COMPLETE TALES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 217, 10 September 1904, Page 13

COMPLETE TALES

(Copyright Story.)

I fors certificate- is the best equroi'. , NT oauper who wishes to see iWSpeas vf!y. I here are * le fverywlHTf, even in the ** ££ Unfc. - in ' ! lilc man wb ° can i e j; always -"--"'■ ~f" be/1 and I noeket moiipy. I don't know &s idea that led mc to be- ! 3 bu; on jα-ocurin- a <£■' * (jiii or tun . 1 utilised my proj*** '. 3 mean? t.; explore our planet j; t v? v( ' xyiii - fTirTush - ! *' }t wai t:iat roun, i myself Wj, gg' n Francisco toward.-; the : century. Two years' knock- , ' mo to aJvpnI m the , irauin inut schooner, ■ f ; 3 ; reir i joctored. -ma-shed un a I reel 1 vroiu-d philosophically B City for the next turn of J «aff's Wheel. A trifle of ruoney mvheadabov water, and I haunt- ; : assiduously, on the look--1 t% another b.ller. But lurk didn't I v wav tor a month, and I I K^j" t o thbik of humping grain on the I Srtts for bread v/r>?-i the ace turner! "fZj it was an I won wife, * " Tf position aad for" -j no ny that a^e. hieoeith :ry the name of -' Paacheo mennoiv-i! in Crazy Dn-e— a di*r?pii:ablo drinkin- ?- fjtvVhieh I visited frequently on tbV some rapiain in search; rTmedical man. But the skippers . f-ofee to didn't seera ..ver-anxkms to I : -.heir salary-lists, and my purse : I'" Te ll nhrht empty, beiorr —as the "j-ooes—l struck oil. I was sitting 1 < over a dn-slin?. when I jearf -Je "iMijda dear namr it was to m<-. A -orpreviou?. vrben sufficiently flush to 5 «t st an expensive hotel without disjidiß the bill. I mci the most chartn--3C gjrl in the world. S»*be and her jotter Manuel were in "Frisco on law I teijßß. connected with the sale of I (Hirtoßenito property. Hiram K. I yg. a millionaire of shady ante- ' aJStiiras in treaty for the land. As i Dim Maanel wa< poor and inpxperienc- ; jj. aid the sou! of honour, the sharpr.aJ Yankee secured hi- prizp for Igg to nothing. But when he added in--5 altu>injury, by making love to Donna ) jjg, ;he resented hi* impertinence. ?=o MPincbeo. and the millionaire refcnrndto his palafr by Lake Michigan in -jj sorst of tPTntw»rs. It wa* at this jßjtrhar. the Spanish twins —for twins •ifT stre. and >nani-h —r-ame into my St, s>l never sei eye.- °" Dodpe for mtj long day. When I did, he—but at comes laier. fag jotmg and irrfiani remote I loved :-zrstraight off. and I rather think she T33ed the .-amplim«»nf. As an pxjEfflttd ciceronp, I took her and Don imsl under my wing, and for over a i HBh wo were, daily in <>nei another's spjnv. Bα* poverty prevented my rasaj k there was frttle "-haßce , tha-t =» mXli a patrpfr doctor. We Kind ?miled and llirtt-d and parted. larer expected to -cc her ;!iz;iin. yet a ; Teetest of merDorie-* kept h< r im&:n my hatTer»»d lipart. %ber Pancheo yue.«sed my infatuaatleaut -zy. If he did. the \vea.k----b did Tot displease him, for v. c rej simei c\i i fii'>nt friend-. But. as he ! i iai Midor-e ':.;- ~i-ter"~ invitation inattteffl at >au Benito. I i-'-nr-y h<? 3Bt havp -a.-spcei.ed. | [was tkmkiiiir more of my .ioubtfu.li immes man ut Inez a.- i sat over the j sfrstiai, and th« ion of her name i 'hi bar -tartleii mc not | sSttit Tb-c man who -poke wsu one j i tia«c a ruiry rutfian. roughly j 2sri, aod wurins biue spectacles. it of his companions was undeniably tailor, red-r'aceil. burly, and —-as I jaad—■jood-natured in the main. But "» iiirf maa'* looks surpri.-«»d mc. M. slim. oarefuHy dre=sed, with close- * apped fair hajr, hlondf mou-staehc, ai be strtK-k mc a≤ an ari?'BMie Hi? dandy looks. s afosted drawl, nnd pnbsbed manes, taitoaited markedly with the ruf*i. v *ppe*ran< r oi q;s American I wondered wiiat this Beau tfonnell -wra~ doicc in a n-est. and •■5; njßelf to feten. Se*ntiuj: woman T loved in That, mention oil • name. I bad n<> i-rwnpunvtkm in! Toe t.riumvirato of I "«a!s conversed in lon voicf>. bui. my ; '■ts wrre 4iu;e -itarp eni>ugli to orerj tat

