MATED BY MAGIC.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7265, 26 January 1889, Page 3

MATED BY MAGIC.

Lokgmak's Maoazins. Win Steele Wyoming arrived at his customary apartments Iα Half Moon he found a telegram awftiCbog him from Cecil Cameron. Aswan his wont, Wyoming, having I«ft New Tors: about May Ist on a steams* 4f the French line, h*d been spending & month in Paris, rambling thraaith tSie Salon, going to all the many sniattßCCi&ibitioQS, seeing all the shows of affserts from the Theatre francais to Neallly Fair, and giving himself up to the lazy enjoyments a cultivated American can always attain in the city by the Seine. Early a* it was, the telegram from Cecil Cameron had arrived before him. While his trunks were being taken into his room, he tore open the brown envelope and read this message: "Welcome, Rosicrucian Brother. I want you to call spooks from the vasty deep. Lunch at Babel Club at L Y«u hear my horn} "CBCttCUOEROK." Wyoming held the telegram in his hand for a moment. " That man makes mc tired," he said to himself, " with his mania for trying to talk American. Why can't he be content with, his own Insular and parochial dialect? But he's a good fellow, for all that." The American's face was even more solemn than usual as he laid the despatch on the table. " I wonder what mischief he is up to nowT w,as his reflection. "Raising spooks is always fun, however, and he can count mc in." So it was that Wyoming went to the Babel Club to meet his; friend at the appointed hour. As Steele Wyoming was about to take his seat at the little table in the bow window which juts out into Piccadilly, Cecil Cameron entered the diningroom. "How are you, old man?" asked.the American. "I am able to sit up and take nourish' ment," replied the Englishman. "And how are you f •Tm not the better for the privilege of listening to your vain efforts to mimic our noble American language," was Wyoming's prompt reply. "Do you know my Australian cousin, Frank Hardy T asked Cameron. •• No," the American replied. "Do you want to scare up a spook or two for him?" "Frank Hardy is in love with the only daughter of J. Bulstrode-Travis, Esq., of Redrose Hall, Flintshire." " Then he doesn't need anybody to raise his spirits, I take it," ventured the American. - " Frank's all right," Cameron returned; "he's all wool and a yard wide I" " Has the girl gone back on him?" asked Wyoming. - '*' No," said the Englishman. " Lavinia is as much in love with Frank as Frank is wtthhef.^ "Well, thenr " There is the cruel parent. He is worth £30,000 a year, and Frank hasn't a red cent." "Then he'd better pass in his checks, hadn't her Wyoming inquired, dropping into American slang, as he did inevitably when he talked to Cameron. "Hereis where we can help. The young people have not dared to tell the old man the state of their feelings. He suspects nothing. He is very ambitious for his daughter. He would like her to be at least a countess.* But he is also a little daft on the subject of spiritualism, and he has been going in for fads like " One moment, if you please, Cecil," interrupted Wyoming; "as I warned you, the linguistic man-trap has you by the heeL To 'go in for , and 4 fad* are Briticisms of the most British kind."

" I know it," Cameron admitted sorrow, fully. "But yours is such a difficult tongue to acquire: Where was I T'

" You were saying that the girl's father was a man of many left-handed ideas."

"That's ifc exactly. On some subjects he is like the rest of us, and on others he is very eccentric," the Englishman con. tinued.

"And in mechanics," said the American, "the eccentric is often very near a crank."- ■'■■■■■ '">■ ■ "-•• -■

"In some ways .he is cranky indeed," Cameron replied. "Heis an enthusiastic chess-player, for one thing—though he doesn't play remarkably." "But' what have I to do with tnis estimable country gentleman V asked the American.

" Only this. Mr Bulstrode-Travls is a fatalist, a believer in signs and wonders; a practitioner of thought reading, an m-_ terpreter of dreams, and so forth. Now, Frank knew I was a student of modern magic, and that I took no stock in epookical research. So he came to mc and confided bis plight and asked mc to help him out. Frank thinks that I can show the old man some strange mam-el, and then ring in on him a prediction of some sort pointing to Frank as the only proper .husband for Lavinia." " Work the oracle, in short f'

