, everybody knows them things," agreed Murphy, casting an uneasy glance over his shoulder.

" Well, true or false, I for one thought little enough of them when I was young; but, as luck or fate would have it, I rode through the Devil's Panniken on the 31st of October, that special night I am going to tell you of. I wasn't alono, eitheir; perhaps if I had been, I shouldn't have felt so jolly ; for, not to speak of the loneliness of the place, with its great black rocks towering up on either side of you, and almost shutting out the sky, except for a narrow strip over head, the place had an ill-name both with the Injuns and with miners. Many a queer tale was told round camp-fires, and folks said the place was haunted; that miners had lost their way there many a time, and had never been seen or heard of again.

'Td beon working all that Benson at a claim—a new un then, but worked out and forgotten now—which we used to call Cher okee Pick's, becauso a Cherokeo Injun first showsd us the place. There was porh-ips a dozen of us, all told; but L chummed and worked from the first along with a chap they called tho ' Flying Dutchman.' When we had boon together a goodish bit, lie told me his real name was Cornelius Vermudyn ; and I acquainted him with mino and whore I hailed from. lie was a Dutchman, sure enough, but had travelled half over the world, I used to think from his talk ; and he could speak as good English as you or me —or any here." A dubious smile hovered for an instant on Gentlemau Jack's lips at this naivo statement, but nobody observed him ; they were all intent on Old Grizzly and his yarn, and that worthy continuod : "Wo began to find our claim about cleaned out, and we—that's me and Vermudyn—reck> oned to make tracks before the winter, and get down 'Frisco way. Well, wo each had a good horse and a nice bit of gold, and we was sworn mates—como what might— so wo started, riding as far as we could by day, and camping out at night, if we weren't able to reach a settlement or dig gings by nightfall. " On this night it seemed as if we'd no luck from tho boginning. We lost our way for a goodish bit, and were somo timo find ing the track again ; after that, night seemed to come on us suddenly like. We'd rode and rode that day without ever a sign of man or beast, and when wo camo to this place, Vermudyn says: 'This must be tho famous Devil's Panniken, old boy.' I had been almost falling asleep on my horse's neck ; but I woke with a start, and answered all in a hurry :' Of course it is.' It seemed somehow as if I knew that place well, and I began to ride on quickly. "'Stop!' hollered Vermudyn, 'unless you want to lame your horso or break his knees among those rocks.' As he came up with me he put his hand on my arm, and I drew rein.

" ' Anyhow,' I said, ' let's get out of this, and then wo'll camp for the night. I'm as tired as a dog, and can hardly stick in my saddle.'

" • Why not camp here ?' said Vermudyn with a laugh. Who's afraid ?' "'l'm not—if that's what you mean, I answered ; ' but I'd rather camp outside. "'A good two miles of bad riding, said he, quietly. ' Why shouldn't we content ourselves with a snug corner of the rocks, where wo can shelter from the wind? As far as I can make out, there's brush and litter enough for a fire, and we've got a bait for our horses.' "While he talked and argued I grew more and more tired, exactly as »f I had

ridden a hundred miles without drawing rein. It seemed then as if I didn't care whnt camo next, so long as I could roll myself i p in my blanket and snooze, so I answari-J short enough: 'Have your own way. Tha place i 3 ours, I reckon, as much as it is other folks's.

"'The pixies and demons you mean,' laughed Vermudyn. ' I know all the miners' tales! never fear. I dave wager we shall see nothing worse than ourselves if wo stop for a month of Sundays. Did you ever hear,' he went on, ' of the White Witch of tho Panniken ? She should meet us here abouts, if all tales be true. She waits for lonely travellers, and shows them sold in the rock whore gold never was in daylight; and if a man is tempted, for the gold's sake or hers, to spend the night with her, he's never seen or hoard of in this world again. She feasts him with the sight of big nuggets and her own beauty, while she sucks his heart's blood like the vampire, and when his body is drained to the last drop, he is flung aside among the rocks or dropped in some dark gully; and she comes back to watch the road for a fresh prey." " ' I've heard of the White Witch many a time; but I never knew the rights of the story until now,' said I. ' But witch or no witch, we'll have to stop; the road grows harder, and my horse seems to stumble at every stop. It's so dark, too, I can hardly see my hand before my face ; yet it seemed almost daylight when we rode into the

gorge.' " ' The pair of us will be too many for the White Witch, anyhow,' said Vermudyn. 'Too much human society don't agree with her ghostly constitution.' " We had stopped together, and I was just going to get off my horse, when Ver miulyn pang out in a hurry : 'I sco a light! —thoro to tlio left. Let's ride up. We may linda party forced to camp out like ourselves : or they may bo Injuns ; and any company is better than none to-nifrht.'

