THE THEORY OF PROFESSOR STOLZ.

New Zealand Mail, 30 December 1892, Page 10

THE THEORY OF PROFESSOR STOLZ.

Nearly everybody who is acquainted with Hie Continental cities in which so many English and Americans tuke up their residence for the purpose of educating their children is no stranger to the little town of Heimfurth, on the Edelwese, with its quaint, old high street, its row of pasteboard-looking villas in the suburbs, and last, but not least, its ruined oastle towering over the town from its resting place on the hill, looking like some giant guardian too enfeebled by age for active work, but still retaining a fondness for the ward which nestles at his feet. There was no lack of quiet amusements at Heimfurth—a theatre, which was opened thrice a week; a museum, chiefly devoted to balls and concerts ; a reading-room, well supplied with Continental papers; and a club for the use of the foreign residents, where all nationalities could meet on neutral ground. Then, there were numerous interesting spots within easy distance, which were often the scenes of gay picnics, fairly good fishing in the Edelweser, and plenty of shooting in the winter months; so that altogether Heim f urth was not to be despised as a temporary residence. The native German element seldom mixed with the visitors, either British or American, save for commercial purposes, and kept very much to themselves, acd went on in the quiet, even tenor of,the life so dear to the Teuton disposition. There was but little hereditary German nobility to be found in Heimfurth, where the • Vons ' were oonspicuous by their absenoe, but there waa a select coterie of retired burgomasters, ex-syndics, and professors of the university who met together nightly aud smoked the pipe of contentment over the beer flagon of economy. Like the bat in the fable, who was equally welcome in the social camps of the birds and beasts, was one inhabitant of Heimfurth, who formed the connecting link between the visitors and the residents, and that was Professor Stolz. The Professor had fer a long time been connected with the university in the department of natural science, but after a time he begged to be released from his functions on the plea that he had inherited a small fortune from a distant relative, and wished to devote himself to the perfection of a grand discovery on which he had chanced during his laborious studies. The Professor, however, so far from becoming • recluse and burying himself in his books, appeared to have made up his mind to indulge in a brief spell of reoreation, and as at one time he had made the acquaintance of various foreign residents by teaching his own language, he found but little difficulty in getting admission to their houses; and so by degrees became a sort of peripatetic newsman, conveying intelligence from one section of society to the other. Professor Stolz was a tall, thin man of ahout fifty-six years of age, singularly pleasant in his manner, and with an agreeable smile lurking round the corners of his mouth. For his age be evidently possessed great strength, and was accustomed to take long and solitary rambles over the adjoining country. His heavy white moustache was always carefully trimmed, and his Men grey eyes disdained the aid of the pince-nez so muoh in use by. Germans of all ages. The twe houses at which the Professor was roost intimate were those of Mr Renton B. Fishwiek, an American gentleman from the Southern States, who, strange to say, boasted of no militarv prefix to his name,.and Captain Fernley, late of the Royal Navy, who, with his wife and son Alired, a child of six years of age, had been for the last two years residing at Heimfurth. Bella Fishwiek, the daughter of the Southerner, was a handsome girl of eighteen years of age, full of dash and vivacity, and looked upon as the belle of the foreign colony located at Heimfurth. Professor Stolz and the young Southern beauty were firm friends, and the old man would often jokingly affect jealousy when the Joung lady's engagement was mentioned to 'rank Harley, with whom she had become acquainted in the voyage across the Atlantic. Both Captain and Mrs Fernley were very fond of the Professor, and little Alfred would climb upon his knee and search his pockets for the sweetmeats which the kind old German brought for him whenever he visited his parents. One night, on a warm July evening, Professor Stolz walked into the room at the Rittmeister Inn, which was the ehosen meeting place of the Heimfurth worthies, •nd, lighting his pipe, called for his glass of •le, and in a few minutes was enveloped in a cloud of tobacco smoke. * Well, Professor,' remarked Herr Oberkleiner, an ex-burgomaster of the town, 'what news do you bring us from England •nd America?' ' Great Britain, M represented by Captain Fernley, is as friendly as usual, and the United States are ever beautiful in the shape of fair Bella Fishwiek; but, to tell you the truth, Herr Oberkleiner, I have come to apeak to fou on quite a different matter this evening,' returned the Professor. The ex-burgomaster opened bis eyes, as he waa acoustomed to do when surprised. 'I an always ready to assist you in any way I c*n, Professor,' answered he, with a polite wave of his pipe; ■ pray tell me what it is you

