BY ORDER OF THE DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 229, 25 September 1915, Page 20

BY ORDER OF THE DEAD.

B7 VTCTOK W. COOK.

( fI.WTEa X iC.ntinumi*. "U' -~r.: e.v.jM j.i.i 'i-ivr a- join. Mv U-. r. .•:,:.- v ur ,,; a ..,. ; .. ;n , , aw - ■■■■ - ■ •■ •■ •-:■■ • >:•■ ,n \[ •r.ta.Art.-.-. i .-» j.-- m.-n itr.n m, . .■ .. •_ [n.-ir fi*n.i - ;.. : ...• t.i-:-. of -i at; - : _• ::..- g.x'ieaj of ,•■ • «.. >-•_:•_•■• : ■• n, *n.7n.»lr-alj i :-■ •- i: . i\a .: !'.: :.. . Wα, ..,.■ A:; >- ■..-: -r- . .-•.. .-•■.,,! ttw.njrv V. f.at ...i- • •■ '~ . . .-..;> i ....:- ---• ." • • ! • t ».•:. . .'r;. ■ „, a.k-l. ■I:.. t i.:.-. ..::■• i.wwt. ,-.*t ;v^J^:;-';:/,-.;;;•:,:,' »:;.. ...i. •- i. jr...: . :i f .• .; ; . t i.n :■■; . "r..- p ! :■ -- i.e. ;- >'. •■ iuvr ,!.,r.- niM. ii C ri-.IK, jr.: . ■ •. .■> .-. . ■) .... r. • ' U ■;,':. ::•• ;..: ■ •- : .--. ■; , r * a.'.i i ; • - i-r«t :■■. t ;ii. - i :i : .. r ; ■>.. ..' ! I. ;rr.a:i lie-. ■< ■■ : .1 •■ •■■*: :.•.•! i" : ht.oiir <<•,. >.-. ... a:, „..,; .. ». ~r »•■ . *;..j j. I !-. : i .-•. *:..-■> : I, it a,- ..-••; :...: * J., w -. • : .. >!r. !....::. r W ! An.l »i;MI p.- !.:•■•■ .•. r ■ ■■ v.- -If.*'- .1 • *<■ h-v. -:: :. V. :•. :..;. . a:, it.:. ..■ an.) ' < .-■. .- r.i ••■ ! Hi-'- ■•■■ i ■ ■...- n-ari v! the I): ■ - i. M r.i'.! a; :'" j -I:.. :•■ a:.- 1., . ■>_• :.un !r- !- :-. t'.iIliin !r, !-. -■■: ::.. n ...... -I • » ~.ii l!i. ,: ■■\'.l':i .«. -hattrri !. .1... ■ #■ »<•»■■' ■•:'' Hi t:i.- -:,...-I.- r ■ .. . ..: :.:•■ ._•;. .1: M.i:i i:u« Ju M.in.i* .1 ... M t-\er_. ■.-.,- ~.. .: s. furtunc mt.. taat ...1 n.'ra*.!. , . c!T r,. 1 hunlrfl- "' n..n:r:i 11! v, .»••._> »'.ri- «-('-.• »untf.; an.l r-i.r,-! 1...-, ;■.%: f..r | the- !,Uif „! ].•.-..-:, -A.t'i »!i.!i thai 'a" r-K-icty. It .- th" l>: ■ ,-■■ »:,.,' ..»n.i ' t:i.- Jlan-'.n. -I 1 M..r. :>■. -': .- 1, 111 ' *!.*■» rat l-ir:>- ! fa 1-r. . :<• !..i- n . , j.a«. •■«. m t;.o *»rl: -j-.«- d>r h-: ~«,:i«v. Mr h».-..r kH, ha-1-..rir of \ tr.«- ? i. a -: >•„!!.- i..,r.. .n X ~-,;.• ;■-- ; ■>-j. .1 v ii.-r n-.canrf»i t!iat •!»■ :.«■„' r.j ]_'■■! 1 the jja_\mcDH :».-<<—an t.. i::.:ir<. them ; >:•■■ v a [..-:•■- 1.-- ~f th<- 1.., Urn <••»! , Wei!, w. h»vf .i.-at w.tS :,..-. Do \ uu i thai!; tint wrong?" I \S'h:!c llnrth -!.m,.i -.:c>.tat:n7. five;- ■, nat.'.l l.v i;.-r rntliiwiJ*ln, vrt (l»ubun;; ' it foundation*, *h.- ro-ir from in-r fat- ■ For a moment »iie la:.l a nan j upon liU = rrn. The toucn l llc.l the luia: •a.lor in cvrrv nerve. "Do you think the m«n you -1* »<rr<" r>.i!" -tip a->i.i-d him. "Do you t!i..ii>. I an. <••.:!, .ml s.'t on rv] thiiu»!" "No —by heaven, no , " h.- cr.oi. car- : rie-l out of hircsclf by the rnajtic of her enthusiasm, an-i hi.* overwhelming ad- ' miration of her. " Join us then, in the place of our deed companion." .She dropped her hanl from hi* arm. ami uniii.-d up in hU face. : ''I have to!d you our object," *aid ehe ; qu..r;ly. "You may put >f!iat name lp ! v* you like. Call thieves. c»TJ Hi r* Tolutionarif! io you wilt. Our method* ' are many, bat our aim is one. We strike at the foundation* of this commercial ' "I don't think I understand you, , ' tail Garth. 'Society to-day," pur«ued the younjj lady. ™ia built on the idea that men mu*t get the most out of the world a* it ' M for !hfm«("ivp» You follow mc?" , "I am trying to, llisi Lorette." , la the fervour of her enthuMaam the jr.r) .-t-t-meii to have forgotten that the iruin ehe addres»eil wu a common » ,- j man. "Very oil.' , *aii »he, "x- say ] that all the pool that hie ever b«-ea , done in the world has been done by til* , < men who hare a»~t"l eiactl/ contrary to . that idea. Mankind ha.< al»ayi been forwarded by men »ho have tried to be, f and not to have. You *cc the diiler- c enoe?" "■Why—yes," said Garth. Bot what be I saw much more clearly was the light in 1 her deep blue eyejs. 1 "To-day men worship idoij, instead of id*aU," «aid Sorella, "and »et Mammon 1 on the throne of God. All that has got ' to be ehanjeri.