The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 319, 10 December 1910, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

(All nights Reserved.J

By the Author of "Stella,"- -"Two Keys," Etc., Etc.

PART 12. Meantime, Carl King- had seemed to become imbued with an unaccustomed energy and ambition. He begai" to taUe a keeii interest in his work, and to manifest a vigilance regarding his employer's interests that seemed to .show that he was deeply rrateful to him and appreciative ol I lie great kindness he had showr him. C!r:' dually, as time went on, ano; lie continued to make himself useful and trustworthy", ]\lr. King came, to repose more and more confidence ii him, promoted him from time tr lime, until at last he had risen to the position of foreman of the mini l , rnd his employer, -finding him so competent, would sometimes take a trip oast, leaving- him in sole charge for a month or even six weeks. 'I litis seven years passed, and Inez and Monica had reached the ag'e oi nineteen an 1 seventeen years respectively. and Mr. King began to think (hat they ought to have a little polishing up at some good school. During a business trip to I.os Angelos he visited a noted seminary for young ladies. a nd after conversing ;i while with the principal, he made arrangements to send his two daughters. as he called them, to her to complete their education. He had no doubt, that his foreman would consent to the arrangement, he would, not be called upon to

:lel'ray any of the expenses, and so :ie had felt perfectly free to settle the matter without consulting him.

On telling- him what lie had (low 1 after his return. Carl tacitly consented. ITe was glad enough to have his daughter become learned and accomplished, but a feeling of bitterness had long since begun to ranll'e in his heart as he realised that she was being lifted far above hint, both socially and intellect ually and that when her education should be completed, and she came back to live with him, she would look down .ipon him, and fret and grieve for the luxuries to which she had become accustomed, and which it would be beyond his power to give her. Then, too, the burden of obligaiin to his cousin irritated and oppressed iiim, and he felt that Fate had been eery partial and unjust in showerng so much upon, his relative, while, during most of his life, he had aecn ground down beneath the iron : ieel of poverty. And thus constantly brooding over these imaginary ills, the old jealousy of his boyhood began to develop, until a fierce and secret hatred tool-l possession of him, and ho began to plot the destruction of his employer and the benefactor of his :hild with a view to building a future and a fortune for Inez such as nen her ambitious mother had never dreamed of.

Monica and Inez King- both became favourites, each in her own special way, in the educational institution which they had entered.

Monica was liked by those congenial to her for her invariable sweetness and gentleness, for her unassuming ways, her unfailing sympathy, and readiness to help any one in trouble.

Inez was lionised by a certain Dlhor set fen - her dash and spirit, berausc she v."as always ready to lead in every form of amusement, and spent money lavishly to tickle the palates of her devotees. Although she always treated Moni:'a with outward kindness, nevertheless she inherited her father's traitorous disposition, and secretly despised and hated the fair girl, because Dame Fortune had smiled so auspiciously upon her : she was bitterly jealous 01 her brilliant expectations, and chafed sorely on account, of her own dependent position. Yet every one in the institution, believed them to be sisters, for .Mr. King' would not allow it to be known that the girl was dependent upon his bounty. Indeed, one, to see the two together, would have supposed Inez to be the favourite, for she was always more showily and richly divssed than Monica, for although llwir allowance was the same, the taste 01 the iatter was far 1 more simple. Tims every one supposed them to be equal heiresses to the large fortune which Mr. King would leave, and they were Ireated accordingly. in Mr. King's employment, as a sort of private clerk in his household, there was a young Mexican, v. lio-e grandfather had once been a distinguished hidalgo of Spani. but repeated misfortunes hud gradually reduced the family to almost abject poverty. After wandering from place to place in the vain hope of bettering their condition, they finally strayed into the mining-camp to which we have previously referred. Here misfortune still beset them, and soon the father died. Then Mr. King finally stumbled upon the youth and his mother, and found them in an almost starving eoudb tion.

lie had taken them both into his family, where the mother had. after being restored to health, held Ihe position of housekeeper, and where the .-•on gradually became a confidential clerk for the man who had been so kind to him, and whom, next to his mother, he honoured and reverenced above every other human be-

ing. Atiguslino C'astaldi was the name Of this .young man, who at the time of v, hich we write was sonic twentythree years of age, and had been an intimate of Mr. King's home I'oi some eight years. He was a clever fellow, keen and sharp-witted, an innate gentleman, showing hip goodi blood in every feature and act. Although he had been deprived of educational advantages dm ring his youth, his mother had done what she could for him. grounding him well in certain studies ; but after receiving permission to make free with Mr. King's library, he had become an assiduous reader and student of good literature, and this hail done much fox him. • »■ ft JSt S i 4

