"HAND AND RING."

i# ti-z Anna Kathbrine Gkke.y, sihor of " The Lcavenworth Murder," " The *P Hwovd of Damodes," "The Dofenco I of tho Pnido," etc.

S^Kj CHAPTER XI. '%$, DECISION. '2 '' Who dares ' ■ MTu aiv I hat. he alono lins found tho truth, ; f IP - ' — LONGFELLOW. : : ;«e next morning Mr Ferris was startled •■\M the appearance in his office of Mr Byrd, ' pking wretchedly anxious and ill. f "Ihhvo come," said the detective, "to ■i ik you what you think of Mr Hildreth's !: rospects. Have you made up your mind | (have him arrested for this crime?" i "Yes," was tho reply. "The evidence I »ainst him is purely circumstantial, but I i is very strong ; and if no fresh develop j I lents ocour, I think there con be no doubt ' bout my duty. Each and every fact that ] somes to light only strengthens the case I igainst him. When he came to be exam- I nad last night, a ring was found on his per il 6on, which he acknowledged to have worn § on the day of tho murder. I •" Ho took it off during the inquest," iv murmured Mr Byrd ; "Isaw him." Is "It is said by Hickory—the somewhat | questionable cognomen of your fellow-de i fectivo from New York—that the young f tann manifested the most intense uneasiness I [luring the whole inquiry. That in fact I his attention was first drawn to him by the * many tokens which he gave of suppressed J and alarm. Indeed, Mr Hickory j ?at one time thought he should be obliged j fto speak to this stranger in order to prevent ! pa scene. Once Mr Hildreth got up as if to go, and indeed, if ho had been less hemmed [in by the crowd, there is every reason to be rlieve ho would hare attempted an escape." f "Ib this Hickory a man of good judg ment?" inquired Mr Byrd, anxiously.

; " Why, yes, I should say so. He seems (to understand his business. The way he us the testimony^ Mr Hildreth Jwas certainly satisfactory. "I wish that, without his knowing it, I could hear him give his opinion of this mat ter," intimated the other. "Well, you can," rejoined Mr Ferris, after a quick and comprehensive survey of Mr Byrd's countenance. "I am expecting him here any moment, and if you see fit to Bit down behind that screen, you can, with out tli a least difficulty to yourself or him, hear all he has to impart." "I will, then," the detective declared, a floomy frown suddenly corrugating his row; and he stepped across to the screen whioh had been indicated to him, and quietly withdrew from view. He had scarcely done this, when a short, quick step was heard at the door, and a wide awake voice called out, cheerily :

11 Are you alone, sir ?"

& "Ah I" ejaculated Mr Ferris, "come in, I come in. I have been awaiting you for "» some minutes," he declared, ignoring the J look which the man threw hastily around j the room. "Any news this morning ?" I "No," returned the other, in a tone of ' complete self-satisfaction. "We've caged the bird and mustn't expect much more in tho way of news. I'm on my way to Albany now, to pick up such facts about him as may be lying around there loose, and shall be ready to start lor Toledo any day next week that you may think proper." " You are, then, convinced that Mr Hil droth is undeniably the guilty party in this case?" esclaimed the District Attorney, taking a whiff at his cigar. " Convinced 1 That is a strong word, sir. A detectivo is never convinced, protested the man. "He leaves that for the judge and jury. But if you ask me if there is any doubt about the direction in which all the eircumstancial evidence in this case points, I must retort by asking you for a clue, or the tag-end of a clue, guiding me elsewhere. I know," ho went on, with the volubility of a man whose work is done, and who feels he has the right to a momentary indulgence in conversation, " that is not an agreeable thing to subject a gentleman like Mr Hil dreth to the shame of a public arrest. But facts are not partial, sir; and the gentle man hna no more rights in law than the eoareest fellow that we take up for batcher ' ing his mother. But you know all this with • out my telling you, and I only mention it to ■ excuse any obstinacy I may have manifested on the subject. He is mightily cut up about it," he again proceeded, as he found Mr Ferris forebore to reply. "I am told he didn't sleep a wink all night, but spent his time alternately in pacing the floor like a caged lion, and in a wild sort of stupor that -had something of the. hint of madness in it. 'If my grandfather had only known !' was the burden of his song ; _ and when any one approached him he either told them to keep their eyes off him, or else buried his face in his hands with an en treaty for them not. to disturb the last hours of a dying man. He evidently has no hope of escaping the indignity of arrest, and as soon as it was light enough for him to see, he asked for paper and pencil. They were brought him, and a man stood over him while ho wrote. It proved to be a letter to his sisters enjoining them to believe in his innocence, and wound up with what was very much like an attempt at a will. Al together, it looks as if.he meditated suicide, and wo have been very careful to take from him every possible means for his effecting his relersa in this way, as well as set a strict though secret watoh upon him." A slight noise took place hehind the screen, which at any other time Mr Hickory would have been the first to ootiee and in quire into. As it was, it only had the effect of unconsciously severing his, train of thought and starting him alertly to his

"Well," said ho, facing the District At torney, with cheerful vivacity, "any orders t" . ' '' "No," responded Mr Ferris. "A run down to Albany seems to be the bast thing for you at present. On your return we will consult again." "Very well, sir. I shall not be absent more than two days, and in the meantime you will let me know if anything important occurs?" Arid handing over his new ad dress, Hickory speedily took his leave. " Well, Byrd, what do you think of him!" Tor reply, Mr Byrd stepped forth and took his stand before the District Attorney. " Has CorOner Tredwell informed you," said he, " that the superintendent has left it to mv discretion to interfere in this matter if I thought that by so doing I could further the ends of justice ?" "Yes," was the language of the quick, ghorfe nod be received. ■"•■Very well," continued the other, "you 5iU pardon mo, then, if I ask you to convey to Mr Hildreth the following message: That if he is guiltless of this crime he need have no fear of the results of the arreat to which he may be subjected; that a man has interested himself in this matter who fledges his word not to rest till he has dis / covered tho guilty party and freed the inno cent from suspicion " •:•• " What!" cried Mr Ferns, astonished at •—the severe but determined bearing of the youn" man who, up to this time, he had only "seen under his lighter and more in different aspect. "You don't agree with this fellow, then, in his conclusions regard ing Mr Hildreth ?" " No, sir. Hickory, as I judge, is an egotist. Ho discovered Mr Hildreth and brought him to the notice of tho jury, there fore Sir Hildreth is guilty." "1 am open to doubt about it. Not that I would acknowledge it to anyone but you, air."

"Why?" • " Because if I work in this case at all, or make any efforts to follow up the clue which I believe myself to have received, it must be done secretly, and without raising the bus nicion of any one in this town. lam not in a position, as you know, to work openly, even if it were ainsable to do so* which it oertainlv is not. What Ido must be accom plished under cover, and Task you to help me in my polMmposed and by no means agreeable task, by trusting me to pursue my inauiries alone, until such time as I assure myself beyond a doubt that my own convic tions are just, and that the man who murdered Mrs Clemmens iai some one-en tirely separated from Mr HUdreth and any interests that he represents. ' "You are, then, going to take up this The answer given was short, but it meant the deliberate shivering of the fairest dream oflove that had ever visited Mr Byrd's imagination. "I am."