«You are the perpetual president of the committee for the preservation of the ruin of the Oastle of Heimfurth?* said Professor The el-burgomaster nodded. •Then,' continued the Professor, 'I want you to let me the tower at the south-east .ogle of tbe building.' • What! the Tower of the White Lady V cried the old man, very nearly permitting hie nine to become extinguished in his amaze"™V «Whv, the ground floor has neither door nor window, and I do not think the Jpper floors are in much better condition VT do not want to use the ground floor, the Professor, «and such slight STm to necessary I will have executed It P «T own expense. I want a place where I * L ™.»f>fltlv free to porsue the expen-

' But,' remarked Max Vondervein, ' you will never be able to Btudy there. Why after nightfall the old castle swarms with ghosts and spectres of every description.' ' Ghosts,' echoed the Professor disdainfully, ' you have muddled your brain, Herr Vondervein, with all those romantic legends that you are always poring over in the museum library. There are no such things as ghosts, and if there are my discovery when perfected will reduce their numbers enormously.' 'Reduoe the number of ghosts, responded Herr Oberkleiner, ' that will indeed be wonderful, but now 1 come to think of it, Professor, though we have all heard of your great discovery, we none of us know exactly what it is.'

The eyes of Professor Stolz flashed and a slight flush rose to his cheek. ' I have ceased my researches for some little time,' said h»,' because I felt that I required rest; but now I am going to recommenco again, and hope to reduce my theory to practice. Do you know how many people dio of hunger every year in the civilised world ? I do not count China, Japan, or other places where it is difficult to got at the death-rate, but in countries where jegular registers are kept.' * I cannot say,' answered Herr Oberkleiner, with a sigh. ' A great many, I am afraid. Poor souls now live in Heimfurth. When the hard cruel winter comes we have many sad cases brought to our notice.' • Eight millions,' cried the Professor, triumphantly, ' eight millions of human beings perish annually from Bheer want of food. What do you say to that, Herr Vondervein ? How would you set to work to put an end to so terrible a state of affairs ?'

' If there was more work,' began Herr Vondervein, ' and the poor people were able to earn regular wages, then .' But before he could get any further, Professor Stolz interrupted him with a contemp tuoue laugh. 'Plenty of work and good wages,' exclaimed he, ' and when the time of scarcity comes, when the mouey market is flat and there is a panic in financial circles, when that sends up all prices, what then ? No, no, gentlemen, we must go deeper to find a remedy for this evil.' ' But have you found it, Horr Professor V asked Oberkleiner, ' beeause if you have made so grand a discovery, you will be the greatest benefactor that has ever arisen in this world, and will win a renown which no King or Kaiser has ever attained to.' Professor Stolz roße from his seat, and paced backwards and forwards, making strange gesticulations as if the subject which oooupied his mind was far too great for words to express. At length he paused before the ex-Burgomaster, his eyes gleaming with a strange fire, and the muscles in his face quivering with excitement. «Yos—yes, I hold the key to the great mystery. I can solve the all-important question. We eat too much, and spend far too much on food than our incomes warrant. I say to you that it is the gorgeous gluttony of the poor man that in many cases makes him expire by starvation, and that the ex travagant banquets of the rich set an example whioh fosters want and misery throughout the land. Hunger is a mere fanoy, and to a great extent imagination can satisfy the appetite. Do not laugh; lam not speaking of the Barmecide repasts of Arabian lore. What I wish to explain to you is that we have been brought up to believe that our systems require a certain amount of ox or sheep flesh to keep us in health, when half, a quarter, a mere decimal amount of that would be sufficient. It is oustom that makes us stuff ourselves, and it is education which must cure us of such a ruinous habit.' ' But surely, Professor,' remarked Herr Vondervein, ' medical men all tell us that a human being requires a certain amount of nourishment during the twenty-four hours.'

