PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10136, 14 January 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

CHAPTER I.—Continued.

(OUR SERIAL.

T.j MARIPOSA WEIR, Author of "Evadyne's Temptation," "A Chase Round thfi World," etc.

"But none that arc available for ;Miy good or honest purpose. I will not p-'t wit'i tho fori.'.-.0.'.v.. Tito ><■< - rot shall ; ril-sli with n-. " "1 desire it only for scientific purposes." returned Guberlet, in an offended tone, "for experiments with animals, not for use in the hospital or the sick room. If it were a poison that 1 desired,. I.know,of those more subtle by'far; and more difficult of detection. The Borgia- powder that seemed the' glove of the actress .whom I but now mentioned, on the afternoon, when she was found dead in a grove near Ravenna, is no secret to me." "You are mistaken. La Speranza was not dead," said Spiretti. "I saw her buried, at least," returned the other. "True, but she was buried alive," said the Italian. t''The powder of which you speak ——" Heue he interrupted himself hurriedly. He gazed long and intently at his companion, and seemed to be studying his features closely. At last he said: "If what you affirm is true you should be either a good man or you should not be permitted to live." Then he meditated a while, and added, looking up: "You spoke of purchasing the formula. Have you considered what price you would be willing to pay for it?" ' "I will offer three thousand dollars for the few strokes'of yotii' peri that will be necessary to out me in possession of the sjecret." "It is a large suai—a large sum!" muttered Spiretti to himself; "and;if ho can indeed prepare the powder, the knowledge of the anaesthetic will not increase his'power for evil." "Satisfy me," he added, "of what you have asserted touching that subtle potion, and I accept your terms. Write but the first character that indicates its compositico. and I will take the rest for granted." Guberlet turned to the table on which were writing materials, and rapidly pencilled upon a scrap of paper a few of the, peculiar hieroglyphics employed in medical prescriptions. He then handed the paper to Spiretti. "It is enough," said the latter. "Our market is made. You shall have the formula." \

CHAPTER 11. MILES GRANDIN GOES AWOOING. We will now conduct our reader to a tastefully furnished drawing-room in a mansion in Stockton-street. All the furniture and appointments indicate that taste, and refinement, and culture, as well as wealth, have their abode there. Seated at a cabinet piano of rosewood is a female figure. At first glance it seems the figure of a mature woman of noble presence. But the girlish expression of the face, the almost childish frankness of the gaze, the supple grace of every attitude and movement, modify this first impression, and perplex the observer.with.a sense of contradiction between the magnificent womanly form, and the sweet ysurij!) face. There is the same contradiction in the countenance. The broad, low, Grecian brow, and the resolute little chin seem to speak of intellectual force and energy of character ; while the violet eyes are dove- ■ like in their gentleness, and the soft outlines of the mouth suggest docility and compliance. The coiled tresses which crown her shapely head gleam like burnished gold where a ray of sunlight strikes upon them. There comes a quick, sharp ring ut the street door, and tho lady rises from tho piano with a start. It is evident she knows the ring, or thinks she does.

' 'How,ifnperioiis.the man'ffe/' .ejaculates: "He cannot'even touch the doorbell without seeming to make it echo his own haughty tones, arid proclaim him master of the house. I. ■ suppose I .Ymst see .him. If I were to deny him I am not sure that he would not force himself into my presence." A remarkable change had come to the beautiful face in these few seconds —the violet eyes lied darkened till they seemed almost black; tho soft outlines of the mouth had taken on a,r, expression of fixed resolution; the delicately pencilled brows had straightened into two little bars above the eyes; tho close of the classic head on

the white column of the noble throat was queenly. It was as if so?r.o gilded pleasure barge with silken sails had suddenly transformed itself into a frigate, with guns lowering from every port and the flag of defiance streaming from every mast. A female servant appeared and handed the lady a card. She glanced at it and said, "I will see him," in the tone of a person nerved for the conflict. The gentleman was now shown into tho- v room! He was one whom most women would call handsome. The perfect symmetry of the form made his great stature seem less than it really was, and the easy grace of his movements masked his robust proportions. Without this symmetry and ease he might have seemed bulky. As it was, he did not, until closely observed, produce the impression of being an uncommonly large man. His head was of the massive, Websterian type, his complexion a. clear, rich brown, his eyes hazel. No one glancing at the face could doubt for a moment that this was a man of ability) enei gy and courage; a man of indomitable will, strong passions, and enormous self-esteem.

When the lady welcomed her visitor, she had in a measure recovered her natural expression. She still looked somewhat grave, but the signals of antagonism were no longer i legible in the glance of the eyes or the compression of the mouth. • Her manner was so exquisitely graduated that, while it was not cordial or even gracious, it could not be called cold. Still the gentleman was evidently; far from satisfied with his reception, and he was not a man to conceal his feelings in such a case, or to take any hesitative or circuitous course, in .coming to his point. After the first greeting the lady did not exert herself to make conversation. She rather placed herself in the attitude of one waiting to be informed of the purpose of a visit which she had not expectedj and which she might naturally regard as requiring explanation. But the visitor did not allow himself to be embarrassed for a moment by this defensive strategy. * 'Taolina," he said impatiently, ' 'I am not satisfied with your manner toward me '-of late. . There has been a great change in it, and I think Ij have a right to know the reason of it."

To be quite J frank with you, JVIr Grandin," returned the young lady with commendable firmness, and yet not without a' slight nervous tremor in her voice and manner,, "I hav.fi a similar complaint to bring against you." I have noi been satisfied with your manned toward hie of late. There has been sometning in it—at least so I have fancied—that implied the right to control the freedom of my actions. You have given advice that was unsolicited, and you have given it with the air of one who feels' that advice from him carries the, weight of a command." It would not be easy to say whether astonishment or anger predominated in the look thai Grandin concentrated upon the girl, who had; replied to his demand for an explanation in words so audacious. He had come to accept apologies, and.he was met with an accusation and an insult. ■ Paolina felt her courage oozing away under the terrible look, and east down her eyes. But it was only for- a moment. By the time,Grandin commenced speaking she had rallied, and her glance confronted his without quailing. ' "What is this change that has come over you?" he demanded al-; most fiercely. "What does it mean?" To be Continued.