"'Right enough,' says I, rubbing my eyes. ' There is a light, and a pretty strong one, too ; a steady light, mate, and not a will-o'-the-wisp. I never heard beforo of white man or Injun daring to camp in the Devil's Pamiiken.'

" 'Well, we must go up quietly till we can see our company,' said my mate. ' We don't want, to drop on a gang of freebooters, who'll ease us of the dust, and then leave us with a bullet through our heads as a parting gift.' "After this we rode forward in silence for what seemed a quarter of a mile ; but we went at a foot's pace on account of pick ing our way among the rocks that lay thick in the road. Then, as we turned a sharp corner, we saw all at once that the light came not from a camp-fire, but from a houRO !

"' Well,' says I, 'in all the years I've worked in these parts, man and boy, and tramped from claim to claim, I've never heard that there was a hut or shanty in this place.' "'Nor I, neither,' returns Vermudyn; ' but perhaps it's a new spec; though what folks could want with a house where there's neither gold to find nor land to farm is more than I can tell. AYe may thank our luck we've tumbled across it."

"He Jumped off his horse as we drew rein at the door of the queerest old house I ever saw. It was a tumbledown sort of a place, half stone, half wood ; and the wood work was fast going to decay, though we could see plainly enough that time and money had onea been spent over it.' The stone waa pretty rough, but the house was all pointed gablo ends and queer-shapod long windows. Tho high-peaked over-hang ing roof and the diamond panes reminded me of houses I'd seen in England when I was a young 'un. The pointed gables were faced with carved oak, and heavy oaken beauiß, black with age, formed the lramework of tho upper stories; while the spaces between were roughcast with shingle and plaster. The wicked est old faces were grinning and leer ing at us from the carvings above the win dows ; and we could see the whole place, every stick and stone about it, plain as day light. We had been riding in darknes3 through the Devil's Panniken, a darkness that grew blacker as we went on ; and the light from this bouse fairly dazed us at firit. Every window flamed as though there were jolly fires in each room, and hundreds of candles. The pk*ce seemed all aflame inside and out; the walls were as bright as if the moon|was shining her clearest and strongest full on the housts; yet," said Old Grizzly, dropping his voice impressively, "there was no moon at all that night! We stopped and looked at one another in wonder, and then stared at the house again. We could hear sounds inside now quite plain,men's voices, and women's too. t/gly sounds besides, that I couldn't understand; such howling and shrieking as though all Bedlam were let loose iuMiilu—wailing like eomo crooturo in pain, and roars ot mocking laughter. I turned deadly cold, and shivered as if it wero mid-winter.

"' For mercy's Bake let's get away from this madhouse—if it's not something worse !' said I. ' All's not. right here ; and I'd go afoot all night before I'd rest in that place.' " 'Nonsense!' returned Vermudyn in his impetuous way. 'I'm going in anyhow; and you'll atop to see fair play, I know.' " The upnhot of it was he seized my arm nnd led mo into the house, while a gypsy looking fellow came out for our horses after we'd unloaded our knapsacks and blankets. My gold was sewed in a belt round my body, and I determined to fight hard for dear life, if need be ; while I waa equally determined to see Vermudyn through the night's adventure, ac far as it lay in my power. "If the outside of the house was strange to us, the inside was still stranger. The furnituro appoared to bo hundreds of years old. The presses, chairs and tables were all of polished black oak, which reflected the light of many candles, while a big fire roared in the open fireplace, near which a tabla was laid for supper, and everything on it matched all we'd already seen. There weredrinking-horns mounted in silver, cups of the same, such a load of plate as I'd never seen in my life, and such as I was pratty certain belonged to no country inn in a wild dietrictiwere the only travelers were miners and the only natives Injuns. On the top of a carved press in one corner there was a fine show of bottles—long-necked, slender flaske, crusted over with age and cobwebs; and short, squat bottles that held Hollands and Kirschwasser, Vermudyn told me.

