Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 14, Number 32, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 2 February 1884 — Page 6

6

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THE MAIL

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fousayingparticular,

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A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

I [From the Author*8 Advance Sheet*.] -.

Proof

'Mike Patchett. :viii S«

Romance of the Gold Fields.

BY B. L. FARJEON.

^nr of "Blade o' Grass," «6rif,» "Bread ttnti Cbeese and Kisses," "Joshua Marvel," Ac.

fThe story^of "Mike Patcftett" was commenced In this paper Oct. 27th. Back nun* ten will be sent to any address on receipt of lire cents for each copy.]

r?M "ij-#

CHAPTER XXX.

"WHAT THE LETTER CONTAINED WHICH I^FECKJY RECEIVED AT THE POSTOFFICE. £WMY DEAR PEGGY I don't date this, And I don't address it, for fear it might fall into other hands but yours. You know the old address, and the date is any time between that of your departure and the closing of the monthly overland mail for Australia. Now, listen to me. If you have opened this letter before any person (and I am quite prepared to bear you did do so), put it in your pocket immediately, and do not read it until

rou are in a private room, with the door and the key turned, so nobody can see what you are up to. Then you can read it, and the moment it is read put it in the fire and burn it and scatter the ashes. Do not let it smoulder watch it till it has crumbled into powder. How very particular I am! I hear

those very same words. Yes,

am very and more particular about little things than big things. If you neglect my instructions and advice, you may live to rue it. I hope you may not live to rue the neglect of the advice I have already given you. Remember, if you do, that it is your fault, not mine. It is enough to put a man out of patience. After he does everything towards the success of a scheme, which may be grist to his mill after he succeeds in persuading the person be is most interested in (it is to you who is now referred to) to undertake a certain part, a star part, with almost the certainty of a star salary after the very spirit of Good Luck declares itself in his favor by leading him to a discovery, -which not only assists him in the present, but holds out a prospect of proving a fortune to him in the future after these a number of other details—elaborated and launched with infinite patience and skill—he finds himself all at once likely to be utterly wrecked by the unnecessary willful act of a woman. The willful woman being yourself "I understand the mood you are in as you read this. Have I not witnessed it and been made the victim of it a hundred times Understand not only what I say. but every little indirect point of it, knowing to aT what I mean in a direct way, and what I mean to infer, you are saying, for all the world as if I werd standing before you,''What do you mean? I don't understand you.' But you do understand nse, and you do know what I mean, as you have always known what I meant. ««I commenced this letter with 'My

everythin told you, uui A muugn» iv midi «w» iv. I have known times when you have had romantic fits, and 1 was afraid you might have one in this instance. Therefore, I concealed something from you. I was wrong, I confess it. "What is it I concealed from you? You have aright to ask, and I will tell you. "Observe that I put just and reasonable questions, as if they emanated from you. Herein recognise the strong sense of justice which has animated and which animates every action in my life. It matters not whether they tell for or against me. They are inspired by this sentiment of justice, ami I never strive avoid them, way, I invite them, especially if they supply an argument by whtch it is likely I may suffer. Jus tic®. That is my sole aim. Recognize now the impartiality, I will not say the nobility, of my character if you never leoognfeed it before. "I

repeat.

What is

it

I concealed from

you? A brief explanation is impara tire. "You will remember when you and I first talked over this matter, that you regarded me as a visionary. No, I am wrong that would have been a compliment, You looked upon me as a mad "Well and good. Say I was a mad man. We were in desperately low wa tor, and didn't know which was to turn. I was a man of expensive tastes, and you were a woman of expensive tastes, and we didn't have a shilling to bless ourselves with it but tf it had been possible we couldn't have done it—not possessing the shilling "I was fond of champagne. You were iond of champagne. I was fond of the best eating. You were fond of the best eating. Of the best clothes, both of us. In short, we were a pair, and, therefore, a match. A joke I have often made, and which you would never see. Too subtle. Upon my veracity, unless it directly spplies. I sometimes don't see tbe point of it myself. "Well, say we were not a match. At all events, our interests were identical— and are, unless your nature is twisted from what it waff. "Now I come to tbe pith. Recollect what you said. 'It Is not impossible,'

