CHAPTER XXXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 191, 12 February 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ARTHUR IS SOMEWHAT SURPRISED. When the party returned from Buttes Chamont they found their fair invalid much improved. She was sitting in her favourite nook by the fire, her pretty slippered feet resting upon the lcm fender, and actually engaged upon the embroidery of her long -neglected lambrequins, while Bhe looked &b bewitchingly lovely in her white neglige, with her

crimson ehawl about her shoulders, as ifc ia, possible for anyone to be "You are better, Margie?" exclaimed Mrs Hough ton, in a relieved tone, as Bhe entered the room. « "Much better, mamma," she replied* with a bright smile. " But lam afcaid you are feverish stil your cheeks are very red an<* youi eyes unnaturally blight," continued the fond mother, anxiously, while Arthur, who had come in purpceely to learn how she was,, thought, if fc-uch was the caee, a feverish state was a very beautifying one to her. 41 I think not," Margaret returned ; thea aeked : "'Did you have a pleasant drive?" " Yes, and the view from Buttes Chamont is very fine. We must surely go again some day when you are able ; and Floy Arnold is a lovely girl. lam more charmed with her every time I ccc her Don't you admire her, Arthur?" inquired Mrs 1 Houghton. " Yes," he replied, indifferently, while: his eyes plainly betrayed that, to him, no, one was so lovely as Margaret Houghton. "Takeoff your coat and stop to dinner, Arthur," his hoßtess said to him, as she removed her own cloak and bat. He stared and flushed at the invitation. "Thanks, but I cannot, he said. "I have an important engagement which may reEult in my being obliged to leave town for a few days, and I must run away this minute." Margaret's heart throbbed so audibly that she thought the pulsations could be heard by all in the room. Ah, she had not been a minute too soon in carrying Louis relief. " Going out [of town, are you, Arthur ?"' she asked. He was almost dazzled by the light in her eyes, while an uncomfortable thrill raa through him. " I may not go to-night ; but, Margie, I am atraid you are very feveriah. I never sa w your eyea co bright before." She laughed out lightly to hide her agitation. " Well, I confess I have been verynervous ttr's afternoon ; but my headache is all gone, and I shall be all right after a night's rest." " I hope so, truly," he said heartily ; then taking leave of them both he went away. He repaired directly to his lodgings, and informed his landlaay that he might ba out of town for a few days, although 3ho> need not be surprised if he returned by* night. A little later he went forth again, carrying a neatly made-up package in his, hands. He proceeded to the Rue Castiglione, where, entering a provision monger's shop,, he purchased a basket, which he had filled with bread, meat, and various other articles of food, then kept on down the street and finally turned into the alley which led to the Ruo de Blanc. About midway of this, he quietly slipped into a deep doorway, where he opened his package and quickly donned a long great-* coat, a wig and beard as white as snow, and. a tall old-t.tfrhioned eilk hat, putting tho^ aoft travelling cap that he wore into one of: his capacioud pockets ; then be proceeded, toward tho building where Louis Dunbar" was imprisoned. This had been his habit— to enter that;* alley from one street and go out at the other end ; thus, anyone having seen him enter from the Rue Casti^lone in one dress and happeninz to meet him elsewhere on leaving; the alley at the other end would not recognise him ac the same person. After Margaret'sdeparture that af ternooa, Louis tat down and fell into a browa study. Ho must have sat there nearly an hoar when he aroused himself. " I believe 1 will risk it," he said ; " I am getting desperate. He is sure to go oflE" with that gold before very long; then £ shall not know where to look for it." He concealed tho saw and file, then examined tbo revolver with great care, and finally loaded every one of its chambers. It was after dark when he heard a alighft noiae below and knew that Arthur Aspin-» wall was about to pay him a vidit, to renew his stock of provisions. It was Homovvhat later than he was in the* habit of coming, but that was all the better for the plan that he had in view. He hastily laid his revolver upon the* table and covered it with a newspaper ; then next moment a key was inserted in the* door of his 100 m, and then the white head and beard of his gaoler came into view. "Ah ! good evening ; I trust 1 find you comfortable," he said, coming forward and bowing with mock politeness, while he set?, his basket upon the floor with a sigh of re-» liof, for it was heavy. Louis made no reply, although be eyed the basket that Arthur had brought, with. some surprise. "That contains your provisions," the young roan eaid, remarking it. "I have brought you a bountiful supply to-day, for I may not have the pleasure of seeing you | for a tew days ; I am going out of town for ' a time, and you'll have to make the contents of tho basket do you until I return." Louis's heart gave a startled bound at this i intelligence." " It is as I feared," ho thought "He is about to decamp with his booty." " How long do you intend to be away V* he asked. " I cannot tell -it will depend upon cir1 cumstances." "How much longer do you intend to keep me here ?" '* Until you will swear to me that you will leave the