* , j "Bat bow?" asked the «a,ilor. ' "In the lame way that a!! error* must t»» fought," said the sriri. "Hueh thiniu F ron.*t be denounced a.l crime against baroanity. We nnwt strike at their I mowt eottMpicaoxa effect* in the most cotwptcnoaji way." "You mean, by robbing the worthless r:rh r , "Yon may dea-TiU it no." Sorella h calmly answered. "By despoilinsr m ' n a and women who have humanity r/ in their rnthleui search for wealth, of | Home of that wealth so eviiy won. and by t applying it In undo «vroe of the ill whi<"b r they have don*, and to help iiu'-h as a ar<: wajrinj; an unequal in the c world- Mr. Ix>rr.r7K>r, we ar.; not the -j poor fijhtinsr lit* ri<h b«*au(i« t.Ty have 1 ■what we have not. We have no war with t the rich beraiia* of the-.r riches. We „ strike only at those who have wrung th<-ir riches out of human liv**, an.i who by their slavish worship of the g"l'l t they hoarded or np>-nrj net an evil ex o ample to the world. MaJiy of n< in our Rocicty are even our<elv<«( jmnni the rich, but we are lijrhtmjf to throw down " Uμ- supn-rmicy of n< lies in m'n'/i mind*, v an.l to n<t up the suprrmacy of manhood an.l Homanliood. Will you cast in your <• l(/t with m?" " o If it had Ix-en prudence which first die h tat.-<l her attempt to persuade thi-t a young man, it -was pure zeal that moved n •Sirella now. Tin- warm blood Hushed her fan- with a deep rosy tint. She was t< the prii-ntess of a cause", with the convert half won to her side. f , ■■Well?" she urged. H.-nin him hesi- V tate. ••We]]. Mr. l.orrimpr, will you ( help to put rijrht before riches, an.l "the !i\M ii men und women before gold an.l a tilviT?" li ' I .irn nothing hut a poor rough t-a,l;nniin," naid (Jarth. "I have not ti,.,,i-l.t iilioiit tii.-i- tliins*-" M -Ji.it vwil »ill think about then, now? el 1 ; . iv.ll 1,.- -he of our society, whom nl J. „■■, w/11 Lax. ltl-lfH-(l?" ' I ■ • ) .1 ii- 1 liHii-l upon liU arm again. " .......... dlii.wd I*.-.-.'., li.n/ly >Slie Wiui .-... ■..,.!_» 11l L.i I Udiik |M-raiiaaivi-ni-iiH '• ■ .1 '~., 1 . till iw.j/li l/iil half ,01l V 111. ..I, (I 1, ,-ij... . kit 11 !• .... »J.i, 11, l.or.iK" he » ~...: .:.:. an .i.'i.iui.ic r«-kl, r eii.-i- of » ~ ....- ..,■ :... it., utikiiuwii ii L,, l»: v •■ ... ... . 1 ■■! I--- -■■■ " 1} «a., l.i Idkc 1 : ~-i,i,.4 (rum .-•> In j Ujn-iu-r la' a ~ ,i. ~(..- for the .idiirlillirr. V;i/.nli !, c ii v.i i! vi iin •-:.,.. i w;i:.:ii »>.».- »./rk o i i> (•■ '■ .• Mar,.' Aiv-I , ■■■ Sorely ,:, j.,,, ! ~ ■ ■• ■ .i- f ; ■■..! rii...i x'- I r Oarlli J.ur I ' • ■»■ I « .-■ ■■-■ -....I -- r.,;ij With J' -"• »'-l ■! ■'•! »i..' H...V.-J .u»j. ! I r ~:...:;.[,- 1i,,,, 1,. 1,,,,,.. 1.,-, " u,; uU -li:i, t: 0 rvbe*tuut «;:,.. 1,.va,.., a c CLiUraj. I 1:

CHAPTER XI. THE t»COHESS'3 JEWELS. On the day after (iarth Lorrimer had walked in the chestnut grove at the Lhateau Lontte, .-.r Cuthbert Trevelyan •*a-« finilbing h.i dejeuner in a private room at his hotel. The meal over, he In a cigarette, anil lean.n;: back .:i hu chair. b»-j:.in tv trunk about Bertha Dvrin;, t:..- dancer. !!•• very often thought about Bertha [>'-r..'v. Not A.l.i the :i:ir.-*tra..Ge l i r..»t of M-cumrnl huh a younger «ian m«/ht ha , . felt lor that splendid creature, but vi.th .1 p>a-ant —•;:■'<• of ,rra.j.;al and , ~n-..i.r--1 -iirr- •■ !.r to temptation. It *j.-, on I'-Ttiia lVrsn/* a......nt that he r.a.i iomr. a- he had proim-e-l. to Tan-. lin 1 i.- int.. n n-<l M rem.i.n here 'luring her . -n. r.j.-:7i.:: at the Koiie, Mart.n ...-.-. Ab'.i-h mat morning he had iwen t> .a': upon S.er at hi-r expense i....n... h.-r r<»-.:fs -■> nui'-li :nor» r\p>-n !.-.— ran ["rev •; an '•. c> * n ap-irtmentv ii.:.' to the ".iv .n »ht'"h hut morn:i:.- :.i 1 If-en pa---!. Trcvelyan hal f.i-.i.vl l::;.- on! , :■■.' t• •■ reading .-( hit j« r-.na! letter-' aii ha.: not ..> mu-h a< _-:.in...i ii a n**.;a;<r. If he i.a.l. b* ... i 1 ! a.- '• •:i in.i.-' prepared J.if an ann . .:. •.