you said, 'to carry out your scheme, without a certificate of birth.' "Prepare yourself for a shock. I am jing to open your eyes. "When you made that remark I recognized a difficulty which had not previously occurred to me. I had been vain enough to believe, after having pumped Mr. Leander Smith, that I had considered and weighed every obstacle to success which was lively to spring up, but this question of the certificate of birth bad not presented itself. Mr. Leander Smith, as the eredit agent of Mr. Mike Patchett, would almost to a certainty require some kind of proof that 'the lady introduced to him as the rich gold digger's daughter was what she represented herself to be, and I had none to offer him except my bare word and your bare word. Gullible as I conceived him to be, I ooold not but think that this unsupported assertion would be unsatisfactory. Births are duly registered in the remotest spots of Great Britain.

Failing the production of a certificate of a birth, it was likely that Mr. Smjth would suggest that we should go to the village in which the child was bora, and there obtain the necessary certification. In that case the bubble would burst, and the scheme would have to be abandoned: a most unpalatable reflection in view of the tempting prospect before us, and of the desperate pass to which we were brought in our worldly fortunes. This it was which caused a delay in my negotiations with Mr. Smith, which might have been fatal to our

Se

I ought to have commencIMU TPnnl IPrtf linlMS

dear Perfky.

«d It *VOU your wiUiQguees hasinade you en blind to consequences, you area fool for acting as you have done. Never was such a chance given a woman, and never did a woman so deliberately set herself to mar herself, and bring herself into danger aayou have done. I mean it all, Peggy, T&e moment I heard you had, against my advice, taken Madge with you, I knew you were in danger. I wouldn't believe it at first, but I soon got proof positive of your mad, inexcusable proceeding. Would not any other maid have done as well? Could you not have obtained thousands? What, under the sun, induced you to take her? "But I can supply the answer to my own question. It was because I told you not to take her. Had I told you to take Madge you would have taken somo one else. This experience of you is not at ull new. ••But, after all, having cooled down a bit, you know how often you have sild, after one of our hot encounters, when people would have supposed we intended to send the house flying about our heads,'Well, now, having cooled down bit—' "So, then, having cooled down a bit, you may, after all, not be to blame for {. Perhaps I ought to have ut I thought it safer not to,

project.

many clever schemes have been

How

brought

to grief by a similar oversight of an important detail! It would have been madness in me to overlook your very simple but pertinent remark that we could not carry out our designs without a certificate of birth. "Two courses presented themselves to me. The first, that I should enlist Mr. Leander Smith himself in our scheme, and make him a party to the conspiracy. (For heaven's sake So not neglect my instructions lo burn this letter after it is read! The word 'conspiracy' has an ugly look.) But though at first I was inclined to sound him, and to trust him in the event of his falling into my views, I was really afraid to attempt it. Instead of my leading him on, he might have led me on instead of bis becoming my tool, I might have become his. In my interviews with him I had been so confident in the mysterious hints I threw out (cleverly sounding him all the time, and extracting from him a great deal of useful information)* and in the attitude I assumed, that he might have turned upon me in anger for imposing upon him. Then, as I had already blea him of a hundred pounds, he might have given me in charge for obtaining money under false pretenses. It was an ugly contemplation. I am naturally distrustful. ana by no means inclined to put myself in the power of a stranger. There was too much danger in this idea of enlisting Mr. Smith in our scheme, and I therefore abandoned it. "The second course was to forge a certificate of birth. That was easier and safer. Mr. Smith had but to see it and examine it for a few minutes. It was not probable that he would have asked

ou to allow him to retain it he would satisfied with a brief inspection of the document, and would return it to you. When it was again in my possession I could destroy ft, and there would be an end to the danger. "As you know, I definitely determined upon this course and confided it to you. Like a plucky girl you made no objection. We went over the whole affair together, you and I, and consideredit in all its points. I was to prepare the certificate of birth you, in your first interview with Mr. Leander Smith, were to show it to him he was to return it to ou you were to return it to me. So far good. And there was aSother'contin-