ISOUK 11. f The Weaving of a Web. CHAPTER XII. : .■-..-. THE SriDEK. ■li ' i "irhoifet-Wernnbefoiethowind." IktUeinterview whiiSh Mr Byrd hod/held 1 with' Miss Dai-e he had been 'conscious of omitting one test which' many another man "in Ha place would, have made. This was ■'the utterance of,the name of hini whom he ' '~&*\\y believed 'to b| the murderet'of^s

Olorameris. Had he spoken this name, had he allowed himself to breathe tho words " Crnilt Jlunsell" into tho ears of this agitated woman, or even gono so far'as to allude in the most careless way to tho widow's nephew, ho felt sure his daring would have been re warded-by somo expression on her part that would have given him a substantial basis for his theories to rest upon. But ho had too much natural chivalry for this. His feelings as a man got in tho way of his instinct as a detective. Neverthe less, he folt positive that his suspicions in regard to this nephew of Mrs Clemmens were correct, and set abeut the task of fitting facts to his theory, with all that settled and dogged determination which follows the pursuit of a stern duty unwill ingly embraced. Two points required instant settling. First, the truth or falsehood of his Blip position as to the identification of the per son confronted by Miss Dare in the Syra cuse depOt with tho young man described by Miss Firman as the nophew of Widow Clemmens. . Secondly, tho existence or non-existence of proof going to show tho presence of this person at or near the house of Mrs Clem mens during the time of tho assault. But before proceeding to satisfy himself in regard to these essentials, he went again to the widow's house and there spent an hour in a careful study of its inner and outer arrangements, with a view to the formation of a completo theory as to the manner and method of tho murder. He found that in default of believing Mr Ilil dreth the assailant, one supposition was positively necessary, and this was that the murdoror was in the house when this gentle man camo to it. A diagram of the house explained why. The house, as shown on the diagram, had but three entrances: the front door, at which Mr Hildreth unconsciously stood guard ; tho kitchen-door, also unconsciously guarded during the critical moment by the coming and going of the tramp through the yard ; and the dining-room door, which, though to all appearance free from the surveillance of any eyo, was so situated in reference to the clock at which the widow stood when attacked that it was manifestly impossible for anyone to enter it and cross tho room to tho hearth without attracting tho atten tion of her eye if not of her oar. To bo sure, there was the bare possibility of his having come in by the kitchen-door, after the doparturo of the tramp, but such a contingency was scarcely worth considering. The almost certain conclusion was that he had been in the house for somo time, and was either in tho dining-room when Mrs Clom mens returned to it from her interview with Mr Hildroth, or else came down to it from tho floor above by moans of the staircase that so strangely descended into that very Another point looked equally clear. The escape of the murderer—still in default of considering Mr Hildreth as such—must havo been by means of one of the. back doors, and must have been in tho diroction of the woods. To be sure there was a stretch of uneven and marshy ground to be travelled over before the shelter of tho trees could bo reached ; but a porson driven by fear could, at a pinch, travel it in five minutes or lesa ; and a momentary calculation on the part of Mr Byrd sufficed to show him that more time than this had elapsed from the prob able instant of the assauit to tho moment when Mr Ferris opened the sido door nnd looked out upon the swamp. The dearth of dwellings on the left-hand side of the street, and, consequently, the comparative immunity from observation which was given to that portion of the house which overlooked the swamp, made him conclude that this outlet from the dining room had been the one made use of in the murderer's flight. A glance down the yard to the broken fence that soparated the widow's land from the boggy fields beyond only tended to increase tho probabilities of this supposition, and, alert to gain for him self that full knowledge of the situation necessary to a successful conduct of this mysterious affair, he hastily left the house and started across the swamp, with the idea of penetrating the woods and discovering for himself what opportunity they afforded for concealment or escape. He had moro difficulty in doing this than he expected. The ground about the hillocks was half-sunk in water, and the least slip to one side invariably precipitated him among the brambles that encumbered this spot. Still, he compassed his task in little more than five minutes, arriving at the firm ground, and its sturdy growth of beeches and maples, well covered with mud, but so far thoroughly satisfied with the re sult of his efforts.

The next thing to be done was to search the woods, not for tho purpose of picking up clues—it was too late for that—but to determine what sort of a refuge they afforded, and whether, in the event of a man's desiring to ponetrato them quickly, many impediments would arise in tho shape of tangled underground or loose-lying stones. Ho found them remarkably clear; so much so, indeed, that ho travelled for some dis tance into their midst before he realised that he had passed beyond their borders. More than this, he camo ere long upon some thing like a path, and, following it, emerged into a sort of glade, where, backed up against a high rock, stood a small and seemingly deßerted hut. It was the first object ha had met with that in any way suggested the possible presence of man, and advancing to it with cautious steps, he looked into its open doorway. Nothing met his eyes but an empty interior,. and without pausing to bestow upon the building a further thought, he hurried on through a path he saw opening beyond it, till he came to the end of the wood.

Stepping forth, he pausod in astonish ment. Instead of having penetrated the woods in a direct line, he found that ho had merely described a half circle through them and now stood on a highway leading di rectly back"into the town. Likewise, he was in full sight of tho terminus of a line of horse-cars that con nected this remote region of Sibley with its business proportion, and though distant a good mile from the railway dflpot, was, to all intents and purposes, as near that means of escape as he would have been in the street in front of Widow Clemmens's house.

Full of theughts and inly wondering over the fatality that had confined the attention of the authorities to the approaches afforded by the lane, to the utter exclusion of this more circuitous but certainly more elusive road of escape, he entered upon the high way, and proceeded to gain the hor»e-car he saw standing at the head of the road a few rods away. As he did so, ho for the first time realised just where he was. The ele gant villa of Professor Darling rising before him on the ridge that ran along on the right-hand side of the road, made it at once evident that he was on the borders of that choice and aristocratic quarter known as the West Side. It was a new region to him, and, pausing for a moment, he cast his eyes over the scene which lay stretched out before him. He had frequently heard it said that the view commanded by the houEcsoii the ridgewas thefinestin the town, and he was not disappointed in it. As he looked across the verdant basin of marshy ground around which the road curved like a horseshoe, he could see the city spread out like a map before him. So unobstructed, indeed, was the view he had of its various streets and buildings, that he thought he could even- detect, amid the tailor and more conspicuous dwellings, the humble walls and newly shingled roof of the widow's cottage. But he could not be sure of this; his eye- j sight was anything but trustworthy for I long distances, and hurrying forward to the | car, he took his seat just as it was about to start. It carried him straight into town, and came to a standstill not ten feet from the I railroad dep6t. As he left it and betook ' himself back to his hotel, he gave to his thoughts a distinct though inward expres sion. "If," he mused, "my suppositions in re- t gard to this.matter. are true,, and another j man .than Mr Hildreth struck the fatal blow i then I* have just 'travelled over thcr seft samo route hßtookirf his flight." ! But were hia suppositions true ? It re- f mained for him to determine. CHAPTER XIII. ' '■''-'' ■■■>' THB FLY. ■ .'■ j like, but oh I how different. ; Wordswoutii. i The paper mill of Harrison, Goodman, & Chamberlain was situated in one ©f the main thoroughfares in Buffalo. It was a large but otherwise unpretentious building, and gave employment to avast number of operatives, '.mostly'female. Some of these latter might have beeli sur prised, and possibly a little fluttered, one evening, at seeing a well-dressed young gentleman standing at the gate as they came forth, gazing with languid interest from one face to another, as if he were on the look-out for some one of their number. But they would have been yet more astonished could they have seen him still lingering after the last one had passed, watching with unabated patience the open ing and shutting of the small side door de , Voted to the. use of the firm and such em ployes aa had seats in the office. It waa Mr Byrtf, and his purpose there at this time of day was to age1 and.review the whole rank and file of the yqtin^men employed in the place, in the hope of being able to identify