• "t pr<-»'-nt'» ru* J ' '•> l•■ «j. ;. r v>;... ,:i l -. rw.! . .rr. •■An , ; -;..t..r ..I i-lx, to nee Mod With * -■:„••. ; tr.. "i .»l the .iiifirb jr . .~; :, -■■ i. r.. . t.ie K.n- r.f D.-i : , _.j , -jrr« ior the ~:!.• rr to '"' .;,,,.,., ... ||~-; i t;.-« the arTair- ..( th. , _. ,i ...;.,.'■• ..ft «ere in i|umlion, an! 1,..' .:-;.• t.ir 1... ».-.l P"! ;<•'.• a- h<l!t; ,.i i. ii..l I'ii">»;v4ii r.-.n, , , mUu-atc-J a i.a.r. a ■■-,''', ; aw- f*ifne ! •iijiptM* , i'mmil th' - . »ir.,r --U.- «V:.»i. .!«.r- h- ,n.,u.rr.l. [..., .„.,,.•• i,.r n.K1.1-1 .n a bri.V. hu-. -~-„' l.kH , mi.-.ner. He l»>We.i b T»»e. " ■ \.,-,.it t.-..- j*-*eU of Ma.Ume la 1) i. r>r«w: Jc \l.riir.ar." he «,:. •About the what!' Trevelyaa i«K-v li.» •"•I-γ in hu »urpr.»e, ant -tar.] a; t:..- tan. In 1..- turn the in-p«-tor looked fir«t .•.!.;... ...:-, fwn frankly >urpri»ei. •■ltut — \1..-:-:.--.;r has not heard!" ■1 haw- heard nothin?." ~ "But the pal*r* they IVC 01 "- 1 .-,/ i! Tans :.n-a -»it(i the r.»bbrrr, Mr>n.;eur." I haw- h.-a.-l nothing." , Trerelvan q-.ii.-t:-. rrpii*.!. "Havr thr •.•,>.d.-..-« to explain." "In th» fir«t p!a<-c I must a*k you tortir qijp'tion*. Miosieur d.- Tr^trlTan." "Wh.n about , " 'It i- my duty to »-■•'«. T"U to t/-;i mc all vim know .if your fel'o* c.)un'.ryman, the man l>irrnner." ■ Th<- nmn I>.rrimrr." repli<-l th.baronet, "v lu»t -unirss you have found him Have you found him' ' -We haw-not. Monveur. 1 , , it doubt le»* he *;!: i.vm \n- in runtn-iy, if you vri:i be (Tool .-:i<'<i;:'n to furm«h Ui.- information re.]in.'t-.J." -Mv pood -.r. I hive not the l«-a*t notK.n of what you are d.-ivms at. What is thin ab-iut :he jewels of the I)uchc.«se .J.- MirantarT" The inspector atlll looked irx-rcduloun. "I nhould have thought everyone in I*arL< knew to-day tha: the night before \:\\: the !)urhe»»e wai robbed of |f««U to the value of nearly two mtliioa lr*TKi ) \t>p. *ai.i, «^v.-rely. "Yeu . Juave )i««t a.lde 1 one to the Dumber . f tho«e who know it." Trevolymn calmly replied. "I'lcaee po on. I am a)! attention. This app*-ar» to rw> a iu>rioii matter. But where 'io I crmje in?" "Preci»e!y." The ofTiria! tone •arai' rerv drr, ' "It pr.,i•<•-> to be very •rriotiii for Mormieur I.orn:n<-r. --in<e Monsieur it so utranjrely ignorant of what ha« /lerurred. I ill inform him <<( what in already, for the most part, in every ne*Bpap<-r in Fario." •I'dhal) be infinitely id>!ijred." "The ni?h: before la«t." said the inspector, "a Dane naim-<! Henrirk Ilerjrwon tra« fatally injured by your automobile at » point near the junction of the flue dv Koubours Muntmartrv with the brands Roulpv»rd»." "But your oflirers on duty -will con firm mc that it was no fault of my chauffeur." "Of that there jls happily no question. Monsieur. It »a» the man's own fault. He wail, it »*tn» ! in too great a hurry. He wan earryin™ a brown leather baft." "The bag •* c took to the (ochon J'Or. Ejiaf-tly. One of your men came with us—with I/orrimer and mc. 1 offered the use of my car. I could scarcely do ie**." "Aβ Monsieur nays. Here in the point: the man Berpneon had in his ba,; — least we have every reason to suppose no— the golden casKet in which the Dwheue kept her priceless jewellery." "I have heard -if the Duche-we. tfhe is a. wealthy woman, i.i she not!" "Ah, mon I>ieu! but the richest woman in France! She buy s jewels with her wealth. She is a figure in society — > figure like a heathen idol, encrusted with jewels. Here waa the fines£ collection of jewels in the Ki-publir. And they were not insured, for the old woman would have them always by her. md her house was as full of device* to •atrh thieves a, a net is fall of holes. Ihe thieves of ['.iris called it 'the rattrap.' Many rats have been caught in that trap, but never one ha* pot away *ith the bait, till this Bcrgsson." ', 'And he is dead!" 'He. is dead, but the Englishman has -h/- jewels. The Englishman Lorrimer, ir hi» confederates." "Lorrimer had no confederate." The inspector nhrujgrert hi« sh<.ii!dern. 