" Precisely. And I have said I would ; and I want you to help mc as a member of the Rosicrucian .'Brotherhood. Mr Bnl-atrode-Travis has been up in town fora weekandljTOt him put down here as a 'guest, and I coaxed him to come here. He and I are excellent friends. We talk over the mysteries of magic and thought transference, and I am properly serious. He has asked mc to run down with him to. RedroseHall to spend Saturday and Sun- - day. I have spoken to him about you, representing that you had been a profound student of strange rites ; I said that you had investigated the Eleusinian mysteries; I knew you had been pre3ent at a Voodoo exorcising, and I had seen you extract extraordinary information as to the future by means of the sortes Virgiliance. In fact, he takes you for a spook stalker." " Well f' asked the American, with an expression of solemnity, not to say gloom. " If he comes here to lunch to-day we drop into a'chat together, and if he doesn't ask you down to the hall to spend Saturday and Sunday, then I haven't any •' Wen r repeated Wyoming. " And once down there we'll raise the devil for him. or the Witch of Endor, or the Witches of Macbeth ; and we'll make them prophesy the union of iAvinia and Frank." " I see," said the American; " and it's a verypretty scheme if it works, but—" "Hush 1 Cameron interrupted. " Here he is !*" The broad door of the dining-room had opened to give passage to a handsome, portly old gentleman, bearing his sixty yean bravely. This was MrßulstrodeTravis. Cameron introduced Wyoming, successfully suggesting by his manner tSsat he was presenting a man of marveL Mr Bulstrode-Travis sat down to lunch with them, and before long the three were in full cry over mystery and magic Cameron related a tale which, as it happened, he had actually heard from an imaginative doctor, who said he had lived as a medical 'student in Bulwer Lytton's haunted house in Orchard street, and among other things they never wauat*d {" Needed," interjected Wyoming, with soft correction) any artificial light at n*g*'*** n , as an unseen power jcbtyuy provided ifc. Wyoming, capped the story with an American tale of his own, the incidents of which he said had

actually befallen him. Then they alluded carnally, bat frequently, to the wonders they had sometimes worked in conjunction: Mr Bulstrode-Travis was in an ecstasy at the Idea of such strange doings; he bnrned to see what they had seen and what (her could accomplish, and therefore it was with peculiar cordiality that he asked Wyoming to accompany Cameron on hie "rait to Redrose Hall. The invitation was accepted with unaffected promptness, and Wyoming, thinking, unwisely perhaps, to add a touch, said mournfully: " Wβ could hare shown you more had poor M. Blitrina been here. "But you know. Steele," replied Cameron. In a frivolous moment, "its no good wiaoing—he's gone up the flume." "Ahl" rejoined Wyoming, dryly, "he really speaks Americ&n like a native — sometimes." •' 'V ' ' Redrose Hall stands on high ground, encircled or supported by lawns j»d a pretty succession of fish ponds, frert oc the bouse is r«aJAyJpffiU}eShf»i the other part is skilfully arranged to match it. In front of the drawing-room runs a terrace with a plashioj&foaGtain. At the further end of the. drawing-room is a conservatory leading to the' hanging gardens, and at right angles to this the double door of the library. Coming out of the library into the anteroom one sees a wide stair* case leading to a gallery of bedrooms. Mr Bulatrode-Travis conducted our two friends to the drawing-room with much pleasifig prattle about his library of magicafand cabalistic books, which, handsomely arranged in glass cases, adorned the walls of the ante-room. The two friends lingered awhile in the library, where Frank Hardy coon joined them. Mr Bulstrode-Travis and Wyoming chatted about books, leaving Hardy and Cameron to a game of piquet. In the drawing-room, whither the host soon conducted the American, they found Miss Bulstrode-Travis, to whom Wyoming took a great fancy. Among the other guests were Sir Kensington Grower, X.C.8., and Lady Gower, Cord Luine—a greattraveller, who had been much in India, and took stock, as Cameron would have said, in fakirs and such like—and Mrs Vendale, a slight, short, fantastic creature, who believed, or affected to believe, in Khoot-Hoomi.

