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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 130, 23 May 1908, Page 6

A Strange Autobiography.

A good many years ago two young men were prospecting for gold. They met with Inorediblo luck, and in lesa than a year had made their pile. One day they went together on a shooting expedition. The younger of the two, Phil Mason, was accidentally shot by his companion, and badly wounded. For some hours Phil was tenderly nursed by his companion, and then ho fell asleep. When he awoke he was alone. At first lie flould not belicvo ho had been deserted, but as the hours passed the horrible truth sank into his mind, lie had been left to die. The agony of thirst and the pain of his wounds made him delirious. To relate what ho suffered would only provide gruesome reading; and, after all, it is past and dono with these forty years and more. Besides, the Biibject is to 1110 a peculiarly distasteful one, for I was Phil Mason, though lam known by quite another name to-day; and the honor of those lonely hours of torment tilled my soul with a bitter hate that lasted five and twenty years. Enough, then, to say that I was rescued by 11 black follow, and that a fortnight later I was back among men, able to get about, though only a shadow of my former self. On making inquiries, I founcj that my chum had cleared out of the country, taking with him our united savings. Penniless and weak in health, I could not follow him, and when some months later I had got a little money together, all trace of him had disappeared. So the years passed in this endless quest, interrupted by spells of hard toil. Then one day, after five and twenty years, the knowledge which I had sought 60 hungrily eanio to me by accident. A careless conversation, overhear® by A more chance, told me tho present name and habitation of the man who had wronged me. It was nearly 10 o'clock at night when I presented myself at the door of the handsoma residence of Arnold Grange, the eminent banker. Not for a moment did I anticipate any trouble in obtaining an interview. The man would not daro to send me away. I was right. In a few moments the old butler returned and eonduoted mo to his master. I found myself in a large, richly furnished room, lighted only at the further end by a shaded electric lamp on a big open desk covered with papers. the desk stood ft man with his head t.uned towards me, but I could not at first see his face. Quietly I walked acrosß ths room to him, and for ft moment we confronted each other in silence. Prosperity bad changed him, even as adversity bad changed me. For one tiling, he did not look his years. He could have passed for forty-fivo, and yet I knew he must be well over fifty. He wore a well trimmed beard and moustache and his skin was white. When I had known him he was clean shaven and deeply bronzed. " You do not rccogniso me, Tom Warner," I said at length, addressing him by his old name. He kept a bold front, but I thought I detected a lurking fear in bis eyes. " It is long since we met," he said in low tones. "Long, indeed!" I replied with a bitter laugh. "It is twenty-live years since you left 1110, a wounded lad, to die of thirrt in the mountains. Twenty-five years since you robbed mo of the gold I hud worked and .sweated for I'' He fidgeted nervously, but offered no defence, 110 excuse. " Hut 1 have hunted you down at last, Tom Warner—or Mr. Arnold Grange, if you prefer that. I have hunted you down, and by heaven you shan't escape mo now I " "I see—a case of blackmail I " he said coolly. ) took a step towards him, and I think the look in my eyes frightened him. " There, there I " he said hastily. "We need not quarrel. The past is dead. Let's forget it. Come and see me to-morrow and we will go into figures. Meanwhile here is something to go 011 with 1 " He took from his pocket a thick roll of notes and counted me out £IOO. I took the notes and recounted them. "Thank you," I said as I placed them in my pocket. " I will oall upon you to-mor-row ; but understand this, 1 shall not be satisfied with a farthing less than tho half of your fortune. If you try to rob me, by ' heaven the whole world shall know your story!" "You can trust me," he replied coolly. " I know when lam beaten. Can you find yo'" t own way out ? " I niiething in bis voice aroused my sus•iewns, and I turned on him fiercely. "What is your game?" I said furiously, ' Whiu vile plan are you concocting in that devilish brain of yours?" "My dear fellow "he began. But I cut Him short. " Call your butler," I said sternly, "and tell him in my presence that I am your friend end that I am always to be admitted to your presence." "What is tho uso of that? I could easily 9IIIV you false ; but I assure " " Never mind; do what I tell you 1" I commanded, his reluctance making memoro delcnnimid.

"Jfo laughed, but I could see he was hervous ui.d distraught. ,l Very well," he said ; but I will do even better than that. I will call my secretary, and you shall tell him whatever you please." lie walked round the desk to a baize-cover-ed swing-door, which apparently opened into mother room, "Mr. Courtney. One moment if you please ! " he said, pushing the door open. There was no answer, and, with an ejaculation of impatience the banker stepped into the inner room and the door swung to behind him. Ho did not immediately reappear a3 I bad •xpected. " Well, I will wait," I said grimly. And lo I walked up and down the long room for nearly ten minutes. Then, losing patience, I pushed upon the green door and found myself in a little ante*

It was empty. - There was no otho>"door, and the window, which, as in tho room I had left, over-looked tho square, was shut and fastened with a patent lock. Unquestionably I was in tho room alono. I went to the desk and pressed the button of an electric boll. I was in 1,0 mood to bo trifled with, and I determined to get to the bottom of tho mystery without delay. Almost immediately a gentlemanly young fellow made his appearance. "You rang, sir," he began. And then, catching sight of me, ho paused and stared with open mouth. " Kindly tell Mr. Grango X am still waiting and must see him at once," I said. " But Mr. Grango should bo hotel" said Iho young man in astonishment. " Well, you see ho is not," I rotorted irritably: " Ten minutes ago he disappeared through that door and I haven't seen him since." " But that is impossible 1" persisted the young man. " There is no other door in that room I"

<<T 7 V, -e is not here, is he? Perhaps you Tjvill be good onough to find oufc where he is. jfcay," I added, as an afterthought, % ' 4 perhaps I shall not trouble him any mora fc-night; but kindly tell him that I will call

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