tho nephew of Mrs Glemincns by Mb sup- I'osed resomblanct to tho person whose character of faoe anil form liad beon so minutely described *o him. For Mr Byrd was a just man and a thoughtful one, and knowing his identifica tion to bo tho key-stone of his lately formed theory, desired it to bo comploto and of no doubtful character. Ho accordingly held fast to his position, watching and waiting, seemingly in vain, for the dark, powerful face and tho sturdily-built frnrao of the gentleman Whoso likeness he had attempted to draw in conjunction with that of Miss Daro. But, though lie saw many men of all sorts and kinds issue from one door or another of this vast building, not one of them struck him with that.sadden and unmistak able sense of familiarity which he had a right to expect, and ho was just beginning to doubt if the whole framework of his elaborately-formod theory was not destined to fall into ruins, when the small door alroady alluded to opened once moro, and a couple of gentlemen came out. Tho appearanco of one of them gave Mr Byrd a start. He was young, powerfully built, wore a largo mustache, and had a com plexion of unusual swarthiness. There wa3 character, too, in his face, though not so much as Mr Byrd had expected to see in the nephew of Mrs Clemmens. Still, people differ about degrees of expression, and to his informant this face might have appeared strong. Ho was dressed in a business suit, and was without an overcoat—two facts that made it difficult for Mr Byrd to get any assistance from the cut and colour of his clothes.

"ut there was enough in tho general stylo and bearing of this porson to make Mr Byrd anxious to know his name. He, thereforo, took it upon himself to follow him—a proceeding which brought him to the corner just in tinio to see tho two gentlo men soparate, and the especial one in whom he was interested step into a car.

Ho succeeded in getting a seat in the same car, and for somo blocks had tho pleasure of watching tho back of the sup posod Mansell, as he stood on the front platform with the driver. Then others got in and tho detective's view was obstructed, and presently—ho nover could tell how it was—ho lost track of the porson ho was shadowing, and whon tho chance camo for another sight of the driver and platform, the young man was gone.

Annoyed beyond expression, Mr Byid went to a hotel, and next day sent to tho mill and procured tho address of Mr Man sell. Going to the placo named ho found it to bo a very respectable boarding-hoiine, and, chancing upon a time when more or less of tho rooms woro empty, succeeded in procuring for himself an apartment thoi-o. So hero ho was a tixturo in the houso sup eosod by him to hold the murderer of Mrs lommens. When the time for dinner camo, and with it an opportunity for set tling tho vexed question of Mr Mansell'* idontity not only with tho man in tho Syra cuse dopot, but with tho parson who had eluded his pursuit the day before, some thing of tho excitement of tho hunter in view of his camo seized upon this hitherto imperturbable detectivo, and it was with dilliculty ho could sustain his usual role of fashionable indifference.

Ho arrivod at the toblo before any of the other boarders, and presently a goodly array of'amiable matrons, old and young gentlomen, andprotty girls came filing into tho room, and' finally—yes, finally—the gentleman whom he had followod from the mill the day before, and whom he now hud no hesitation in fixing upon as Mr Man sell.

But the satisfaction occasioned by tho settlement of this perplexing question was dampened somewhat by a suddon and un easy sense of being himself at a disadvantage. Why he should feel thus he did not know. Perhaps the almost imperceptible change which took place in that gentleman's face as their eyes first mot may have caused the unlookod-for sensation; though why Mr Mansell should change at the sight of one who must havo boon a perfoot stranger to him was more than Mr Byrd could under stand. It was enough that tho latter felt ho had made a mistako in not having donned a disguise before entering this house, and that, ojjprossod by tho idea, he withdrew his attention from the man ho had come to watch, and fixed it upon more immediate and personal matters.

The meal was half over. Mr Byrd, who, as a stranger of more than ordinary good looks and prepossessing manners, had been placed by tho obliging landlady between hor own danghtor and a lady of doubtful at tractions, was endeavouring to improve his advantages and moke himself as agreeable ac possible to both of his neighbours, whonhe heard a lady near him say aloud,' 'You are late, Mr Mansoli," and, looking up in his amazo ment, saw entering tho door Well, in tho presence of tho real owner of this name, ho vrondered lie ever could havo fixed upon tho other man as tho original of the person that hod boon described to him. The strong face, tho sombro expression, the herculoin frame, woro unique, and in Hk> comparison which thuy inovitably called forth, made all other men in tho room look dwarfed if not actually commonplace. Greatly surprised at this now turn of affairs, and satisfied that he at last had be fore him tho man who had confronted Miss Dare in the Syracuse depot, he turned his attention back to the ladies. Ho, howovor, took care to keep one ear open on the side of the new-comer, in the hope of gleaning from his style and manner of conversation some notion of his disposition and nature.

But Craik Mansell was at no time a talkative man, and at this especial period of his career was loss inclined than ever to enter into the trivial debates or good natured reparteo that was the staple of con versation at Mrs Hart's table.

So Mr Byrd's wishes in this regard wore foiled. Ho succeeded; however, in assur ing himself by a square look Into the othor's face that, to whatever temptation this man may have succumbed, or of what ever crime he may have been guilty, ho was by nature neither cold, cruel, nor treacherous, and that the deadly blow, if dealt by him, was the offspring of some sudden impulse or violent ebullition of tem per, and was being repented of with every breath he drew.

But this discovery, though it modified Mr Byrd's own sense of personal revolt against the man, could not influence him in the discharge of hia duty, which was to save another of less interesting and perhaps less valuable traits oi character from the conse quences of a crime he bad never committed. It was, therefore, no more than jußt that, upon withdrawing from the table, he should endeavour to put himself in the way of settling that second question, upon 'whose answer in the affirmative depended the rightful establishment of his secret sus picions.

That was, whether this young man was at or near the house of his aunt at the time when she waa assaulted.

Mrs Hart'a parlours were always thrown open to her boarders in the evening.

There, at any time from seven to ten, you might meet a merry crowd of young people intent upon enjoying themselves, and usually highly successful in their endeavours to do so. Into this throng Mr Byrd ac cordingly insinuated himself, and being of the sort to win instant social recognition, soon found he had but to make his choice in order to win for himself that tete-a-tete con versation from which he hoped so much, He consequently surveyed tho company with a critical eye, and soon made up his mind as to which lady was tho most affable in her manners and tho least likely to meet his advances with haughty reserve, and having won an introduction to her, sat down at her side with the stein determina tion of making her talk about Mr Mansell.

" You have a very charming company here," he remarked ; " the house seems to be filled with a mo3t cheerful class of people." " Yes," was the not-unlooked-for reply. Wo are all merry enough if we except Mr Mansell. But, of course, there is excuse for him. No one expects him to join in our sports." "Mr Mansell ? the gentleman who came in late for supper?" repeated Mr Byrd, with no suggestion of the secret satisfaction he felt at tho immediate euccess of his scheme.

" Yes, he is in great trouble, you know; is the nephew of the woman who was killed a few days ago at Sibley, don't you re member ? The widow lady who was struck on the hoad by a man of the name of Hil dreth, and who died after uttering some thing about a ring, supposed by many to be an attempt on her part to describe the murderer ?"

"Yes," was the slow, almost languid re eponse ; " and a dreadful thing, too ; quite horrifying in its nature. And so this Mr Mansell is her nephew ?" he suggestively repeated. "Odd! I suppose he has told you all about the affair J"

" He 1 Mercy ! I don't suppose you could get him to say anything about it to save your life. He isn't of the talking sort. Be sides, I don't believe he knows any more about itthan you or I. Ho hasn't been to Sibley."

