A. MINT OF MONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

A. MINT OF MONEY.

BY GEO. MANVILLE FENN, Author of " Tho Master of Ceremonies," " Black Blood, or, tho Lass that LoTod a Soldier," " Hard to Win," etc. [All Rights Reserved.) CHAPTER XXIIL an EVENT. IT was all one whirl of excitement to Chris. Lisle that railway journey to town, and there wero moments when he asked himself whether ho was sane to go upon such a mission. Tho rush upward of tho train seemed like a race, and the rattle of the bridges and tunnels suggested the shouts and cheers of the crowd as tho horses swept on. But he had determined to persevere, and with stubborn determination ho went on. reached town, and without hesitation laid his money — four hundred pounds—in four different hundreds, so as to ensure himself as well as ho could, in each case getting tho odds of 100 to 1, so that should tho Prince's horse come in first ha would bo tho winner of forty thousand pounds. As soon as this was done he went to a quiet hotel to try and get some rest. But that was impossible, for ho was faco to faco with his folly. Four hundred pounds gone in an insane hopo of winning forty thousand, and ho could see now how absurd it was. " Never mind," ho said, bitterly, "I shall not. be the first fool who has lost money on a race, and I shall have had tho excitement I

of a bit of gambling." His idea was to stay in town and go to a theatre, so as to divert the current of his thoughts, then have a long night's rest and go to some other place of amusement the next day, so as to pass tho time till the race had been run and ho know the worst. lie dined, or rather tried to dine, and for tho fir. c time in his life drank heavily, but the wine seemed not to havo the slightest effect. Then in a feverish heat ho went to one of the best theatres, and saw a social drama enacted by the people who tilled his brain, pthat was going on upon the stage being quite a blank. He saw himself as a disappointed hero, and Glyddyr as tho successful man carrying all before him. winning Claude's love, and then in what seemed to be the last act there was a wedding, and a wretched man going afterwards right along to one of the towering cliffs overhanging the sea, below Damouth, and leaping off to end his woes. "I'm glad I came to the theatre," ho said mockingly to himself in ono of his lucid intervals " Better havo gone to a doctor for something to send me to sleep." Then ho became conscious of tho fact tint people in the pit were saying " Hush !" and " Sit down !" and that somebody had risen and corao out from the place where he was jammed in right in tho centre of tho stalls just as the climax of the play was being reached. Then he grew conscious that ho was the offender, and breathed more freely as he got out into the cool air. It was not ten, and ho found a chemist's open near the Strand. "I'm not very well," ha said to the gentlemanly • looking man behind the counter. " Had a lot. of trouble, made me restless, and I want to take something to give men trood night's rest. Can you give me a dose of laudanum?" The man looked at him curiously. " You ought to go to a doctor," he said. "Doctor! Absurd! What for? I'm as Well as you are. Give mo something calming. It will be better than going back to the hotel and taking brandy or wine." Tho chemist nodded and prepared a draught. " What's that ! Laudanum —morphia ?" "No; a mild dose of chloral. Try it. If it does not act as you wish, I should advise you to go to a physician in the morning." Chris, nodded, took the bottle, and hurried back to his hotel, where he at once went to bed after swallowing his draught. It did not have the desired effect. His idea was to take a draught which would pin ere him in oblivion for a few hours ; but this dose of chloral seemed to transport him to a plain surrounded by mountains covered with the most gloriously tinted foliage, where flowers seemed to ripple all over the meadow-like pastures, and cascades of the most brilliant iridescent waters came foaming down and sparkling in the glorious sunshine.

All deliciously dreamy and restful, but when the morning came it did not seem to him that he had slept. Still he was calmer, and felt more ready to think out the inevitable.