But what a. yacht fit for Cowes should be doing in these waters puzzled mc. My old salt could not tell mc. She had arrived onJy on the previous day, and her aflteredents were unknown. Shortly. Colocel Sax, spotlessly dressed, came ashore in a smart gig. I deliberately threw myself in his* way, risking all on one chance. He looked rather superciliously at my seedy kit, but pricked up his ears when I spoke. -Public School ?-•-• asked Sax with interest. ""Rugby!" said I, seeing that he recognised the shibboleth. "I'm Etoii myself," he answered; "you seem down on your luck." 1 nodded- "On the bed-rock, you mijrht say. But ii you want a doctor on board that boat of yours " "T don't know that I do.'" , he interrupted crisply. -H'm! Anyone to speak for you. Dr. Ward?" for oy this time, 1 had given him a name which was not my own. This deception was absolutely necessary. It so happened that I had a friend or two who knew mc under the wrong name, as I fought shy of using my right one. owing to being in low water. 1 mentioned the references, and Sax scribbled them in bis pocket-book. By the time we parted, I -was pretty sure of the billet, and rather wondered at his readiness to trust mc. His business was none of the cleanest, and demanded more caution in dealing with chance strangers. i

Pancheo." repeated th«* blackvntied man with the "that's ■" rame. jpats. jjkl 1 want h<-r carried

3 '« <ne r-jiiip.. out with ii brotherj "«rtsat a ram-lii' :>0 niilt-s v.p coast." 'Sib Benito Bay." grovU-d the .-kip { * ftoughtfuliy. "a darned rnky job "t th' barky itoiis them narrers." J "JM guess that yacht of the Co!-j JW3 - Wli7l tnro * U jrh like a durk. •P- An' if* twrniy thousand dot- * {i > you if polled off." «dandy they called Colonel reck4is into Engnsli money. "Four *i*ad pounds. H'm! (.heap enough '[■Titii dirty work " I .Fflpay when th' gal's aboard." cried j* man whom 1 had recognised as' b it j -leu! , ' T I fi i lt ''' th« other", and ■*vn» loaned nui. | indeed, was danger to Inez. and 1 powr fn save her. but trow jet?' et? f hafl no money to ->trikf out Z** Benito. If I warned Mamiel by; > ■ [, he mirht au-t. rashly b<-injr yotmn tot? 1 *™ 1 " , - u:ili J hnt'.bloo.led'Mexis Hc I "'" !r aml tA,>n,v hoars to con-' Jf* a y 3 :iml mean.-. and left the Dive' J* ay W.i bu«,nir lik- v saw-mill-j*«*t night I \vre--tle.j with the nrob- ::, n M(1 'lanjrerui:- counsel i-.ime to mc '**?• WTiy not affiliate my.-elf to the Lr,y n,i l *ke i hand in the kidnap-, with Ihr i.len. !,' l" 'arry i; ~,ii. n«>f.-er-«Uy pointed hoarrlinc the yarht. Keniemberin- . OjUaeof the boa!. 1 -auntered dem-n Front shortly after dawn, but n °p COhPrrnt ~' llPm, ' in mv head. W e eh say - I went out Q meet Oanc*,' meet bini 1 did. PnjTi'lontial way. A few minutes' with mi ~],! ,alt intro%fc to ihp ve *sel I was ia search of. «tedt^- a tiKht - Uttle '" raft: Lwo hun ■ ris^ , Llo - Vr l' = measurement, schoonf ° re and aft Her funnel— ** screw-steam—wa? painted white tte lscar kt top. and a lean ribbon of Wrf ran round T h, " rk huIL a ?auist the green of the surher decks and s P ars Plicate and graceful. She **c. a I P ennant St. Andrew's as neat a specrment of a -aasn-3 toy as I ever'set eyes on.