" Didn't he go to the funeral ?" " No; he said he waa too ill; and indeed he was shut upone whole day with a terrible sore throat. He is the heir, too, of all her Bayings, they say; but he won't go to Sibley. Some folks think it is queer, but I " Here her eyes wandered and her almost serious look vanished into a somewhat coquettish smile. Following her gaze with his own, Mr Byrd perceived a gentleman

approaching. It was the ono ho hud first taken for Air Mansoll. " Seg pardon," was tho nomowhat nbrupt salutation with which this person advanced. ' " But thoy are proposing a gamo in the next room, and Miss Clayton'* assistance i* considered absolutoly indißpouuable." "Mr Hrown, first allow me to mako you acquainted with Mr Byrd," said tho light hearted damsel, with a gracious inclination. " As you aro botli strangers, it is voll foi you to know oach other, especially aa I ox peotyou to join in our guinea." if I " Thank you," protested Mr Brown, " but I don't play games." Then sooing thodoo) bow of acquiosenco which Mr Byrd wai making, added, with what appeared to b< a touch of jealousy, " Kxcopt under strong provocation," and holding out hia arm, ofterod to escort tho young lady into tin next room. With an apologotie glanco at Mr Byre 1, sho accepted tho attention proffered hoi. and speedily vanished into tho midst of tin laughing group that awaited her. Mr Byrd found himself alouo. " Cheque number ono," thought ho : ami ho bostowed anything but an amiabh benodiotion upon tho man who had inter ruptod him in tho midst of so promising n conversation. His next move was in tho direction of the landladj's daughter, who, being somowhai shy, favoured a retired nook uohind tht piano. They had been neighbours at tablo and he could at once address her without fear of seeming obtrusive. "I do not see hero tho dark younp gentleman whom you call Mr Mansell I" hi remarked, inquiringly. "Oh, no ;heis in trouble. A noar rela tive of his was murdered in cold blood thi other day, and under the moat aggravating circumstances, Haven't you heard about it ? Sho was a Mrs Clemmens, and lived in Sibley. It was in all tho papers." " Ah, yes ; I remember about it verj well. And so he is her nophew," ho went on, recklessly repeating himsolf in his de termination to elicit all no could from these young and thoughtless misses. "A peculiar looking young man; has the air oi thoroughly understanding himsolf." " Ye», he is very smart, thoy say." " Doeß he never talk ?" "Oh, yes ; that is, he used to ; but since his aunt's death we don't expect it. Ho in very much interested in machinery, and ha? invented something " "Oh, Clara,, you are not going to sit hero,'' interposed tho reproachful voice of a saucy eyed maiden, who at this moment peopec around the corner of the piano. "Wo want all the recruits wo can got," sho cried, with a sudden blush, as sho encountered tht glance of Mr Byrd. "Do come, and bring the gentleman too." And she slipped away to join that very Mr Brown who, Dy his im portunities, had been the occasion of the former interruption from which Mr Byrd had suffored. "That man and I will quarrel yet," was tho mental exclamation with which the detectivo rose. "Shall wo join your friends ?" asked he, assuming an unconcern he was far from feeling. " Yes, if you please," was the some what timid, though evidently pleased reply. And Mr Byrd noted down in his own mind cheque number two. The gamo was a protracted ono. Twice did he think to escape from tho merry crowd he had entered, and twieo did he fail to do so. The indefatigable Brown would not let him slip, and it was only by a posi tive exertion of his will that ho finally suc ceeded in' withdrawing himself.

"I wish to have a word with your mother," ho explained, in roply to the look of protest with which Miss Hart honoured his departure. "I hear she rotiros early; so you will excuse me if I leave somewhat abruptly." And to Mrs Hart's apartment ho at once proceeded, and, by dint of his easy assur ance, soon succeeded in leading her, as ho had already done tho rest, into a discussion of the one topic for which he had an interest. Ho had not time, however, to glean much from her, for just as she was making the admission that Mr Mansell had not been home at tho time of tho murder, a knock was heard at the door, and, with an affable bow and a Bhort, quick stare of sur prise at Mr Byrd, the übiquitous Mr Brown stepped in and took a soat on the sofa, with every appearance of intending to make a call. .

At this third check, Mr E-yrd was moro than annoyed. Rising, however, With the most amiable courtesy, he bowed his ac j knowledgments to the landlady, and, with out heeding her pressing invitation to re main and make the acquaintance of Mr Brown, left the room and betook himself back to the parlours. He was just one minute too late. The last of the boarders had gone up-stairs, and only an empty room met his eyes. He at once ascended to his own apart ment. It was on the fourth floor. There were many other rooms on this floor, and for a moment he could not remember which was his own door. At last, however, he felt sure it was the third one from the Btairs, and, going to it, gave a. short knock in case of mistake, and hearing no reply, opened it and went in. The first glance assured him that his re collection bad played him false, and that he was in the wrong room. The second, that he was in that of Mr Mansell. The sight of the small model of a delicate and intricate machine that stood in full view on a table before him would have been sufficient as surance of this fact, even if the inventor himself had been absent. But he was there. Seated at a table, with his back to the door, and his. head bowed forward oh'

his nniis, ho presented.such ft picture pf mteory or despair that Mr Byrd felt hU sympathies touched in spite of himself, and hastily stumbling backward, was about to confuKodly withdraw, when a doubt struck Uim as to tho condition of the deathly still and somowhnt pallid tiguro beforo him, and stepping hurriedly forward ho spoko the young man's name, and, failing to olict o response, laid his haTStl on his "shoulder, with an apology for disturbing him, and an inquiry tat to ligtf\ ho folt. ; "' »* Tho touch acted where tho voico had failed. Leaping from hia partly rocumboni position, Craik Mansoll faced tho intruder with indignant inquiry written in lino of hi* white anil determined faco.'Jd "To what do I owo this intrusion?" he cried, his nostrils expanding and contract ing with an angor that proved tho violence of nis nature when aroused. "First to my carelessness," responded Mr liyrd ; anil, secondly— " But thoio ho paused, for tho first time in his life, porhaps, absolutely robbed ol speech. Ilia oyo had fallen upon n picture that tho other hold clutched in his vigorous right hand. It was n photograph of Imogeno Daro, and it waf rnndo conspicuous by two heavy black line? which had been relentlessly drawn across the face in tho form of a cross. " Secondly," ht went on, after a moment, resolutely tearing his gaze away from this startling and sug gostive object, "to my /ears. I thought you looked ill, and could not forbear making an effort to reassuro myself that all was right." "Thank you," ojaculatod. the other, in a heavy weariful tono. "I am perfectly well." And with a short how ho partially turned his back, with a distinct intimation that ho desired to bo left atono.

Mr Byrd could not resist this appeal. Glad as ho would havo been for oven a moment's conversation with this man, he was, perhaps unfortunately, too much of a gentleman to press himself forward against tho oxpreesod wishes even of a suspected criminal. Ho accordingly withdrew to the door, and was about to open it and go out, when it was flung violently forward, and the over-obtrusive Brown stepped in. This second intrusion was more than un happy Mr Mansell could stand. . Striding passionately forward, lie me| the unblush ing Brown at full tilt, and angrily pointing to the door, asked if it was not the custom of gentlemen to knock before entering the room of strangers. " I beg pardon," said tho other, baoking across the throshold. with a profuse display of confusion. " I,had no idea of ita being a stranger's room. t I thought it was my own. I—l was sure that my door was the third from the stairs. Excuse mo, excuse me." And he bustled noisily out. This precise reproduction of his own train of thought and action confounded Mr Byrd. Turning with a deprecatory glance to-the porploxed and angry occupant of the room, he said something about not knowing the person who had just loft them,; and thon, conscious that a further contemplation' of the stern and Buffering countenance before him would unnerve him for the duty ho had to perform, hurriedly withdrew. (To be Continued.)

