VELLA VERNELL OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 11 April 1885, Page 3

VELLA VERNELL OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

gy Mrs Sumner Havden, „,„ 0( .'Utile Goldie," "The Midnight Ant Mil "Geraldine," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XL. "YOU !" .. «„„ indies who park out our lives cannot help the rrom &vcr. ™° »-««»,,,<, Jsßlowsahndi. tflso parlour opening oneinto another, ro-n-»Avista of luxury and beauty, andcndveaitnS v , . win the shadowy gloom of a conservatory, in whence camo musically tho tinkle and BplMh of falling waters. Here taste ritalb*- by wealth, roiled supreme. The ___mn covered with pale gold Lincrusta Lton, save whore ran a bonier of crimm velvet poppies. The Wilton carpet „„» mowed whoatfiold, upon which glowed tero and there tlio same rich blooms-so natural ono felt almost remorseful in sotting foot upon thoir sweot, flushed taces. Tho furniture, of carved ebony, was upholstered jo amber brocade and dull red satin. Tho pictures woro magnificent. An enthusiastic connoisseur and collector was tho master of the mansion. The lace that draped the plate-glass windows might havo hung in to chamber of an empress. And from tho pand chandelier ovor all poured the mellow brilliance of gaslight.

Ud and down the room a girl walked j-X up and down. A tall, graceful Le, stately for all its youthfulness, clad J, atrailing dinner-dress of dark-blue silk, which left tho round, smooth arms bare to Hie elbow, A fair, tranquil face, pale as He hawthorn blooms of May. Large bluoney eyes, tho gemiino Irish Into, dark Le. A mouth a trille large for beauty, but deliciously red. A porfeet chin. A throat like a swan's, curved and snowy. jj Te a locket of dull gold nt that same white throat, she wore no ornament. What could bo keeping her father ? He ni usually so punctual. jhe went down to tho bay-window, mshed aaide the curtains, and looked out. By the light of the street lamp half a UotUway she could distinguish approaching figures. Yes, there ho was at last I But not Whom had he with him ? jdju one he had askod home to dinner _S_i hospitable fashion. Doubtless thittiresome Horace Deakin. She dropped the curtain, turned away, indreeumod her walk. Those without ascended tho stops. A tali-key turned. Sho could hoar her fitter's voice. i'Come right in. Evelyn will bo delighted." "Willshe?"commented Evelyn, with a envious grimace. She turned listlessly as the door opened, nd went forward to meet them. She glanced up—stood still. To*/ , The cry had burst from her in spite of baself. Toritwasnot Horace Deakin who stood Wore her, nor anyone bearing the slight--1 nt resemblance to that sandy-haired perf Bitot young adorer of hers. * A man, tall and strong-limbed, with a tpWidwell-held head, wavy black hair, a Wsome face, but thin and weary. Not Ualaceshe had known, the girl told herself, lift a shock of positive pain thrilling 1 through her, not the old, bright, dashing, iplritecj face, this with the gravo lips and sad, unsmiling eyes. Aa instant later she had recovered herB_, moved forward with outstretched hand indirelcoming smile. "Itiireally you, Captain Tracy. lam M glad to see you. But where in the name ofsllMswonderful did you drop from ?" lis to lighted up at the greeting of friendship. Ho held her hand a few moments in i clasp which brought a . startled pleasure to her eyes—oh, impulse misconstns./

"IBffl-UDg," flinging himself into a ebtirudpntlmtr up one thin brown hand t IfcUiß/4. dark head in a manner sharply wit- toter, "from the deck of the flfcird steamer Servia." I "ffeH-the growl just at their backß {Hiliiethat of an amiablo bear—"just nit til bring you home again, Mr Marc ~"7, to have my own daughter ignore «," '

li "Awghter " turned and hurried to fe in a fever of desperation. "My blessed dear, did I really desert jw^ia compassionate and remorseful conbin

ltd tbe kissed him with usual warmth. Mm tbe peace-offering with which ho -W for bis unpunctuality had something todowith this caress of affection.