Little Fool.' For unless jWCy. Mr-Smith, in "his correspon ittreiy

encei, would most likely inform Mr. Mike Patohett that you had shown him the certificate of your birth upon your arrival in the colony Mr. Patchett might incidentally express a wish to see it you were then to say that in the hurry to leaving England you had left behind you a desk Tu which it was hidden, in a secret drawer, and that you would immediately write home tor it. I trusted to your cleverness to tide over this mild difficulty. Thus were we to be armed at all points. "At least, we thought we were, until another obstacle presented itself. I knew from Mr. Smith's advertisement, and from the conversations I held with him, that you were supposed to be born in Kent but Kent is a large country in what precise part of it did Mr. Mike Patcbett's daughter first open her eyes upon this very pleasant ana perplexing world? Mr. Leander Smith knew that was certain and it was quite as certain that I did not. It was imperative that the registration should be correct in

plot was then that I wrote to Mr. Smith an ambiguous letter, whioh must have satisfied him as little as it satisfied me. "Some weeks passed, and all at once I made a starting and most extraordinary discovery, which in a moment restored my courage and confidence. If I were relating this to you, instead of writing it, I should, before fully enlightening you, open a bottle of champagne, and make you dtink two or three glasses, to give you courage to bear the shock. "You had a young friend whom you had somewhere or other picked up, and to whom you appeared to be wildly attached. She occasionally traveled with us, and assisted you to dress for your parts. In a certain sense she was a companion. Her name is Madge. If you do not suspect what is coming you are duller than I give you credit for being. "This young woman was alone in tbe world, and friendless, with tbe exception of yourself. She had never spoken of her relatives, all we knew of her was that she was an orphan. We were uot curious about her history or antecedents our own cares and troubles were sufficiently engrossing, and Madge was not to me, at any time, in any sense an interesting person. Quiet in her ways, undemonstrative and unobtrusive, there was nothing whatever about her which was likely to attract me, or indeed to attract any man. Such was my opinion

unexpectedly for forming an entirely different opinion o'ber. "SUll waters run deep, my dear. Remember that, Peggy, my foolish one, when, having read this letter, you turn your thoughts towards Madge, who, of course, will be very near your elbow. Unless, on the voyage out, it happened that she was unfortunately drowned. A sad fate for any young woman, but what is one mac's meat Is another man's poison. Nothing so providential, however, is likely to have occurred. "Your last engagement in England was play«d in Plymouth. Financially, a disastrous engagement. Of the two pounds a week you were to have received more than half that trifling salary was painfully conspicuous, week after week, by its absence. Tbe manager of tbe trifling company pecunious we

was woefully

lm He

were no lets so.

would have paid his company If he could, but he couldn't. Every town we stopped at we left in debt landladies were in despair so were we. And yet, penniless as we were, you insisted upon keeping Madge with you. You are always fond of giving yourself airs and putting on style. It you had been a star instead of a woman of mediocre historic abilities— excuse me, my dear, the truth is the truth—yon could not have comported yourself more grandly. "Wedid as bad a business in Plymouth as elsewhere an average of about seven