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTVKON.)

Tnrc Woßt End Rowing Club promises to be a suocoss, and will no doubt consider ably increase the amount of interest taken in aquatics in that populous locality. The "Kangaroo" is tho name of a new speeded safety bicycle with rotary action. It is curious what an objection 'cyclists al ways have against riding this class of bi cycle. I have not seen even ono in Sydrioy, although the character of the roads is just that for which machines of the "faoilo" type are claimed to be speoially adapted. According to tho Sydney "Bulletin,!1 Hanlan pulls in an entirely different style to any of the Australian scullers. His seat is fixed higher in the boat,[which gives him, when afloat, thoanpearancoof being a touch ' bigger man than lio really is, and if Haulan pulls correctly—and this there is not much doubt of—Laycock, in common. with our other scullers, sits too low in his boat, pulls with too long astretchor—which he_ ia com pelled to do sittingsct low^rgets his power on at the wrong time, and finishes before the stroko is pulled out, as; fitted as he is, his hands would not clear his body were he to finish as Hanlari does. < Before arrival of tho New Zealand Foot ballers in Sydney "tho '' Bulletin "oh May' 31 wrote as follows, and was evidently pretty near the mark:—"The football people were knocked all of a heap when tho ! composition of the team to meet the New Zoalanders was first made known, and the' general opinion is tnat, unless some altera tion ia made, the Maoris will walk rough-: shod over the Welshmen. How, in tho j name of thunder, such players as H. Fligg, Graham, Shaw, and Wade were left out, is beyond us. ■ H; Fligg is, without doubt, i one of the best quartor-backs New South Wales can boast of, and as the final pick does not take place till this (Thursday) evening, it is to be hoped the selection com mittee will overlook every other considera tion except theplaying qualities of the men, in wliioh case we feel no doubt that Harry Fligg will figure in the field next Saturday. Fligg, when playing against King's. Sohool, got through twice and obtained tries—no small performance against such'a well trained and disciplined team." Professor Miller is laid.up with a sore foot, and it is said ho will not bs firmly set ' en his foot again for at least a month,

THE GARDEN.

Calendar of Operations, June 7.

I flonTira la willing to answor any quoriou. Cor respondents must givo their full names and addresses, though not for publication.)! ft t

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

QkowiHci Oniokb khom Bkkd ("Onion, Grow ing," Mount EdenK—ln crowing 'onions there is nlwayß sure to boa certain proportion of thrtn th«ok in the- neck, but thowunber of thick-necked ones in your lot is oul of all proportion. You must liavo obtained a bad lot of noed. I would advise you, in future, to t'erow your soed. ■' Choose out tho fluent and Übent shaped onions of last Benson 8 growth, Splant them out early this season, ami save Kho socd from thorn. Tho best bulbs will ■ulvo you far better seed and inoroot it than •inferior bulbs. Occasionally purchoaoafow I jpounds of bulbs from someacquaintancc who Mha.B irrown his onions on alluvial soil, as yours fis volcanic You sow about the proper season. Wo could not blame your seedsman, 08 be Tnsually has to depend on hia grower, and somij of them ure very caroloss In what stock they retain for seed. MULCHiNf) Tkkes (W.8.P., Ponßonbyl.-Ho movu the mulching at any time, or better, dig it into tho ground, it will act as manure Mulching dining tho summer is usually done Ewith tho object of longer retaining the moisturo in tiic K>ll. During dry weather, after the Jlrst hoavy autumn rains, it should be due into the ground. It is a Rood sign that your roots are near tho surface. Surface root* are always boticr for tho production of good crops of fruit. 2. I could not recommend you to sow any annual to act as a mulch. Those would have tho oll'uct of extracting nioisturo and substance from the soil whloh the trocs ought to obtain, whereas mulching with litter retains moisturo and adds to tho •■nb smnoe ot tho Boil, espooiolly if dug in evory autumn.

Pruning Old FacrrTßßKa (J.A., Doronport). —I would not advise you to cut your trees hard baak all at once ; such treatment would only produce a r»nk growth. The beat way Is, only the first year to thin out all branches that crosß each other, or that are too thiok for iho proper admission of air : trying to produco a frosh or now growth noar tho bottom of the treo. and (is the growth advances, fcut the old limbs to Rive it room. I do uot know which Is tho"greatest evil, allowing tho tree to be continually neglected, or trying to romody the neglect by severe pruning (there aro exemp tions whore you want to grow timber instead of fruit). Tho romody like the evil must be applied gradually, whero young trees are unfruitful through over - luxuriant growth, root-pruning will assist to bring them into a fruit-bearing Bt&to sooner. SEDrMMJT fbom DRAINS ("Manure." Avondale). —Allsedimont from a drain ought at once to be put into the rot heap, so that what ammonia lodged in themud may bo distributed through out tho rubbish, rathor than evaporated in the »ir by ■ being left exposed till wanted for manure. The abovo makes a capital addition to the manure heap, but I would like to add that any substance which will rot in a reason - able time will also bo a vnluablo addition to the manure heap. I believe in applying manures. Look to quaotfty, if 'possible, not only craallty.

Kitchen Garden.

The season is getting far advanced for very extensive operations in this depart ment. Stiff, heavy clay soils are now beat loft alono for the wintor, unless after a fow fine days it can be roughly dug. On warm dry soils operations can still be carried on in suitablo weather. Seloot such ground as may be required for the onion crop next soason. Have it roughly dug, putting in plenty of ■well-rotted manure during tho operation ; the ground dug now will make it nice and mellow by August for sowing tho main crop. Sow another patch of cabbage and cauliflower, broocoli and Brussels sprouts; also, a small patch of red cabbage. Lettuce—Sow asmall patch, plant out a few moro, tie up some for blanching. Celery — Continue the earthing up as it requires it. Don't bury the foliage too much. Towards the end of this month a few early potatoes may be planted in a warm situation ; also, a few of the early varieties of peas. Mako a sue cessional sowing of broad beans and a -small patch of leeks for early spring planting. Earth up all growing crops as they may require it. Keep the soil well '.stirred about others that are advancing, doing the above work only when the soil is in a Favourable condition. All weeds must be destroyed or taken away to tho rot-heap, so as to mako manure of them, In dry weather have all spare manure wheeled over vacant pieces of ground, so as to have such ground dug when favourable opportunities occur., Slugs will bo very troublesome; give frequent dustings of lime in the even ings, after dark ; that is tho best time, as they are then out feeding. i Flower Garden. All alteTations should now be completed, or, if not, have them finished at once. The heavy wet season is approaohing, and all rough work in this department is better finished before this sets in. .Evergreen planting should now be carried on with vigour. Old shrubberies may be crowded ; thin out some of the plants, and have them removed to another situation; liftwithagood ball. The sooner all shrubs are transplanted now the better they will, succeed next season. Mixedflowerborders: Liftgladiolius bulbs as they ripen, finish planting the spring flowering bulbs, stir the soil about those that are started to grow. Re-arrange all permanent border plants, taking care to place all the tall-growing ones to the back, and the lesser ones to the front. Plant out carnations, pinks, and picotees. Pansies and violets—Plant into a moist, cool, shady situation. They like a deep, rich, moist soil ■ Young camellias, azalias, heaths, and rhododendrons should be planted out as soon as possible. When taking them out of the pots, slightly break the earth round each plant. When planting, this will in duce the young fibres to push straight out from the plant. ; The top-dressing oi all

lawns should now be finished. Give the luwn frequent rollings with a heavy roller. Walks—Never allow these to break into a puddle. A little gravel placed on them, and a heavy roller applied, will soon bind them. Look after alugs ; keep tho pleasure ground in as neat and trim a condition as possible during the winter months.