'Flow do you know, Monsieur de Trcrelyan?" "liecause I know the man. He is a ■ommon seaman. His home in cm mv >wn estate. His record i 8 known. He i.xs been a sailor on my <rwn yacht for i Ion? time. You are on a wrong eccnt, ny friend." "He speaks French," said the inspce•Why not! He is a smart fellow, and or some years he was engaged on a -rench packet-boat plying across the hannel." "Why is he in Paris?" The Inspector, is he questioned the baronet, -was a ittle wavering. "I confeee I do not know." "Ah! May I Mijjj-cst that that shows ■lonsietir is not in all the secrets of hie mplovee"You may euppest what you like. But am efinvinef>tj that you are labourins md.r a deliiKion." "Monei.-ur de Trevelyan. there is every ■•a.,,,n to believe that this robbery i» lie work of a lii K l,|y organised pang of nl<-r...t.,,n.l thieves. It , not a solitary .eh rv.-me,rt It haH features in common >ill> several of the most darinp outra"e 3 in property which have nccur.re<l within I- pu»l few yearn in France, England. '"■' A, ";", And hitherto „ ,, ojnt '♦»"" nil th.*e »lTHirn h Hn 1,,.,- „ the com,|ele ulern.ie of any sort of clue to their >cj|<otra!or>!." ■''" wl.al affaim do you allude, Mon:tur I lno|iei-U-url" •1 will i)i.rili»n Inn « few." tl 10 ; nilpc ,. ..i raid ■In there wa« Ulc lUiunig doAH (A H,b hplen.ild Cantle of lajmrloD, Unit by the great company-

I promoter. Granger, and the complete d struction of it» valuable contents. Tl insurance had lapsed by a single day. I America, only last year, there was t ! kidnapping o.' Kramer, the 'Meat El j peror.' a* he was calle-a. who built a huj I fortune by the gigantu! meat trust whii hi- engineered. He came to Europe nrjnt.it' further deals. Walk.ns • the Thames. F.mbankrmfnt in a dense N vemls»r fop. he was *r.7.**l from behir anl hustled into a carriage. For it j m .nth* In- was he]', -n captivity in tl , heart >f Ur,.!r,n He Ma.- forced to wri j i»ll.- in whh-h plausible explanalioi jof h.s -'Ji.j..*v— i movt-mrnt* were made 1 . h.» family and his outness connection I Th«-se nere r"-tei from variolas a j-i-.s--.-e. and when rejl came. whi< j they ilij they acre dealt with in a sin; I larfj.-L. ii. Not one.- ||| he jet his 1 fly dur n; that period, and the hu..noi 1 instru l n» he .in, flre.-d to .*-ie dii I in.- lis :n ari ration tippled h-s fo-tun jin th» d»t "il' *ur»imer da;, he -s. ' [~■ kc up in a small hoit in the midd !of tin- r.n;i..»h i banne|, and tr.en t' story ..it-, out. He ,|id no- know tl name o' th*- ship from A-S.h he had be< 'set adr. it in tie njfht nor has anrot , ever fnind .to.it" "' ■'[ nev: heard ii; vert...-n of tl ' ito--. rren»lyan said. ; "No It >ii. kept niiiet But S.-ceilar iVari a- 1 rorSr.m it. Then, again —til perhaps 1 weary you Monsieur/* -''ii the contrary. .{ '» as intcrestir ' a.- a rr.«-I- -i-.i.T.a "Kv.-n rr.,|.,.!-a.T,ae are sometirr.i Irue."»a:! l".c in-pe-trir. "I a, menti:.l ■ ii- •. .■-.- in-tanr. . Vr.u have heat '■.' \ -ii Uengel. the n|„ne-, ler, >.-. p.-, ;--:...- of t,, k, ,»t;..| IW ViIkjtik. of Ha-nhiirg, P-!.-hn and M in. In •'.'.in' I am told, trie; oafle j >~: "Th. HI sels l-ker ' " I 'I -.-■..• an nodded. ''He aSse-onled '.a year. ago. d.in t he>" 'll'it *h\ d. 1 r.e ,1'dconl?" i "I '... not knoA." The in- . tor err.d.ii. "Another m»l d-arra. \1,,-..,.- de Trevelyan. lit r. _-'it *r. n n -,ri.:"--r: l-.-r.- to Yon W. i e»- • palace ,t ■a.te iilx i«t fiat in j-!a -1 him ur, i.-r ar:,-n -n a charge < |e»[H..naje Yon cinjrel was duml ! foindc! The-, eearchrd h. house. an ibn.se open h* pr.va<e dewk. ¥r ,m ilraser there they hrr i;'»t to light i li.. ;>re,,. n •• tri-a.on.iMe rorr.-e;«.ndenr A.th an indn.dual poking a» an agent ■ 'Ir.-at i:-.ta not o-.lcn in -h.-:. '-ru t;.;--l in plain 'da.-k anl whit.-. The, [>a,er» 1,.:,. Vnn tVengel'a ord.nar hu»,new c. -nature, In the -a-n.- dnwe we:., cir.-'.illy executed '!:,U:n,-H l «ome of the tin pal North ,-ca di frn.-e* It ,ij f ,n u:r, that the -a r.-ti he man prolctci h.a inn<x-enee, and ,|. la.— .I that the .1 .