Salf

ounds a night represented the takings, of which was swallowed by the lessee of the theater. The engagement was for twelve nights there, ana-super-human efforts were made to draw the people in and swell the treasury. On the last night an entirely new bill was presented to the unappreciative and ungrateful townspeople moreover, the prices were reduced. Notwithstanding which, not a seat was booked, and less than eight pounds were taken at the doors. It was shameful and emOarrassing what with the gas bill to pay, the printer's bill to pay, the account for advertisements to pay, and "the lessee share of the takings, there was not even a prospect of mutton chops for supper. The best that can be said of the total amount of the receipts is that it probably represented the full value of the entertainment provided for those who paid and those who didn't. Although we were in a sad plight and in tbe lowest of water, we were not the only ones taken in by the performance. "I shall never forget that night or that performance, for before they Doth came to an end I made a discovery of such a startling nature that the wonder is my hair did not turn white ere the cock crowed salutation to the morn. "Excuse this trifling. It is indulged in as a relief to my feelings. I am a long time coming to the point. I am leading gently up to it as a relief to your feelings. You will remember that ^fn that night we played, for the first time on any stage, an ordinary drama, in a prologue and three acts, entitled "lhe Castaways.' It was written by a local man, and had been rejected I believe, by every theater in tbe kingdom. Yet it was a good piece, and, well cast and acted with proper scenery, would command a run. I do not# intend to say much about it I shall simply recall an episode or two, for the purpose of explaining matters to you. "For a wonder the actors and actresses were fairly perfect in their parts though the author aid not think so, and went almost mad with despair in the course of the performamce. He was a good naturea fellow he gave the whole com pany a couple of dinners ddring the week, stood drinks over and over again to every one ot us, and actually paid for the performance of his precious 'Castaway.' So those who were to parts in it really went to some trouble to study their parts. "The episodes I recall are these: /There are in the prologue a mother and father and little daughter the father a drunken vagabond, who ill-treats his wife and deserts her. I put entirely aside the main plot of the drama I simply mention episodes to refresh your memory and to work up to my point. The father is not heard of again till the last act of the drama* and in the interval the little daughter grows into a woman, who hates her father because ot the stories her mother relates to her of his villainy and oppression in the early days of their married life. The mother dies in the first act the Castaway goes through various heart-breaking adventures and has a mott miserable life of it, and when her father re-appears in the last act and claims her sne renounces him, and in violent words feproaches him for her mother's unhappy Ufffiadifle^h.» It* is not necessary f^pie tt^ecaU atHpibi ng* elBe c8hu|ictea with -Ipo Castaway,' which was played on that one night in the Plymouth Theatre, and never played again. "I observed that Madge at the side wings, was deeply interested in the performance that her eyes were often filled with tears and that when father and daughter came together in the last act, she quivered and trembled as though the story that was being told on the stage in some way resembled the story of her own life. Heaven only knows what put tbe idea into my head of worming out ot her the pprticulars of her history as she ana I stood together at the side wings, but there it was, and I carried it out and learnt sometbing that made me curious. Truly she told me very little, but that littlq was enough. "Now what dd you think I learnt? Here ere the details. Follow them carefully. Her mother was dead her father might be alive or dead for all she knew, He was in a distant? land either way. himself in living form or his body. In what part of tbe world In Australia. She was born in Kent, and when she was a little girl had been called Peggy. What do you make of all that I know what 1 made of it, and what it led to. I was frightened to ask if the other name was Purdy, and whether she had changed that for the name she now bears, as she had changed Peggy into Madge. Such an inquiry might have arousea her suspicions, for you will bear in mind that the scheme in connection with Mr. Mike Patchett and Leander Smith, in which we were engaged, had not been confided toll soul in all our acquaintance. We were prudent thus far, and our secret was ours, and ours only. "While revolving in my mind in what way (supposing my suspicions were correct) I could make assuranance doubly sure snd turn the knowledged to our advantage, I was not able to forget entirely the pressing necessities of our position. We were to leave Plymouth the following morning,and fromdarks hints thrown out by our landlady I knew there would be trouble if we did not pay her what we owed her before we went away. In plain words, our boxes would be detained and held as hostage by tbe woman of the house. Then it was necessary we should have supper, and the wherewithal to purchase it was not in my possession. Oh base and filth lucre!—but never mind. It Is a beautl ful thing when you have it, and very base and filthy when you haven't. That is tbe plain sense of the matter. "There was another piece to be performed after 'The Castaway,' and between the pieces, I consulted you its to what was best to be done. You consnltou

our fortunes, unless by your own wil^ll act you have destroyed the^chance little key was the key to Madge's trunk. "Every available article we had possessed was popped every dress we could spare, every article of jewelry we could In better days call our own, bad found its way to tbe shelves of a merciless uncle. All was lost but honor. Excuse me for the apparent levity. It to as-

I assure you I am by no means

ill a mirthful mood. "Having nothing of our own to pop,

don—an old fashioned once been her mother's. As Madge could not leave the theater, tbe key of