" How many hou" shall I havo to wait ?" he thought. The race would probably be run about three o'clock, and till then ho must bo as patient as he could. " Better go back at once,'' he paid ; " and repent at leisure over my madness." But he did not, for he accepted the last suggestion of his brain, had a hurried breakfast, and jumped into a hansom, had himpelf driven to the station, and soon after was being borne away by the express. The rest of that day's proceedings were a dreamy whirl of confusion. The rushing noise of the train seemed to bring back the old excitement, and this increased a? he reached the station, and had himself driven to the course, where o.ie of the first things he learned was that the case was hopeless, for the horse he had backed had gone down in the betting, till '200 to 1 could be obtained, and for the first time he felt sick at heart.

He went up into the principal stand, securing a good place to see the race, and waited while two others were run, the horses flying by without exciting the slightest interest; the only satisfaction he gained was in having them pass, so as to bo nearer to the great race of the day. At last, just as he had pictured it from old recollections of a minor race ho had seen, there was the shouting and bawling of the odds, the clearing of the course, and then the preliminary canter of the ten competitors, among which he now made out the colours of Simoom—an ordinary looking horse with nothing to draw attention to it ; while the three first favourites of the cor/nosrend were the perfection of equine beauty, and their admirer? shouted with excitement as they flashed by. Then after five false starts, each of which •eemed maddening to Chris., who, while thinking the worst, could not help a gleam Df hope piercing the dark cloud of despair Df his folly,- the cry arose that they were off ; and amid a babel of sounds as the parti coloured throng of jockeys seemed to sweep along the green course and disappear, appear again and disappear, spasmodic cries arose—"Lady Ronald," " Safflower —Bafflower leads," "The favourite wins," " Rotten race," "Favourite wins, ' "The favourite shows 'em all her heels," " Look the favourite 1"

The horses, after a period of silence, had swept round into sight again, and it was «een that three horses were together—then there was an interval—and there were four, well together —another interval, and the rest racing behind. The second group excited no notice, Save from Chris., who made out that his horse was with them, and, while every eye was fixed on the excitine race between the favourite and the two horse? which strove hard to get abreast, there was suddenly a yell of excitement, for Simoom all at once shot out from among the second lot, and going well, with her jockey using neither whip nor spur, began rapidly to near the leaders.

The shouts increased, and a thrill ran through Chris, as ho saw the plain-looking mare glide on, but it seemed too late an impossibility to overtake the beautiful creatures so far ahead.

Another roar—mingled with yells of excitement, as it was seen that the favourite's jockey was beginning to use his whip, and the roar increased as Safllower was level with her shoulder, was head to head, was head front, and the next moment, hopelessly beaten, she was passed by Lady Ronald, who now challenged Safflower, and they were racing level for fifty yards. The excitement grew frantic. " Safflower ! Lady Ronald! Safflower ! # Safflower !"

"Mo, no, no !" said the man on Chris.'s left ; "look ! listen ! it's like the simoom itself coming on, and sweeping the mare on its wings." Chris, ifeard all ho said, and stood there bending forward, hi* lips apart and eyes

* The Proprietors of tliu N'W ZI'AI.AM) HrRAI.D nave purchased the solo right to publish this story in the North Island of New Zealand.

starting, (is If turned to stone, living a very life in those seconds, as with a roar like the rushing of & tempest the contemned mare came on.

" By George, sir, if tho course had been a hundred yards more she'd have won," roared the man on Chris.'s left. "By Georgo, look 1 look ! Safllower's done. It's Lady Ronald, by jove ! No I hurrah ! Simoom, Simoom ! and in tho midst of the frantic oxcitement the maro upon which Chris's hopes were fixed, reached the first horse, passed Safflower ; there was a quick touch of the whip, the pair were neck and neck, not forty yards from homo, and then Simoom's nose showed in front, and in the next, few bounds she was half a length ahead, and swept past tho post the winner, amidst such a scene of excitement as was seldom witnessed on a racecourse. The man on Chris.'s left suddenly seized his hand, perfect strangers as they were. "Hurrah .for tho dark horso," he cried. " Just for the fun of the thing, I put a sov. on her now, and I've won two hundred pounds. I beg your pardon, sir, I see you're hit. Forgive my excitement, but don't be downhoarted, and have a glass of champagne." "Thank yon," said Chris., quietly, but ho did not move, for tho place seemed to bo spinning round him, and ho hold tightly by the rails for a few moments, till a hand was laid upon his arm. "Can I help you?" said tho gentleman, earnestly. " You look terribly ill." "Help me? No. I'm all right now," said Chris., making an effort. "It was so sudden."