' Hah ! I laugh at your doctors,' retorted the Professor, with an angry ring in his voice. ' They are wedded to worn-out traditions, besides they know that overloading the stomach brings grist to their mill: medical opinion has no weight with me.' ' Then, my dear Professor,' observed Herr Oberkleiner. You would propose that we should all go into training for starvation, and that, barring those who die before their education is completed, the death-rate will be materially decreased. lam too old for such new-fangled ideas, but if you want the White Lady's Tower it is quite at your service, I can answer for that.' The enthusiasm with which the Professor had begun to speak had now died away, and he had seated himself again with a lacklustre expression in his eyes, as though the fire that had animated him had died out, the wheels run down, and the whole machinery in a state of quiescence. After a time he appeared to reoover himself, and after thanking Herr Oberkleiner for his courtesy he left the room, and proceeding to a carpenter's shop began at once to make arrangements for the repairs necessary to his new abode. The news that Professor Stolz was going to seclude himself like the alchemists of old for the purpose of giving himself up to stndy, speedily spread through the circles of German and English communities, and many were the remarks made, not only upon his resolve, but also upon his strange theory, which Herr Oberle'iner had by no means treated as a confidential communication. In about a fortnight the repairs to the White Lady's Tower were completed, and the Professor paid visits of farewell both to hia foreign friends and his fellow-countrymen. 1 Not,' said he to Captain Fernley, ' that I intend to shut myself up entirely ; but ray visits to the tower will be few and .far between, and from my eyrie I shall look down upon you and breathe a prayer for your health and happiness.' ' But, my dear Herr Stolz,' exclaimed Mrs Fernley, ' how do you intend to to manage about your food V

Professor Stolz held up his hand in horror. * There is that question of eating again. Can you not understand that it is a question of abstinence I am going to solve, not of feasting V ' But I say, Stolz,' said the captain, looking at his guest curiously,' do you mean to say that you can do without food V

The Professor answered this question by asking another. * Have you ever seen me eat anything V asked he. ' No,' answered Captain Fernley. ' Now I come to think of it, I ne*er have ; and when we pressed you to take anything, you always made some excuse or other.' ' Just so,' remarked Professor Stolz, • and that is a reply to your question. Alfred, my little friend, will you come with me and learn to do without some of your meals V ' I like ray dinner, Herr Professor,' replied the child,' and I don't think I should like to give it up ; then breakfast is nice, and so is tea when mamma gives me jam with it. No, Professor, if you please, I had rather not.' Captain and Mrs Fernley laughed at their son's reply, but Professor Stolz turned away rather abruptly, and shortly afterwards took his leave. His next visit was to the Fishwicks, and Bella rallied him a good deal on his proposed change of life. ' Eeally, Professor,' said she, ' you have shattered my faith in man. I thought that there was an amount of firmness and sincerity in the German character which would not permit it to be taken away from the object of its affections, whatever inducements were held out to it; but, alas I I find that science is a rival with whom I have no chance.' The Professor smiled in his most benign manner. ' Ah, my clear Fraulein,' said he, ' if you would only help me in my researches, I should be the happiest man on the face of the earth.'