At dinner Wyoming was seated next to Lavinia, and they got on capitally. The English girl thought the American amusing, and the American found the English girl bright and sympathetic. After dinner the party-moved to the conservatory, where coffee was served and where smoking was alwayspermitted. MrsVendale asked Lord Luine if the wonders of the Indian magicians were authentic " For my part, Ido noc doubt it, but psrhaps they use black magic, and that would be horrible." Luine replied that he cared much more about tracking a tiger than about seeing a trick or:a portent. " But, don't you know, I have seen those fellows do things that no person a Scotchman) could explain." Then he recounted the mango trick and the basket trick, and added thatthe Indian conjurers had nothing on practically but a waistcloth, and how could they hide things ? Cameron and Wyoming looked at each other. Then Luine related how he had seen a man climb up a rope until you lost sight of him and he never came down again. Luine was a man of absolute veracity, but at this the two did not look at each other. There was much serious conversation on this, broken only by a frivolous remark of Cameron's to Wyoming. . "Say, Steele, that LouisXV clock reminds mc of your watch that I had to wrap in a blanket at night when we travelled together, because it ticked so loud. Have " Yes, I have it," said Wyoming, "but don't let your mind wander." Mr Bttlstrode-Travis' appetite for the wonderful began to grow by what it fed oil, and he made such broken requests as, *'Cduldn't you, hey?—would it be possible —whet f—when two people of such remarkable powers, and, as is evident, bo completely eft rapport with each other —it seems a pity, you know." j The- two friends made excuses and demure antil the old gentleman was near to dancing with unsatisfied expectation, and then, when the rest of the party joined themselves to Mr Bulstrode-Travis in polite importunity, they consented, with a show of giving way gracefully, to ace if the conditions would enable them to accomplish anything. ." Of course you nave heard, said Wyoming. " about what is called thought readIniT • "A very primitive form," added Cameron, and went on to say: " Steele, will you try, it our old experiment together can be worked? That is to say.l will leave the room, and shall try to gather from your magnetism, without word or touch, what action the company may wish mc to perform." Mr Bulsfcrode-Travis , eyes opened wide abthis, and the suggestion was received with much delight. •When Cameron left the room there was a complete silence for a moment. I " Suppose," said Mrs Vendale, with the tone of a languishing spectre, "suppose we were to move that beautiful vase up to the blue room, and will him to find it and bring it down again T ■ " Might break it if he found it," said Sir Kensington. "Do you think, Sir Kensington—hey V answered the host, "that I value a vase one-penny in comparison with the interest of science V ■ " Don't spoil the fun, my dear, added Lady Gower, a pleasing and vivacious person. • "Is that, then, what you all wish? , said Wyoming, and was answered by universal assent. '/Now," Wyoming went on, " let mc carry the to the blue room and hide it somewhere in concert with Lord Luine, who will watch that there may be no possible collusion between my friend and myself." ''.'■. Lord Luine rose to accompany him. " Ajidone thing more," "Cameron ought to be blindfolded, the lights must be pat out, aud only one of our party must carry a dark-lantern to prevent our stumbling. He won't stumble if it succeeds/ ■ Upon this Wyoming took the vase In his hands and left the conservatory, accompanied by Lord Luine. They went to the .blue room, and after much deliberation Wyoming placed the V&ae on a bracket so high on the wall that a tall man could barely reach it. As they went out Luine stopped at the door and said: "But look here, he will break the-vase if it is so high up as that*" "No, sir," said Wyoming, "but to make assurance doubly sure I'll measAre it once again." He took three steps back to the bracket, picked ap a small pia-cuahion from a table close by and with some difficulty placed it on the bracket. "Cameron is not so tall as you are, &aid Lame. "No matter," Wyoming rejoined, "he will not break it." Then they went back to the conservatory, and Cameron was called in. Amid intense silence Wyoming looked him full in the eyes for about two minutes, when there stole over Cameron a dazed yet awakened look of a curious kind. ."HushT cried Wyoming, "the charm works. Now let him go; we will follow after at some ten yard*' distance." "But if be falls and hurts himself T said Sir Kensington. "Hush!" said Wyoming, authoritatively. "Rβ will not fall. Now!"