< um+nt. acre f,,r...----that In- knes- ruth.ng. of rrulit.irv alTair and that someone mv.-it have piaee.l th«. thin.'- 11l hlr. desk. |n the pre.cn-e . his terrified cerwntA h> wae mar--he of "n the aj-. to the p-i;.ce ,tat on rathe i strange thing lia;ip-<|n.■!. Tlie au'.nmi bile in which h.- was is- ng r..nve-.e broke do an in a loft.-Iv etreel \"o >".'engri'. guards give the..- aaaintanre t the m.-rhan ,-, arid \''\ him f,,r a f.nute. unten 1.-I. \, r-ir „i» laree ■ discipline, on.- mi«ht (Inn.. Profit. ng b t!..- moT.nfary .i*tra|etion of th.- r at ter.tion. the utihappr Im.in. in a j-.in.e a the blaeknet*. o! thif evidence sgnns h.m. ma.le a d.-xp-rat* holt, and escape,: It Aa.< a etirioi-s .-.ii-timAtanee that th day follow ng his som htindreU of lhe unfortunate* m.»t deepl tnvolve.l with 1,,, u.uruoj. l*nV r'c«ilve< formal d .-barge ,f Ith.-ir debts. » gne. apparent.-, hv t.-..- hanker. .An hand." "Forgeries'" a.k.-i Trciclrin. Tio- insp-H-tor shrng/ed. "Who knoir» The document, whirji had 1.-en .ei/.-. in Yon Wrnsrel's holise were r.-.ne later by po«t by the j.ea.U o' the -..,- r e Service. an Wen-rjl escaped to Pane and from there wrote his lawyer" pro te.itin.' his innocence' an 4 ordermj pro cc.-dings to he taken in Ins .l-f.n .-. |!u when h<- learned ifttk the .eijted paper' were in the hands of ithe Gov ernrm-nt hi-eo-ura.-e f.u|.-.| him It i. on.- thing ti 1«- inneveent. It i. nuifcc another to prov. oneself so. Monnieur de Trevelyan." Sir t'uthbert lit 'another cigarette "All thik, Monsieur jinKpe.-t.-ur in as in teresting as the Arabian Nights." h< said, "but I Jo not see that it has to dr any more than they with the jewela ol the litKhct-e do Miramar. Where is th. connecting link in this chain of eicite ment "Pardon. I did npt say there was a connecting link. I laid there were fea lure„ in common." "Then what are the features in com mon?" "In tho first place, ea. h of the sele.te.3 virtirns is a person !of jre.it wealth, Secondly, in every cmse there are itiilna tlons that the origin|Jtor of the outrage must have Ix-en n j>erv»on in the <|~«e ronfiden.-i' of the victiim. Lastly, in every caeie the victim has! received within a very short time of tile outrape a curious gift." "Thieves' bounty?] "Each of the pc-rsofis I have mentioned has 'received by pos|t a strange device in metal; a small njrurff standing with outstretched arm*, boldim? apart the broken halves of a .'old <oin. On the pendant is inscribed n sentence in Greek characters from the Kpistle of Timothy, the meaning of whjen is. The love of money is the root of all evil.' This morning such an im.-ige was deli vend at the house of the Dut-ho««se do Miramar." Trevelvan. with 1|» most Impassive expression, sat lookipg at his visitor for some moments without speaking. He slowly inhaled the Hmoke of his cigarette, and rclenecd it in thin blue spirals from his mouth nnd'ncs-e. "The world," he said, nt last, "is more interesting than nn* is apt to imagine. May I inquire -whether I am supposed to have any hand in this alTair of the Ducheaac?" The officer made B prompt posture of deprecation. "Certainly not. Monsieur de Trevelyan. One doc* not suspect a millionaire either of such robberies, or of " He paused with rather a sardonic smile. "Or of !" Sir Cuthbert waited. "Pardon, Monsieur. Or, I would have said, of suggesting that money is the root of all evil." Trevelyan watched him without change of expresion. "I fancy you arc something of a .Socialist in your opinion*, Monsieur I'imspecteur," sail he.

n. unspoctrui, "Since it «roes not appear that I am under suspicion, perhaps ymu will answer mo this question i How do you knowthat the haj which we conveyed to the Oochon dOr contained the missing jewels cf Madame la Ducheaec!" "Ivccaassj only yesterday afternoon the casket with her jewels was placed in a bag of precisely that description by Madame herself, preparatory to a journey to her country home in Tnurainc." "1 euppone then) is more than one brown leather bag in I'aris?'' "We all pa by the circumstances of the atfair, Monsieur." Trevelyan frowned. "A very unpleasant eircunastanee \s that this fellow Bcr£*son should have selected my car lo full under. It is very distasteful to mo to have my nanle flamed about in all tho papers, as I suppose it is."