• Thank you,' returned Bella with, a little mocking curtsoy, ' but lam blessed with a good heaHhy appetite and don't want to become the apostle of abstinence; besides, I think you are a dreadful man. If you carry out your discovesy, what is to become of that dear, delightful Monsieur Anatole, who furnishes those sweet little dinners from his restaurant, of which father is so fond.' ' All great reforms are attended with a certain amount of personal inconvenience,' returned the Professor a little gravely, 'and even the destruction of a French restaurateur weighs very lightly with me ; however, Miss Bella, I'll not despair of seeing you a convert to my theory yet.' « But say, Professor/ broke in Renton B. Fishwiek,'Have you tried the starving game yourself ? Do you know it looks like it, for as far as I can recollect, I have never seen you eat anything.' ' Man does not live by bread alone,' quoted the Professor a little profanely ; ' life can be sustained by various other expedients, inhalation, for instance, has been tried with marked success.'

' I guess,' said Miss Bella, a little pertly, ' that it would tako me a long time to consider that a sniff at the kitchen door was eqivalent to a good square square meal.' Evidently Professor Sfcolzcould notbearto have the slightest amount of ridicule cast upou his theory, and his face flushed angrily, and in the course ot a few minutes he took his leave of the Fishwicks. The ruined castle of Heimfurth, tha glories of which are chronicled both in Murray and Badaekar, stands on the hill beneath which nestles the little town and the elope of which, thickly wooded and intersected by numerous paths affords a pleasant place of resoit for the inhabitants and temporary sojourners in the pleasant little German town. Many picturesque villas are perched upon the spur of the hill, and the gardens in the rear of them have gates which give access to the romantic woodlands at the back of the caßtle. Captain Fernley occupied one of these and during tbe summer heat he and his wife were accustomed to spend much of their time beneath the grateful shade of the trees, whilst little Alfred played and sported about near them.

Professor Stolz had taken possession of the half-ruined tower, regarding which he had spoken to Herr Oberkleiner, and made his appearance, but seldom in the streets of Heimfurth. When he did so, ho made curt replies to the questions addressed to him, merely remarking thnt he hoped soon to attain tho goal of discovery. One Sunday a few of his old associates headed by Herr Vondervein, made a pilgrim age to the White Lady's Tower; but they found that a strong door now barred the entrance to the lower storey, and no attention was paid to their knockings or oalls for the Professor to come down and let them in. Those who moved about the town by night could see a bright light Bhining from the tiro windows in the upper room of the square tower, like the eyes of some protecting genius watching over a spot whioh had been placed under his special guardianship. A grand picnic had been organised by the English and American residents at a romantic spot some eight miles from Heimfurth, known as the Wolf's Leap, so called from some wild legend of diablerie whieh had boon handed down from generation to generation. Captain aud Mrs Fernley had, of oourse, joined the merrymaking, but Alfred was deemed too young to be taken, and was therefore left in charge of the two servants, Gretohen and Ursula. It was nearly seven o'clock in the evening when Captain and Mrs Fernley returned home, tired out, and on their arrival at their door they were surprised to find Professor Stolz standing there, with his fingers on the handle of the bell as though in the aot of ringing. « Welcome, most learned Apostle of Absolute Abstinence!' exclaimed the captain, with a joyous laugh, 'your visit will make a pleasant termination to a pleasant day, but why did you not go in and smoke, your orusade against the good things of this life does not extend to tobaoco, I believe ?' 'Certainly not,' replied Professor Stols; ' but I cannot in. Do you know that I have been ringing here for more than half an hour ?' , The Captain Btared at him in muoh surprise, and Mrs Fernley uttered a little ory of torror. ' I have the key of the side door,' observed the Captain. 'These jades must lmve taken advantage of our absenoe and gono out, confound them 1 The house might have been stripped.' . ~ „ ' But where js my boy—whero is Alfred I sobbed Mrs Fernley, as they made their way to the Bide door,

' They have doubtless taken him with them,' remarked the Professor, as Captain Fernley turned tho key in the lock.

There was perfect stillness in the house, and though the Captain shouted, ' Gretchon, Ursula,' at the top of his voice, thero was no response.