Cameron, who had been standing motionless, suddenly strode to the door, opened it, went straight through the drawingroom, opened that door, and walked into the now* darkened ante-room. Here he paused awhile. Frank Hardy, holding the dark lantern, with silent gestures kept bact the eager followers. At last Cameron opened the library door, walked round, and came straight oat again, and made immediately for the staircase, mounted it, and passed into the gallery until he reached the blue room, of which he at once opened the door. Then were there murmurs from those who watched him like ;hose to be heard when fireworks are let oft A3 soon as he opened this door Cameoon shut it again, and stood outside it in hesitation. Then he-went down the gallery and tried every door with intense deliberation. When be had dose this be stood again as one in doubt, and then again ran as hard as he could to the blue room, opened the door and rushed .in. Hardy followed with the lantern,' holding it so that those behind could see what happened. What happened was this: Cameron went tokthe bracket, put his left hand against the wall, straightened himself up as if by a great effort, and" jaet reached the base of the vase with his right hand. " Heir break it," wfcieperedSir Kensington, upon Whom his wife turned a loak of seora, which missed its effect because he did not s«>e it. Very carefully and slowly Cameron took down the vase without the slightest appearance of risk, but when' he had it safe, as it seemed, in both hia hands, he shivered and tottered so that Wyoming, who was nearest to him, rushed .forward to save the vase, and eapporttag it with one hand, laid the other heavily on Cameron's shoulder, as if to infuse n&w' magnetism into him*