r- I "Pardon — your name has not bee. ef mentioned, Monsieur de Trevelyan. save aim the police bureau. Vera must credit eius with a little discretion. Thw-gang. i- if we are right, U one that victimises c the vcrv ricn in particular." 11 j "And you think they might turn their °i attention to mc? Well. Monsieur. I am 1 much obliged to the police of Pans fur " their prudence. Though 1 am not easy l 1 to vi.-timis.-. all the same." *! Monsieur must excuse mc." said the "j inspector politely, "if I return to the •''point from which we started, and if I , a.-k him again to give mc every infor 3 |mation in-his pow.-g regarding the man '■ | Lo.rnrni r." I "fertain'v I will. But I am sure you art 1 on a wrong --,■." Slowly and delibcr ate'v while the pofcioe officer wrote it 1 down in his note book, the King of lha »i monds detailed all the facts within hii 'i knowledge concerning Garth. '! "And that is absolutely all you » k-A-" a.-ked the inspsector when the "| recital was concluded. He looked " frankly at a loss, "j "Tnat is absolutely all" vl "What puzzle* mc." said the inspector ' ! "in view ,-f ad this, is why this man ! who is practically in jour employ, . ; should be in Pans without your knuw ledge. 11,- has no legitimate Conner . ' t. ,ras hero " '| "It putz.»s mc too. But it seems to ' ! mc there is a very obvious course tc | adopt." ' " v.n I what Is that"" ! "i m» of two thing, has occurred.' • sail Trevelyan calmly. "Either Lor i rimer h-as met with f .ml play and will 1 , not be wen again, or he has not. In . . the latter --as..- he will endeavour sooner . ' '•: later t-. return hi-me, seing that h* • has n-. mi-an. of hi. |i*n. and is a mom ~ ber ,f my yacht's rr,fw. You have only ' t,, send a man to Kngiand to wait for him in the neighbourhood, have him ar 'j rested immediately on his return —ii j he -u-.-eel- in ou ling your people her* | obtain extradition, and try bifrj on ! whatever charge there is against him. r at, convince,! of the man's innocence ' and will give you every assistance in my ' >iii i-e and cm prove anything bul ' his mn-.cence." "Vim are rather certain. Monsieur.' 1 ' 'I am absolutely certain." i i The official, with polite expressrons o! i gratitude, took his departure. Trevelyan lit a third cigarette, but he '. ■ could not smoke in peace. lie got up . I and pace.) about the room. • The surpri>e * he-n he had icnrc-d j on lirtt encountering the seaman Lor- ■ rimer in the heart of Paris had given ' him at the noment no concern. But the inspector', question reps-ated itself persistently to bis mind n.w What was a j man of Lornmer's .lass doing in Pans ' The more he considered the problem, the less able he was to supply any satis factory answer. The inspector had gone perhaps a quarter of an hour when Tre velyan. dinging himself into a chair, pi ke I up that m .rnlng's "Kigaro." 1 witn intent t-. real the newspaper version of the Duchesne's loss. At thai moment t.'.ere was a knock at the door, and the waiter entered again. "A gentleman to sec you. Monsieur," saud he "Ills name *" "He w ti'.d not give his name. He said his bus.nes, was of a persona! na : ture. anl that .f I mentioned the affaire | Deadman' Monsieur would appreciate r that it was important." K-.r once the face of the iKng of Dki I monds underwent « ewjft change. lie j spoke in a curiously strained voice. I "What kind of a person is the gentle I man'" I The waiter considered. "A ta'l. fine I gentleman, monsieur. A rich gentleman ' I should say. with a very fine presence." j It was Sir f'uthbert's turn to con 1 sider. lie could not place the man. ; search the past aw he would. Vet the | "affiire Deadman" was not a thing he , could afford to neglec:. though he had j supposed it closed when the grave cosed over the man who had diel on ' the clifT. "You had better bring the gentleman I up." he ordered at last. j Wh.