The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7872, 14 July 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE QtRL FROM WELDON'S •ContinaedJ. i h suddenly accuTrwl to lit Newpott that it was a ideal moiHiui; lor a swim «b lb* »at»lwiuMi, and that il TTMId kt interestilif Id know what Ik Feruri was doing at lhat eulr how. Rfc jampert iat« a «uit of Hansels *s quickly as * possible ami nukc4 oat'. "Morning." said Archie, with a nod. "Good inwtutt!" said the UaHaii, angrily. "You are out early." 'So are yon." "I have business." "I bavon't" "Do not let me delay jot" "Shall I lend yen a hand with the box ?"

"No •" almost screamed the foteiwer. "D» not loach it. I wish —I wish you would taiml your own business.."

"Going t« bitty soma one, I should tbhik t" replied the artist, ironical-

"How dale ton say a»ch» thißg." mapped Mr Ferrari. "W*y do you not go away ?" By the timr he had rnrned the corner of the street, it had siruck Archie that he had heeJi somewhat shorlshighted te parrel with the man who had •the privilege of enter! ainißg ihe beautiful creature **ose face it was his chief delight to sketch.

"But wfcat m earth is that hox for ?' he asked himself. For the life •( hrtt he couldn't answer the quesrtjoa. It was far too big- lor clottes or books. Indeed, his jocular remark about burywg a person m it. was net so absurd, bow he came to think of it, for unless it was designed to bold » human being he could see no use ■for it.

The subject was not a pleasant one and he dismissed it hastily. That night "she" arrived, but later than usual. ARain he had his hat on ready to go out. She had a cloak oTer her shoulders and iras hi etomng dress. "How do you do ?*' be said, pleasantlr, with a decent air of surprise as if she were the last person in the worM be expected la meet. But she was in a state of prat igitatiwi. Her lace was pale and she was trerohlfnj; with »err<}osiicss, ami—was it fear ? "O, please doa't 6tnp me !" she said excitedly. "1 must not-Oh, I dare not speak to foa V She ran to tie eleralor— the hoy was on duly that might—the door was closed, and be steod staring at her in astonishment. What Was the cause of her agitation, her distress 7 He lighted a cigarette, and. alter a moment's thought, strolled out of the bniHing. From the street he emthl see the light in ttie Ferrari flat. He looked up, wonderine what took place there, and for what purpose Miat queer looking box had been brought in Suddenly he became aware that the lights were being lowered, until the place was almost in darknrss. A sickenim; thought came into his mind, and he returned to the noire. As be stood there hesitating, he distinctly heard a woman's scream, followed by « low, moaning sound. This was too twieb far him. Ht; turned to Willnns and bade him follow.

"Come upstairs with me !" he said, "f am going to find out what ) * »s Roiltg on. Did you sec that box taken into Mr Ferrari's flat Ibis morning y» "I did, sir,'.* said tlte nun. "lr ~ came mighty early, as if he didn't want anybody to see it. And a t stranger looking box I nercr see. I *ays to my wile, I says - 'You mark my words, there's something queer Romg on up there «• That's what I says, su !" F They bad been running up the j. stairs while he spoke, and by this t "v , rc * clwd ,ne Ferrari's door. >•« lave a latchker for all the doors, ' said Archie. ''Open it •'• The man heSiUt«d. /•Open it.'" repeated Ihe artist sharply. 1 win t* responsible " In another moment he was slaml- ,, 1115 iflstde the Ferrari's hall. In a - room m front of him he could hear voices whispering. He burst in. There was the nor. Tt stood open f and his, heart turned sick an he pe.r----i ceived that, it was lined like a coffin. On x cfcair, sat the pretty girl Irum Wctdon's. Her hands- were tied behind Iter, and her lace was pale and frightened. Both Mr and Mrs Ferrari were there.

"You dog !" streamed the Italian, Who was evidently mad with passion at his intrusion. "Thank heaven I ani in time !" Said Archie. The Italian threw himself furiouslv k.jipon trim, hot. he had no chance with the athletic young artist. Striking out like tbc practised boxer that he was, Archie struck him in the chest and sent him reeling backwards. Then he turned to the girl whom he had corns to rescue; taking a penknife from his pocket, he cut the rthbons with which her wrists were bound, and, regardless ot all conventionality, snatched her to bis breast "You fool !" said Mr Ferrari, struggling to his feet an d rubWng his ctasl. "You fool !" He relinfiofriJihed Ms hold from Hie tfrl and turned (n Mr Ferrari, who Kfcraljy dancing with passion. | __ How dare you come into my flat' £■ What do you think you are~a hero (|« ia a melodrama ''' i Archie began to think that per|;*aps hj» had be*n ton precipitate "I came to save her life," l,e stammered. _ "To sare her life !" echoed the Italian, ia dismay. 'What do eou—think " , Then he began to laugh. .iI'TS. *°* i . hc R^P" l - Panting io the btg, ugly-looking receptacle. -He , thought I was a murderer. Hv camto save her life. Did it not strike : ?o"t. my gallant young friend that I rmght be going to use the no* for professional purposes. '* "For professional purposes'*' said Archie lamely. "Why not r " "I don't know what vim are taikmg about," said Archie. "Are vou an undertaker ? " "No, a conjurer !" screamed Fnrari. "I am going to do the ho\ trick at the Pavilion to-night 1 am going to make this young woman vanish."

Ivens < What a i-hmnp [ have f myself !" said Archie truih"But why did she scream ami it yon turn down the light?" ily cried out because I hurt the first time I goi into it." ic girl from WeMon's. "This k my first night on the stage, »m nervous." I turned down the light heme dors not conjure with the ill on," sakl Kerrari. f, feeling that his mission was, turned 10 do. ifo," Mud the. Italian, ''do ,away hke that. Their is n done. We shall ha\e to irectlr. Come with us. This Belton, tlic young woman going to assist mo." all it cannot be said that began his courtship umlcr the ivourabli: circumstances But tly be succeeded in spite of now when be has visitors he Inem the portrait of an exPrHty girl, with dark eyes st wonderful chrsUiut hair. he hrat picUre he had ever ' , and be likes to draw alto it. "fifo'r he always says, pr flW |-: cagu Tribune.