Prettiest of All

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1378, 14 July 1905, Page 4

Prettiest of All

s? «■ ** CHAPTER XIX £*' " COMK. OR YOU a FRIENDS ABE LOST." 't ''■■•• ; ,*■■» Beforo going to the nol'ce-station to meet the oaptam next ddy,'Eino3t Voltay, - with ti pockot book full of currency mid bills, to bo usoil where lie saw their need. ! thought howonll diop in mid seoMavddo Lisle and Graco Bonnott, to tell them that thoir friend, Clarence Van der Veer, v ~"* was very sick, and they could no» expooi ' any visits fiora him for somo time nl least, and to ollei his aid, if thoy would i v accept it m any way. 'They had luisuo! the \Ests Mr Von dor Veefhad lofi-thcui to niftko for him, and Maid was about to . take tkm to his roaidonco, i Vollay advised hor to lioop them until Mr Van del Via was so far recovered thbt ho could be seen As he was now in a M high fovoi, his most intimate friends were ,' t not aJmitted, and only his physician and nurses had nccs to liiuj, . "? Maudas"nkd,and then Voltay told ! "' r her, wnh hci pcimwsion, ho would oa 1 ?V duly lo inform her how hi? friend was 3 progrfssing, andheahlod that he would only be too happy lo afford ber and Miss Grace pocmnaij assistance, if the) were ' uineodofii » hevingyoiu motives tobo the best," said f-t Maud " lint wo are not in need, and our ,i prqipcols are ury fair. A very kind gontlcmin a clergyman, sent to us by the <• cip'ain of police, informed us yesterday that ho had an of work in hii family foi ns The only objec'ion is tlw .' he lives so fai up town that wo canno' walk to his residei ce, but inns; go to the expense of tal mg the tlriot car?." "M) tairii n o is at vonr disposal vvhen--1 ' ovoi )ou will use it," ■ said Volay, \ „ i quickjj wliile cvon timid Grace smiled. * " Excuse my laughter, Mr. Voltay, but the idea did soiui eo ridiculous I" "But I meant it," said Voltay, car- ", neatly, but a liftlu confused. If I had my will,) ou should not libour at nl'. Hero am I, wealthy, never labouring, a usehs-i < drone in tho world." "Oh, no, Mr, Voltay, not useless, With j >om heart and wealth, you cm do good among tho really needy, While wo have , health and strength and employment, we cm earn a h\mg, to say the least. But theie aie man) not so well off as wo arc,' Maud spake >vith warmth, aud there was a Riaco and beauty in her expression j whwh literally charmed tho jwg mil- » honaire. To himself bo said, in every res' <. Bpect she was indeed tho pretties', of all. Bub not for a worid would he have said ft bo to hor, or in any way, by look or word, shown how muoh ho really d'd admire her, ! ' for feii of wounding a delicacy which ho , folt bound to respect.. j-," " I am going th's vary afternoon," ho ' Baid," with tho captain of polico lo visit the quartois of poor workers whom he Lnows And I hopo to bo able to make life oasior for somo of them. By the way, ' if you please, what is tho name- of this unoistei whom tbe captain recommended ? ' \ Perhaps I know him." K i Maud took out tho card which had ' • been handed to her, ■ and showed it to voung Voltay 1 / - " 'Bevemnd hiilas Peter Slccnm— what * \ asinguhr nam 31 \ nevor heard it befo.ro. i 4 If I had I should not have forgotten it, ' f What manner of lookio;,' man was he ?" , ' A voty re pcctablo but fluito old-look- '>, iu» maneaidMaud?" . "'/ ' His bail was gray, and|hin|brard was } , white but thore were no wrinkles ill his 1} fa"o, such as [ havo observed iu most i A t eldnrly porsoin," faid Graco, almost ftinrzcdheiself at her boldness in joining ~y in iho conversation. '' Our Mary did not like him at nil. Sbo said ho had a bold, j, bad look 111 Ins oyos," " Mary is a very strange girl," said " Maud '• SIIO his cithor a liking or a dis- ' lilto for ovory oaosho nieols.' Sho told us thomomontshosaw him that Mr Van der Veor was ii noble, true man." "Audncvoi was an opinion .more just," 1 saul Mr Volta>. "Ho is truly one inn 1 thousand. He is strictly temperate, uses no tobacco, and I nevor. heard a profano p VtOidioivohis>»lips. This minister may t be a very good man, Miss Maud, but it will do no harm 10 ask the oaptain about r him May I copy tbo card?" / ' /on cm take tho card with you, for """ 1 have copied tho name and address in by "" diai)," said Maud. "But 1 feel sure that

'>.- ho is a good man, He EceiuetS so pious jv/ and so anxious to do good., Graco aud I *-'],' ■ will soon known all about liim and his £~: ,• fttiuily-nii o children, hosnid—fonvoaro . goin» up right afior dinner to Eec about \}\ ' tbo work. Wo iiro out of work now, and .'<;'. do not wish to remain idlo."

BY JULIA EDWARDS.

Ernest Volttiy put the mi in his pocket, after one more look at it, and, promising to call will) news of Mr Van dcr Veer's condition on tlio morrow, loft tko house. ' "Wo wi'l got (tinner right away," saw Hand to Grace, "so that we Mingo and sco about the work, nnd roliirn oaily." Ernest Voli ay looked a» his watoh when ho reached his caviingo, and saw that he bad vol an tionr to sparo boforo is would bo time to lcoop his appointment with the oap'ain. Ho ordered his coachman to drive around to his club-room, and there he took alight lunch, and lroked over the papcis uiuil he lud just timo lo renoh the jffttion house »t the hour designated by •ho captain, Ho found tho latter in his ofllcc, conversing with tho s'rrgonnt nn duty. " Ah, you arc punctual," said tho officer, looking at iho lime. " I always try 10 be sir," faid Voltay, " My father tmule it a rulo nevir to _ mw uny engagement by a mi u'o, and i.was one of his gieit points of succois." "Agoodrul", if novor broken,'' wid Shociptaio. "4'eyou ro-idv ?"' "Yts, s'.r. But first tell mo what yon know of this man whom you sent to Maud da Li-lo ami her frioud (irnco Bennett? 1 ' VolavluimU iho can) to tho captain. Tho face of ihe lUter Hushed ns ho saw il. '■His this man, or ho who u«c.« this cord, boon thco to too those girls?' ho oskod, in a sharp, exoi clone. "Yes, si'. Do you know him?" "I think Ido. Why, ho is one of the same wroiches whoin I arrested ut Ma!ameDupout's. Hois tho gambler Enling, and tts isor.o of t'iu n.mca ho inea when he travels on tlio ihfco-cird moiite j/i)iuo in disguise. 1 h ivo three or (our of hij cards now—sec, thotc is one I) m itch tho ono you brinf." "Merciful Heaven! And those poor girls are going right into tho Imp halms set. They are most likely on their way their now, in search of work in his family, which ho Ims promised ihetu," ■' Then wo have not a aiimito to lo;e Your coach is at the door. Sergeant, detail two of the best ineu on the lesorvo a* once, armed and with handcuffi in their pockets. Order them at once to go with mo in Mr. Vultay's Come, young man, cojiio arid tell your driver to tike us through quicklys or your friends are lost." To bo continued.)