" Have you lost—heavily ?" "Lost?" said Chris., looking at him wildly. " No, I've won ; and it seems moro than I can bear."

He felt his hand being shaken warmly, and then he sank back into the wild confused dream, in the midst of which ho knew that he was being borne back by one of tho express trains, with the roar of tho race always in his ears, and the sight of the horses sweeping by always before his eyes. As ho neared town, though, lie began to grow more calm, and ho found himself repeating the words, "Forty thousand pounds. I've won—l've won ; but shall I win her now ?"

And then, like a dark cloud, came the recollection of how ho had obtained tho information upon which his success was based.

"I can never name it to a soul," he muttered. " Dishonourable — disgraced. Must havo been mad."

CHAPTER XXIV. A WARNING.

Gartram's countenance changed a littlo, but he kept down his anger. " Not yet, my dear, not yet, of course. It is not natural that you should, but you will in time, and the more for feeling a bit diffident now. Come, we understand one

another, and I won't say a word to the poor boy. You will let him feel that the winter is passing, the thaw beginninggive him a little spring first, and the summer in full swing by-and-bye." Claude shook her head. "It is impossible, papa clear. I could never like Mr. Glyddyr." "Now, my dear child, don't make me angry by adopting that obstinate tone. You are too young yet to understand your own mind." "I know I could never love Mr. Glyddyr sufficiently to be his wife." " Now, look here—" " Don't be angry with me, dear. You wish me to be always frank and plain with you ?" " Of course, but " I must know about a matter like this. I do not and cannot love this man." "Absurd, Claude." " I don't want to marry. Let me stay hero with you. I can bo very happy amongst the people I know, and who know me, and require my help." " Yes ; a gang of impostors sucking my money through you." "No, no. What I give is to make you loved and venerated by the poor people who are sometimes in distress." " But I don't want a lecture on tho relief of tho poor, my dear," said Gartram, quickly. " 1 want you to quietly accept my wishes. lam your father, and I know what is for your good." Claude was silent, for she knew by familiar signs that the tempest was waiting to burst. Do you think I wish you to marry some penniless scoundrel who wants to get my money to make ducks and drakes with it ? There, I was getting cross, but I am not going to be. Once more, there is no hurry. Thaw by degrees. It will prove Glyddyr to you, and let you seo that the poor fellow is thoroughly sincere. Come, my pet, we understand each other now Hang it all, Claude, don't look at me like that " "My dear father," she cried after a moment's hesitation, and she threw herself upon his breast and nestled to him. "Are you not making a mistake?" " No, I am too much of a business man, my dear. lam not making a mistake, unless it be in being too easy with you, and pleading when I might command. There, I'm glad you agree with me." "No, no, papa, I cannot," sho said, tearfully. "Now, Claude, my darling, don't make me angry. You know what mv health is, and how, if I am crossed, it irritates me. You are my darling child, and you agree with what I say." "No, papa," she said, imploringly, "I cannot." " Then you are thinking still of that beggarly, fortune-hunting scoundrel Lislo?" "Father, dear, don't speak like that of Christopher Lisle. He is a true gentleman." " He is a true money-seeking vagabond, and I have forbidden him my house for tho best of reasons. I would sooner see you dead than the wife of a man like that." Claude shrank away from him, and her convulsed face hardened with the faint resemblance to her father beginning to appear. *" You are unjust to him." "Itis false, madam," he cried, excitedly, with his brow beginning to grow knotty. " I know the scoundrel by heart, and as you are refusing to meet me on the terms full of gentleness and love which I propose, you must be prepared for firmness. Now, please understand. It is the dearest wish of my heart that you should marry Parry Glyddyr. I like him ; he is tho man I wish to have for my son-in-law; and he loves you. Those are strong enough points foi me, and I'll have no opposition." " Father !" " Silence ! I will not hurry matters, but you may look upon this as a thing which is definitely settled. Glyddyr is coming hero this morning, as I told you before. I shall tell him that we have come to an understanding, and that he may consider himself as accepted with a long probation to go through. There, you see, I am quite calm, for I make that concession to you—plenty of time." "Father, listen to me," said Claude, passionately.