"Well, while we took stock of the room and its contents, there wasn't a soul to be seen,yot the noise and hubbub continued still around ua ; the clatter of a hundred voices rising and falling far and near like the wind ; laughter, screams andlowmoane, all together or following each other quickly. The longer I listened the less I liked it; yet, as I sat in the corner of the big chim ney I seemed to grow drowsy and stupid like, as if I had no power of my limbs or my voice. I think I couldn't have walked a dozen steps for a thousand pounds ; yet I could still hear and see all through a light mist that fell betwixt me and everything I looked at.

" Vermudyn didn't appear afraid or sur rised in the least; and the spell—l can call it nothing olse—that was over me had no eflect on nhn. Ho stood in front of the tire, warming his hands, and looking round him quite gaily and pleased with all ho saw. " ' Woke up, mate !' he called to me, ' we've fallen in luck's way this time.Eurely. You've no cause to fear. It seems to me that I must have been here a score of times before, I know the place so well, and yet—' he stopped for a minute and put his hand over his eyes—'and yet—it can't be! I know it. That press,'hejwent on, 'should hold the green suit.' And stepping across the room ho opened a worm-eaten cupboard in the far corner, and took out a suit of faded green velvet, the out of which re minded me of old picturssl'd seen at home ; and when Vexmudyn took them out and looked them over carefully, the whole thing struck mo so absurdly that I began to laugh like a maniac, though still I had no power to speak. I wanted to tell him ho would look like a tumbling mountebank at a fair if he rigged himself up in a velvet suit; but I enly laughed and noded at him silently from the chimney corner like some drivel ing old dotard. " However, he didn't put it on, but,, as if struck suddenly by another thought, threw it aside, and opened a cupboard near the fireplace. He smiled again. ' I knew it was here,' he said, softly, as he returned to the tire, and, stooping down, held some thing to the light. It was a little box of carved ivory, yellow with age, and strangely shaped ; but Vermudyn seemed as famiiiar ■ with it as he was with the rest of the won ders in that house, for he pressed a spring and the lid flew up, disclosing a sparkling chain made like a snake, with shining scales of beaten gold, that glistened m the was still looking at its twisted coils and muttering to himself, the door opened, and a troop of figures crowded into the room."

CHAPTER 11.

"Of the troop of figures who came flock ing into that strange and mysterious house, I observed that some of those behind held more lights, though the room was bright enough already, while the foremost carried dishes. But I had no eyes for the meat and drink they brought, or for anything but a girl in their midst; and it was just the

same with Vermudyn, I saw in an instant; only, while I was full of horror and a dread I couldn't shako oft'or overcome, Vormudyn felt no fear, so surprise; only an intense delight flushed his i'aco with joy, and his eyes glittered, as lie came forward eagerly to meet the girl, who, it seemed to me, was pale as death, with eyes that glowed like flame.

"I think I never saw so colourless :i creature to live find move—if, indeed, she did live. And her hair—redder, and yet more golden than the chain Vormudyn held —was coiled round her beautiful head in the same snaky folds. She never looked at me for an instant, but went straight to Ver mudyn, and putting both her hands in his, she said some words in a strange language that sounded like spoken music. It was the sweetest voice I ever heard, and the softest. He answered in the same tongue, laughing and clasping the hands she put in his. From that minute he fell under her spell, and had no eyes nor ears for anything save that strange white woman. "She poured out wine for him, and he drank it with feverish haste, still looking at her and holding her hand. I noticed, though, that he shuddered when she first touched him, as if her hands were icy cold; but he felt that no longer ; he was just mad like and stupid, as a bird is with a snake. He could only watch her with wild eyes that never left her face.