line old man, John Gage, handsome, _i »t least, one thought so when his nged face lit up with love or merriment. Siwigrey-haired and |white-bearded, but lis bows were still coal black. His eyes, Wubandsome as Evelyn'a, wero now a Ml bearded. From him Bhe had inherited -Mredlips and curious lack of colour. "Asl was passing Ninth and Chestnut M*y, whom should I sco standing in the •ibuMtothfl Continental but this lad," JM declamatory gesture toward the in™_l in question. AIA he captured me, Miss Gage," "juMarc. "Alter the hardest work," finished his ty "the very hardest, my dear, I do __wyou." Pp tamed to her guest. "rtotwas hardly kind of you," In ac*b'of gentle reproach. m sprang up and joined them where ■Jitood.

'No," he admitted, "it wasn't right. It "•"-ilkingratitude and churlishness." [iJjP'up her hand in laughing proIs,

"No, no! It surely was not that. I *»lo listen to such treason against an "Wend." M> Tracy bowed his fine head with a SB deeper than the pleasant apeech mm.

, An old friend thank 3 you for your m" he said. <**tei white cheeks swept a burning „™oh ebbed as rapidly as it had come. BjM are the prospects for dinner, M Gage tamed two big reproving eyes « father's innocent face. j *S? hypocrite! That is the question .waeve^ evening he is shamefully late, J'tacy. Who would ever have believed j?P% of such a contemptible subteri£li dinner was not ready exactly," _S. at a""--■ !s( luo' rose-wreathed 3** near, "exactly thirty-four T*im. And if the fish, papa-" __yf he delicious, I know," in adroit ffipi. "Come, Marc." ijj Mm a year sinco you last honoured Jm visit," Evelyn said, aa they mado „''J to the dining-room. Thero was _ P'-inounced nolo of aggriovement in *W voice. j ft |l earl" Ho passed his hand ovor his grs-I.' "Yes, a year. It seems like

UpjJ ffaw and sparkle camo into her ; j oo the time had seemed long—he I' "pttaed her. _t»s to him, smiling. jj» sho said, " you havo loarned to !}PW her a quick look. Il> P8 "ot, Miss Gago. I nover mean

msl ho had not just now. Thoy their seats. She looked at him »#«tterioe table. liMl"' declared, quietly, and sho W ! M.,!»»al again, "tho world has |«yoaill.» "•Ut! w'^u c'1'4 c'1'a "kery as poorly Wti'i IIH he thin-skinned as a schqplW3* F]' with a mere "onversa'"•4him» 1 weo Pon* liad Power to tmtJ^yow pardon. The world has ffiS _c royally." i, »chedher pretty, dark brows. \ e ,V<! e,-!»rhaß seemed ten. Truly ""»!»."■ ln "Jlvors paces with divers W |^.to turn off the subject in a ll*rd J o» n ClUote Rosalind against mo 1 ;'%t* n .'ny sword." h «EsrS?I nßt,y°v." in gentle correction ; /'.IC?J ottr verification." oubeen doing with yourTta°yr' Mr Gage asked, as Map- "Knocking around 3°»- *SS E? yoa're not getting—getting Wmi» ' me' "V «ear, you know suggested.

"That's just it. You're a brick, my— excuse me, a genius, my dear. Hopo you are not becoming fotoignized, Marc?

"Not a bit of it, sir," promptly. _ "Glad to hear it, I'm sure. It's a positivo pity tho number ol bright, honest young follows who cross tho ocean evory year to do the Continent and condescend to return when thoy havo ground thoir healthy spirits down to tho prevailing pitch of langour, painfully acquired an ' accent,' or a jumblo of them, and aro capable of screwing a pano of glass into thoir right eyo." His daughtor and guest laughed out at his indignation. " Ah, but we must remember, too," reminded tho former, " tho numbor of eager, art-inspired young souls who yearly sk<m» tho Old World and, finding there tho garnered wealth of centuries, work anil sutler deprivation in order to grasp I lie secrets of its beauty, to come back at la-; prouder of the laurels thoy wear for thei. country than for themselves."