TEKRE HATJTE SAT\j*UJAY EVWflNiJ- MAIL

her box was intrusted to me. With this bey I was to proceed to our lodgings and open Madge's trunk, at the bottom of which I should find the brooch wrapped in paper. I followed out my instructions. I went to the lodgings, I opened the trunk and I found the brooch wrapped in paper. My organ of inquisitiveness is a large one, and I looked for something more in the trunk than in the brooch. I searched for letters or papers which would throw light upon Madge's history, and confirm or destroy the suspicion which had entered my mind as to her identity. I found nothing to enlighten me, though I made a most delightful search. But in the trunk was a desk, locked, and I was convinced that in that desk useful evidence was hidden. By some means or other I resolved to become acquainted with its contents. "Thereupon I did a very sensible thing. I took an impression in wax of the key of Madge's trunk. "The brooch was of greater value than Madge had supposed it to be. There were stones in it which Madge supposed to be paste. My dear, they were diamonds of price, and I pawned tbe piece of jewelry for ten pounds. What a windfall! When, after along speH of harduppishness, a man walks tbe streets? with ten golden sovereigns in his pocket, his feelings are those of a Rothschild. I told Madge that I had obtained twenty-five shillings on her brooch, and of course did notBhow her the ticket. But it puzzled me then, and puzzlesme now, to guess how Madge's mother, who could not have been a rich woman, became the owner of such a valuable piece of jewelry. "Perhaps you think I am growing tedious in my narration, but it appears to me to be a wise course to make the state of affairs clear to you. It will put you on your guard. There is but littlo need, however, lor me to spin out my letter to a much greater length. "Of course. I had a false key made which would open Madge's trunk. Of course, I took advantage of a favorable opportunity to open it, when you and

Madge were away from home, and I had the room to myself for a few hours. I took the desk from the trunk and hastened with it to a neighboring locksmith, who in less than five minutes furnished me with an open sesame. Once more in our room I examined the contents of the desk. "My deat, there were papers in it, there were letters in it, and there was a certificate of birth in it. You will not be surprised by this time to hear that Madge is the person you are representing yourself to be. She is Mike Patchett's daughter! "I told you nothing of this—I was not sure whether I could trust you. I resolved upon my plan, and I carried it out. I put myself once more in communication with Mr. Leander Smith and settled everything with him. On the day before you met him at Broadstairs I gave you a certificate of birth to show him. You believe that certificate to be forged. It was not forged. It was the genuine certificate, which I bad extracted from Madge's desk (simply borrowing it lor a little while) by means of my false keys. It was not at all likely that she would discover the temporary loss when one has been for years in possession of papers which are looked up in a private desk, it is but seldom that desk, is opened for that purpose of examining whether everything is safe. The risk 1 ran was small. Madge knew nothing of the scheme we were hatching she had been kept in perfect ignorance of it there was not the remotest possibility, so far as I was aware, of her entertaining a suspicion that she was in any way connected in our proceedings. 1 baa in my own mind a plan in w,hich she.rqigbt bet»m^jg*eful in. tbefftture and" serve ~us both to our safety and profit. Above all other considerations it was necessary that she be kept in ignorance and you,' my dear, have by your stupidity most likely upset tbe frying pan. "You remember, after all was settled with Mr. Leander Smith, how strongly I impressed upon you the importance of saying nothing to Madge of your departure. You were to tell her you were going to Paris lor a week or two, and that you could not afford to take her with you. The rest was to be left to me. had no misgivings that anything would be wrong. "But when the ship had sailed, and went to Madge's lodgings to see her (my intention being not to lose sight of her until you returned from Australia), and learnt that, in direct opposition to my advice, you had taken her with you, it would be the mildest of terms to say that I was surprised. I was stupefied, overwhelmed. I could not believe it at first, but I soon found no room to doubt tbat you had taken this worse than foolish, this maddest of steps. I don't wish to shirk my share of blame attached to it, As I said at the commencement of this letter, 1 ought perhaps to have confided in you, but I really was afraid to do so. I had received so many pioofs of the uncertainty of your temper—you have on occasions done such very extraordinary things out of simple opposition you have so little control over yourself—that I feared you might be animated by some freak to upset one of the sweetest and completest plots tbe mind of man ever conceived. It is this peculiar undependable temperament of yoars, my dear, which has prevented you from becoming a great actress. You allow yourself to be swaved by the impulse of tbe moment, and any man can make a fool of you if be happens to catch your fancy. I have managed to keep you straight because I have a cool head and a fairly strong will which I keep within reasonable bounds. I am not, as you are, the slave of impulse. It is I who have kept you straight and out of mischief. You will pooh-pooh me of course, and deny it, but tbat will not altar the fact. Even now—even if