"No! I'll listen to no moro. You can go now and think. You will come to your senses by-and-byo, I have no doubt, even if it takes time."

Claude caught his hand in hers, but he withdrew his own with an angry gesture, and she shrank back for a moment. There was that though in his face which mado her hesitate about saying more, and reaching up, and kissing him hurriedly, she left the room, thinking that he would calm down.

posed a massive looking closet built in the wall with blocks of granite, at the back of which were half a dozen iron shelves.

" Hah 1" he exclaimed, as he stood in the opening, reaching forward and taking down a small square box, which was heavy, " He'd like to have the pleasure of spending you, no doubt, but I can checkmate him." "Now," he continued, "let's finish counting you." He carried the box to the table, set it down, and then took out one by one five canvas bags, one of which lie untied, and poured out a little heap of sovereigns. This done, ho went back to the safe, and took a small thick ledger from another shelf, walked back to the table, opened the book, and made an entry of the date therein, and, leaving the pen in the opening, seated himself once again to count tho sovereigns into little piles of twenty-five. "No," lie murmured, "I haven't worked all these years to have my money swallowed up by a fortune-hunter. No, master Chris. Lisle ?"

lie started from his scat, overturning a pile of sovereigns, for at that uoment, sweet and clear, came tho song of a robin seated upon a tamarisk just outsido the window.

" Good heavens ! I must bo mad !" he cried. "Who opened that window? Yos, Claude, I remember," ho muttered ; and he was in tho act of crossing to closo it, whon lie stopped short, throw out his hands and fell with a heavy thud upon tho thick Turkish carpet, to lio there with his faco distorted, struggling violently, and striking his hands against a chair.

CHAPTER XXV. CHRIS. VISITS THE MUSEUM.