Grkeniiocak.— Continue keeping up a free circulation of air on all favourable occasions. Encourage the growth of all winter dowering plants. Byelamens coming into flower place near the glass. Claceo- Inrias, cinerarias, and Chinese primulas remove into larger pots whenever the state of their growth demands it. Keep them near the glass. Give them plenty of room per plant, so that their leaves_ may not get drawn. All plants subject to insects should receive an occasional overhaul, so as to free them from these pests.' All dead or decay fnrr leaves should be picked off. Give an occasional syringing on fine, bright sunny mornings. The Orchard. Now that tho planting season is round again, orchard planters, as a rule, are very undecided what trees or what class of fruit trees they are going to plant. The first matter they ought to consider is for what purpose the orchard is to be planted. If it is a small orohard planted by the owner so as to obtain fruit for his own consumption, the choice of varieties should range from the earliest to tho latest, and such varieties as are known to be good croppers. Again, if the orchard is to be planted for the sake of supplying the market, I would say that the choice of varietiee should mainly be made of the early and late. Early fruit is sure to obtain a good price in tho market, whereas intermediate fruit usually comes in when nearly everyono has got fruit of their own, and perhaps some to dispose of, thereby making fruit almost a drug in the market. Late keoping fruit again is also sure to command a good price every season. Throughout the winter, Auckland is but indifferently supplied with home-grown fruit, especially apples' and pears. There is another matter which I would like to aay a few words about in the way of apples. No trees should be purchased unless those wrsught upon blight-proof stocks. Again, there are some varieties which are subject to the blight more than others, even though wrought upon the blight-proof stock. Now, what is wanted is a better public knowledge of the varieties which ana most subject to the blight and those that are more free.from it. This is a subject which a strong Fruitgrowers' Association wo.uld be able to do an iinmei.«s >al of good to their fellow-colonists in. The most we can do is to ask intending planters to purchase thoso varieties which are known to blight least in their soils and localities. In pur chasing trees always try and obtain medium grown hardy trees in preference to tall, lanky, over-grown treos. Tho small, hardy treo will tako better to tho new situation, will in tho future make a better tree for fruiting, and give more satisfaction every way. Tall, lanky trees are usually grown quickly. Their wood is unripened, and when planted out they usually receive a check which it sometimes takes them a season to recover from, and usually two or three years before they will make wood which is good for fruit-producing purposes.

Too Many Varieties.—Ninety persons out of oyery hundred who plant fruit trees for homo use or for market indulge in too many varieties. This one error has ruined moi'o fruit-growing enterprises than all other onuses'. Nurserymon propagate their hundreds of sorts so as to suit all situa tions. Very littlo is known here yet of a great number of varieties in certain localities. Intending planters should try and ascertain as far as possible the varieties that suit their soils and locali tios, and the bulk of their orchard should bo planted with these; then if they want to experiment with other trees, a few, but only a few.

Maiden-hair Ferns in Rooms. — These are about the easiest ferns to grow in the house, but they are very sensitive to dust getting on the fronds while cleaning and dusting the room in which they are kept. They should either be put outside or covered upso as to keep the fronds from getting covered with the dust. Occasionally take the plants out into the garden and give them a good washing with the watering-pot,, orfrequentapplications of a wet sponge with a light touch will be of great benefit. It is bettorto grow these plants in saucers. They will during the summer months want water at least every second day; but the soil must not be kept in aoontinually wet or saturated state, or it will soon get sour, which is a very bad condition for promoting a free or healthy growth in the plants. The plants will require re-potting into pots one size larger every spring.

Punishing Recalcitrant Pupils.

A correspondent, who has noticod an item in this column stating that school teachers in Scotland dose recalcitrant pupila with castor oil, writes : " The Scotch are away behind America, as twenty years ago I at tended a country school in Wisconsin where the teacher, a minister's wife, punished gum chewers by forcing them,to spit out the gum and chew ashesj while whispering and other delinquencies . entailed the swallow ing of liberal doses of CAator oil." • "Phila-, dolphia Press."

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand.

Oomaru Steeplechaso Meeting June 12 Hawke'sUay J.O. Steeplechases J»»»» Gcraldino K.C. Steeplechase Meeting ..Juneas Australia. _ , ,„ V.H.C. Steepleohase Meeting July 1»

To Correspondents.

F.M.-Chester and First King met five times. Tho former beat the St. Albans horse most

times. North BHORE.-,MrP. Butler's jumping horse Tho Agent, was got by Oliver Cromwell. We believe he will be ten years old next August. INQUIRER.-Mata ran In the Melbourne Cup, Royal Park Stakes, and V.R.C. Handicap, Ho was not disqualified in any particular race, but on account of the extraordinary difference between hia running in the first two races and tho third, which last-named he-won easily.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The nominations for the great race of the Antipodes—the Melbourne Cup—came to hand by cable this week, and tot up to the good number of 134. Although satisfactory enough, there is a slight falling-off from last year, when there wore 150, the largest number yet received. New Zealand in again represented, the Hon. VV Robinson having nominated Oudeis, Liverpool, and Bskatos, and the name of Radames also ap pears, but Mr Pilbrow's Welcome Jack, as well as Darebin's half-brother Prometheus, | are missing from the liet. Probably both of these will be found entered when the papers arrive. Among the Melbourne divi sion is thegallant Commotion, who struggled into third place last year with the thumping impost of lOst. lib., the crack three-year old of the season Le Grand, Malua, Stock well, Calma,' Off Colour, The Plunger, Hurricane, and a number of Others possess ing fair reputations. Prominent among the Sydney entries are Martini-Henry and Sir Modred (both of whom claim the land of the Maori as their birthplace), the last Sydney Cup winner Favo,' the much-talked of War wick, Despot, First Demon, Willeroo, Bristol, the English-bred Phil Athol, and the crack two-year-Olds Garfield, King's Own, Bareo, Honeydew, Buckingham, Brown and Rose, lolanthe, and Lord Exeter. The well-performed Sardiue and Djrk Hatteraick stand out among the Adelaide nominations, which also include Guesswork, Conjecture, Ned o' the Hills, and Lord Wilton. Mr Barnard will issue the weights for the race on Monday, the 30th of June, and their appearance will be anxiously awuited. The weights for the New Zealand Cup, which were looked forward t« with no small amount of interest, made their ap pearance on Monday last, and the first thing that strikes one on looking down the i list is that the handicapping committee have had their eye on those said to have been " waiting " for the big prize. Wel come Jack is evidently one of the number, and there ore few who thought, that he would get such a steadier aa flat, 111b. Cheviot too has been well looked after with 81b lew, and Oudeis is very hardily used with &st. His public form does not warrant such an impost, and it will not surprise me to see the pen go through his name at once. With Bst. 91b., Vanguard has nothing to complain of, and about his brilliancy up to a mile and a h.ilf there can be no question, but for my own part I don't think he is capable of get ting home in a severely run two-mile race. .) uly has caught it rather hot, and it was only natural after the way h<3 has been backed and talked about in connection with the event. That he is a good colt I have not a doubt, but with Bst. 81b. he ap pears to me to have received mere than no deserves. Salvage (Set. 71b.) is not bedly dealt with, but what a show of winning the 1000 soys. Turquoise (BaWlb) must have if his owner can get him sound and well by next November.' The owner of Johnny Faulkner has nothing to thank the handl eappera for, but Leonora and Sou-wester with Bst. each both read well, and Taiaroa must hare a show with 7st. 101b. So far the latter has only shown form over mile and a-half courses, but he will yet win a big two-mile race or I am much mistaken. Nelson(7stlolb)isbynomeanßbadly treated, and if Ike oan stay he should not be out of it with 7st. 91b., while his stable companion Sir Bedevere must also be looked upon as well used with 21b less. As a two year-old, and during the early part of last .••■orison, Sir Bedevero showed a deal of form, and it is said that since he has been gelded his bad temper has left him. Trenton (7st Sib) and Liverpool (7at 61b) would appear to have quite enough, and the same may be eaid of Necklace (7et 51b). Tim Whiffler (7st. alb.,) is one of the best used animals in the handicap, but he lacks brilliancy in such a field as will bo opposed to him, and the same re marks will equally apply to The Poet. Krupp and the Watersprite colt are not badly in with 7st. 31b. each, but of all the three-year-olds engaged there is nothing that reads better than Fusilier, who is leniently treated with Get. 121b. Ex cepting Captain Webstar.the extreme light weight division have no public form what ever to recommend them for a race of this description, and when the acceptance fall due on the Ist of August, the majority of their names will no doubt be found missing from the list.