" The men and women who came in with this awful, beautiful creature were dark mostly, and reminded me of the gypsies I used to see when I was a boy at home in England. One of the girls, dressed in out landish clothes, embroidered in scarlet and gold, came up and offered me some wine— even held it to my lips—and the scent of it made me mad to laste. The girl's arm was close around my neck, and her wicked eyes, dry and bright as a toad's, were looking into mine with a mocking smile, as she sang a soft, strange song, like laughing and crying all in one. But I shut my teeth hard, and turning away my head, closed my eyes, determined to resist her with all the strength of my will so long as I was con scious. Even in that dreamy, bewildered state, I felt afraid of entirely losing my senses, and something seemed to tell me I was lost if I yielded for an instant. My tempter laughed then a loud hideous laugh, and flung down the cilvor cup she had offered me. The wine was spilt, and I fancied it turned to liquid flame as it touched the floor.

" Still I had no power to speak or move from my place, but I watched Vermudyn more eagerly than ever. The supper-table was pushed on one side; and the room was now filled with dancers, dancing fiercely and madly to a wild tune, like the song of the gypsy when she leaned over me with the poisoned wine. The tune rose louder and higher, and the dancers moved faster to keep time with the unearthly music—un earthly and wild, but so beautiful that I could have listened for ever, I thought. At times it sounded like the wind sighing through the aspens at night; then it rose to a roar like waves breaking on the beach in a storm. Yet, with all the changing sound, the roar of a storm, and the wailing of the wind—tears, and laughter, and pain—the music still kept time and tune, and the mad dance went on without a pause. "Foremost among them all were Ver mudyn and the woman in white with the glittering eyes and hair. He was holding her fast in his arms as they flew round ; her head lay on his shoulder, and his face was bent down over hers. But I could see, as I watched him, that he had grown almost aB white as the girl he held ; and now her great eyes blazed with such awful light, I shud dered to look at them ; while, as she danced and clasped Vermudyn, I fancied a tinge of colour came into her white lips, and her cheeks were a shade less deathly. " Still they danced, and still sh6 grew brighter and warmer, but not like a living woman yet. And Vermudyn, like a mere straw drifting round and round in a whirl pool, became weaker and fainter every minute, and his face now was something ghastly to see; but his eyes were still fixed on the girl, and he could see nothing and feel nothing besides. Her shining hair had got loosened in the dance, and seemed to be flying round them like thin golden flames as they moved.

" It was she now who held Vermudyn up and forced him still to dance. His arms were round her yet; but her strength alone sustained the fainting man. She flew round as easily as ever, her feet scarcely touching the ground. The noise grew furious and deafening—music and laughter, shouts and screams that made my blood run cold, with snatches of old song between, were all min gled together in one hideous, mighty roar.

" The faces of the men, or the two demons who took their shape, pot more fiendish as they danced ; when suddenly the dancers swept out of the room in a wild crowd, just as they had entered it, and in their midst Vermudyn, lying dead or senseless on the floor. I tried to move—to reach him some how at that desperate pass; but I couldn't stir a finger. I struggled to shout aloud— to call his name. I might have been dead for all tho help I could give him. : I had no power to speak or move.

" Directly that demoniacal crew left the room, the lights seemed to fade and the fire grow dim. Thick darkness fell over evory thing, and I could not see a ray of light from where I now lay like a helpless log. "I remembered nothing more until I opened my eyes in broad daylight, stiff and shivering with cold. I was lying at the entrance of a little cave among the rocks, wrapped in my_ blanket and close to the embers of a dying fire. My horse, I saw, was picketed not far from me.

" I was still in the Devil's Panniken, sure enough. I saw the road by which we had come lost night; but the place was strange to me ; these were not the rocks I had seen before, which surrounded the place where we had spent the night.

"We ? I was quite alone now, and broad awake ! The bouse and all else had van ished. As the recollections of the past night came crowding back, I sprang up and looked around in wonder. The house—the very room in which I'd been was so dis tinctly befere my mind's eye that I stood standing in amazement to find myself alone. No vestage of the house I've described to you, and no Vermudyn either. I told my self that I was clean mad. I searched for him in a sort of frantic hurry, and shouted his name, but heard only the echoes answer me.