However, to make a long story short, the recommendations of my friends did away with any doubts he may have entertained. That same evening I found myself on board "The Stormy Petrel," as she steamed north on her nefarious er-

rami- Dodge was a passenger also, and I rather dreaded lest he should recognise mc as having been at his elbow in the Dive. But he either had forgotten orl had not noticed mc, so I had no cause to be alarmed. j By this time his black wig and beard! and his spectacles were east aside in the saloon, and he appeared a light-com-plexioned. clean-shaven. bald-headed Yank, with keen blue eyes and a sharp way of speaking- Herry, who was the third of the trio and the skipper of the yacht, sat down to dine with us. and as the champagne circulated everyone beKime lively. No disguise was made of tho errand upon whicn the boat was bound, notwithstanding my presence. But, so far as the scamp-' knew, there was no chance of my betraying their until they were brought to a successful conclusion. Had they SUS-. petted mc. I should have been dropped overboard without compunction. The! conversation showed mc that they were hardened ruffians, and that Sax. in spite o fhis refined looks, was the worst. Dodge seemed fairly crazy about Inez, and talked of her in sne-h a way. and so races santly. that I could have knocked the teeth down his throat. But caution prevented mc making a fool of myself In that way. At length the conversation became too much for mv nerves, and. fearrnl of betraying a dangerous honesty. I went on deck.

i»an Bemto proved to be a areolar bay of no ereat size, with a narrow entrance thro ugh which the tide poured at the HpeexTof a mill-race. A sandy beach sloped upward to mound-like hills, sparse ly covered with vegetation: and—as I was informed by Herry, who knew the anchorage —there was a sufficiency of water to berth the boat fairry near snore. Waiting for the ingoing tide, the skipper swung his crait dexterously into the current, and she swept clean through the narrows without hindranceIt was a neat bit of business, which ■showed mc that Herry was a thorough jfamaii. He had need to be. seeing the cargoes his boat carried on occasions. •The ranche is over the hills two miles inland." exclaimed Dodge, when the anchor slipped overboard. "Herry can go up and ask fur water. I guess that "nil bring the young greaser down with, a run. He's as curious as a mag-

pie. This proved to be correct, for Manuel returned with Herry and the sailors in three hours. I wag not there to receive my friend, as 1 dreaded lest he should recognise mc. and thus awaken the suspicions of the gang Making the excuse that T wished to stretch ray legs, I went ashore, ostenasking Sax to accompany mc He declined, and saw mc leave the boat without suspicion. I climbed the sand hills ?nd made for the Pancbco man-

The tirst butldin- I .-truck was in adobe church, like a barn, bare and cool and furnished with a few rush-bottomed chairs- Candles were lighted on the hirrh altar, and from a profusion of brilliant blossoms rose a glittering crucifix. The pale light of the candles faintly ll laminated the building, but for the most ->art it was filled with a kind of brown twilight, accentuated by the glare outs :de." Before the altar knelt a woman, her face hidden in her hands. I knew who she was the moment she looked round at the sound of my footsteps; but who could have mistaken Inez for any other than her dear self? "Don Ricardo." she said in her pretty, broken English- "Ah! Uuzzer of God! you hat come at ze last, dear fnend. ■On an unpleasant errand. Senora..' I answered, kissing those dear white hands. "I can only stay for a few mm She looked astonished but not afraid, having a brave spirit of her own. There v as no time to be lost, so I rapidly detailed the scheme of Dodge, and explained how 1 had come to hear of it I We spoke in Spanish, as I knew that toif-ne and Inez was not sufficiently verged in EnsrUsh to follow a rapid nar rative She heard mc iv silence, only th*- flush on her face revealing her an ger ' 'Vnd I wish you to tell Manuel not to appear to recognise mc," I finished- "when we are alone, we may think of some scheme to baffle the scoundrels.' "That Senor Americano is bad—very wicked," »iJ Inez. P aasionatel £ (rtli " H * h-i< persecuted mc for many month*. 1 refused to become his wife. •And why. Senora.?" I asked, lookin spite of the agitation whirh the narrative caused her. •Perhaps I like someone better/ said she. mischievously. not," she inj.erZJ- '--but thai month in San Frane^efwas^^ea^t^on^cardc." "I have never forgotten-- it.

V rAVOVRITE Vavthors.