-n the waiter's back wa, turned | he stepped to a drawer, nnd by way of , precaution took out a small revolver and slipped it into his pocket. | The door opened again, and Garth Tyorrimer stood before him. j CILVTTER XI THE SC-4.RIJCT RING. I Pir Tuthbert Trevelyan f,,r some moments sat and stared at has new v»| I tor, at a loss to reconcile the young I man's present appearance with overv thing In- had known of him hitherto. The Garth lorrimer he had known, [the Gar:;i Ixiriimer he had seen so recently as two nights since upon the ' Boulevards. wa.s a tall, hrun/ed, muscular fellow, looking what he was — a sea j man, in a seaman's careless dress. The j Garth lairnmer who stood before . him was droned in an irreproachable sum mer suit, with light shoes innocent of I ■]list, and a cool grey Homburg hat in - his hand. I "Perhaps you will explain, Lorrimer," said Trevelyan curtly, without rising. | Garth quietly took a chair and sat idown. The millionaire was struck by | the mvoluto look on the bronzed young I face as the grey eyes met his own. He I was a little inclined to be angry, but since his midnight talk at sea he had rather taken a liking for this man. "I've come to you with a message Sir Cuthlvert." said Garth. "You have!" Trevelyan waa quick to detect an accent of hostility in tho other's voice. His face hardened. "The man told you mv businese?" said Garth. "The man said 'the affaire Deadman.' What do .tou know about that!" "Everything." "My friend, you don't know what you are talking about. You cannot know." "I know enough. Sir Cuthbert Trevelyan. to put you on your trial for murder—enough to hang you for the coward and a&vassin that you are!" The older roan's sternly handsome face had a grey look, but it was not a look of fear. The steely blue eye* glinted, even while he. forced himself to emiie, and answered quietly — "You have heard something, somehow, but you have not heard the truth, and you have come here to threaten me—you young fool!" The colour darkened a little on Garth's face. "I havp come hero with a message, aa? I said --a message from the dead." "Dead mon send no tnesages." "You may have thought so," said Garth, "wihen you killed Harry Frampton in the Drakemsburg Mountains." "I never kiHod Harry Frampton." The blue eyes and Jdie grey met in a steady gaze, but nfcie quiet denial produced a perceptible effect upon the younger man. Trevelyan rose, walked to the door, and turned the key in the lock. He came back, and laid a heavy hand upon Garth's shoulder. "You have come here to blackmail mc," he eaid, speaking slowly and deliberately. "My friend, you have come to the wrong man. Ten minutes ago I had a visit from the police, You are wanted on g grave charge of

robbery in connection with that affair the other night. I said you were innocent, and told all I know about you. But it seems I del not know enough " He went to a telephone afllted to the wall of lhe room. "Stop:" said Garth, so eternly that , the other paused. "I am not afraid of i the police. Hut if they come nothing jean save you from the gallows. You had j ns-tter hear mc rir-t Afterwards you i can call when you will." I Trevelvan h.--.luted "I Will give you I Sve minute.." he -ad. putt. the m- | strument d.,wn. ar.l :a ing round. "If you ea.l the poh>r." said Garth, "this is the rop- that Will bang you; 1 you w.re left with Harry Krampton while he i.a, si.'k. loi got hi, secret I from him — tli- secret of the D.amond Ciiff whence all your fortune takes its 1 rise- an-i tl.-n \,.-a murdered turn, an-1 j risi.- awa;. before In. comrade returncl." "It i- a Me'" sad >.r l"uth!>ert stead ily. Put h.s face had hian:n-i. "IVad man told you thi-." "As he lay dying. And dying men do not lie." Trevelvan came ha, to the table, and sat down heavily in his rhair opposite Garth. "Headman l-cl.eved it tru--. but I tell you. Ixirnmer. it is a lie Even were it true, there is no proof." "There i- proof." -aid Garth, "There were three m.