" I tried to get further into the care at the mouth of which I'd been lying ; but I soon found the way closed by a big chunk of rock. There was no other outlet to the cnvo, and there was nothing to explain the mystery. There was no sign of vermudyn or his horse; that, no doubt, had strayed during the night. But where was he! And where, above all, had we two spent the night ? I was fairly stunned. I felt for my knife, my revolver. These, with my belt were safe enough. I had lost nothing. I was simply cold, hungry, and quite alone, save for my nag ; and "how glad I was of that companion I can't tell you ! He would be the meanß of getting me away from that awful place faster than my legs could carry me.

"I found a hunch of bread and come meat in my wallet; but I was soon too ex cited and wretched over Vermudyn's dis appearance to light a fire and boil some tea. As soon as I'd swallowed down my break fast, I mounted my horse, and rode back ward and forward for a good two hours, searching for the body, for I was clear in my own mind that my poor old mate was dead.

" Dead or alive, I hated to think of riding away and • leaving there in the Devil's Panniken. But it was no good, I hunted every hole and corner within a mile of the place—as near as? I could judge—where we had spent the night. At last I gave up the hopeless search—no signs ot Vermudyn anywhere; and before noon I had turned my horse's head away from the wretched place, and for the firat mile or so I rode so hard and fast that I began to blame my own folly in running away in broad daylight. From what, too ?

" Ay, there was the rub ! What was I riding away from ? and how had I escaped while Vennudyn was lost ? I was almost mad when I went over the past twenty-four hours. I couldn't believe my senses. All I'd seen and heard too ; and the only other witness was gone, vanished as completely as if he had been a specter or part of some nightmire dream! "I felt my brain reel as I passed mile after mile along the lonely road, till at Jast I began to wonder if the Vermudyn 1 thought I knew was ever a living man, or if he made a part of a long, hideous dream, which I thought I should never forget or get "But I couldn't cheat myself co; the man had written his name inside my pocket book, 'C. Vermudyn,' and had given me a ring he told me he once bought in an Eastern bazaar. I've worn the ring ever since in memory of him and that awful Halloween night. " Sure enough Vermudyn was no dream; but from that day to this his name has never crossed my lips; and nothing would induce me ever again to ride through the Devil's Panniken either by day or night. "-In my own mind, boys, it's as clear as daylight that the body found in that cave Gentleman Jack was telling you of a while since was neither more nor less than the skeleton of my poor old mate Vermudyn. I never thought to hear of his bones being found after all these years, poor old chap I nor of telling you to-night what happened

to us thafc Halloween in the Devil's Fan- 1 niken. I only hope he wasn't aliVo in thai 1 awful place !—alive, .and shoutfng for help, }.i 2 shutupthorealone, and hopelosain tho daik, y! while I was riding,away in sunshine and ji clear air ! —I'.-liaiv I" muttered the old'man/vsjfe " it's no good to think of that ..'now,;: anii?|S| talking's dry work. Another go, of whiflky,^«| The murmurs of . admiration^ fistonisn^S rnetif, and f.> bio doubt over this wondroua B story of Old drizzly's were arrested almost,.ife as they began, and eaoh man stopped'"** short, as a low, long laugh sounded-M through the room, and they then per-...y ceived what, being absorbed in ther 's§. " tale of mystery," they had been tooLpre?*|p occupied to notice, before—namely, thatii§H a stranger had entered the room some timeLi| during the progress of the narrative, 'and it off was he who dared to laugh ! All eyes were "« turned significantly and inquiringly upon ;;,• this presumptuous stranger, and one gentle^ 'JA man had gone so far as to deliver himself?! of the original remark that " lie calculated I ■>> to call that mighty cool," when the ne^viji comer advanced into the light of the flaring'ls :s kerosene lamp, and Old Grizzly sprang to fc his feet, speechless and aghast. "Well, old boy, don't you know mojjj now ?" asked the stranger. " Ani Iso Cati little like the Vermudyn you chummed with K| in Cherokee Dick's claim ?" "It's Halloween again," muttered the 9 other hoarsely, still delaying to take the1! proffered hand, "And. an unlucky night for me to turn ;,| up, after the t curvy trick I played you," i| laughed the stranger. "But look here, $ mate—if you kept my ring, I've kept yonre iWs and. I'm flesh and blood safe enough—no I spirit or demon, as you peein to fancy.". Old Grizzly grasped both his hands, look-' I ing long and earnestly in his face mean- H while. "It is Vermudyn !" ho at last : exclaimed. " Though how they found your R bones yonder in the Devil's Panniken, and "»< yet you're alivo and hearty here to-night, is E moro than Pat Murphy or any other Irish- || man could explain !" "I had better say at once that there'e | no mystery about this—this—gentleman's [ arrival to-night, at least, interposed Gentle- Vj! man Jack, "He is a chance companion ',",« and fellow-traveller of mine, and, like my-. . self, he hcils from 'Frisco last."