A number of our local trainers are now busy with their yearlings. In addition to Mr J. Marshall's, Chaafe has also got the Musket—AH Steel and Anteros—Lady Mary fillies that were purchased by Mr I'ercival at the Stud Company sale, nnder his charge. Both have been backed and mounted. At Papakura, French is hand ling Mr RobertsonV Musket—Slander colt (half-brothor to Billingsgate), and at Mr Lushington's, the English trainer Wood ie busy with the Leollnua—Petrolcuee colt (full brother to Leos) and the Leolinus—Miss Laura filly.

The One Thousand Guineas winner Busy body, now owned by Lord Alington, kept up her reputation by winning the Oaks Stakes, Superba being second, and Queen Adelaide third. The winner, although a great performer as a two-year-old, was not so successful as Superba, who proved a veritable gold mine to her owner, Mr R. Pock. She ran in no less than nine races, and won all but the first and last. Busy body was got by Petrarch from Spinaway, and her lines of blood are represented here, as Macaroni, the sire of her dam, is also sire of the N.Z. Stud Company's matrons Florence McCarthy and Lovebird.

During the season now almost at a eloso, J. Bao, the well-known local horseman and trainer, has been in the saddle on 31 different occasions, for which he has a record of 14 wins, been 6 times second, 3 times third, and 8 times unplaced. Rae'a best wins were gained on Chandler in the Steeplochasoe at the Auckland Racing Club Summer and Autumn Meetings, and It will be remembered that in the former he had the pleasure of worsting Lunn on Clarence. Mr J. Marshall informs me that he has nominated his yearling colt Thunderbolt (full brother to Necklace) for the V.R.C. Derby of ISBS and St. Leger of 1886. The Thunderbolt, which we are informed was erroneously included amongst the entries for the Melbourne Cup, will in all likelihood turn out to be Mr Marshall's youngsb r.» I have to acknowledge the receipt ii the first number of the " New Zealand Referee," a weekly journal published in Christeharch, and devoted to all kinds of sport, music, and the drama. The number to hand is read able and well got up, and in a sporting town like the City of the Plains, it will be strange indeed if it does not prove a success. "Sir Launoejot" is at the head of the turf department, which is a sufficient guarantee that it will be well looked after.

It seems that Scot Free, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, -was greatly fancied for that event on account of having easily won the Craven Stakes (for three-year-olds) at the Newmarket Craven Meeting. Our London correspondent says that at the rooms on the evening of the race, 4 to 1 was taken freely both about Scot Free and Harvester, but presently 7 to 2 became the beat offer against the latter. Royal Fern retrograded to 5 to 1, 6 to 1, and eventually to 100 to 15. Bar those three (Harvester, Scot Free and Royal Fern), any odds in reason might have been Jiad; hi fact, Sir John Willoughby laid 3,000 to 1,000 on one of them proving successful. Ned o' the Hills, who won the Queen's Birthday Cup at Adelaide, has proved a cheap purchase to Mr Morris Jacobs, who has already got back the biggest portion of his outlay (650 guineas for Dutchman and Ned o' the Hills) in stakes alone. Although the horse was substantially supported at the eleventh hour, the stable did not throw in for a heavy stake. The winner is by Pride of the Hills—Euterpe, and was trained by Mr James Wilson, jun., to whom he was handed over by Mr Jacobs directly he bought him, This makes the second Birth day Cup winner that Mr Wilson has trained. Last season it will be remembered he pre pared Little Jack for the same event. Writes " Martindale " :—Mr J. Mondy has at last parted with Ascot, having dis posed of him to Mr H. Dixon, who intends to take him to Wanganui and the northern part of^ew Zealand. The price paid was £250, ana at this figure he should prove a.

very profitable! inve«it,moiit, Jtb has been a vory fair perforator, and v.ill no doubt give a good account of himself in the Maori land should Mr Dixon ever race him. At present, however, it is his intention to put him to the stud, and as he has plenty of size and breeding he should be a success. Ascot is rising five years old, and was got by Kel pie from The Thorn. When Herculos stumbled and broke hia leg in the Tally-Ho Handicap at the Grand National Steeplechase Meeting, it was aiiv odds he would have won, as he had a, gooa lead. Early in the race, Canard 'carte down, and Lunn was afterwards tnkingfifc easy on him along way in the rear, but see ing Hercules fallho put on the pace, and catching Hard Times at the last fence, Won easily by a couple of lengths. During Hercules' career on the turf, he had started in 39 events, and won 17. '

At the Victoria Club Rooms the other evening (lays the "Melbourne Sportsman") an animated discussion arose as to which is the most brilliant racehorse in Australia over any distance, and the general verdict was that, whether over six furlongs or three miles, Le Grand could beat the best in the land at weight for ape. Of course in gaug ing the relative abilities of our cracks, aay opinion expressed must necessarily be sub ject to the proviso, "Fit and well." And with this, understanding, the Idea of the debaters appeared to be that, over a mile and a-half, Le Grand, Commotionj and Malua would be about the order, and that Martini-Henry would be unplaced. It is perhaps not generally known (says the Adelaide "L. V. Gazette'1) that a moist serious catastrophe in connection with the totalisator, and one that would have in volved the Morphettville management in indelible disgrace, was only averted on Cup Day by sheer good luck. Before the num bers of the various investments over the Adelaide (Jup had been completely checked, the machine was reset and returned to its nominal position, after which it was im possible for the officials to obtain that essential information, and only by counting the cash and the tickets was the dividend arrived at. Had Malua's number been one oi those inadvertently missed, the amount in vested on him could only have been as certained by an actual examination of the tickets held by his backers, and one em just fancy their feelings during the time they must hare been kept out of their money. With the tickets all numbered as they are on the old eourso.mieh a misadven ture could not possibly occur, norig-'it likely to happen again at Morphettville for a long time to come. ' '■ • Of late years it has been the complaint in England that steeplechase courses are made as easy as possible for the competitor!, and the following from a contributor to " Land and Water' shows that even the Liverpool Grand National course has been consider ably reduced :—" For many years I had net walked orer the Aintree course, and the ad verse opinion I expressed respecting Volup tuary's chance was founded on .the assump tion that the ' line' was the same as that over which the horses above-named had woa such undying fame. I started to look it over, and then discovered the reason of Mr B. P. Wilson's confidence in the ability jof Voluptuary to win. The ' line' is not die same as in days of yore. Owing to a brsnch of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway having a few years back cut off that part of the course on which was the up-jump and other stiff fences, the 'line' aftsr erossiag Beecher's Brook bends sharply to the left in the direction of the canal over, three slight bush fences to Valentine's Brook, and thence by the canal Bide over a flight .of hurdles, an insignificant open ditch, and natural hedge and a bush fence, with drain 3ft. wide on the landing side, after wblih the flat course is reached. There are alto gether 29 jtjmps, seven of which are hardies uot sufficiently strong to pen sheep. Time and drainage have reduced the two brooks, once bo formidable, to utter insignificance, and there is not a fence in the whole line fit to test the capabilities of a hunter. Such is the Aintree course of the present day—far different, indeed, to what it was in my time ; and further it is to be noticed that there was only one piece. of plough, and that so well rolled down it would not soil a lady's satin slipper."