country.'' " Where could I go that I should nofc be recognised and arrested for the crime that you have committed ?" j " You can go to Australia, or some other | remote country. I will furnish you with an effectual disguise, and as the excitement I regarding the affair ha? somewhat subsided* you would have no difficulty in escaping, and in some far off land, with'your wonder I ful energy and perseverance," this with, a sneer, " you could easily carve out a fortune for yourself." " Suppose I refuse to do this ? You can* not keep me here alway. Your continued coming to this uninhabited building wilt eventually excite suspicion." " I am aware of that," Arthur retorted,, " but there are other ways of taking oftre, of you. I don't mean that I have any designs upon your life," he added, as hos caught the sharp look that Louis bestowed' upon him. " I have no desire to stain my hands with your blood, though it is not because I bear you any love, as you well know. But there are plenty of places it* and about Paria whero you could beso well effectually cared for that no on& would ever be troubled on your account." "You mean—" "I mean a private mad house," interrupted Arthur, "It is not a novel idea, T know, but it is an effectual one for troublesome enemies, nevertheless." " You would not dare," retorted Louie* growing pale. " Oh, but I should dare !" Arthur replied* promptly, " 1 have too much at stake notfe to dare a great deal. You have been my ; evil genius ever since I first knew you." Say, rather, that you have been mine,, for you tried to ruin me even when I was [ boy- 1 '

" I hated you," cried Arthur, excitedly:) ** and my hatred did not abate whoa you crowed my path again hero in Puria. Margaret; Houghton would have been my wifo Jong before thi? but for you." "Margaret Houghton novor would have married you." 11 Ha, ha ! how confident we are !"' re- i uponded Arthur, deridively : " but let me jwsure you that you are liable to be mistaken. I'll wager a new hat against a \ pair of gloves th*t sho will be Mw dithur .Aspinwali in le?s than six month" Louis Dunbar'a hand* opened and closed convulsively. " Then that is your 'stake.' as you torm it," he quietly said, restraining his anger "with a great effort. «• Wc-11, I may as woli speak plainly," retamed Arthur. " I love the girl, and lam bound to win her if it can ba done, and hemoney, too. So you can rnako up your mitd to relinquish all claim npon her at once and forever. If you will agree to this, and swear to leavo the country in the way which 1 wi'l provide, >ou can leave this place any time you choose ; if not, you will go into some other place forthwith, whero you will never trouble mo a^ain." «' Are you not fearful that I should feel justified in breaking such an oath, even if I could be persuaded to take it ?" *' No ; I believe that if you once gavo me your wora of honour you would never break it." " You are rieht ; I should never break my word ; but I shall never give it," Louis said, firmly. " Then "you know the alternative," his companion retorted, growing: very white. " I shall denounce jou to the authorities the moment I am free." "You will never be free to do it. But." ho added, after a moment of thought, "if Margaret Houghton were my wife to-day you could not harm mo ; you might go free and welcome : I should be glad to wash my hands of you." " How can that be, when I should have you instantly arrested for the robbery of my office and for detaining me in this viie place ?" "Who would believe you?" sneered Arthur. " You would be the one to be arrested ; you disappeared and the money finished at the same time. Not a shadow of suspicion has rested uj on me. I hays lived my usunl lifa going and coming according to my custom, and no one has the elightest knowledge of the events of that night, while you could piocure no evidence to prove your assertions, and you can Imagine how they would be received " Yesterday, at that time, this reasoning would have appaared incontestable to Louis : but now ho exulted that, through the zeal and tireless exertions ot hia loved one, the game was all in his own hands. However, he murt adopt some bold meaBure immediately, for Arthur had evidently arranged his own courso of proceeding and wrs upon the point of carrying it out. "Once more I give you the opportunity to accept my proposition,'" Arthur said. *' t reject it utterly," returned Louis, The young man before him uttored an oath. Ke had planned to leave France that night, as Loui- 1 had surmised, to carry hfs spoils to a place of greater pafety, and where he could avail hiinsolf of them to better advantage. " You are a^ obstinate aa a mule !*' he cried cro?sly; "but the consequences be upon your own he-id. Your fate is sealed, and you may expect tho worst upon my Teturn. Here, 1 '-pill pa« these provieons in to you, and then I'll leave you again to your own mediation?." He stooped and began to unpack the basket he had brought. He took out several packages and thrust them impatiently between the iron bars, and Loufa, taking ihcei one by ono, carried them to his table, and appeared to exercise considerable care in arranging them there. All but tho last one had been thus disposed of. Arthur waa etill in a stooping posture, "waiting: for 1m prisonoi* to come and take this ; he was busily thiuking, and did not look up until Louis came close up to that iron grating ; then he raised his head, aad found himself looking directly into the barrel of a revolver ! (To Be Cujt'iuucd.)