A MILLIONAIRE'S ELOPEMENT.

(By Fergus Hume.) (Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," etc)

As I spoke I made a step forward, but Inez moved away, shaking , her head. ""We must be serious, my Eriend," , she said- "This wicked plan must be stopped. You will wait iuid see Manuel." "No, I think not. Better let mti stay on board the yacht to keep an eye on the scamps. They don't suspect mc —as yet." "Be wise, and they will not suspect you at all," she replied. "1 will tell Manuel, and then we shall see. Ah," she held out her hands to mc with a pretty gesture, and a prettier blush, "how good you are to be my friend." "Yon h«Te some plan?" I asked, anxiously. u Ah. but no. lam so surprised. My brother will think, and we will talk. It is good, of you to warn US. Now go. my friend", and when you come again I shall think of you as a stranger/ "1 should like You to think of mc as something dearer, Inez." She laughed and blushed, and agaii; sho&k her pretty head- Then, with a distracting smile, she threw mc a cardinal flower from her breast. 1 stoop ed to pick it up, and rose to find her gone; but I knew that she loved mc, and walked back to the boat singing for sheer joy. The birthday of my life had come at lest, and tn,ez —Inez! Inez! Oh, 1 could think of nothing bat that dea. name: but the sound of oars brouw.i mc down from heaven to earth. Peer

ing over the sandhills, I saw Manue. come ashore, with Sax. The two appeared to be good friends, and shoo;., hands warmly. When Pancheo was o-ut of sight I hailed the boat as it pushed into deeo water.

■TVhere have you been?" asked Sax, - unsuspiciously. For a villain he was ; the most trusting person I ever met. i "Wandering about this dull country," said I. cheerfully. "I hope you won'; j hang out here long, colonel." "Just long enough to transact business," said Sax, as the oars dipped under and the boat moved towards the' yacht. "Well. I sba'n't go ashore again. It's a dead and alive hole.' , ""You must come with mc to see the Pancheos, Ward. They have us to visit them to-morrow morning." Next Any, with the Colonel, I paid my visit. In the patio we were met by Manuel, who saluted mc coolly and as a perfect stranger. Inez had tok. him as I knew by that salutation, and Iby the way in which his eyes flashed : when they rested on Sax. He alsu ; looked puzzled, though he found ii . : difficult to comprehend how a gentleman conld concern himself with such j dirty work. The patio was a square court of Moorish design with, a fountain in the centre, and brilliant flowers everywhere; but the faire3t flower was Inez herself. At least Sax appeared to think ?o. for he kissed her hand in his best and most deferential fashion. Donna Panchee played her parrt so well, and was so attentive to that I was inclined to be jealous. Perhaps sht , hoped to make him ashamed of himself, and 1

think he was. if one could judge from the occasional flush that crimsoned his bronzed cheek. "Ah, Senores, I am so glad you've come,' , lisped Inez, as we sat over collee and cigars. ''It is =o lone. No fazzer, no mujfzer; only bruzzer, and," with a gesture of despair, "he go avay wiz himself ze long day." "I haf moch works," explained Manuel. ""My sister, sbe haf to amuse alone." "Amuse," echoed Inez, with a wrathful flutter of her fan. '"Holy Muzzer, wfaa' you say, Manuel? I do die for ze want of joy." '"Perhaps it would amuse you to see my yacht," said Sax, thinking to decoy his bird into the snare, and not guessing the purpose of this conversation. Inez clapped her hands. "Aha. Zat would be real sweets," &he cried.