"Bravo!" cried John Cage, heartily. " Evvio, you're a dais Excuse me ! I mean a born orator. Isn't she, Marc ?"

Captain Tracy smiled as ho laid down his glass of Sauterne.

" American aspirants should bo proud to boast so fair and dauntless a dofondor."

With the fruit Cage renowed his rathoi blunt inquiries.

" But you haven't told mo yet just what you've been doing. I always thought it a shamo to give a mere lad—you woro no more then, you know — control of that magnificent McSlano property. Own up that you've made ducks and drakes of it."

Tracy shook his hoad. " I resemble the father of my country,'1 he averred.

Evelyn laughed as she roso. "Such voracity is rare, papa," gayly :l honour it."

And she bowed hor graceful blue-black head in acknowledgment as Marc held open the door for hor to pass out,

CHAPTER XLI.

"what has chanord too?"

" lio loved hor with all lovo oxcopt tho lovo Of man and one woman whon thoy lovo their best. Closest and sweetest." Tknnyson.

"Now, my boy," whon Tracy had returned and rcsoated himself, " I don't want to seem to pry into your affairs, but I've known you since you wore the height of tho brass poker there, and I think my friend-

ship gives me the right to speak frankly." Tho younger man lifted his dark, grave eyes.

" Of course you havo a right to know, and

I thank you for your kind interest, I sold out most of that property, and invested it in Mexican mines. It was a cablegram concerning it which has recalled mo from Europe. My agent has closed out my shares for mo at an enormous profit."

Old Gagedroppedtho cluster of California grapes ho had been fingering, extended his hand, grasped that of his guest, and shook it heartily. " Capital!" My dear boy, I congratulate you. Another glass of Lafitto."

" Thanks, no moro."

And then they joined Evelyn. For awhile the trio kept the ball of conversation in brisk and airy progress, But soon Mr Gago slipped away to the library, where stood his own particular easy chair, the green-shaded student-lamp, which best suited his eyes, and a pile of newspapers. He produced his stubby meerschaum, and settled himself down to placid enjoyment.

And in tho grand drawing-room he had left Evelyn was making a speech which her gentleness and earnestness alono saved from rudeness.

"You are looking wretched ! What has changed you ?" He started, but for a minute did not answer. Then he broke out into a laugh— a very short, unmirthful laugh indeed. "Am I? You do not flatter, Miss Evelyn."

"No," gravely. And then for awhile thero was silence,

His gaze rested on hor as sho sat there under the streaming gas-light For her gracious beauty the whole rich harmonious room formed a mere frame — the golden sotting for a gem. The deep blue sweeping silken dress, the fair slender hands, tho slightly bent face with the pure colourless skin and crown of midnight braids ! What marvel, you say, his glance'lingered ? Ah, but in it there was only admiration — a tributo the least loving of us readily pay— and remorso !

She had asked him a question in all generous friendliness, and he had answered her like a boor, as far as he had answered her at all. What had changed him ? Was she not good to caro ? Could ho do loss in courtesy than answer ? "I did not know I had changed," going on as if there had not been that pause between them, " but perhaps I havo, Heaven knows I have had enough to change me !" Her serene eyes, full of sympathy, met his. . .

"Ah!" she ejaculated, softly. And then, " at the first moment of our meeting to-night I knew you had clasped bands with sorrow."