"As you seem to be in the humour for . • telling stories to-night, mates," observed , 1 the new-comer, perhaps it wouldn't be JM amiss if I explained to my friend here, in .'-' your presence, the truth of his strange j Halloween experiences on the night no ,-| parted company with me—or I with him— H whichever you prefer. .1$ "I told you once," said he, addressing t 1 himself to Old Grizzly, " I had travelled a great deal and spent some years in the '■ ! East; but I never .told how much. I I I had learnt of the manners and 8 customs of the " people ;i I lived - with; or that, among other diverting £ knowledge, I acquired the art of smoking and eating that extract of hemp known in , -J Eastern countries as ' hashish;' and no one j I save those who have been under its mar- J1 vellous influence can ever understand the I wonderful reality, of the illusions it ■pro-,*i£| duces—stronger and more powerful thanj;s| any opium in its effect, and less harmful to use. Years ago the drug was almost un- §■ known; to day there are 'hashish' eaters ; ,;| and smokers in most of the big cities of the [fl States. "At the time I'm speaking ot it was;'|i little known, and its effects scarcely under-,-;^ stood. I had taken it often enough myself,;;^ but some idle whim prompted me to try the.': jp result of a dose on my friend here, that sS special and memorable night of which he ■)% has just told you something. Well, I ad- ministered a biggish dose in a pill I gave, >| him for an aguish turn lie had, and after that, as we rode along y I let him have somet v j| tobacco, as his own was smoked B out, and this tobacco of mine con-;jij sisted almost entirely of the dried;';! hemp, the true ' hashish.' We had not rid-/ip| den a great way into the Devil's Panniken,':;:S talking, as we rode, of the bad reputation of the place, and the various legends concern ing it, when the drug began to take effect';||| on my old friend here, and be would have :|S fallen from his horse if I had not kept close beside him and supported him with ray arm. As matters were then, I decided to dismonnt |M and camp for the night. For myself, I'd i|S never been afraid of man or demon, and I a knew my companion could go no further; ' so I easily persuaded him to stop, though I several times he muttered something about " j riding on. " Well, I wrapped him in his blanket like ■» a baby, lighted him another pipe, just to . compose him, and set to work to make a . rousing fire, for the night was cold, and a ;:s keen frosty wind came sweeping down the fj ravine. He behaved strangely enough fot-.-^t some time, muttering and talking, wliilo I watched by him ; then by turns singing - and laughing, while he stared at me or tho . "J fire. Once or twice he struggled hard to jj get up; but by-and-by the hashish over- • powered him, and he slept soundly. I re- \\\ mained by him-the whole night, and thon ■ \ tried in the early dawn to awaken him,>aslfff wanted to push on. But he slept co heavily II that the idea occurred to me to rido off and <$ leave him to awako alone, thoroughly^Sß mystified between his hashish visions and ; |H tho loss of me. 1 ... ■■ ■.■c^jaS " It was a bad, mad sort of practical jokeg« but I was full of such follies in those early||i days. After I'd left him, I made -tracks for *3t the town wo'd determined to visit together,-j:|M and waited for him some days; but he neverj?jjST turned up; and then an uneasy fear that , :.! some harm had befallen my friend through my own folly got hold of me; and taking a S sudden distaste for a digger's life, I made my way to the nearest port, and went on ZS: board a ship just starting for Europe., and which, luckily for me, stood in need of an extra hand. " Since then I've lived a rovinglife on seflSl and chore, till fate landed me here tonight in time to listen to the account of my mys- f: terioua end, as it appeared to my worthy friend. I am sorry to spoil a good story,'* mate« ; but the pleasure two old chums ex-f perience in finding each other alive and hearty after so strange a ■ parting—twenty^ years ago — will, I hope, in some degrees| compensate for your disappointment in dis covering that the White Witch' of thbjijj Devil's Panniken had no hand in my fate after all."