Chris. Lislo rose with a bad headache; and as ho lived ono of the most regular lives, ho knew that it could not bo caused by errors of diet. It would have been easy, enough to have attributed it to tho true cause—constant worry, but he was not going to own to that, as it seemed weak, so ho set it down to his hair being too long. "No wonder my head's hot," he said to himself; and, acting upon impulse, ho hurried out of the room, and walked straight along the cliff road, toward where, a few minutes before, Michael Wimble had had his head out of his door looking for customers, after the fashion in which a magpie looks about for something to secrete. He was a dry, yellow-looking man, thin, quick, and sharp in action as the aboven trued bird, one to which his long nose and quick black eyes gave him no littlo resemblance, and this ho enhanced by a habit of thrusting his head out of his door, laying his ear on his shoulder, and looking sidewise in one direction, then changing the motion by laying his other ear upon the fellow shoulder, and looking out in tho opposite direction. The Danmouth people, as a rule, looked straight out to sea, in a contemplative fashion, in search of something which might benefit them : fish, a ship in distress, flotsam and jetsam ; but Michael Wimble looked for iiis benefit;! from the shoro and seldom gazed out to sea. His place of business was called generally " tho shop," in spite of an oval board having upon it in faded yellow letters, upon a drab green ground, the word " Museum," as an attraction to any strangers who might visit tho place, and be enticed by curiosity to see what tho museum mitrht contain, as well as by a printed notice painted on each door-post, " Free admission." Once within they might become customers for shaving, haircutting, a peculiar yellow preparation which Michael Wimble called " Pomehard," or some of tho sundries he kept in stock, which included walking sticks, prawn nets, fishing lines, and white fish hooks made of soft tinned iron, so that if they caught in the rough rocky bottom, or some stem of extra tough seaweed, a good tug would pull them through it—a great advantage and saving, so long as they did not behave in this way with a largo fish. Michael Wimble was very proud of his museum, and took pleasure in telling all seaside visitors that he had collected all his curiosities himself, and very much resented upon one occasion its being called a " Marine Store'' by a visitor from town. The museum began as a labour of love, for Michael had cast his eyes upon the fair elderly motherly widow, Chris, landlady, and since the commencement of his collection he had laboured on in the belief that as it increased in importance so would tho woman soften toward him, and that some day all his four-roomed dwelling would become museum and business place, while he would go and reside at the widow's house—widow no longer, but Mrs. Wimble — his own. The beginning of the museum was a starfish, with four small rays, and one of enormous size, that he picked up during his regular morning walk along the seashore wet or dry, summer or winter, at six o'clock, as clo=e to the edge of the water as he could get, returning close under tho cliffs in time to have his place of business opened by eight. The starfish was duly dried and admired, and talked about by his regular customers, and this seemed so satisfactory that it was soon supplanted by a cuttlefish bone. A piece of wood well bored by teredoes followed. Then a good-sized chump of ship timber, with a cluster of barnacles attached, was carried in ono morning to commence the fine, fusty, saline, seaweedy odour which smothered completely the best hair oil, the pomade, and tho scented soap. The museum grew rapidly ; hanks of seaweed, cuttlefish bones, native sponges, shells of all sorts and sizes, some perfect, and some ground thin and white by the | tossing of the waves. Stones of all kinds, from spar to serpentine, and grey and ruddy granite; sharks' teeth, pieces of mineral of metallic lustre, fragment!, of spar, and fossils, including great ammonites, chipped out of a bed of rock which presented its water-washed faco to the advancing tide. Thero was always something to bring homo to suspend from the wall, arrange on shelf, or give a place of honour in one or other of tho glass cases which by degrees were purchased, and as Wimble's museum increased, so it became of local celebrity. Michael Wimble had been peering out when a customer appeared, and after duo soaping and softening with hot water, the barber was operating with a thin razor, which scraped off the harsh bristles of the fisherman with a peculiar metallic ring. The final triumphant upper scrapo was being given when Chris, entered the museum, and tho barber's eyes twinkled, for there were signs about Chris, which suggested a new customer, one who was in tho habit of getting his professional aid in the county town. "At liberty in a moment, sir," he said, obsequiously ; and ho rapidly wrung out a sponge, removed tho unscrapcd off soap from the fisherman's face, and throw a towel at him with a look which seemed to say " tako that and bo off."

"Niste mornin' (his, Mis. Lisle, sir," said the fisherman, wiping his face slowly. " Long time since you've had a run after the bahss."