He nodded absently. In a few moments he swung himself out of his chair, and began pacing the room as though to work off in action the keen suffering her words had awakened. He paused at length besido hor chair. "I told you to-night tho world had treated ma royally. It has. If fate had mado me a beggar, shivering nnd ragged, in the street, and that only, I could still count myself wealthy to-day." Now that ho eeemod about to confide in her she dreaded to bo made a confidante. She was afraid she knew already. His words might confirm hor fear. "You speak in riddles!" ahe said, and in her voice there was just an inflection of coldness. What was that he had declared to his sister ? that he could not wear hia heart on his sleeve for the gay, gossipy, sharpbeaked daws of society to peck at! that it was but a poor and unstable spirit that which flinga down its secrets and makes of them public footballs ! And here waa he now almost tempted. "I beg your pardon. I'm afraid my enigmas are all egotistical, interesting only to myself, unutterably boring to others. Is it too early for anything good at the academy?" , , _ .... Anything good at the academy ! To ahilt off a personal conversation as though she could not comprehend—would not carenow, womanlike, she must know I So she ignored totally his question, as ahe lifted her steady gaze at his face. "Tell me I Let me help you if I can. Tho frank, simple, womanly pleading touched him. " You are very good, he answered, but you cannot do that. No one can." Ah, if women's hearts were not so thornily hedged by customs and proprieties. If sho dared to whisper now : "Give me the right to try, Marc!" No, no ! She checked her runaway thoughts with a powerful curb. Both wero silent. , Leaning ovor tho back of tho chair before hor, he started suddenly. Had he been discourtonuß again ? Sho was a proud girl, Evelyn Gago ; she was remarkable for tier intense, exclusive pride, and she had asked him for his confidence, and that in an sweet sisterly sympathy. Ho straightened himself with a sudden """I shall toll you about the affair, if you care to listen." . , , , Without a word she bowod her dark

h9«lt is short," his apologetic laugh as dreary as that of ton minutes previous; "short—and disagreeable.' . He came round to the front of the chair, and flun" himself down. "It told. In June I»et-my doom. Almost a rhyme that, »*Mtl He was trying to talk lightly. "The old story was new to us both, and marvellously Entrancing reading. . We were to have been married Toon, *'hen quite suddenly l .was called out of town. I was gone just three days In the paper I bought on my way ?X the train Sread the announcement of her wedding the previous ovening. When T readied my hotel it was to stand aside m LocorrTdoTwhile she passed out with her husband. That is all I . , , , I This attempt to tell it airily he had &Nsffri--M_,_= as

1U »to leaned his elbow on his knee, and | bn dft herS"rwe^to an nhurriedlyina few Minutes 1" well, after'that J don think I quite knew for awhile what 1 was dole. I took the train that night for New York-bv the way, I encountered hor again It the depOt-and'eleared.off in tho next Cunarder P I'd been knocking around Scot land for several daya, when a business cablegram recalled me. bitterly. "Not that," in a tremulous^sent "not that word. Don't bo cowardly. He true to yourself, at least.' , . Ho had not lifted his head, and did not now.

" Without her! What is courage, or truth, or honour worth to me now ? I somotimes think," still in that samo hoarse, shaking voice, " that life itself is not worth tho weariness of bearing it!" On the hand which lay upon his knee came a soft touch.

"Marc !" sho said.

110 started, dropped his arm, looked al hor.

She had meant only to be sympathetic, comforting, friondly ; but now, quick as lightning, her face turned traitor to her. Her whito cheeks, whiter than oven they wore wont to be, flamed in an instant rosyred ; hor full lips trembled, something of -'•irinking shame, of deeper and moro p.is-ionate significance, still lit hor great eji-- : ' splendour.

I** i. his camo a startled, sad, incredulous ii. ...-mont. Then, if sho loved him, why *..l .' ho asked himself recklessly. Ho leaned forward.

' Evelyn, do you really caro?"

Ah, whore now was her chorishod pride lad lovo murdered it?

" I—caro

The reaction had como. Ho was calm now with v quiotudo born ot tho fierce memories which had so lately swayed him. " Then," he said, " I shall do my best to mako you happy." He bent and touched her forehead with his lips. Aud at that very moment out of a littlo country station a train rushed, thundering eastward, bearing the only woman earth had over hold for him.

CHAPTER XLII.

" MR CHARLES HARTLEY."