"But," interrupted Gentleman Jack, "a'Sj skeleton with a ring on its finger was found recently in the cave." ■•'.■' "Quite possible," returned the new-.^ comer; "but I am happy to say it is not that of Cornelius Vermudyn."— Chambera's J, Journal. . ,'

INTERESTING RUINS.

Remarkable Pyramids Discovered in Sonora.

ANCiENTruins have recently been discovered I in Sonora, Mexico, says the New Orleans "Times-Democrat," which, if reports ares true, surpass anything of the kind yet; found on this continent. The ruins are ' said to be about four miles south-east ..of.-, Magdalena. There is one pyramid which » has a base of 1,350 feet, and rises tojfal height of 750 feet; there ia a winding road-":? way leading from the bottom up an eaxy'd grade to the top wide enough for carriages ;; to travel, said to be 25 miles in length ; the* outer walls on the roadway are laid in tsoll&'i masonry, huge blocks of granite, in nibble work, ai. 1 the circles as uniform and the^j grade as regular as could be made in these! days by our best engineers. The wall^isj only occasionally exposed, being coveredji over with debris and earth, and in many places the sahuaro and other indigenous plants have sprung up, giving the pyramid' the appearance of a mountain. To the east of the pyramid is a small mountain about the same size, and which vises to about the same height, and, if reports are true, will prove more interesting to the archaeologist than the pyramid. There eeems to be a heavy layer df,;£i species of gypsum about half way up the| mountain, which is as white as snow anjjp may be cut into any conceivable shape, ye^j sufficiently hard to retain its shape oftot| being cut. In this layer of stone a people^ of an unknown ago lave out hundreds upon ; liundredßofrooms from 6x 10 to 16x 18 feet, ? i square. These rooms are cut into they solid stono, and co oven and true are the ,;■? nails, floors and ceiling?, plumb and level * as to defy variation. There are no win--| dowa in tho rooms and but one entrance, '■s which is always from the top. The rooms.;; are about eight feet high from floor to> ceiling; the stone is co white that it seems '% transparent, and the rooms are not aA all" dark. On the walls of these rooms are'i numerous hieroglyphics and representa-1 tions of human forms, with hands and feet of human beings, cut in tho stone in differ-^ cnt places. But strange to say, the hands . have five fingers and a thumb, and the ) feet have six toe 8. Charcoal i * found on tbesj floors of many of the rooms, which woul<;l;| indicate that they built fires in their rooms.'' Stone implements of every description are to be found in and about the rooinsS The houses or rooms are one above the* other to three or four stories high; but bte; tween each story there is a jog or recess" thej full width of the room below, so that: they r present the. appearance of i large steps lead- • ing Up the mountain. ■•■■■■.■.

the auckland evening star thursday may a 42a1



DON'T DIE IN THE HOUSE.-- Bough on B»t« ---clean out rate. mica, beetles, roaches, bed-bugs, flies, ants, insect*, luolei, Jack-rabbits, gophen. , Keiujj&orue, Plow * Co., A|tut4, Auckljad,



iTiaWoRTnA Tkial.—"l was troubled for many years with kidney complaint, gravel, etc., my blood became thin, I waa dull and inactive could hardly crawl about, and was an old worn, out man all over, and could got nothing to help me until I got Hop Bitters, and now my blood and kidneys are aU right, and I am as active aj a man of thirty although I am seT"?^!?,^?^ I have bo doubt it will do as well for othora of my age. It ia worth ti>etrial"-<Fflther.> Nouoa,



' SKINNY MBN.-"WelI«ti Health KwurwefnwtOTei W.iiu •nil Tiionr, euro DyiuepsU, Impotence Debility. At 1).,,, tnl\ J """* JUnirUoro*Fnmw*Ca.,^atitA"4 i lw&-t£j