Prettiest of All

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1399, 9 August 1905, Page 4

Prettiest of All

/ OHAPTERXXXV '(Continued) The captain looked out of the window 'andfar down among the rooks there lay a limp and bleeding body, motionless. It was Madame ,Dnpont. The wretohed woman had leaped upon her own fate. " A pretty clean job all around 1 Young woman, you had bettor go borne with Mr. Voltay, or to the house of, Mr. Van der Veer, and koep where yon can be , protected after this.", - The old polioe captain said this, and Maud, who was woeping wit joy, or horror, Bhe hardly knew which now, said: "Do, Mr Voltay, tako us away .from here. This is too terrible. Poor Grace is almost dead with terror, and lam no. muoh better off. We have had a fearful experience" «' One which I hope will never be repeat ed," said Voltay, " Captain, can you got ovor with your men if I take the ladies withrao?" ' ■ . , 'L, "Yes, yes. Do.n't wait for me. Old Mother Flint said these mon wero counterfeiters. I've got an examination to make, and the coroner must comi and see these bodies. I shall be here for hours yet. And the sooneryou get your oharges back to Mr. Van der Veer's house the better for ' the sick man I| if I understand it right" • " Come,'then, to my carriage—or rathor Mr. Van der Veer's oorriage," Baid Voltay to Maud, "It waits close at hand." And partly leading, half carrying Grace who clung to him sobbing, he went to ' whero the coach waited. The captain went with him and helped the girls in, and

then said to Ernest:— I ' " I'll let one of my men ride over on the box with a messago I want to send to my station. Come and see mo after you get ; things arranged over there, and tell me all abont it." ~ , •:■, "I will, captain, I will. lour Hind 'help has brought all this about. Without ■ you I could have done nothing." ' "Pshaw I That last shot of yonrs boat anything I ever saw, It was neat, for you hgdn't.two inches to spare over the lady's '■ head, bui you bored his temple as clean as if yon were firing at a targel." ~- i "So I was," said Voltay; " one that I 'dared not miss. I did not like to kill a man, but toiave her I would . havo killed athonsand/'' ; ; ' .„ The policeman was now on the box with "the driver. : "To the ferry, and'then home, fast as •yon can," was Voltay's order to the driver. , A crowd was already gathered around ■the house and increasing fast, but the • carriage '< was soon through it, and , away it. rolled down; the the hill where ! but the day; before Ersling' and Stancliff had first essayed their role of mendicant pin and needle brokers.

CHAPTER XXXVI, : >; Beoihbr and Sistbr. 'y Onthe'waytothe ferry, coming over, .and-while riding towards Mr Van dor '.; Veer's bouse, Ernest Voltay told the girls .about the dream which Clarence had, and I whichhadoausodhimtehurry for police , aid to Bee if there was anything init. _ !::>'.'lt seemß as if tbore was- Borne eleotrio ! link;, some human magnetio tie which " boandtheipiritofClarenootoonior both ;r of you, so he knew you were, in peril,'' said : 'Voltay.. ' ":(•'.■■ ■' - , :"Ibelievo, even though she is a poor , sewing girl, that Clarence loves Grace," v aaid Maud. " I saw it in his eyes while /'■'■ he was first skotching onr pictures. Long ; : and lovingly they rested on her." ' "Oh! Maud, how can you say bo?" -cried Grace. v , ./{■"lsay what I really believe," said ■••' Maud. '■'.,; ':■: '"Nolnof lam.poor. He is'riob.so ,". handsome, so good. He would never. neyer ask me to be his wife." : i'-.''.■ ." Why not ? You and dear, bravo Maud '■! hare, are worthy to become wives to the ;■ best nioh in the land," said Ernest, warmly,' "Pure and beautiful, what more •■could any mttn ash ? I would not." -; ..Arid then hi? eyes falling on Maud, he blushed, Soaring he bad offended her. .-But he had riot , Perhaps anew hope en- .';•■', tend ber heart, and made ber obeeksall :'■•' aflame She did not speak again for some time, and then sho only said: ;■':' •■" I pray Heaven we .shall not find Mr , : Clarence wprse I" ■.:•'', "We will not long bo in suspense, doar ; lady. Thobouse'is in sight," said Voltay. / ." In a few minutes they were'at the door ';. ■ and Ernest Voltay rang the bell' with a v" heavy Hand and its sound went like a joyo'us peil through the bouse, ■ ; " You have found them ? Clarence' said X; you had," said Mr Van der -Veer. ; "He ]■'-. was nervous and uneasy until about an ;; boar ago, when he breathed out, 'They and then he went to sleep as '■ f. 'calm as an infant dropping away satisfied / from its loving, mother's bosom. It is ' •-strange.". '•'•■; • : "Most wonderful!" said Voltay. " For ,''"■■■■ it ib just an hour Binco they were rescued v from terrible peril—death staring them right in the . "Bescued by his heroism, Mr, Van dor Veer," said Maud, her face all aglow with 'happiness. ■:■ '! Come right rail know Clarence must / be awake now,", said the fathor, leading the way to the eiok room, "

BT JULIA EDWARPS.

Clarence was awake, and a glow ot utter happiness lighted his faco when he saw tbe girls. Scotching out his thin hands to them, bis eyes glanced from them to the face of Voltay—thrico happy Ernest. " Dear old boy, I know you'd save 'em, Isaw ifc all. I don't know how. But I saw Grace, sweet Grace, io the arms of a ruffian, and jou shot bim down. Didn't yon?" ' "Yes I had to, or he would have killoil her," said Ernest. (To bo continued)