" Do wo move, or aro wo moved by an nnßeen hand at a gamo That pushes us off tho hoard, and othors over Buccoed I"

—Tennyson. Down the back stair-way of tho stately, silent Vornoll mansion wont two women. Ono was tall and slondor, the other short and stout, but both wero cloaked and bonneted, walked lightly, and talked in whisperi. Through the big, comfortable kitchen, where tho gas flared brightly, out at tho roar door, through tho long dark alloy, went

they. " Tako caro I thoro's a looso board thoro, Miss Dorothy. Havo my arm." " Thank you, child. I beliovo I will." And sho gavo ono kid-encased hand into Guila's firm, sustaining hold.

They went up to Indiana |Avonuo, and *ook a north-bound car.

Neither spoko much. Each was busy with hor own thoughts. tluila was vainly grieving over tho appointment she had missed seeing kept. Miss Vcrnell was "all in a Hurry," as she hersolf would havo put it, and deop in surmises as to tho outcome of tho whole queor predicament. Sho found the house of lato so unutterably desolate So did Jamos, though ho would rather die than own it—least of all to himsolf. But ho must. Such a change as their absonco had mado. Never a sound of flying footfalls, of gay discussion, never a quick sweet peal of laughter now awakened an echo in the silont rooms. It was like a house from which tho dead had been but lately carried. If James would only mention them sometimes, not quite ignore thorn as ho did. She often thought he must speak of them when they two sat down to meals in the huge dining-room, facing them against the wall beyond those vacant chairs. But ho kopt persistently silont. The gap their loss made, though, must havo struck him as sharply as it had hor. He couldn't help noticing it. A littlo black dog would have noticed it, Miss Vcrnell declared to Miss Vornoll, in her emphatio and peculiar phraseology. Though why a littlo black dog should be moro keen to detoct domestic changes than a littlo tan dog, for instaneo, I don't think she brought tho full force of hor logic to determine. " Here we aro. Miss Dorothy."

" Bless me ' So soon?"

Tho car had roundod Lako, gono wost to State, and thon had turned southward preparatory to a backward trip. They alighted and boarded a Madisonstreet car on an adjoining track. It rolled south to Madison, and thon straight west.

A long ride. Thoy did not stop the car till it was at Oakley Avenuo. Thoy got out. There was a delay in discovering tho right place. " Hero is tho numbor ! " said Guila. Thoy wont into the littlo store bolow. Miss Dorothy gave hor companion an encouraging and cajoling prod in the ribs. "You ask her!" Guila turned to tho woman bohind tho counter. " Is Mr Charles Hatley hero ?" " Yes'm." " We would like to see him." " Walk right up them stairs thon. He told mo ho wero expecting you ; leastways," hedging deftly, " ho said ho wero expecting ladies. Here, Lucilo, you show 'om up stairs." Lucille, a small, carroty-headed damsel, with a smudged bluo apron, and stockings which obviously preferred to " orinklo" ovor the rusty shoes rather than protect tho poor little blue, baro logs above, lod tho way to tho second floor. Sho pointed to a door. " In there !" succinctly. Miss Vornoll knocked. Tho door was opened. The figure on tho threshold Btarted. Who wob this his aunt had brought with her? Why hadn't sho como alono? v ! * r j " Such a time as wo had to find you, Voyle—" Mies Dorothy began, breathHo put his finger on his lip, and thon pointed downward. "Hush ! Como in," They entered. He closed and locked the door. He glanced inquiringly from his aunt to hor companion. "This is—" she stopped horsolf. She had been about to say "Guila Dosarte." But tho girl had a new name no,v, and she had promised to be silent about tho othor. "This is Hilaria Jackson, Voyle," she went on, hurriedly. "I waß afraid to come alone to-night, so she came with me." Voyle bowed to " Hilaria Jackson."_ " That was vory kind of her, ' bo said. Guila saw at a glance that he was afraid to apeak frankly to his aunt in her presence. She was a stranger. Her proximity made bim nervous and constrained. As she observed iOhe spoke with delicacy und discretion. . " I saw some Berlin patterns in the atore below, Miss Vernell, which I havo been wanting for somo time. I shall rnn down and select them whilo you are paying your visit. I shall be there whon you are ready to go." " Very well, Gui—Hilaria. And she went. They could hear her as she descended the thinly-carpeted stairs. Mies Dorothy stood on tiptoe, put both her arms around her . nephew's neck, kissed, and then held him out for inspection. " Let me havo a good look at you. And how ore you, my boy ? And what havo you been doing ? And whatever are you going to do?"

