PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10151, 30 January 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

(CUR SERtA.U»

By MARITOSA WiSIE, Author of -hvaaync's Ycmjstatfon," "A Chass Rouna V,\a Work!,' efe.

CHAPTER XV.- -Continued.

upon iv. 7 t'saUi <;i- disappearance.' ThercFv said'Tripp, after having delivered this outline of the course to be pursued, "how dot's that strike your"

"Thank you. Wt.i:, as I was saying, though I know the relations between Jones and Monte Christo, and that they are in constant communication, and that Jones must be aware of my false move in going to his principal, he's never said a word about it to me, or intimated any knowledge of it. He has continued to treat me the same as before. Now, I don t like the look of that."

"I believe it's the best thing to be done," said Pimdcrson, after some moments of reflection, "the idea of the statement is good, and in that one particular I'll do what I threaten. And now, on what terras do you and I stan3' in this business? I commenced this conversation with a proposition." •

"And you're right. It does look ugly, nay, dangerous \ but it's quite the right lino of policy for Jones and his principal. They still use youi services?"

. '.'Which I declined," returned Tripp "You came here in a state of' mental j excitement which I choso to regard as insanity. You said it would ease your mind to open it to me. I bade you "open it. You proceeded to tell me a long rigmarole about certain fictitious personages and preposterous plots, which I chose to regard as the hallucination of a distempered brain. I, however, humoured your mood, and listened. I don't believe a word of your story; but I am glad if you feel better after telling it. Whenever you feel the need of further relief .come to me and. inflict another instalment. Of course, as this sort of thing occupies my time, I shall expect to be paid for it. Thoso are the terms on which you and I stand iii this business —at least, for the present." When Punderson had gone, Counselor Tripp leaned back in his chair, and, thrusting his thumbs into the armholes of his vest, surveyed the ceiling with a contemplative gaze for a few moments, and then propounded this query, to which he did not expect an answer:

*"Yes, and honour my drafts. Jones is altogether as pleasant and liberal as before. There's not the slightest change in his manner, even." "And it's just that," said Tripp, in a meditative manner, "that looks suspicious. If I were in your place I should feel the need of unusual circumspection. You have been guilty of the indiscretion of letting them know that you have learned more than it was meant for you to learn. There was no harm at all in your discovering all you could. The blunder was in not concealing your discoveries until the opportunity offered for using them. In a conspiracy, the subordinate that knows too much becomes odious to the principals. He becomes especially odious when they believe him to be a person who will not hesitate to use his knowledge for his profit. The principal in this conspiracy is sagacious enough, I imagine, to understand the extent to which you can be relied on." "And, your conclusion from all this is?" '

' 'Why is it that every rascal of only average ability conceives himself to be a great villain?"

CHAPTER XVI

"My conclusion is th.at they mean to lull you into a feeling of security, and then put you out of the way the first convenient opportuntiy. If this Monte Christo is half as cunning and audacious as you ? have represented him, you haven't long to live unless you can do one thing."

HECTOR NORTH MAKES SEV-

ERAL DISCOVERIES

A week has elapsed since the scene in t-lie hospital. It has been a busy and eventful week for many of the characters who figure in this story. Count Leandro Marliani has disappeared from San Francisco, and persons inquiring for him are informed that he has gone to Sacramento and will return in a few days. Zip has been discharged from the hospital, and - s full of some mysterious business that occupies him constantly through th' 3 day, and keeps him out late at night,. Seth Hagbum had been discharged too, but f:S he placed his faot- outside the hospital door he had been arrested as an escapee from San Quentin, and indictments had been found against him on two fresh charges, one for prison breaking, and the second for being an accessory to" the murder of the guards who were killed on + he afternoon of the outbreak.

"Why, you talk as if Death had named the day," said Punderson nervously. "But what's your one thing?"

"Pull the wool over Jones' eyes, and make liim believe that -you believe you were mistaken and went off on a false scent when you .undertook to identify Monte Christo as his principal. That's the one thing and the only thing. But it *is-doubtful whether its a possible thing. I don't believe that you are a good enough actor, or a cool enough hand, to do it. I'm afraid you are a doomed man.", Punderson shook his head - impatiently. j' "They'll not such foofs as that-," he said. "It wouldn't work if I was the best actor that ever stood before the footlights.;"

Zip goes to see him every day, and tells him that he is "attending to his case." He assures him that he neper shall be tried on the new indictments, and shall not go back to San Quentin. When Seth asks how he expects to accomplish these thing?, Zip replies: "Never you mind; I've got the thing chalked out, and I'll fix it." He gives the same assurance to Hannah and her mother, aud such is their faith in his resources, especially since he has become so grave and busy that they derive much comfort from what he .says.

•You're right," said Tripp, after a minute's cogitation, "it's too tliin. But I think I have got the glimmer of a brighter idea. Do you possess any special qualifications for aiding the plot?" asked Tripp. "Can you be more useful than another that might be employed?"

"I think it would be hard to replace me," returned Punderson, "and it isn't that they would undertake to do so. Their game will be to use me first, and dispose of me afterward as a man who knows too much."

"Well,- then, you must just take the bull, by the horns squarely. Go to Jones boldly and tell him what you have done, and what you know, and that you know that lie knows about it already. You say to him: "Here, Jones, I have made a bad break. I have discovered your master's secret and have gone and tried to talk with him about it The probability is that it may be considered expedient to put me out of the way. Now, that isn't necessary. There's another way that will be much pleasanter all round, and also much safer; that is, to treat ir.<* s'i !il>.v.:ul.y trat a>! my interests wil! be. ic'ensiciil vioh yours, I can't make -anything hy iuruii.u; t.isitor, „nn:l'.ihe only t'.ii.g to. be feared from me woull be the iv.Milt of my resentment or of my fears at the apprehension of it. Besides, it w,ould be a bhrider to resort fo foul play, for I have taken such measures thai my Kiuwkdg.: shall i ot die with me. the contrary my death will cause the publication of the whele affair. I have made out a written statement of all I . I know of the subject, and after carefully sealing it up, placed in in safe hands, with instructions to open it

During the week Gina has been to see the beautiful lady twice, and Mr Hector North, from his window opposite Mrs Oanch's,. has witnessed, not without some curiosity and surprise, her exits an entrances —has witnessed, too, with further wondering, that she is accompanied„on these occasions by a tall, comely young woman, with a rich brown complexion, and lustrous black hair, who leaves the girl at the doorstep and walks on, returning presently and passing the house in the other direction, never going very far from it, until her companion comes forth, when they depart together.

(To Be Continued.)