Madge is with you, and you persist in keeping her with you—I should have but little fear if I were near to guide you. But being parted as we are parted, tbe utmost I can do is to acquaint you with tbe exact position of affairs, so tbat you may steer clear of danger. I hope you will succeed in doing so, but I have very serious doubts of it. A great deal will almost to a certainty depend upon what kind of a* man Mr. Patchett is. If be Is wilful, strong-minded, of a suspl cious temperament, clear-headed and shrewd, you may find yourself in a fix. If he is weak-minded, loving, tender, and susceptible, and if you have succeeded in working yourself into his affections, there Is a chance for you. But even in tbat case I should advise you not to keep up tbe game too Ions. "Now, I have done all I can for you, and you must do tbe rest for yourself. Write regularly to me and post me up fully and send me as much mon you can. I am in desperate

"Ones more—burn this letterimmedi ately. In a fever of anxiety to know how yen are getting on, I am, with just as much love as you deserve, "Ever yours, D. B."

CHAPTER XXXI.

PBOOT coirriH trass sn DIARY. "Well, upon my word, this is spretty

kettle of fish! The artful young cat, to take me in as she has done! Why, to look at her you wouldn't think butter would melt in her month! "And she is the real heiress. I never believed there was one, and here she suddenly turns up at my very elbow. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, you clever Mr. David Bannister, to keep me in ignorance. Whatever occurs, it isn't my fault. Unless I change my mind, old Dave, the letter your loving Peggy has sent you is the only letter you willever receive from her, serve you right. It is you that are the fool, not I. If you were in this roam now I would box your ears for you. I am not a good actress, ain't I? I am a little fool anil? My temper is uncertain, is it? I have no control over myself, haven't I? I am everything that's weak and simple and undependable. You are really very polite. Thank you for nothing, you simpleton. You shall be served out for it, or I'm no woman. If you think I'm going to put up with your insults you will find yourself mistaken. "To keep me in the dark in that shameful, disgraceful way! Treating me as if I were a child! Giving me sweets if I'm good, and the cane if I'm naughty. It puts me out of all patience. Burn your letter? Not a bit or it. I'll keep it out of spite. Yes I may tell him that in a little freezing note to make him nneasy. It will be just what he deserves. '•He talks of danger, the softy why, I look upon it as a joke, yes, a downright good joke. Danger from whom? From my old daddy? Why I can twist him round my little finger. "I am puzzled, though. How much of all this does Madge know—does she know everything or nothing? She has never lbt on to me by a word or a look, but that may be her artfulness. There isn't a woman iu the world I would trust. A man, yes but not a woman. I know my own sex too well for that. "I cau't think of a single word Madge has ever spoken, or a single look she has ever given, which makes me suspect that she knows who she is. Of course she knows tbat her name is Purdy. But daddy's name is Patchett. Why the change, I wonder? As we say in the plays, there is more in this than meets the eye. "If she has any suspicion, the name of Patchett would put her off the scent. Then, he is not the sort of father a girl would care to own. Nothing much to be proud of in Mr. Mike Patchett. But he rolls in money. That counts, for a lot it does with me. "Dave doesn't say what he did with the certificate after I gave it back to him.

Did he put it back into her desk, and has she got it with her now? I've a good mind to copy Dave's example ana get some false keys made and find out for myself. Rather a difficult job for a woman. I want a man friend who will blindly go through fire and water for me. "There, now I have written the ver, words, Signor Antonio said to me. •will go through fire foryou,' said tie. He did not mention water, but that follows as a matter of CQurse. "Did he mean it? Is he to be trusted? See here, Dave. One thing in your letter may be of use to me. You tell me I am too impulsive. Well, in this particular instance I will put the dragon. I will not act rashly. I will think first. "Then, there's Mr. Horace Blakensee. Very attractive—very complinvBntary, very. And a gentleman. No doubt of that. Shall I try my blandishments upon him ih downright earnest? That, also, must be thought over. No more impulses. "Count Antonio! Count! He would take me to his own country aud|make a countess of me he declared as much. ,W«M, Pn marriedrVornhti, and I'm quite willing to be niade a countess. It would be rare fun. Oaly think of my becoming a woman of title! "There ish't the slightest doubt tbat