Ho laughed. " One at a timo, Aunt Dolly ! Ho brought her a chair and mado her stt down. She glanced around hor. "You haven't very charming quarters, Voyle." And he hadn't. ~,,«■ The room was small, low-ceiled, stully, with a carpet of pseudo-Brussels, in which the "olours swore at each other, a prickly horse-hair sofa, a cottage organ, two campchairs, and on the walls chromos of a smirking Beatrice Cenci and impossibly brilliant fruit. He shook his head. " No. But then lam only here temporarily. It was at least a safe place to meet you. I am changing round all tho time. You know I want to lie dark for awhile. Misa Dorothy looked up with a sudden resolution. ..... . ~ v,. T "No," sturdily; "thata juat what I want to know. Why should you skulk round like a^criminal ?" _ " But after that wedding affair— " Who is the wiser of that ?" " But I managed it very clumsily. You see, Jonas still thinks he is married to " Well what if he does ? One of these days, whenVella is Mrs Tracy, it will be time enough to undeceive him. bo lar, even your uncle does not suspect the truth. If you ware to come back to-morrow I am sure he would gladly receive you." Voyle smiled grimly. "I'll make sure of a reception; but gladly? Hardly that."

CHAPTER XLIII. "I THINK I'M COMMENCING TO SEE DAYLIGHT." "I've waked and slept through many nights SinooaSfon ft; ybut still that day will catch my breath | Like a nightmare. _attbob_ Leigh.

He had muttered tho words,

Miss Dorothy looked up. " What aro you saying, dear?"

•'Oh, nothing." " When you left homo that night I was not aware that Mr Claflin stillod looked on Vella as his wifo, You know I only heard the first few words of tho conversation betweon him and James. "If I had understood how safo you would bo in staying, I would not have let you go."

Voyle glancod up excitedly. "I couldn't have stayed, Aunt Dolly— not possibly I" "Why? My boy, I am getting out of patience with you. You could not hide about town with greater appearance of guilt if thero really was foundation for that wretched thoft slander."

It wns a random shot. But hor curiosity was intense.

" I have often wanted to talk to you about that," he put in, quickly. "I am gluil you recalled it to mo now. I'll toll you how it happened. It sounds improbable, but I know i/uu'll believe mo. The day boforo that wretched farce of a wedding I went, into the dining-room and lay down on the loungo. 1 had been riding hard all morning, and was used up. 1 was asleep before you could say 'Jack Robinson.' I

was awakened by Robert tapping moon the shoulder. 1 looked up. Ho held mo out a lotter. ' I wouldn't havo aroused you, sir,' he said, 'but that tho messenger said it must bo dolivored at once.' I toro it opon, nnd read ;

"' Como down to the numbor below. Como at onco. Uring somo monoy, and help mo out of a bad fix. Mum's the word.

"MarcThacy',' '

Miss Dorothy listenod with hor faded eyes very wide indeed, and the pale brows arched in inquisitive surprise. " I had thought Marc out of town. Then tho addres.3 givon was that of a notorious gaming-house. I had never known Marc to gamble. But I decided that theso wore no points to consider in thoir numerous aspocts then. Marc was in trouble I must help him. I stood up and triod to shako off my drowsiness. I was sleepier than whon I had lain down. My limbs, too, shook odly. My hoad felt light and queor. I looked at my watch. I thought I had beon asleep but a fow minutos. Tho hands told me I had lain there threo full hours. I noticod a curious odor, but thought littlo of it at tho time. I wont upstairs. In my drcenng-caso drawer wero a hundred and twenty dollars, the remains of our profits on that prospecting businoss which I wont into with Harry Wilson, You romembor ?"