From that moment Cameron's dement to the conservatory was a triumphal mares. There was no longer any questton of managing the dark lantern, and people hesitated not to wonder In loud voices if he would restore the vase to Its original place—which he did at once and without hesitation. ' Having completed his appointed task, Cameron sank exhausted In an armchair, gazing Into vacancy, and then quite i suddenly gave a shiver, eat up, looked around him, and fixed his eyes interrogatively on Wyoming, who answered with ! a quiet nod. Then the sileooe which had fallen on the company when Cameron sat down was broken, and the chorus of comments, questions, answers, expressions lof admiration, were even as the " confused noise without" of the drama. This lasted some time, until the company, like tigers, having tasted blood (or, to make gge simile more exact, like the seople without consciences who et&ore elfatere). jbagan to suggest "if it were possible. f " Stt Cameron must be tired, and yet iff," and so forth, and so forth. "One-jeung ■lady, who seemed not tally to- understand the novelty of what she had just seen, wanted to know if Mr Cameron could do a card trick next—ehe doted on tricks with 'cards. " That gives mc an Idea," said Wyoming. " Carde suggest chess, you know. * Have you a chess-board in the house!" . ' 'Chess boards—heyr said Mr BulstrodeTravis, "heaps of 'em—what?—now many do you want!" " One will be enough," replied Wyoming. " What Iβ It for I" askedlittle Mrs Vendale, in tones which were both'hard and caressing. Wyoming refrained from saying "To play chess with '1 and answered instead, " You will see directly. Does any one present besides our host play chess f Luine and Sir Kensington answered that they played a little. " That is enough," said Wyoming. " What are you up to now?" Cameron inquired. '* What are you going to do * " asked Mr. Bulstrode-Travis, with the doable delight in the.anticipated commingling of chess and mystery. "I don't know that we can do anything," replied the American. "Iα fact, «o far as I know, nothing of this sort has ever been attempted before. Thought reading, even in its highest phases, requires proximity, and the test I propose now will be at a distance quite unprecedented." • ■ " You might at least tell mc what you are drivinsrat?" said Cameron. Wyoming faced him suddenly. "Do you think we could communicate- to each other the moves of a game of chess by will power alone f" he said. " I see," Cameron, answered. Then, after a pause, he added, "We might try it." "This is what I propose then," cried Wyoming, "to have the board on this table here watched by two of the party while a third makes the moves—tbe-moves which will be conveyed by message from Cameron and myself, who will be each respectively shut up in a dark roo jj, the two rooms to be as far from each other as possible." The audacity of the proposal m> startled the assemblage that scarcely anything was said until the arrangements were complete. A chess board was placed on the table in the centre of the conservatory, and,, aided by Lavinia, Mr Bulstrode-Travis nervously arranged the pieces. Then he took an armchair alongside the table and sat down to watch the game. Then Cameron and Wyoming, were stationed in darkened rooms ten yards, or more apart, while one of the company remained with each of them, a third standing sentry in the corridor between. Luine, who was with Cameron, came back to the conservatory and made, the first move for white—pawn to queen's bishop fourth. . ' At this unconventional beginning Mr Bulstrode-Travis smiled, and said : " Evidently we are to have a surprise opening." As Luine left the room to rejoin Cameron, Sir Kensington, who was Wyoming's messenger, entered theconservatory, and walking to the table made'blacks first move, Knight to queen's bishop's third. ■;..-.■ " A strange attack calls for strange precautions, was the host's comment on this. Having made the move, Sir Kensington returned to Wyoming. .. • A few seconds after he had left the conservatory Lame reappeared and" made white's second move, queen to'hiehOD's second. " The queen looks out of the window," said Lavmla, smiling; she was almost as interested in thegatne as her father. After Lame hid disappeared Sir SEaA* slngton returned, bearing.black's retort, pawn to queen's fourth. . '■■■'-! "Is this defence or defiance V queried Frank Hardy, leaning over LaylaLa's chair. : . , ' . • Then Luine came with Cameron's third* move, knight to queen's bishop's third. " Good r cried Mr BulstrodcTravis. " We shall see all his meaning soon." And he watched eagerly the* departure of Cameron's emissary and toe arrival of Wyoming's, who moved a black knight to queen's fifth. " Well, he takes the bull by the horns," was the instant remark of the chese enthusiast. And so the moves followed, without any communication between the players, who remained each in his dark roomJ never speaking, except to whisper to his companion the move he desired to have made on the table In the conservatory. ' . "This is more than a blindfold game," said Mr Bulatrode-Travis, as white's fourth move, queen to rook's fourth, was made, giving check. "Itis a doable blindfold game, complicated by the strange and altogether mysterious sympathy or intuition or occult influence which transmits to each the move the other oas made. Easily parried," he cried, as black seat torward a pawn to queen's bishop's third. "He mast have a deep motive, bat I don't see it," was Mr Bnlstrqde-Travis' remark when Luine made whlfce'a fifth move, knight to queen's square. And when Sir Eeaaington promptly appeared and sent forward a pawn to queen's knight's fourth, Lavina looked at her father in surprise, and he answered her silent query, " It's either, courage or impudence, and I'm sore I don't know which. I'm astonished at the whole affair. I think the game is almost as wonderful as the way they are playing it." The sixth move was watched with increasing interest. Luine appeared, and the white pawn took the bUckjWwa> end, Luine disappeared. Then Sir Kensington appeared, the black pawn went to qaeeh'e bishop's fourth, and Sir Kensington disappeared. ' " Evidently he despises the attack," commented Mr Bulstrode-Travis, who was leaning forward in his chair, with both his elbows on the table which held the chessboard. , ■ There seemed to be even a shorter interval than usual after Sir Kensington' left theconservatory before Luine entered it, to make whites seventh move, pawn to knight's sixth, discovering check. And as swiftly came Sir Kensington back with Wyoming's adroit retort, biehop to queen's second. " Where is white's queen to go V asked Mr Buistrode-Travis. " What can white: do now—what t" And white could do no more in effect. In the next move the white queen was taken,: and then Lame came up to seythat Mr Cameron resigned the game. Lavtnia went to bear the news of his victory- to, Wyoming, and to call him in to receive their congratulations. "It is the most wonderful feat I ever saw I" cried Mr Bulstrode-Travis, springing up from his seat with excitement, as Cameron came bock, summoned by Luine. " I have never even heard of anything like it! Are you exhausted by the nervous strainT "It 13 wearing on the gray matter of the brain," Cameron replied, " but I shall get my breath in a minute or two." - - •' And you, Mr Wyoming," said the host to the American, who returned with Lavinia, " You have played an absolutely unprecedented game in an absolutely unprecedented way. I confess that X don't see how you do It—what!" ■■■■■.<■ "Really, I don't know that I could explain it exactly to your satisfaction," Wyoming answered. "I suppose '.that I can say that it is a reading of each other's mind. .: "Idmust be a great convenience to. be able to read other people's minds," said Lavinia. rt I think I should like it. 5, •'l'm sore that you would never find anything but pleasant thoughts towards you," Wyoming returned. . Her father was already moving across the eoneervotory to Cameron. . "Iβ your friend a married man V asked Mr Bulstrode-Travis, suddenly dropping his voice into a mysterious whisper. •♦Wyoming? Indeed no ; he's & bachelor of the deepest dye," Cameron replied. ....... "Andin yoar reading of hie thoughts hare you yet discovered that hki aftectlona are encaged T pursued the aoafc. "Why? What do you meanT Cameron asked.' • ■ ■ • ..,-■" ' ■■ *' Look there T saidLavinia's father, with a gesture Indicating Wyoming leaning over the young lady In pleasant conversation. "I do not know that I should object. ,.