A search, however, brought one of tho missing domestics to light, for in tho kitchen Ursula was discovered, with an empty bottle of the Captain's favourita brandy beside her, and in a state of helpless intoxication. As tho little party with disgust at tho delinquent cook, the door behind them was opened, and tho frightened faco of Gretchen peered timidly in. All turned upon hor at onoo, and after many tears and equivocations, she confessed that she had been out with a soldier of a Bavarian regiment, with whom she had struck up an acquaintance. * But my child, where is my ohild ?' cried Mrs Fernley. Gretchen declared that Bbe had loft him in Ursula's charge, and that doubtless he was hiding somewhere about the house, having become frightened at tho insonsiblo condition of the cook. Tho villa was searohed with tho utmost oare, but no signs of the child oould could be discovered. Captain Fernloy hurried off to the polioe, and the distracted mother was sedulously looked after by the repentent Gretchon, whilst the Professor, after accompanying the captain in his round of inquiries, finding all efforts fruitless, slowly and sorrowfully returned to his nest in the ruined castle. The child Alfred had disappeared as com. pletely as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up. No one had seen bim in the street, nor had any suspicious looking characters been notioed lurking about. Nothing had been removed from the house, and no cries had been heard. When Ursula recovered from her stato of intoxication, she declared that the boy was playing about the garden in the best health and spirits, the wall was too high for him to have soaled, and the door leading to the woodland was securely fastened. The slrioteßt precognitions of tho police in the lower quarters of the town failed to elicit any information, and the mystery seemed likely to be ore of those which will never be solved until the great day when all secrets shall be repealed. For three days the excitement amongst all classes wus moat intense, the kind-hearted Professor paid daily visits to the residence of the afflicted parents, but he wag powerless to do anything, and as the days passed on nothing remained to remind the world of little Alfred's disappearance, save a father's despair and a mother's broken heart.

Ronton B. Fishwiek would have been much annoyed if anyone had termed him an idle man, and yet ho spent the greater portion of tho day in going through that thoroughly Transatlantic performance known as ' loafing.' On the day in question, with tho inevitable cigar protruding from one corner of his mouth, he sauntered down to the railway station to await the arrival of tho troin from Cologne—not that he oxpeotod anyone, but it was as good a way of passing the time as another. To his extreme surprito, ds the train drew up alongside tho platform, a little, aotive figure emerged from one of the carriages, and, rushing up to the American, grasped both his hands and shook them heartily. ' Why, Frank,' erolaimed Ronton B. Fishwiek, ' Frank Harloy, where have yon sprung from ? Who would have expeoted to see you here ?' • Why, Bella, I hope,' returned Frank, who was a good-looking, b/onzed young follow of about eight and twenty. ' I had imagined that she would have been looking for me every day.' ' I guess I oan't answer fqr my daughter's feelings any more than I could for any other young woman's,' answered tho Amerioan, philosophically ; ' but say, have you completed all your business ?' ' Every bit of it,' replied Frank, cheerily, ' except that last little performance at whioh Bella and you and tho olergyman and I hava to assist.' ' I calo'late you'll have to wait until the young lady has got her biidal trousseau,' answered Mr Fishwiek. ' And then I shall bo as pleased as you to see the affair com* pleted.' ' I am agreeable as long as I may wait here,' answered Frank. 'ls Bella at home ?' ' I left hor there,' replied the American, ' but you can't rely upon girls for a moment —she may have gono to visit a friend, or to do a bit of shopping, or elso to tho library, or else—but all the seven wice men of Greece would be puzzled to account for a young lady's whereabouts now-a-days,' Chatting gaily, Frank Harley and his prospective father-in-law arrived at the latter's residence; but Btlla Fishwiek was not" at home, and tho servant said she had gone with a book in her hand-, and doubtless, according to her usual oustom, was reading under the shade of some tree in the woodlands on the slope of the Castlehill. ' I guess,' remarked Renton B. Fishwiek, turning to Frank,' that you had better oomo in and wait for her. I oan mix you a real eye opener, and the Bun is too hot to go dodgin? about looking for a girl you are as Hire as shooting to miss.' But the ardent lover was not to be pnt off by the fear of a little heat, and after inquiring the way to the woodland region he started on his quest. Up and down the winding paths, and in and out of the tall tree trunks he wandered, but without catching a glimpse of the form he so longed to see ; and he was about to retrace his steps to the American's residence, when a small object lying ot the foot of the tree caught his eye. He advanoed a few steps, raised it from the ground, and saw that it was a volume of Longfellow's poems, the page whioh tho readei had been perusing being marked by a delioato cambric handkerchief, the corner of which bore the monogram of Bella Fishwiek.