" Yes, 'tis," said Chris., shortly. Ay, 'tis as you say, fir, that ib is ; but when you feel in the right mind you've only got to say so, and I'm your man, punt and all." "Cut or shave, sir?" said tho littlf mrber, with a look at his regular customer ji'hinh sp.pnipfl to snv " go." He stood watching her as she left, and "Cut," saia laconically ; and ho then grinding his teeth with rage, his face took his seat in tho operating chair, flushing, and his temples beating hard, he The barber looked disappointed as he strode across to the door and locked it drew his professional print cloth round securely and drew a curtain across. his customer, giving it a shake, and then " The scoundrel ! He has poisoned her securing it about his neck like a Thug with iiind. But I'd sooner kill him—l'd sooner a vl ? tl,n, i'LLi • «>» -j or vi -h, — Oh, it's maddening," he cried, as he Much or little, sir . said Wimble, with went to a drawer, fumbled with the key on a preliminary snip 111 the air. i bunch he drew from his pocket, and had Much ; bub don b make lb A confounded some difficulty in opening it, as his band cro P> Chris ,» sourly, for ' ,0 had a trembled with suppressed passion. }' U »i l dislike to the barber. _ m , , , ,i . . , " Much, but not too much, said Wimble, Then he drew open the receptacle and thoughtfully . and then vvith the customary from the back took out a ring with three hat « r of his profession he started a topic, commonly formed keys These clinked .« Been } the gi ltttel ,» l together with the involuntary movements ''No" of his hands as he crossed to a bookcase, m. f ' 0 . i . i r . i , i'..i JLnat was a negative strong enougn to took out a couple of books, opened a little v i i H t i * i i l_ i • 1 s.u 1 .1 9 F , t , have crushed some men, but it only acted door behind them and thrust another key as a m . 0 „ fche iot ' or of the ; useura . A \ ?i\ T ° f^ S a - i ' " Then I should advise you to go in, sir. and he started back withdrawing the key J-^nT thu . > juab « fci an and stood and gave his head a shake as if eye rQUn(I fop gpar<) crysta , B / and 0 c ear 1 * _ natural history specimens in general, and "How Ido hate to be put out like this," Mr. Gartram's men have blasted out some he muttered, as he laid his hand in a of the finest stones I think I ever saw." particular way upon the end of the book- Wimble waited for an answer, but case, which slowly revolved on a pivot, and none came; and after a little snipping, laid bare a large iron door. which was all done with the operator's " I don't feel at all myself," he continued, head very much one side, he continued: as he used the third and largest key, which " Fine property, Jbhat of Mr. Gartram's, opened the great door of the safe, and ex- ' sir. Grand estate."

Chris* felt as he would have liked to gag the barber with his own lather brush, but he sat still holding his breath while the man prattled on. " You said much off, sir ; yes, sir ; very good plan, sir; keeps the head cool, and after a wash or a shampoo, just rub with the towels and there you are. I often admire that Mr. Glyddyr for that, sir." Chris, flinchod. " Don't be alarmed, sir 5 only th( scissors touched the skin ; cold steel, sir keeps his hair short, sir; quite like i Frenchman. Seoms wonderfully fond o our town, sir. His yacht seems to be al ways here." Chris, grunted, and wished he had nol come to have his hair cub a 8 tho mar innocently prattled on : " If I might take the liberty of saying so, why don't you take to a yacht 7"

'Can't afford it," said Chris., bluntly. Wimble uttered a little laugh that suggested disboliof. "They do say, sir, as this Mr. Glyddyr is making up to Misa Gartram, sir." Chris, set his teeth hard. lie could not jump up and run out of the plaoe wifh his hair half out.

" And that Mr. Gartram iB set upon it, sir. Well, it's a fine opening for any young man, I'm sure. Mr. Gartram must have a deal of money up yonder. I often wonder ho has never been robbed—that's it, sir. The other side, please. Thank you. Stone walls and bolts and bars are all very well, but as I said to Doctor Asher when I was cutting him the other day, if a man wants to commit a robbery, stone walls and iron bars are no use. ' No, sir,' I says, ' there's sure to be times when doors are open and iron bars undone, and those are the times that a thief and a robber would choose.' "

"Humph !" ejaculated Chris. "So you think there are times when a man might easily rob Mr. Gartram ?"

" I do, sir, indeed ; and if you'll belioTe mo—there, I wouldn't have his money, and live as ho does for anything." " Ah, well, I won't boliovo yon," said Chris., drily. '• But you may, sir. Yos, sir, it isn't safe to live with so much money in your house." " Well, I'll toll Mr. Gartram what you say." The scissors dropped on the floor with a crash, and Wimble stood wide-eyed and harrowing his thin whiskers with his comb. " What's the matter ?" " I bog pardon, sir," faltered the barber, " you said—" " That I'd tell Mr. Gartram."