Horace Blakensee wants to get up a strong flirtation with me how far is be in earnest? Would it be anything more than a flirtation, just to pass tbe time away? Sometimes I think one way, sometimes another. We were preity thick last night when we came home from tbe theatre well, we had a jolly good time. "But there's one thing certain. That exquisite gentleman is not the kind of a man who would assist a woman to get false keys made. Signor Antonio is. All foreigners are up to that sort of a thing. But it wouldn't do to tell Signor Antonio everything. He fs very fond ot me, I daresay I am sure ho is in earnest there but it would be a little bit too risky to put myself so completely in his power. He would use me then as other men have used other women, and throw me over when he saw another face be was smitten with. Thank you, Dave you have taught me something in your letter. I shall take care to keep my head cool. "I am not going to decide anything today. My head is in too much of whirl. At this present moment, all tbat I am determined to do is, by hook or by crook, to get a peep into Madge's desk. That is really, as Dave would say, im-

peratively necessary Know where lam. II

Fm

of

so tbat 1 may won't do to work

in the dark. If everything were discovered, I wonder what they could do to me!

That sounds as if I were frightened. A great mistake. There is sometbing so exciting in all this that 1 rather enjoy it. I suppose I have got hold of Daddy Fatchett's heart. There's no supposing I am sure I have. He's not one of tbe cunning ones. He is as simple as they *ght be will be back

FI ask Mr. Blaken­

see to taae me to Melbourne to tbe coach office, to meet my daddy? Not a bad idea. If I fix tbat simple old fellow can snap my fingers at everything and everybody. Even if Madge does know —which she doesn't, but if she does—is it not open to me to say that she has stolen the certificate from me (supposing she has it) and tbat she wants to put herself in my place because Daddy Patchett is rich? Of course it is and if everything else went against me, it would give me time to cut away. What wn she prove? Nothing more than I or any woman can prove, unless she has sometbing in that desk of hers which wonld checkmate me. And if she has, could say tbat wasjitolen from me. careful, Madge, you shy cat you are no match for me, cunning as yon may be. "Even if the game is up, I haven't done so badly. What with diamonds and notes, I ean't have made less than three thousand pounds since I landed. I am sorry I sent tbat three hundred pounds to Dave Bannister. It's bis luck that bis letter didn't come before I went to the bank and got tbe draft. Make the moat of it, Dave, old boy you will

BO more from your affectionately. tired of you. "I have made up my mind. I'll go and meet Daddy Patchett at tbe coach office, and Mr. Horace Blakensee shall

Kwithsurprise

me. An unexpected and de-

btful

fdr

tbe old man. And

l'Tl make myself very captivating. Hball I take Madge? No. I will give her to understand tbat she Is in my bad book". If it is to be a fight between us, she will find her match in me." [TO bx COI»TII»U*D STBXT WESX.j

imrnimrnmnnimnninmmmni

ATHLOPHOROS IS a novel word to most people who speak the English language. The Greeks used it centuries ago, meaning by it "THE PRIZE-BEARER." ,f

ATHLOPHOROS is the first and only medicine which has carried off the prize as the perfect remedy for Rheumatism and Neuralgia. ill like two relentless tyrants they have tor ages hold their suffering victims in an iron 0 grip. These poor Birfferers have been as slaves in the power of their oppressors.

ATIOOPHOROS

has entered the arena, en­

gaged in conflict with the monsters, and won the victory. As the comixititora in the Grecian games of old could win only by the most severe trials of ability and endurance, so ATHLOPHOROS has won tho prize, not alone by giving temporary relief, but by bringing an enduring cure, as well, to thoso who have suffered the excruciating agonies of Rheumatism and Neuralgia.

ATHLOPHOROS is a novelty, not only in name, but in its elements. It is unlike any preparation yet introduced.

ATHLOFHOKQS acts on the blcod, muscles and Joints, removing the poison and acid from tho blood, carries them out of the system.

ATHtoPHCRos is put up with consummate skill, and contains nothing that can possibly harm the most delicate constitution.

Now, do you want to suffer on and on? or do you want to be well? 41

Athlophoros" WILL Cure You

If you cannot get ATHLOPHOROS ot your druggist, we will send it express paid, on receipt of regular price—one dollar per bottle. We prefer that you buy It from your druggist, but if he hasn't It, do not be persuaded to try something else, but order at once from us as directed. ATHLOPHOROS CO., 112 WALL ST., NEW YORK.