I "Do not speke ze Americans, my sisI ter." said Manuel sharply. "Real sweet" was no doubt an expression used by Dodge. Sax guessed as much, for I saw him smile under his moustache. Then he repeated his invitation. "You will come to luncheon tomorrow, Seoora?'" "Ah, but no," interposed Manuel quickly. "It cannot be : it is not proper zat a Spanish lady should pay ze veesit." Inez looked disappointed, and Sax swore under his breath; but Manuel sent his sister away pouting with her duenna. a scowling old creature, who crowed herself, and cursed Sax and mc a.-? heretics without lowering her voice. When the women disappeared Manuel made himself j agreeable, and Rax, suppressing hi.s dis- ■ appointment, responded; but he kept I close to mc all the time, so I could not ex- ' plain to the young Mexican; but when I we departed Manuel squeezed my hand to Ehow that he understood. Sax was in a bad temper when he got back to the yacht, and Dodge swore in his best fashion when he heard the news. "We must carry her off," said Dodge. ! scowling. ''I can't be cavorting about here all m' life." "Oh. there ain't no difficulty about the kidnapping," said Herry, who had been making inquiries. "The gal goes every evenin' t ? the adobe ineetin' house where Father Pedro works th' praying machine. and th' old woman runs alongside. 11l hide with a few shell-backs near at hand, and yank the gal aboard afore the brother can git wind of the job.' , "It's a whiz," agreed Dodge, and Sax nodded. He wished to get away from San Benito as soon as possible. I think in his own heart he was ashamed of the whole business. ■ With Merry, we went again to visit the Pancheos, and the Captain was—as he expressed it —knocked all of a heap when he saw the Senora. "Mv stars,"' said he, "but she's a dandy angel, yoa bet!" and he drank her health more times than was good for him. Being ashamed, sax rather avoided Inez: but to give Manoel an opportunity of speaking to mc, she insisted on showing him her private garden in the company of the indispensable duenna. Herry was left drinking at the table, and Manuel spoke with mc in the patio. Our eonTersation was short and to the point, as we had not much time. '•Don Ricardo," said Pancheo. grasping my hand, "you have behaved like a brave cabalero. Inez has told mc all. I shall never be able to reward you." "I think you will, Manuel," said I, significantly, and he knew what I meant. "Why not?" he said laughing. '""Inez (bee-loved yoa ever since we met in Stat

Francisco. At that thne I did not ap proTe; but now—yes, I think yoox servicedemands the reward you ask." When we left the Paacheo mansion for the last time, Herry and Sax had quite made up their minds to abdnct Inez the next evening. They explained their plans to Dodge, who approved. "An , if you km shoot the young Greaser in the scrimmage," said he grimly. "11l on an- • other thousand dollars."

After that cowardly speech I concluded to leave Dodge and Manuel to adjust their own affairs. It didirt seem to mc that I was called upon to save the life of a man who was bent on murder.

ILL The next evening about sundown, Herry and Sax were summoned by the Angela to their evil deed. They did not condescend to details, nor did they ask mc to accompany them. I witnessed their departure in the company of four sailors armed to the teeth, and sat down to poker with Dodge. We played cards for quite three hours, bat my thoughts were less on the game than on ManneL When we rose, Jiowevex, I was winner to a considerable amount.

''I ain't got enough to pay up," said Dodge , feeling in his pockets"; "you wait till we fetch 'Frisco. All I have is the bag of dollars for the business." ••Why don't you give Sax a cheque?'' '•"Not much sense in that, doctor. I don't want no one to trace my hand in this racket. Cash down is what I pay. and as soon as th' gal's on board Sax handles the dollars. Then we part."

"Well. Mr Dodge, I tell you what," =aid 1 after a pause; ''give mc one of those handsome Derringers you have, and we'll cry quits. If it comes to a fight I may a*> well be armed."

The millionaire handed mc a revolver with alacrity. "HeTe y , are." said he. "'I guess brother Manuel won't let th' qnl ■ slip without a scrimmage. Shoot him if yon can, doctor."

I felt more inclined to shoot the man for making such a proposition to an English gentleman, but restraining myself with an effort, I sought the deck, thrusting tne weapon into my hip pocket as I went. It was load«d in all six chambers, so if Sax attempted violence when he came to know what I had done, I was ready to meet him on equal terms. There was considerable excitement about th« bnsnress, and a.« I paced the deck a body of men came scrambling down on to the beach. I heard the murmur of many voices, and shortly the gig shot alongside.

"Have you got her?" I asked, leaning over the side.

I quite expected to hear a volley of disappointed oaths, but to my dismay Ilerry sang out cheerfully. "You b*'t \v have her." --aid he, "th' twenty thousand dollars is c-urs for sure."

I heard a. chuckle from Dodge, who was peepiujr from the companion, am! 1 conld havo stamped with rage at think ing how the villain's plan had ?ucc/ ,i eclt'd. Ft was plain that Manuel's scheme, whatever it was, had failed. Donna inoz was passed up tho side, and although her veil was down. I could see that she was shaking with terror and sbamc LSax hurried her down the companion with a murmured apology.