Monica was about irne .-ears or age when he entered the family, and from the first lie had been very fond of the lovely child, and this affection had gradually increased until, when she was about to leave home for the school in bos Angeles. ho suddenly discovered that lie idolised her with all the passion and lire of his Spanish nature. But a sense of Cniva.lrv and of loyalty to the man who had befriended him caused him to conceal tin; fact in his own bosom, and no one, not even the object of this fervent affection, dreamed of its existence. With Inez he was upon friendly terms, for she was always pleasant and chatty, and ready for a good t i me. whenever she could find it. and she? was not above coquetting with Ikm- benefactor's clerk, although she would have scorned any serious attentions from him. Thus time passed, the mine-ownei continuing to prosper, while his trusted foreman and cousin never ceased to plot against him, laying trap after trap for his unwary feet, until finally one fatal - day the unsuspicious man walked straight inty one, and his fate was sealed. CIIAI'TF.R XV. A TRAITOR'S (TdMK. One morning, some three years and PL half having passed since Monica and Inez entered the school at Los Angeies, August. he was familiarly called, diove Mr. King to the station. to take a train for another town.

"1 shall be back at noon. August., and go directly lo the mine, and you can come for me there as usual," said that gentleman, as they drew near the station.

The young man often drove his employer to and from the mine. or wherexer he wished to go. receiving his instruct ai«uis for the day and talking over important matters during these drives, and thus precluding the possibility of being oxerheard by any one, for often their :'onfereives were of a momentous I'haraoi or.

" Si, senor." August replied, and touching his hat respect fully to his companion as lie leaped from the Carriage just' in time to catch his train.

Then he wheeled his spirited horses round anil returned to the mansion nnd his Work. At the usual hour, bite in the afternoon, he drove to the mine, and drew up before the office. Kp.tering the ollice, he inquired of the clerk where Mr. King could be found.

The man said he did not know-. He had boon in and out of the oflice several times during the afternoon, although it was an hour or more sifice. he last saw- him. .Feeling strangely restless, August went outside and walked up and down for several minutes. The days wore getting short, and it was last growing dark. Jiosidos. gathering clouds indicated rain, and he felt anxious to got. home before it should lie too dark to see the' road. ITe looked at his watili. It was five minutes to six. and presently he saw the men emerge from the mine, their foreman, Carl King, at, their head. "Have you seen King?" Auglst inquired of him. "Yes, lad ; he was in the miiv about 1 hree-<|tiarters of an hour ago. and gave orders for the men to boi'in on tlie south vein to-morrow morning - ,'' cheerily responded the 'oreman. "Where did !io go after that?" the ooung man questioned, while he i'l'avolv studied the man's face : for. in spite of the man's manner." there was a peculiar palon >ss aliout it that Attracted his attention.

Ho had never shaded his employer's .•oniidence- iti the man : he h.ail always been impressed that lie was treacherous. n iui he instinctively distrusted him.

"1 couldn't say lad : the last I saw oi' him he v.-as talking with Tom .Tonkins." was the indifferent response, as the man passed briskly on towards his cottage.

Aun-nst turned to intercept Tom Jenkins, whom h > saw not far off, and iust about to cross the street. The man said that he had only i-'x-changed a few wo.-ds witli Ihe mineowner. who had simply inquired alter his boy, who ha'l been ill lor more than a month : thin lie saw him luin towards the south vein, where they were going lo work in the niorirn;,'. and that was the last ot him. August wen! back to the olbce, where lie sat down and wailed some lift ecu minutes longer, but. with a feeling of great impatience and iivcreasin.n - uneasiness. Almost everybody had disappeared from tlie street. lor it. was the miners' supper-hour. and all had been eager to got home to the evening meal awailing them. Kud<\ ni\- tin 1 young man sprang to his feet with a muttered expression of alarm. "The south vein he' breathed, with whitening lips, " Santa, preserve him !" lie lsii-w 111'.-re wore two ways or tunn'ls leading' *vo 'his vein—one that had been utterly abandoned as unsafe, and a new one that had beyn recently opened. If Mr. -King had gone thither tit examine for himself the point- where work was to be begun on the morrow-, and had taken a short cut through the whole tannel. some accident might have befallen him. and thai was the reason oi his protracted absence. it was very dark no"', but August, knew the way well. He hastened towards the mine to ascertain if anything had happened to his friend. Hp" would not ask anyone to go with him. for lie did 11 >t wish to create excitement- among the men : so he sped 011 his way alone, a terrible fear oppressing him. At the ent ran''!.' !<• Hi'' mill' he looked around for a torch, found one. and lighted it: though with trembling hands. and I hen. turning towards an opening on. his left, sped onward. Some twenty ot* thiriv yards beyond he came to v.'hero two tunnels branched oft irotn Ihe main one which lie had been traversing.

One plainly showed that it had been recently excavated, and was strongly supported : the other was cvidenlly an old one. the timbers were rotten and discoloured, some ot lhem had even become loosened, and the earlh and rocks had begun to tumble about. Hark ! What was *h?-t ?

