LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 499, 15 February 1900, Page 8

LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

By

ROBERT LEE TYLER.

BOOK THREE— The Meeting in the CatacombsCHAPTER XVI. “ Monbteb ! ” Bell is up to meet the mail an hour and a half before the mail arrives. There are several letters from his friends in England, and a registered packet, which males his heart leap with gratification. This packet, he knows, is the pocketbook which was stolen by the train robbers from Admiral Elliston; the pocketbook which he and Freddie Hoskins fought, for, and which nearly cost him his life. And what it has cost him since in cash and anxiety; he does not care to figure out at present. He hurries to his apartments, hugging the the treasure tightly. He intends breaking the outer wrapper only. Miss Elliston had written thatthe eontents must be kept inviolate, or destroyed altogether. Why should he pry into the secrets of othersP He tosses the letters upon a table, paces up and down the room twice, and says: “ No, the book shall be handed to Mias Elliston unopened by me or anybody in my service.” I here is a gentle tap at the door, and Langdale walks in.

“At last! ” he observes, looking at the table. Not opened yet! I commend you. I feared that you would tear it open to the gaze of the waiters below.”

“ It will not be opened at all, except by the owner! ” is the cool reply. The detective looks aghast. “ And,” continues Bell, “ I wish to be alone for half an hour,” . . r .

Langdale hides his chagrin, and goes out of the room shrugging his shoulders. He passes into his own apartments and makes a violent display of temper. Then he grins, rubs his hands together, and mutters: “He will know soon! ”

The first letter that Bell opens is from his sister, and he is annoyed and disgusted by a portion of it. This is the letter:—

“ Dbab Jack, —I am sending by this mail the parcel from America and a letter that accompanied it. The latter is inside the “packet. Oh, I am so anxious to know all about it, for dear Gerald’s sake; but you needn’t trouble to write, because we are starting for Rome immediately. [Here a half-suppresed oath escapes Bell.] This is all Lady Claradale’s fault, and she has per suaded dad into it. A ow, don’t you get fluttered, Jack, but I am sure that Lady Claradale has fallen in love with you. [“ I’d a 8 BOon marry a coon,” mutters Bell.] And what do you think ? The Hon. Augustus Playfair asked mamma yesterday if he might pay his addresses to me ! I think I would sooner marry Iddy Jones, of the two I cannot say who the party will consist of, in its entirety; but Lady Claradale and Iddy Jones will be in the front rank ! And we shall be with you forty-eight hours after you get this letter. —Your living sister, Evie.” The other letters are from his father and mother, and merely confirm the unwelcome hews from his sister. He does not wish to be tortured

just now, and is quite capable of moving his quarters. Indeed, he swears that he will do so, but is too fond of his parents to worry them—particularly now that they are out purely for pleasure. As for Lady Claradale, Iddy Jones, and the Honorable Mr Playfair, Mr Bell determines to let them see that their room is preferable to their company. He cuts the string that holds together the packet his sister has sent, and having taken off a yard or two of brown paper, out drops Hutton’s letter, and the pocketbook. The latter is tied up and sealed with red wax.

Hutton’s letter is very short :• — “ Sir, —The book and papers, after which I have travelled three thousand miles, are sent, securely packed, by registered mail. I have taken the precaution to copy the writing by photography. No trace of Hoskins or Gerald Grey. Second train robber lost also. Cable receipt.— Obediently yours, Tom Hutton.” Having digested this, Bell turns over the packet, and resolves to. deliver it to Miss Elliston without disturbing the wrapper in which Hutton inclosed it. She will then see. that he has not been sufficiently inquisitive even to examine the outside of it

He breakfasts alone in his own room, and is too preoccupied to notice that Langdale’s half hour has lengthened into an hour and a half. His feelings are very mixed. He is thinking of his reception by the girl he adores—if he should be so fortunate as to meet her. He must see her 1 With this this thought in his mind', he slips the passport to her presence into his hippotket. It will be safe there, and' for this he Knows that she will grant him an interview. At least, he tells himself so. After breakfast he dresses with care. It io a rare thing for Lawyer Bell to spend so much time over shaving and dressing, but his efforts are well rewarded. A very passable-looking fellow is the result. He is a noticeable figure as he passes along the streets of Rome to keep hio appointment with Admiral Elliston. Tall, straight, and strong, a refreshing object among the hundreds of swarthy men on every hand* stunted in stature, and an evil odor about them that makes one doubt that they are even relics of a glorious past. Bell suddenly remembers that it is not yet ten o’clock, and wonders what he can do with himself for an hour. He does not wish to present himself at the Piazza I’lnghilterra untiL noon. He must beguile at least an hour in some way. There are hundreds of places of interest in Rome —churches, gardens, museums, palaces, tombs. He is not particular whither he goes, so he chooses the catacombs.

He belongs to a country that has little past to boast of, so he delights in all that is old and romontic.