i' " iMMinimi n ! "Objectto whafcr cried Cameron, in : sadden alarm. ; to your friend as a son-in-law," ; •aidMrßatatrode-Travis. "He seems to ; be taken with Lavinia." j " I hopenot,- ejaculated Cameron. Then, reco l!F* ,ie .£ lmMU » he added, -1 had a < ■oepldon that Frank Hardy was rather ; attentive to her." j # ll No . d £ ab V _. no doubt," saidLavinia'a ! SiH!? , . l do «»t think she'thlnke of j know*' tha * U what's important, you « iTSS sar P rla « T ae. , 'GaraerOnconUnaedL ' ftugteSP* "*>****"»«.* i ,Jl? a te a «*d that in her mind r asked :» yoTwould Uke to iSSu"s ta J° J** futore - to consult an ,' oracle, in fact—you might act Wyoming " You told mc he w&e an expert. Do you % the attempt made." i nn i£?iMr ~♦• # M • ?M«»od of his own, •8Sl t hf*S?S t from *»* kdown in , jfte booto," Cameron explained. "I say, wotdd like to see you cast the sortes." Wyoming crossed, 6te room and joined i?? 1 *: A w wb * t ItJ question to which you seek ho - Mr Bulstrode-Trnvb hesitatedlbat Cameron, lowetfst, ,aia voice, responded for him: "Tte" otters need aocknow ' exactly the offafet of oar qaesttonsTbiS o« host guidance itt~r«ianl to J his daughter's fatare husband." 1 " I see," the American rejoined. "Why notr J «_rv Why ..v. ofc ' lnd^rj?hM *i*^^ skni-"wha?! ?OU l6nd nW yOar "I will do what I can," Wyoming re- ! plied. "HaveyouaVStir '"**"** j " Lavinte, my dear, will you brim? mc the Virgil from the library I J it iHn that ! long set of classic text to th© left of the j fireplace." "I know where it is, papa," said his daughter, as she arose aad left the room. '* And then I shall needa pack of cards," ' Wyoming went on. . I •* A pack of carda-e&itr echoed Mr i Bulstrode-Travis. ! '' There's a pack in the library," Cameron ; cried, " Hardy and! were playing piquet before dinner. Til get them." i: When Lavinia returned with the Virgil ■ Wyoming begged her to keep it for a moment. He requested everybody to sit down. It was with difficulty that he was able to keep Mr Bulstrode-Travis qniet. In the end, however, the company had ! taken seats, Frank Hardy seizing the '> occasion to claim the place next to Lavinia. They were grouped in an irregular crescent, with Lavinia in the centre and her father on one of the horns. ; At last Cameron came back with the cards. " I've looked over them; old man," « he said, " and I've no no doubb that you will find them all right." Wyoming took the pack, and, running i through it hastily, he selected twelve j hearts, the ace to the ten, with the knave • and queen. '. "I have here,"he exclaimed, "twelve i numbers, counting the knave as eleven 5 and the queen as twelve. And there are ? twelve books of the 'JEneld. , I will shufSe t these dozen cards and take them to Mra • Vendale and ask her to draw one." " Moat I choose without seeing what it) ' Is ?'' Mrs Vendale asked. ■ , ; "Take any one," asked Wyoming, fan- ' nine them out before her. > , ''Then I select this one," she said, pick- ; Ing out the card which the American, had ; kept persistently before her. ■ ' ' • r What is it*" cried Mr Bulatrode. ■ Travis. ** " It is the seven of hearts," she answered. "The seven—a sacred number—a most 1 fortonatechoice," said Wyoming. "Now, Miss Lavinia, will you kindly turn to the seventh book of, -SDneid,' which has thus been dictated to us." j " I see—l see," commented the ho3t. ! " You have found the book from which th-e '■ mystic line is to be taken; bat how do < you find the line Itself?" j " You shall see in a moment," responded the American. " I shall distribute five of I these carde to different persons present— ■ to Sir Kensington and Lady dower, to i Mrs Vendale, to Hardy, and to you, Cecil. I And I ask you to write dowa a numberany whole number you please between one and a hundred, without any consultation '. with each other." ' In a minute more the five numbers were t written. Wyoming went from one to ther ' other collecting the card, which he placed j on the top of the pack. Then ha went down the line to Mr and handed him five cards. To Frank Hard?, who was •watching Wyoming's every J move, 16 seemed as though these cards 1 came from the bottom of the pack; bat II this was apparently a mistake, as the boat § took the five cards, spying. "Aad what; ;| am I to do with, these numbers V I "You are to add them together in abso- | lute silence," replied Wyoming; "and I § must request that no one speaks until the 1 result is announced. It is essential thai; 1 there should now be nothing to disteefs I the attention." "I For a moment there was no sound to bo •." heard save the scraping of a pencil In tim « § hand of the host, and as he copied the numbers out on one card and ndded them ; | UP. ' ■ . : ' " I make it 255," he said at last. f "Then," and Wyoming spoke with hie | most impressive manner, ," I have to I request Misa Lavinia to turn to the Sssth f line of the seventh bookof ' JBoMA. , " I " I see now," cried Mr Bulstrode-Tr&vig; | "a most Ingenious method, and absolutely I free from any possible personal influence, t - as we all collaborated in bringing it aboafe, i although of course Iα different degress." a, " I have the line," said Lavinia. f " Then If Mr Hardy will kindly read Ifc to | us," Wyoming went oa. I "Certainly, if you wiah It," Hardy I replied, but whsanSa eye fell on the lino f he flushed and hesitated. Then mastering I his surprise he read: I

