PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10153, 1 February 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

(OUR SERSA.L...

By MARIPOSA WEIE, Author of "tvaoyne's Temptation," "A Chase Rounti ffta World," etc.

CHAPTER XVll.—Continued

Had he done anything to indicate that he was on the look-out for valuables? He had opened the bedroom closet and poked his big head into it for a minute. Was that all ? No, now she thought of it, he had pushed aside some dresses that were hanging in the closet and rapped against the wall behind them with his knuckles. At this stage of the examination Hector assumed a grave, businesslike air, and said he thought he should have to take a look at the closet. Paolina wanted to know if that was really important. Hector considered it of the very utmost importance. Guberlet must have some reason for his singular proceedings, and an inspection of the premises might furnish a. clue to the reason. Hector was shown upstairs, the two females accompanying him, to give any information or explanation that might be in their power.

I asked you to come into this game. There may be danger to you in it, an' if anything should happen to you.- I would never feel like showing my face to Seth or your mother again." "Don't be afeared for me, Zip," answered Hannah, stoutly. "I'll keep my wits about me, and I think I can take care of myself pretty well. I'm as strong as most men, I guess, and a deal spryer, Besides, bad as Uncle Punderson is, he wouldn't do me no harm, I think."

"That's what Seth said, when he consented to have you go. But it's a brave thing in you, Hannah, for ;> all that."

"I want a pistol, Zip,'' said the young woman, after a pause. "There is no telling what will be happening up there before the thing's through, and I shall feel more comfortable if I have a pistol."

The young man entered the nest of the beloved one reverently, cast one grave, comprehensive look around him, and then advanced to the closet. It was on the south side of the room.

Jennie having removed some dresses hanging against the wall, he sounded the latter with his knuckles, as Guberlet had done, and inferred from the result that the partition was very thin, and that in all probability there was another closet in the adjoining house on the opposite side of this partition;

"Well, that's sensible," he replied, taking a pair of derringers from his pocket. "There can't be no harm in your having a brace of barkers, and here they are, loaded a-id capped." He then removed the cap from one of the pistols, and showed her how to handle the weapon. "It's time! was getting ready,now. You go and talk to mother, Zip, so she won't take any notice what I am about."

What conjectures or suspicions may have been born in his mind by this, examination, he thought it best to keep to himself for the present.

On this same Friday morning, Miles Grandin had a half-hour's -interview with Doctor Guberlet, in which they conversed in whispers, and with grave countenances. ,:

chapter xvrrr. A SERIOUS CONFERENCE. "What do you make of all tins strange business P" asked Paolina, when she was again alone in the drawing room with Hector., "I scarcely know," returned the young man. "It .is very clear that there is, some plot in preparation of which you are the object. It is equally clear to me that Grandin is the prime mover in it."

He did not think it, best to say anything of ihie reasons he had for believing that Guberlet was one of the millionaire's instruments. No benefit could result from increasing the disquietude she already experienced.

Paolina was now fully determined to run away and take refuge in the Steener's stronghold in Sonoma. She'had known them, and the place on which they lived—it was formerly the widow Cranch's, and they had purchased it from her—ever since her arrival in California, and she said she should feel a greater sense of security there than in the city. Hector at first strongly opposed this plan, but "when he was asked to act as her escort, he gave his consent. It was arranged that Mrs Cranch was to go with them. Before Hector took his leave all the.details of !hc Sonoma trip were arranged between the two, neither dreaming that Miles Grandin's blow was to: fall so soon,' and that the fates had decreed that the Sonoma arrangement was never to be carried out. „■"

"You are right," said as Grandin rose 1 to depart. "Sunday morning, just before daylight, is the most' propitious time. Saturday night. is a night of carousal, and the city, sleeps sounder and later dm Sunday morning than on any other in. the week. -And delay now is dangerous, for the servant is a weak being who j already repents, and will ere long beI tray everything to her mistress, who herself gives tokens of suspicion and alarm, as she has had bolts put upon all the doors, including that of the basement, as was found on trying it with a master key but the other night. We must, therefore, fall back upon the closet plan; the mechanical wfcrk that could not be achieved without noise has already been done while ffche young mistress was out, and the eHer one slept under the influence of Doctor Spiretti's admirable anaesthetic, unwitingly administered by the mhid. It only remains to remove a little plastering, and access to the lady's sleeping apartment is open.". Grandin seemed mentally disturbed, and frowned heavily. \

It was on the Friday morning that the incidents narrated in the last chapter occurred, and that Paolina's flight to Sonoma—on the coming Monday— 'was agreed on. On that same Friday morning Hannah Hagburn said to Zip, when he looked in after breakfast, as was his daily custom :

, "I do not like the ofithe business," he said. "But there; are things that cannot be done delicately. Besides, it is the fault of her own; obstinacy. However, no one : but '.. the French woman must enter her-apart-ment. She is big enough and strong enough to carry her to the carriage." "She is a veritable giantess," replied Guberlet, "and in physical strength is the superior of most men. Be assured that I will see that everything shallbe conducted under my superintendence with such respect for my patient as the exigency will permit." 0h that same Friday morning Mark Punderson, pale and agitated, called on 'Counselor Tripp. Giving him a sealed package, he said that he had been "suddenly ordered out of town by his patron. He feared foul play, and directed the lawyer, in the event of his failure to return within ten days, to open the package and read the contents. /

"Zip, the message has come; I'm to go to-day." s "That's rather more sudden than I expected," returned Zip. "Is he to come for you?" "No; I'm to go down to the Stockton boat that leaves at four o'clock, and he'll meet me there." ■...! . "Do you feel afraid, Hannah? Do you feel as if you'd like to back oiit, of the business?" "No, I'm not afeard." "Have you told your mother that you're going?" "No, and I don't think I'd best. It would only make a time. You can tell her after I am gone, and-explain that it's all for the best." Zip seemed unusually grave. It was clear that something troubled him. "Hannah," he said, after thinking for a minute, "I'm almost sorry that

(To Be Continued,.)