"I— I—l beg your pardon, Mr. Lislo, sir, don't do that. Mr. Gartram's my landlord —a hard man, sir, in paint and repairs ; and if he knew that I'd said such a thing about him being robbed or murdered, why 1 .do believe, sir, he'd turn mo out of housi and home."

" I shouldn't wonder," Chris..gruffly. " Lesson to you to hold your tonguo." This was so decided a rebuff that . Wimble frowned, picked up his scissors, and went on snipping in silence for nearly half a minute, when the desire to talk, or habit of talking in duet with the opening and shutting of his scissors, mastered him again. "If I might bo so bold as ask, sir, Mrs. Sarson quito well ?" " Yes, quite well." " Most amiable woman, sir," said the barber. " Her house always seems to mo as if it might take a prize—so beautifully kept, sir—so dolicatcly clean." " Yos."

"I often wondershehasn't married again." Chris, had heard hints from his landlady about an offer of marriage from the owner of the museum, but it had slipped from his memory till now, when tho suggestive remark brought it all back, and a mischievous spirit seemed to enter into him. Ho could not find it in his heart to bully the man, whose prattling gossip was a part of his trade, but ho could vex nim and revenge himself in another way for the annoyance Wimble was inflicting, and with boyish love of mischief he replied : " Yes, so do I. But perhaps it) is probable."

Wimblo checked his scissors as they were half way through a tuft of hair. "Indeed, sir?" he said as ho went on snipping. " Yes, of course you, being as you may say one of the family, and living on tho premises, would know." " Yes," said Chris., in a tone suggestive of much knowledge ; and then there was an interval of snipping, and Wimble coughed. " If one might say so, sir," he said, " that was .1 most gallant act of yours the other day." "Eh? What was?"

" Swimming out after thab handsome French lady, and saving her life."

" Pooh ! tishly. " Bub ib was, sir. People talk about it a deal."

Nonsense I" said Chris., pet-

" More fools thoy." " es, sir, bat people will talk." "Yes," said Chris., meaningly, "they will."

" Yes, sir, and it' wonderful what a man will go through for a woman's sake—l mean a gentleman for a lady." " You miserable little pump," muttered Chris, to himself, " what do you mean?" " Elderly gentleman, or young, sir?" said Wimble, insinuatingly. "Eh? What do you mean ?" " What you said, sir, about Mrs. Sarson, sir—her future, sir."

" Oh, you mustn't ask mo, Mr. Wimble. I am not in Mrs. Sar on's confidence, and being her lodger, it would bo very much out of place for me to say anything. Done ?" "One minute, sir. Anything on, sir? Limo cream ?"

" No, just a brush. Thanks, that will do. Good-morning." Trifling words do a great deal of mischief sometimes, and Chris. Lisle's had tho effect of making the owner of the museum stand at his door with his head sidewise, watching his last client till he was out of sight, and as he went down the street dark thoughts entered his mind about age and good looks and opportunity ; of the result of his own observations in life as to tho weakness of elderly ladies for youth, and one by ono ideas catno into his mind such as had never been there before.

"If it does turn out so," ho muttered, as ho slowly went back into his place of business, and apostrophised the head of a huge dog-fish which had been preserved and furnished with two glass eyes, asquint, and whoso drying had resulted in a peculiar one sided smile — "yes, if it does turn out so, I hope, for his sake and mine, he will not come hero to bo shaved."

His thoughts had such a terrible effect upon Michael Wimble that he took a razor from where it reposed in one of a series of leather loops against the wall, opened it, seized a leather strap which hung by ono end from a table, and began to whet the implement with a degree of savage energy that was startling. Chris, had had his hair cut, and his head felt easier, but lie had contrived to make himself an enemy who in his insignificant way would considerably influence his future life. [To be continued.]