N. B. uMimnHmmii

When you come to think of it, it is not odd that literary people prefer a pipe to a cigar. It is handler to smoke when they are writing, and ever so much cleaner. And then it gives them the truo essence and flavor of the tobacco.

The most fastidious smokers amtmg all nations and all classes of men agree that the tobacco grown on the Golden Tobacco Belt of North Carolina is tho most delicious and refined in tho world. Lighter than Turkish, more fragrant than Havana, freer from nitrates and nicotine than any other, it is just what the connoisseur praises and the habitual smoker demands. The very choicest tobacco grown on this Belt is bought by Blackwell's Durham Tobacoo Co., and appears in their oelebrated Bull Durham Smoking Tobaooo. It is known the world over. Get tho genuine.withBull trade-mark, then you will be sure of having absolutely pure tobaooo.

NEVER mILS.

"Ton claim too much forSAMABiTAN NBBVnnt," uayfl a skcptic. "How can ono medicine bo a specific for Bptlep* ay. Dyspepsia* Alcoholism, Opium Katloff, Rkeumatian,

Bpermaiorrhse, or SwjInjjJ and fifty other complllMif" Wt clalm it a snedflc, simply, because thayirus of all diaeasea. arises from the blood. Its Nervine, Resolvent, Alteratlvo and Laxative properties meet all the conditions herein referred to. Its known worltf wide as -'•feV&r-

c®so

mEmmm

It quiets and composes me pniieii~nii, ujiao introduction of opiates and drastic cathartics, but by the rc81oration of activity to the stomach and nervous system, whereby the brain Is relieved of morbtff fflBdSs, which arc created by the canscs above referred to.

To Clergymen, Lawyers. Literary men. Merchants, Bankers,LadlesSndall those whose sedentary employment causes nervous proetrauun. irrcrrnlarltics of the blood, stomach, bowels or kidneys or who require a nerve tottic, appetizer orstimulant.8AMARiTAwNEBvra*iHinvalaablc£, Thousands proclaim It the roost wonderful irt# vigorant that ever sustained the sinking system...

Jgsr $1.50. Sold by all Druggists. The DR. 8. A. RICHMOND MED. CO., Propr't,

St. Joseph, Mo. (44)

For testimonials and circulars send stamp.

TUTT'S PILLS

TORPID BOWELS,

DISORDERED LIVER, and MALARIA.

From tbese sources arise three-fourths Of' the diseases of tlie human race. Tbese ,4 symptoms Indicate their existence: L011 at Appetite, Bowel* costive, Sick IUad-

Mlu. fullness alter eating, aversion to exertion

ot

hv-

body or mind, Eraetatioa

of food, Irritability of temper, Low' spirits, A feeling of having neglected I some dntr, Dizziness, Flattering at the Heart, Dot! before the ejes, highly colored Urine, COSMIPATIOJI, and demand tbe use of a remedy that acts directly on tbe Liver. As a Liver medicine TUTT'S PI1X8 bare no equal. Their action on tbo Kidneys and Skin Is also prompt removing all Imparities through these three scavengers of the system," producing appe* tite, sound digestion, regular gtoolci, a clear skin and a rigorous body. 'JKllTK cause no nausea or griping nor interfere with dally work and arc a perfect

ANTIDOTE TO MALARIA. WE FEEt4» LIKE A HEW MAN,

"I bare bad Dyspepsia, with Constipatlon.two years, and nave tri*d ten difft-rent kinds ot pills, and TFTT'I are tbe first tbat bare done me any gool. Tbey bare cleaned me oat nicely. My appctito is splendid, food digests readily, and I now bare natural passages. I feel like a ne*r man." W.JdTedWARDS, Palmyra, O. Soldererywliereta5c» Office,•« Mairnyjt^N^Y.

TUTT8 HAIR DYE.

GBAT HAIR OR WHISKERS changed instantly to a Ufcossr BLACK bra xingle application of thla DTK. Sold by Vnj^giett, or sent by express on receipt of# I.

Office,

44

Murray

Street,

New York.

TVTT'S MANNAl OF 0SIF91 BE6EIKTS FEtE.,

in