Sunset.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4383, 20 January 1883, Page 1

Sunset.

By the author of "The Princess O'Toole," " A Daughter of Death," " The Adventures of a Buggy," &c , &c. I

CHAPTER Y. Sinnd safe staring at the telegram for some time. " What's up old man," said Mak, " you look as though you were going to have a fit." " Its only a telegram announcing the result of the Mayoral election for the City of Thames, N.Z," said Sinnd lightly, as he crushed the paper in his hand. " Who's in ?" asked Mak excitedly. ["His name don't begin with a X anyhow," said Sinnd with an attempt at a laugh, " but I must be <ff, I've some urgent business -on/ hand. Bye, bye," and putting his hat'on, he rushed from the office. "What's his little game nowP"soliliquised Mak, as he thoughtfully rolled up his hundred and sixty first cigarette. " .No good I warrant. I'm tired of all this secret work. I'll go out to New Zealand and get a billet in the Civil Service as an Under-Secretary. vThey say the more a noodle a man is, the better screw he get's out there. I've a second cousin in the Legislative Council, he must do something for me. Yes, I must really chuck up this job. Why I don't get enough to keep me in cigar* ettes." And lighting bis hundred and seventy second, he left the offide in a very misanthrophic frame of mind, feel* ing ready for anything, from cock-fight-ing to manslaughter. . Chapteb VI. Sinnd consulted with his Aides-dc camp, Biski and Beerstinky, at to who should do the Cardinal's business, and they unanimously agreed that Bland should be told, off to do the lob. But how were they to work it so that he should suspect nothing. . ': We sbajl see. Sinnd summoned all three to a grand meeting of the Council for next day at 8 p.m. They all attended punctually. " Well gentlemen," said Sinnd, a little nervously, and trying to be pleasant, " we form quite a syndicate. I hope whoever the lot falls on to do the unhappy business will not try to rescind his cop* tract. '• A fine! a fine!" cried Beerstinky, joyously. And he pointed to the rules of the society, framed and hung up on the walls of the office. By-law, Fo. 153.—" Whosoever shall make, or attempt to make' a pan during , the conduct of public business shall shout for the crowd." - " Your'e always on the. look out for your liquor, Beery old man," said Riski," slappinu him on the back. Sinnd put his hand in his pocket and produced a fl-'rin. " A shilling is enough," said Bland, " you're not in the colonies." " No, thank Heaven," replied Sinnd. and with a sigh of relief he replaced the coin in his pocket. He then touched the bell and on the office boy presenting himself, gave him a Robert, and asked the gentiemea what they would have. Hisbi stood for whisky, Beerstinky for Bass' Bland went fora blend of various liquors, while. Sinnd having to conduct the campaign naturally selected champagne. " Now -. gentlemen to business," said Sinnd, after they had drank their liquor, " as it is a Cardinal we had tetter useno," he said, " I don't want to be fined again." . He then took up a pack of cards, shuffled them, and explained that the one who drew the highest card should do the work. The three conspirators drew three Knaves. Bland trying to keep himself calm, drew the King of Hearts. . " That settles it," said Sinnd, turning to Bland. " You'd better take the morn* ing train to Dover to-morrow, so that you can catch the train at night from Paris to Venice." " That's all ver nice," said Bland, " But how am I to catch the Cardinal, and after he is caught, is it to,be lead or steel P" " Oh, anyhow yon like, so that you

fettle his hash. Tim Council leave it entirely in your hands " "Yes ! yes !!" shouted Riski and Beerstinky together," we have every confidence in you, old man," and putting on their hats, the three knaves left the office together, leaving Bland standing in a trance on the office steps. As he went home, he thought the boys with the evening papers cried, " Death of the Cardinal Vermicelli! Death of the Cardinal Vermicelli!!" Bat he was not tare. Chapteb VI. The city of scarlet sunsets, of imposible greenish moonlight effects. ' " Quite, too awfully,.pretty dpnfjt you. know," as Angelina tells her darling Augustus on .their wedding trap—of; gjiding gondolas and picturesque gondoliers and execrable hotels viz., Venice. In this city in a room on the ground floor of an ancient building near the Bridge of Sighs were seated two men. The real original Bridge of Sighs, not Tom Hood's Bridge. One of; the men was 01d!... The other strange to say was young !! The old man was Signor Drinkiwiski, the President of the Secret Council.

The young man whose name is immaterial, was his confidential secretary. * Diinkiwiski could apeak all the European language! and a little Maori. He was porusing the morning journal. The table was littered with papers, and on it stood a bottle labelled, " Old Scotch Whisky", and a tumbler. From time to time the venerable President indulged in a long and cooling (P) draught of .Glenliret.

, " Body of Bacchus," he exclaimed, addressing bis* secretary, " Vermicelli has anticipated us, last night he lost the number of his mess. I must —-"

Just then there was a knock at the door and Makamessa entered.

" Well Mak, old boy, where have you come from," said Drinki.

" From ze land of meeserable fogs' vere dere ees no sun and vere yon has to year Tat zey call beeg coat all srough ze summer."

" Bah!" said Drinki, shuddering'" You must be deuced cold ; have a nip of whiskey." Mak accepted the invitation with alacrity and took a long pull at the bottle.

" Now to business," said -Drinki, " What has brought you here ?"

" Foul play' 1 said Mak mysteriously, who by the way when he liked could talk English without the slightest foreign ac» cent. " Sinnd has been up to some of his little games again," and he whispered in the president's ear.

Drinkiwiski took up a file of papers from the table and began to look them over.

" Order for two tons of nitro glycerine. No, that's not it. Acknowledgement of donation of six dozen revolvers by the Land League. Ah ! here we are, " Instructions to Ferdinand Sinnd regarding the proposed assassination of Cardinal Vermicelli. Just as I thought, it was to be deoided by lot." He then turned;tO*Mak and said smilingly, " take this little cheque ; return to London at once and chec&tn&te Sinnd at all hazards." Chapteb VII. That evening Mak left for England after purchasing two.owts. of cigarette tobacco to smoke en route. . As the train steamed into London, he had just lighted bis sixteen hundred and fifty first cigarette. - He went straight to a cafe in Leicester Square, a favorite resort of the gang. jbtiski and Beerstinky were at the bar as usual. '* Hullo, old men," oried Mak, " have a drink P" They drank. - Mak then proposed a game of Nap. and they all retired to an adjoining apartment. The wily I tal-i an took up a pack of cards, shuffled them carelessly and threw them on the table.

He then drew several, all knaves. " strange," said he, "is it not" and ho fixed his eagle eye on the guilty ones. They trembled, fell on their knees and confessed all.

Mak at once wired in cypher to Drinkiwieki the success of his experiment. Sentence of death was passed on Sinnd by the Secret Council,.but be anticipated his doom by committing suicide. Nellie and Bland were married and retirfd from » hollow world to the Hollow Oaks, Bucks. Mak was rendered happy by an addition of £100 per annum to his salary, which of course he spent in cigarettes. THE END.