' Careless child !' muttered he, pressing the handkerohief to his lips,' she has forgotton her book and gope homo.' Making as many short cuts as he could, Frank readied Mr Fishwick's house, but to his surprise Bella was not there. Her father, however, took the matter yery easily, remark-

ing that there was no accounting for Bella's vagaries, but that she was bound to turn up for the evening meal. ' Bella isn't one of Professor Stolz's diiciples, I can tell you,' added he, ' and you may bet your bottom dollar she won't be late for dinner.' Then, noticing the young man's look of bewilderment, he beguiled the hour of waiting by tellisg him of the Professor's theory, and how he was was working it out ia the lonely Tower of the White Lady. Day faded, and the shadows begen to fall across the streets of Heimfurth, but Bella Fishwiek did not return home. Her father now became uneasy, and although search was nr ado for the missing girl, it was without the faintest success. The same terrible drama was repeated which had been employed in the disappearance of little Alfred Fernley, but the denouement was still the same, and no trace of the missing girl oould be obtained. ' The father and the lover were members of a party whioh scoured the woodland region, and in tbe course of their search reached the oastle ruins, sad passing beneath the Tower of the White Lady, shouted to the Professor to ask if he had seen anything of the missing girl. The Professor appeared horrified at the news, and asked the ssarohers to oome up to his rooms and rest whilst they gave him full details. Professor Stolz had made himself fairly oomfortable in the upper room, but the one on the ground-floor had been loft untouched, savo for tho strong-dojr, which now guarded the entrance. ' What!' erolaimed be, ' ach himmel,' the two I loved best in Heimfurth, gone like this! Firfct my little Alfred, and now the gay and beautiful Bella ! It is enough to turn a man's brain.' And now something like a veritable panio prevailed in the hitherto peaceful German town. Men whose occupation kept them out after nightfall returned to their homes in parties of three or four for mutual protection. Women bound up themselves and their children in their homes after nightfall, and strong detachments of the police patrolled the town. Renton B. Fishwiek, who was half frantic when he had exhausted every meana of discovering his daughter, hurried away to lay his case before the United States Minister at Berlin.