Presently Sax came on deck with a bland smile and his arms full of bag? For the moment I lost my temper, and 'scattered all pmdent resolutions to the wind. "Has Juda.s received his thirty pieces of silver?" I with a sneer.

"V\ tiat the "he began, then broke off srtddenlr, "what's that?"

He might well ask. From the cabm came the wild shriek of mortal agony. the cry of a man struck down. Sax wheeled and whipped out his revolver, and Herry made for the companion; but before he conld descend a slim figure dashed him aside. The next moment Don Manuel \va.- before us.

He vra-s dressed merely in trouserand shirt, and hi-s face was pearly white in the moonlight. With eyes (lashing like those of a panther he glared at <Sax and the paralysed Captain, in hi? right hand he gTipped a bowie knite from the blade of which dripped blood. Xo need to ask whose it was. I knew that Dodge had paid the penalty of his evil d-eeds, and taking in the situation at a glance I leaped to the side of my friend with my revolver poised. Kerry and !*iax faced us with their earnings at their feet, and the crew at their backs. And all this happened in a flash under the radiance of the tropical moonlight.

"Aha." cried Manuel savagely, ''you looks et mc, and et ze knife. Look well, oh you evil ones. I am Manuel, who wear? ze dress of my sister, an' it is me—mine self you bring here. 1 spp ze Americano, and behold—"' he flashed the knnV eniltingly. "You have killed him?"' shrieked Sax, rwovering his wits. "He is dead —all dead- He did —" '" Here* .1 Warned evil," growled Herry. raising his weapon. '"Guess I'll lay that Gi*easer "longsidf . Dodge. Hullo !" he recoiled before the barrel of nay revolver. '" He's in it, too —a spy —a traitor,"' cried Sax, and fired. But Manuel wa.s on him with a bound, a.-, the ?hot whizzed past my head. The next moment Sax was turn bling on the deck, and i was shouting to the Mexican not to kill him. Herry got in a shot, and my left arm fell useless : but I could still use my right, and with it I dragged Manuel to the gurr.rale. The crew made a concerted da?h, but we leapt overboard without thinking. Manuel gave a wild Strang? cry as we struck the water. I thought he was wounded, but it was to bring help. A line of tire ran along the beach and amidst the crackling of musketry we made for the shore. Manuel aided w.p and shots from the boat dimpled the water like hailstones. The beach was thronged with peons, ami Herry seeing this hesitated to lower the gig. He saw that help had come, and that the game was up. Sax, leaning over the side, swore at the pitch of his voice : but I cared very little, and Inez was safe. I hardly felt the pain of my wound, as Manuel hauled mc on to the rands. With a triumphant laugh. I shouted to the Colonel. "' Sold, you blackguard, sold !" 1 cried, and four or five shots came ripping past as .Sax emptied his Derringer in impotent rage.

Whether Manuel intended to attack thp yacht or no I can't say, but Herry wad too far-sighted to give him the chance. A volume of smoke btldied from the funnel, and the screw began to spin. With all speed, the boat surged for the entrance, amidst the Triumphant cries of the peons. With that sound in my ears, with the sight of the flying yacht before my eyes. I fell on the beach faint with loss of blood.

When I came to myself I was in bed. Manuel was on one side of mc. and Inez knelt on the other. Seeing that 1 had recovered my senses, Pancheo did the very beat thing to forward my recovery. He placed the hand of Inez in mine, and left the room. Then we kissed, and thus we became betrothed. But she was a nurse for a long time before she became my wife.

\Ve heard nothing more of the yacht jr of Bodge. I expect the villains dropped, the body overboard, and steamed into safer waters -with tbeir plunder. But they were wise enough not to return to Trisco. so it happened that no onp ever knew what became of the millionaire. His strange disappearance '«as a nine days' wonder, but he | had covered his trail to 'Frisco so cleverly that, he could not be traced. Manuel held his tongue, as there was no need to make the business public, and after all the millionaire deserved hfe fate : but the irony of the whole business was that Dodge, not having revoked his will by marriage, left the whole of the Pancheo property out of which he had cheated Manuel, to Inez. She passed it on to her brother, but he insisted I that I should become his partner in the J wheat-growing business. 1 became so, i after I resumed my real name and married Inez, and then, as the tale says, we were liappy ever afterwards.

So that was how the ace came into my hand, and that was how I played it. And I must say that on losing the game Fortune paid up very handsomely.