He hails the first coachman that comes along and is driven away. When the carriage stops he is surprised that the distance is so short, and bids the driver wait for him. The driver jumps from his seat; and provides Bell with a guide. The guide looks like an old soldier and is very anxious for business. He asks for half a franc, and gets a whole one. His respect for the American immediately increases a hundred per cent. The guide leads the way through a pleasant garden, flowering with the sweet delights of spring. Beyond the garden, he unlocks a door and hands Bell a lighted candle. He arms himself in a similar way and the door closes with a sharp snap. Bell wonders why the door is closed after each visitor or party of visitors —for there are fresh

arrivals every minute and thus early there are hundreds of curiosity seekers in the catacoambs. But there are many doors and many guides. . “ Come signor ” says the guide. He creeps down a dark and narrow way —down a score or more of damp steps into awesome sepulchre of the catacombs. Lawer Bell always makes notes even when pleasuring and although the odors are not the sweetest he stoops over a heap of moldering bones and asks the guide whose they are supposed to be. The man crosses himself devoutly. He does not know, but points to one gallery where a dozen Popes are reposing ! Mr Bell does not seem particularly impressed but goes on a little farther now and again copying an inscription which seems of a curious nature.

He learns that if all the corridors were put into a straight line they would reach nearly six hundred miles. At last the guide emerges from the maze of corridors into a square. Another guide and several visitors are here examining an altar, several quaint episcopal chairs, and mosaics and carvings on the walls. Beil does not take any particular notice of the other party until the sweetest voice in the world for him remarks that the square must have been a place of worship at some remote periodin a moment his brain seems to be on fire. It is Miss Valerie Elliston ! The light from the flaring candles is so dim and. uncertain that he only makes a bltck figure— but is she attired in black ? Then his jealous eyes note that she is with a gentleman, and her maid is behind them I This completes the party. Bell draws His guide apart, presses a franc piece into his hand, and impressively whispers : “ Follow these people. 1 believe that I have met them before !”

The shows that he understands by a pantomimic display with the flexible muscles of his face. He does not attempt to guide any more, and the American follows the other party through the labyrinthine passages, hungrily devouring every word that is spoken, and hating the other man for the privileges he enjoys ! He keeps so close to them that the maid looks at him curiously. Then she strangles a little scream before it can struggle through her lips. The light has flickered upon his face, and she recognizes Lawyer Bell from Boston ! But he does not see any pleasure in her recognition —it is a mingling of astonishment and horror. .He “ cannot understand this, and- his mind flashes back to the last letter that Miss Elliston penned to him. Even if he cared nothing for Miss Elliston —even if he had no pocketbook to return to her, he tells himself that he demand an explanation of that extraordinary letter. It is his right 1 He keeps close upon the heels of the little party, but the maid does not look back at him once. Miss Elliston is talking to the gentleman. He is a young man —tall, fair, handsome, and wears a heavy blonde mustache. He bends down, to her in a way that is unmistakable, and Bell has hard work to restrain himself from kicking him. At length Miss Elliston io tired of the foulsmelling sepulchre, and the guide starts for the nearest outlet. The American follows. In ten minutes they are all dazzled by a blaze of sunshine, and gratefully breathe the fresh warm air. Bell sees that Miss Elliston is in deep mourning, and that her beautiful face is pale, and careworn. There are shadows under her brown eyes —there are shadows in their misty depths. “ Where is our carriage, Rupert ? she asks. Rupert! Bell starts. Rupert! That is the name of her cousin—the man who wants to marry her. Admiral Elliston’s son! It is Captain Rupert Elliston! The carriage is not in sight, and the gentleman saunters away in quest of it. ; Now is Bell’s opportunity, and he makes it a point never to let an opportunity slip. He promptly steps up to Miss Elliston, and takes off his hat. The words upon his lips are arrested by a scream from Miss Elliston’s maid. Bell is more perplexed than ever, but he is a determined man. He meets Miss Elliston’s startled, horrified gaze calmly. He tells her that he has followed her from America. That he has the pocketbook to restore to her, and that he will not go away until she promises to hear what he has to say. She shrinks from him with a shudder and covers her face with her hands as though wishful to shut from her vision the object before her. “ How can you ! ” she murmurs, pointing to ;her crape, “ how dare you ! Oh, Heaven !” She weeps bitterly, and Mr Bell feels very uncomfortable. Why hasn’t he the right to take her in hio arms and comfort her ? “ I do not understand,” he stammers, ‘,but if I i distress you — I—e1 —er —I may see you —later— i somewhere else. 1 have an appointment with the admiral this morning. I may meet you again when you are more composed Miss Elliston.” Ha looks appealingly at the maid, but gets no consolation there. Then he says: “ Will you have the pocketbook now, Miss Elliston ? For your sake I- ” • But she interrupts him with a gesture of haug ity disdain, gathers together her skirts, and muttering the one word, ’* Monster !” passes on, :for the coachman has now been found. Lawyer Bell stands like a man in a dream, the pocketbook in his hand. Then he is conscious of the fat old priest being near him, and goes to look for his coachman. “ I feel like a man just recovering from a knockout blow,” he says to himself. “By George! what the deuce have I done ?” He scrambles into his carriage, and tells the man to drive to the Piazza I’lnghilterra. He will keep his appointment with the admiral at any cost! (To be continued.)