Frank Harloy, however, could not bring himself to leave the place from whioh his beloved had eo unaccountably disappeared. All day long, and even after the shades of evening had fallen, he would wander about Heimfurth and its environs, in the vague hope of some clue manifesting itself. Somehow or other his feet seemed guided to the woodlands, and from thence to the old ruin, whore he frequently held long conversations with Professor Stolz, who evinced the deepest sympathy for this bereavement. Little by little the conversation turned upon the Professor's great theory, and the old man bitterly bewailed the pigheadednesi of the officials who would not permit him to try hit experiments on the prisoner in the jail or the inmates of the workhouse. ' But I shall succeed in spite of all their blind prejudice !' the Professor would exclaim, 'and then the world will judge between their benefactor arid the bigots who have sought to hamper him. But, my young friend, do you know that in my nocturnal wanderings about this place I have found some subterranean dungeons, which, I believe, have been hitherto unknown. Would you like to see them ? It may divert you from your feelings of melanaholy.' Frank languidly assented, and Professor Stolz leading the way to the ground floor, and pulling away a pile of old sacks and matting which were heaped up in the corner, disclosed a flagstone with a ring in it, which, on being raised showed tho topmost steps of a narrow staircase. 1 Why. there is a light down there !' re« marked Frank as he gazed downwards. 'Yes,' replied the Professor, hurriedly, ' there are mephitio exhalations, and since my discovery I have kept a lamp burning there, to tell me whether I can descend in safety. You know where the flame is not extinguished human life can exist; but will you not desoend ? I will follow you.' Frank Harley turned his baok towards his host, when tbe Professor, who had secretly possessed himself of the shaft of a spade, aimed a heavy blow at his head. By the merest chauoe in the world, Frank glanoed upwards at that moment, and by a rapid movement avoided tho coming stroke and clutched Professor Stolz by the throat. His eyes flashed with demoniacal fire and a suooession of sounds burst from his breast, resembling the deep growls of an enraged mastiff. For a moment Frank was almost paralysed by the suddenness of the attaok, but as ha reoovered himself, his youth won the day, and ho soon held the old man powerless beneath his knee, whioh pressed firmly upon his chest. ' Let mo go 1 ' panted the Professor, making vain efforts to bite his hand that restrained him, ' let me go, or rather go into your cell, I want you for the great experiment; have I not already secured the child and the blooming damsel, and now I only require the lusty young man, then the discovery will be made, and kings and emperors will lay their golden crowns at the feet of Stolz the Benefactor 1 ' His faoe was absolutely hideous, aed tbe foam flew in flakes from his lips as he writhed and struggled in his vain efforts to release himself.

Drawing his handkerchief from his pocket, Frank secured the old man's wrists, then, tearing off his neckcloth, he bound his feet, and arose, panting from the severe struggle through whioh he had just passed. ' Who is there?' said a faint voice, which appeared to come from the hall. The young man started, for in these faint acoents he recognised the voiee of his beloved Bella. Snatching the lamp from the niche in whioh it stood, he took a survey of the place into which ho had so unexpectedly penetrated and saw that it was a long passage with several doors on the right-hand side, each seoured by a heavy bolt. He drew back the one nearest to him, and in a moment was clasped in Bella's arms, who, weak ana enfeebled, with a face as pale as death, sank forwards as he opened the door. ' Take me

•way/ moaned ihe in loir, shuddering acceuts, 'but flnt release poor little Alfreds, ff he it •kill alire; he is in Iho next cellar to this.* Alfrei was stretched ofi a heap of straw, so ptJe and death-lifte, that had it not been for • faint heating of the oheit Frank would have helieredthat life had fled. He raised him Up in his arms, and, bidding Bella cling to him, made his way to the upper air, taking no heed of the jells and execrations of Fro* feasor Stole.

When Bella was sufficiently recovered she explained how she had been decojed awaj. ' I was sitting reading under n tree,' said she, 1 When Frofersor Stolz suddenly made his appearanoe. " Frauline," whispered he, " I have found dear little Alfred ; he had been stolen, I have recovered him. He is very weak, and wants a woman's care. lam afraid he will die if he is left alone. Will you watch over him while I run for his mother t " Of course I agreed, and that wioked man brought me here and has been •lowly starving me to death, under the pretence of making experiments in order to further his disoorery.' Little Alfred did not die ; the loving care that was lavished on him restored the faint ■park of life whioh still lingered. Ho related that on the day of the pin-nic Herr Stolz had helped him over the garden wall, and, under pretence of taking him for a ramble, had conveyed him to the vault and daily dimished ths amount of food with which he supplied kirn.

Of coarse the Profescor was tried, but, as the court found that too mueh study had turned his brain, he was acquitted, but rele. gated to a lunatic asylum for the rest of his day*. What aroused public feeling more against him than anything else was the discovery that, whilst he was pretending to tuke no food, cases containing wine and French luxuries were sent to him weekly from the neighbouring city of FUrstbaden, labelled so as to make the railway authorities believe that they were chemicals to be used in the fur* Iterance of his great discovery. On the very day that the Professor was •squestsred from the world, Frank Harley led his blooming bride to the altar, and little Alfred raised himself in his invalid chair to throw a slipper after the happy couple.