Sho nodded. She was all attention.

" I took tho monoy and went down and out. I hurriod straight to tho number mentionod. Just as I was about usconding the stairway a hand was laid on my ehouldor. A voice said, ' Voyle Vornoll, you aro under arrest.' I whooled round. Tho man who hold mo flung back his coat, disclosing the star of a detective. ' llow dare you !' I cried angrily. ' Of what am I accused?' 'Of the thoft of three thousand nnd fifty-four dollars from your Undo James Vornell.'

" I grew furious. " Aro you a fool, or a scoundrel?' I domanded. He kopt cool. ' Noithor,' ho answered ; ' but you will certainly bo tho former if you make a Bcono here. Look what a crowd ib gathering already !' And sure enough, horo was tho usual street mob beginning to crowd tho entry and stairs. Ho was right, of Bourse, and I was acting in a nonsonsical manner."

"Dear, doar!" groaned Aunt Dorothy, overcome.

"I saw tho best thing I cpuld do would bo to go with him quietly, and I wont. 1 Now, search mo,' I said, as ho roachod tho station. ' This affair is going a littlo too far.' Thoy searched mo. Not in'any of my pockets was found that which thoy sought. 'Hold on!' cried ono; 'what's thia?' Thore was quito a porceptiblo bulgo at tho bottom of my coat. Thoy had it off in an

instant. Just undor tho arm-holo was a slit. 'Going a littlo too far!' said an official, quoting my words of a fow minutos previous. 'Faith, 1 think so tnysolf.

Your brass rings like tho gonuino metal, youngster,' and ho thrust his hand down betweon tho lining and cloth and drew therefrom a huge roll of cheques and drafts. Thon they all burst out laughing." "Sakes alive I" gasped Miss Dorothy. Voylo tilted back his chair and claspod his hands behind his head. "I tell you it stunned me. I stood thoro nnd stared at tho monoy and tho man who held it, liko a veritable idiot; and tho longer I stared, and the more blankly, tho moro thoy laughed and seemed to think I was a rare rascal for my ago, It is ncodloss to say I protested my innoconco, vowed that that was tho first I had seen of tho money, and produced the lettor I had received, and my own hundred and twenty in corroboration. I hoard mntterings of a ' dodge.' I was refused bail. I asked them to send for my unclo, and discovorod it was a messago of his to hoadquarters which had boon tho cause of my arrest. Thon I bogged they would sond to Marc. This was done. Tho answer came that ho had gono to Now York, to be absont probably several days, I did not wish to frighten Vella or you, thinking somothing would occur to roloaso mo before you would begin to remark my absonco, so sont you no word. Tho next day—you know the rest." Miss Dorothy nodded a vigorous assent. " Of all tho queor things 1 ovor hoard of, Voyle, its the quoorest." He smiled significantly. "So I thought thon." Sho bent broathlossly forward. " Do you mean to say you understand it now ?"

Ho puckored his lips aa though about to indulgo in a whistle, thought bottor of it, and turned his eyes gravely upon hor.

"I think I'm commencing to see day- i light." " My dear Voylo !" Ho lot down tho fore-logs of his chair with a bang, bont toward hor, took in both of his hor plump old hands. "Now, don't scream, Aunt Dolly, if you're surprised at what I'm going to teli you, for the folks in this house havo most wonderful ears. But old Judgo Duran and I have talked over this affair, and viewed it in all its lights—he's a sharp lawyer, you know— and this," hitching nis chair nearer and speaking lower, "this is tho conclusion we've como to—that I waa drugged that day, and the money put in my pocket while I was unconscious. Now don't!"

She didn't. But though the exclamation remained unutterod, mouth and eyes formed three startled O's.

(To be Continued.)