August stopped short, every nerve iii his body vibrating with pain. He was sure he had caught a sound as of some one in distress. lie pushed forward under those loosi n •(! timbers regardless of his own safety, and two moments later a sight, met. his eyes which caused a groan of agony to burst from him. His way was suddenly blocked by a great mass of earth and rock and fallen timbers, while from the midst of the debris he caught sight of a protruding hand and foot.

"Senor ! senor !"' he gasped. in t oiK'S that were shrill with distress.

A hoarse groan responded, and h<; knew that, his friend and benefactor lay crushed" and probably dying beneath that mass of debris.

He crept over the stones and earth and peered between thi? timbers that had. in falling, interlaced themselves and so prevented the man from being literallv buried alive.

Here he could see the ghastly i'aci of the mine-owner.

"Oh. si.n.u- he faltered, fearing the man w- a s past recognising him. when to his great joy he spoke. "Yes, August." lie panted, weakly. "I am glad it is you who have come

to me." "Are you badly hurt, senor inquired the young man, breat Idessly .

"Yes. my boy, I'm done for : I am very sure that mv back is broken."

''No, no ! Oil. let., me go for help ! .1 won't be long." said the young man. in an agonised tone. "Xo, August. I should be (lead before they could get me out." Mr. King returned, now speaking more naturally. "I do not suffer so very much, except from this load that presses upon my chest : but I know that it would be useless lo attempt to get me out of here ali\e." "Oh. let me try. sir." plead -d August, as he reached down and clasped that heipless hand, only to find it. already growing cold in death. "i tell you it would be useless. for I know that my time can be numbered by minutes." said the dying man. "Vow. listen. August," lie continued, imperatively, "and do not Waste precious moments. for 1 have something very important to tell you. I know that I can trust vou''-

| "Indeed you may. .sonor." almost j sobbed the vomit;- man. "Oil. that, i I could save \on even liy the sacrii fice of niv own lifo !" ! "That is a vain wish, my boy. ! ,V(i : you must livo to avenge j "To avenge you ! " interposed A"glist, amazed. "Yes, \mi t'<■!11<•!i111• • r you warned mo on<v to hi' on my guard j ngainst" j "Ha. Carl King- : your cousin !"' j gasped August . as hi 1 recalled the i unusual pallor of i li<■ man's face ; half an hour jnv\ ions. j "Yes. 1 did not. hood you, for .1 did not think he could ho false to mo j while f was carinu" for his dat'ghi tor." Mr. King rejoined ; "but little ! :>y little it has boon forced upon me j '.hat- your warning- was no! untimely, end 1 have boon watching' him during' the last year. To-d<iy 1 became A'atisfiod that ho is a scheming, treacherous kna\e. Ho thought I was to be away all day. but 1 relumed at n.oon. as I told you I should, and came directly hen.' and :net him face t*o lace coming out of this passage. He was startled, and plainly showed his embarrassment, end win ii ! asked him if it wasn't, •atlier risky lie nervously observed that ho didn't believe il was as clangorous as it had been said to be. i was sure then that he was ,ip to some mischief, although ! appeared not to think it strange his l.ieinsj hero. I was about the mine :is usual during the afterno ui. but just before it was time to leave 1 slipped down hero myself to see ivhat ho had boon up to. And now. August. I will tell you the secret. Pown at the end of tins tui.li'l there is a bag of gold nuggets" " (Sold nuggets !" exclaimed Aug Ist. astonished. "Yes : I have long known of a very rich vein of gold hero, the existence of which T did not suppose any 3110 else suspected. 1 found almost r, solid mass olio day while prospering at the end down there : but it turns abrupt ly. and runs straight into another claim, which by t hend of anoUier week I should have owned.

"Ft seems that Carl has also discovered this vein, and had been secretly working at. it. lie had buried his bag of nuggets in a luap of ; alld ; they are there now. I had :ust discovered this. a nd was on my way out —had almost reached the —wlvn I thought I heard a step near me. I sprang forward, when a tremendous blow of a pick from an unSi'er. hand was dealt 011 one of these roMen timbers. In an instant Ihe whole framework tottered and feli. bringing tans of earth and rock with it. One of the 1 i tubers st ruck me across the back. The shock was terrible, and 1 fainted. I think, for a few mlnutis. When I came to myself I was paralysed : I could move neith'r hand nor foot, and 1 l.new my back was broken. Now, August, do you iiiijik you can get nearer to me without danger to \ oursel 1 '? The! J? is an important paper in 1110 inside pocket of my coat that I want you to take charge of." "I will try." said the young man. lie fasti tied his torch firmly in the sand, then crept, cautiously to the side of his friend. ft was a dangerous exploit, but he would have risked far more rather than have denied the man's reipiest . Very carefully- he removed the stones and earth sufficiently to enable him to tind the pocket, and t hi: next moment. he had the paper in his hands. " Now. back. Augu.-t. ipiick !" panted the dying man. "Cef out of danger, and then I w ill tell y 011 w hat to do." August obey id, but only went iust beyond the range of t lie iooseneU t i 1111 id's. (To be Continued).