-a there, and two are dead, and I am the other. How can there he proof" cried the millionaire harshly. tarth noticed his emotion, hut it made no (difference to his own ipi.et p-rsist en//. This man's crimes were nothing to'him. He had but to d.«enarge h_s mission. "The murderer of Harry Krampton loft behind him his pcs ket is.o,;. with an old letter from his ».!•-. and a [.ortra.t of his wife and child, and a sketch ma of the lanip wb.-re Frampton died. Deadman found them, an 1 t.-.k them to Father I onnollv, a < atholic pr,ct at Bokfontem. "who ho', ie them to this day at St. Krvans. in Ireland. He knew if the murder, and knows of .1." Garth stopped abruptly. Tl,.- millionaire's eyes were lastened upon h.m a.th a strange expression? "There «a.s no murder 1" he ev.oia.med. The saiior shrugged his broad young shoulders. "The Courts wi i decide," said 1 he. "There wa. also » telegram which I picked up on the -White WIU-h,' that 1 meant to g.ve you. and forgot j "I tell you th.-;-,- was n,. murder." j Sir I'utbberl Trevelyan reps-ate.| dully. | "Il -.'-v knea all this why have you kept j it t.ll n-.u ■ You w.-re .'-.1i1.-d at the .n- | '|.i.-st Why did you perjure your-elf?" Hiilh .hook hi., near. "The concern of i the .piest was a ,ti. the niann.-r of D-al ; njn'. death, not n.t.i the >;..rv of h... | iife He i.e.; of a broken ha, k. an:, auout that I t.vd tie iruth, the whob- ' truth, and nirth.ng but the truth, as I j took the . ath to lo 1". »as Harry, Krampton'. 1,-rrr who commuted . perjury, and -Aor,- he d.-l riot know the man who .a I sought h;m out half i acToss the A,,rl -1 " J Trevelyan leaned back ,n h.s chair. A, i heavy frown wa. on h.s grey face as he! watcher! Lorr.mer He »a. th.nking hard. lie r.-a?.-.-l that his denial at the | inijuelt was a damning piece of evidence ,

against him. Kor some minutes he did j not speak. Th'en at the sight of thcool self-possession of the sailor hia wrath blazed up. He got lo his, fi-ct. "Why have you kept this till today he demanded, leaning over the table towards his companion. "It i.. a lie, 1 tell you. a damnable In —but why have you kept it? Blackmail is as good uric- day as another." 'You may rail it blackmail. I call it justice." f.aid the younger man 'And 1 have come to demand that jJi-ticc be done." "To whom, pray, shall justice be done, young man?" "loll.adman's daughter." said Garth. "Ha' .-., there is a lady in the -'a-e." "There is Deadman's dajghter," euid •iarth again. Th- baronet kept his eyes, coidd-' calculating now, upon 'larth. "1..t u-. for argument's sake, imagine tne story you have told to he the true one. What i- your pri, c?" "It is not my price." 'I bog pardon. I forgot you act for a lady in this matter. What is your clients pr..-.-?"' The sneering, bantering tone was i.ke a whip. "Murderer!" cried (earth. "I have told you 1 come with a dead man's rues-sage. It was he. not I. who fixed the price at whi.-h you ma-.- save your neck." "Well, well, lr-t us not split hairs." Tne King of Diamonds was politely ryniral. "Tell mo the price," J ■Tne price i, half a mill.on sterling," sa.d Garth. Tlio millionaire, sitting at the table. looked -up with an odd expression at tho tisll young rigure who -too-i U-tween h.m a-. I 'the .|,n.r. The,, .-..- tilt. b a ck his! .hair, laughed grimly, and took out h.s, wat-ii. ! "Mv- vo-m_- frond." ! - -ail. "I rr-.u.-t take th." r .k. Trie evidence i. too little-. j the price i- too big. Voiir live minuteis up. the door is 10. ked ; and the pol. el are waiting for you." | 11 le.ii to note the effe.-t of h.s refu-al. Hit Garth stood .-t.ll a., a rre-k, | an I said .thing. Trevelvan got up suddenly, ar.d went to the telephone. But before he ceroid j put his hand upon the instrument, the j sailor was upon him. I (To be continue.-? on Saturday next |

"STREET, WEUjjiGinn.