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Chandler has won 15 races this season, Tke Grand Prize of Paris will be run &■ morrow (Sunday).

Mr J. Wafctie has purchased Gilderoy from Mr D. McKinnon.

The"much-talked-of Wheatmeat Months Queensland Turf Club's St. Leger. Canard is said to be greatly thickened out since last season.

The Auckland Paper Hunt Club held their first meet last Saturday.

Sting won the principal handicap on tin first day of the Adelaide Club Meeting. There will be no hunting in Dunedin thii year, as a pack of hounds cannot tx obtained.

Caoutchouc won the two principal steeple chases at the AYaitara Jockey Club Meet ing- Mr J. Lennard's yearling filly by Cap-a pie ont of Xantippe has been naaiec Capella.

Mount fell and broke his leg in tfi< Wunganui Steeplechase, which necessitated hio being shot. " Acceptances for the Hawke's Bay Steeple chase and general entries are due on Tuna day next. ; ; The horae-H J. Rae has trained this season have been first on 23 occasions, 9 times second, and § times third. ' . - '■

" Flaneur," in the " Yeoman," hears thai Himalaya has been sold at a large price to an Auckland sportsman, ■■; Dr. Prins, who races under the name oi Mr " Horsfordj" has purchased the fashion ably-bred stallion Cadogan from Mr Stead, Old Agent's leg filled badly after Mb race in the Grand National, and it will require careful nursing to bring him to the-post again this season. Sir Thomas Elder has been singularly un fortunate in his attempts to win 'the Adelaide Cup. Twice he has run second and once third. , .>

The Sydney Turf Club Meeting, which was to have been held on the 21th May, h«d to be postponed to Saturday last on account of the weather. . .... i-..'>■■,:»

Guesswork was made the favourite for the Adelaide Queen's Birthday Cup at the close of the betting, but failed from- want of con dition to gtay the whole distance. -■::.■■ Mustard (late Bugler), who at the Grand National Steeplechase -Meeting won-the Consolation Handicap, has been purchased by Mr P. Butler. The price paid is eaid to be about lOOsovs.

Lady Ashton, who won the Brpoklesby Stakes at the Lincoln (England) meeting, had no less than five crosses of Touchstone and four of Bay Middleton. , This is. :\n breeding indeed. V .' '■, ~^ ■ The recent South Australian Jockey ,Club Meeting was the most successful ever ;held at Morphettville,and «yen after losing £1,300 by the Adelaide Cup, they have a balance to the good. ,- ~i....... ' ;-'ii Mr A. F. Smart has promised to donate a gold cup to be run for at the next Sydney Turf Club Meeting, providing the Club adds SOOsovs. and alters the date of the meeting to September. T. Lyferd was in the pigskin three times at the N.Z. Grand National Meeting, and rode the winner on each occasion, viz., The Agent in the big race, Ben H. in the Maiden Plate, and Mustard in the Consolation. , After Sir Thomes Elder's eale,' the stallion Crawford Priory, by Gang Forward—Perad venture (imp.), full brother to Guess work and Conjecture, was sold privately to Mr Wade, of New Zealand, for 300 guineas. " Vigilant " says there is no gainsaying the fact that Malua is wonderfully brilliant over any distance, and his struggle at weight for age in the spring with Le Grand and Martini-Henry will be one of the features of the V.R.C. Meeting. ,The City and Suburban Handicap, won hy Lord Bradford's Quicklime, was a great surprise, and he left the paddock at 20 to 1. His owner won it fair stake, but the public were heavy losers, and many of the outside ring never laid the colt. . ~ _'.. ''...

"Mazeppa." says that after the D.J.C Winter Meeting, Trenton was backed straight out for the C.J.C. Derby by tha stable, at 350 to 70, and some smaller wagers were also laid at the same price viz., 5 to 1.

MrJ. P. Jost's Legacy, who is a full sister to Lo Grand, won the Brisbane Cup in a walk with Bst. 21b. up, the two miles being run in Bmins. 52secs. On the second day of the meeting, however, she was unable to get nearer than third to Preston in tha Moreton Handicap. A match for £20 a-side took place at the Ellershe course on Saturday last between Mr Ralph's Traveller and Mr F. Quick's Glencoe. The distance was one mile, Bst. up, and the former won as he liked. Wattio rode Traveller, and Sutherland had tha mount on Glencoo.

At the sale of Lord Fdlmouth's race wm S, 6S "V E °elttnd °" April 27, Sir John Willoughby bought the three-year-old colt Harvester for £8,600. The tWyear-old bay filly Busybody was purchased by Lord Ahngton for £8,800. the total amoant realised by the sale was £38 228 A Sydney writer says Martini-Henry, Despot, and Sir Modred are all in capital form to commence operations for the spring meetings. Salvo, who began to show the effects of the autumn struggles, looks to have fully recovered, and thu others of the S^tiinS^ 6 - tHn? refle<? ».<>»

THE A(JCKLAND;^EVENING STAR SAf XJEDAYp STONE* % - l'88»f



TirTT TT A TliT "O A 1"P"D A"V W iXjJ-ji-o.l¥i Jl&xsl JL X XiiJoL X Begs to announce his intention of holding in^^^>V^^M future Periodical Cash Sales^^>P^t||^ purpose^^. "^^XV^^ of Clearing Out thej, remainder f eaen^^^^V season's stock, so that the approaching^^S±^^&^^ one may be opened with all perfectly^r ' NEW and FRESH GOODS. ]9 nj^4siL 'Jr FRIDAY, 6th JUNE^ or He purposes eommenemg^^^^^^V^^^ his . FIRST GIRAND P^mV# WEEKS ONLYI FOR ' -Vf, T ij^^ -ijki^^ -^ky^i^During which the THREE WEEKS ire Stock 'the bulk oKilyi ■> jj^4.^L^s^^T. Lr^ of which has been im"" from the y^^kpndon &nd Paris Markets, W # will be offelSed at Clearing Prices, a^S °f C°Stf fbl> PROMPT >tr'Q^*Q\^ J r NET cashi ' -^^^^V^ J^^^^/^^ BPEOIAU NOTE.-The R«dffced Prices will be marked on each Article in w r Figures in fIED INK, to distinguish v from the regular Prices in B.ack. WILLIAM RATTRAY. 178,180, & 182 Queen St.