Hono ilium tetis externa ab sede prcfectum Portendi Ecnemm. " And what does that gibberish mean T asked Mrs Vendale, abruptly. "It means that Che old King of LatSuss had come to the conclusion thafc tbe stranger who had arrived from across the sea was the son-in-law foretold by .tba fates," Cameron explained. And Wyoming?, leaning over the back o! Mr Bolsfcrodfr-Travls , chair whispered, " Huno generum—-this is the 'son-ia-law/ and he Indicated Frank Hardy. -"He cornea over the sea, a© he is aa Australian, and, aa you may remember, the name of the king's daughter was Lavinia." "Soit waa, ,r ßaid Mr Bolstrode-Tr&vlg, who recalled hia Virgil bufc vaguely. ♦'Really this is a most; extraordinary coincidence, or manifestation, or what ahail 1 call it?" "Do not disregard so solemn a taessage from the fetes," the Americaa wjoined eravely,". If year daughter wiE have this young Australian, the gooaer you make the match the better." Aad so It came about, and in due season the MountNa Post announced that a marriage had been arranged between Lavlnia, the only daughter of Mr Bal-strode-Travis of Redrose Hall, Flintshire, and Mr Frank Hardy, who had recently returned from Australia, As fcbjore was no reason for delay, the wedding was ss» for early in August. P.S.—lt happened that Cameron and Wyoming were in town when the wedding took place, and that they were Isvited to go to the railway station from which the yoonpf people were about to start on fcbefe wedding tour. Both. Frank ami Caviztia felt thafc their happiness was An.® Iα Kreat measure to the effort oJ the irwo friends, and they were prompt in expressing their gratitude. The jmng coatple were in their -carriage,' wMfe Cameron and Wyoming leaned la at tbt» window. Already the guard's voice was heard, and the departure of the traia w&s imminent. " Tell mc one thing," cried tb© bridefrrooin, at last summoning courage. "How did you do the chess game? That hm puzzled mc ever since." Cameron and Wyoming laaghsd. "Iβ that the only one of our feats wlileis pnzzles you t' asked the Ameri^aa. "Yes*replied Hardy, "I think It Is, At least I can guess at the others* I knot? that he found the v&se in the bine room by the ticking of jour watch, and I' tblsfe that I saw you give ray respected father* in-law not the cards we had writtem numbera on, but others with the numben : Cecil had prepared in advance." "Oh,'OaP said Cameron; "It; seem* we have a promising; neophyte here'foe the Rosicrucian Brotherhood, "But the chess game V Hardy cos* tiuaed: " there lam pusszled. I doa % set it at all. How did you de ifcf' • Here the guard warned the two frlendw away from the door of the and already the first tremor of motion wu& ieit ia the train. . " ,'". "This i« our lastreqaest," cried £»7l»ie* •♦Howdidyoadoifcr . Wyoming looked afc Camepps, ■»»» nodded. Then ha said, qaietiy, made up the game in advance aod Wa«, it by heart." "Oh T said Hardy. . ; - And the train et*r2»d and bore the yoaog cOaple ewifay em ol sight t<o theWplaess of a hooejmooa.