PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10158, 7 February 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

(OUR SERSA£,>

By MARIPOCA WES?,-

Author or "tvaoyne's Temptation," "A Chaso r.ounti tiia WorlS,'' eie.

CHAPTER XXll.—Contimied.

w.ir what she called her "Sunday book," and though she could not understand it contents, which Avore in a foreign language, she never grew weary of looking at the fine engravings with which it was filled, all representing the faces of women, [ most of them with sad faces, and i some of them beautiful with the unearthly ecstacy born of spiritual exj alation or religious ecstasy. "Oh, Zip, I've had such a fright," said The girl, throwing down her book. "You say I,m all the time ihaving adventures, hut I've had one now that beats all the others' that 1 ever had in my life. How was it, i Zip, that they came to call me the J 'princess.''?'' | 'lt was all along o' that hair of yourn. That night, Avdien I found i you ,you know, and brought you in J here to dry yourself by the fire, all ' your hair was twisted round in coils ! on the top of your head, and when Hannah took your !bonnet off, she i or Seth said something about its looking like a crown of gold, and after you'd told us all you know'd about yourself and your parents, Seth said you might turn out to be a princess for all anybody could tell. ; At any rate, whoever begun it, after that, Seth always called you iby that there designashun. And now, tell me your new adventure, and when you'v done' I've got( one to tell you that I'd, match against yours for a million in gold." Gina said she had gone to the grocery that morning for a loaf of (bread, and as she came out of it, she had met a gentleman who had started when' he saw her, and uttered an exclamation in a language which ; she did not understand. He ( had stared at her in a way that had duite frightened her.- He was aliand- ' some .gentleman veryl. elegantly dressed, with Mack eyes, and black, curling hair, ■ '"" '!■■ ■}' • , '-. iShe had' hurried ' home without looking behind her, and he must have followed her, for she had no* heeri in the house for more than a few minutes before there came a rap at the door, and when she opened it there he .stood before her. . t ,After many apologies tor his in-, trusion, he had told her that he wished to speak to her on a,matter of the greatest importance; his name, he said, was the Gouiit Leandro Marliani. . "Marlianny," exclaimed Zip, springing "to his feet, "why, Gina, this is an adventure. It's' the name of the girl that Doctor Spiretti h&V been, a-searchin' all creation for, leastways, it -n;as her mother's name. Count Leandro Marlianny! Of course he looked like a foreigner.' 1, ' 'Yes, he looked like a foreigner," said Gina, "and talked like one." He declared that he knew a secret that ' concerned her very much. Would she permit him to ask her a few questions ?. Unless he was very much mistaken he coUld give her a deal of information that would be greatly to her advantage. He seem-, ed so earnest",! yet so polite and respectful, that she. could not refuse, his request. Then he asked her her. name, what she knew about her parents, what she remembered. of hei 1 chixlliood,, and when she came to California, with ever «o many questions of a similar character. At last he came upon the ibook which she had laid down'when she went out and asked if he might look at it, "As h© turned' oyer the leaves," . continued Gina, "he talked to himself in the. strange language, and when he saw the name written on the first page, that we couldn't read, he said something that'sounded like swearing. Then he asked me more questions, and walked up and down the room with long steps, making gestures like an actor in a play. At last he turned to me, and said: "Child, your name is.not Percy. If ever there was a Marliani, you are one. How will you think it fitting to reward him who shall produce the proofs that you belong to a great family, and shall establish your right to a princely fortune?" Zip sat listening to this narrative with dilated eyes and open niouth. He seemed too paralysed by what ho had heard to have any power of speech left him. .'..»■' , (T$ "Be Continued.) ,

- "Well, Mr Barne," said Hector, "it remains to be explained now how it is that you have come to take so strong an interest in my affairs." "You want to know, sir, how I come to take an interest in your afi fairs? Now, sir, if you'll refleek a minit you'll perceive.the inaccuracy of aludin' to the 'bizness in them terms. Is it exclusively your affair? Ain't it just as much tlie affair of all the lady's relations and friends? Ain't it the affair of the elderly female in hysterics over the way? Supose the lady has an aged friend that's come from furrin pars to look for her, and spent no end of money a-lokin' for her, ain't it his affair? And supposin' that this aged relative, knowin' and ap- ; preshiatin'. my talent for workin' up a case, has retained- me into it, I'm interested in il> because it's his affair; and because you're interested in it too, I'm interested in you." . Ai> this point Hector raised himself on his elbow again, and tried to speak, tout Zip, with a gesture depreciating interruption, went on: "Now, you mustn't ask any questions, for I ain't a-goin' to give any explanations until you have had a good sleep.' Hector pleaded that until he-was informed of all that his companion could impart on the subject it was impossible for. him to sleep; his anxiety was too great. 'lt's no use, sir," said Zip, shaking his head. "I shan't go into the subjeck as long as you're in your present state. But-.to make you easier in your mind I'll tell you that* the lady ain't in any present danger further'n heing carried, off.. ; She's on her ■way, to a place a hundred or more miles from this town, and the man that.had her carried off ain't ■left town yet, an'if he's as smart as I think he is, he won't leave it under a week. That gives us time to operate in. For no- harm can. come to ithe lady—that is, no worse harm thanybeing obleeged to take a little trip into the country against her will,, until the man that's at the, bottom of the whole business leaves for the place she's been took to." ' Hector' listened like one ma dream. It was evident that this strange being who had so unexpectedly taken charge of him, as it were, knew something of the matter. It was true, a® he said, that l the master plotter had not left town, and probably would not, until the, first excitement caused' by the disappearance of his- victim had subsided. Meantime that victim would foe in no danger of airy. further cruelty or outrage than such restraint of her, liberty as might be necessary to prevent] the possibility of 'escape. These reflections brought the young man so much comfort that he •could ' not help (feeling heartily grateful to 'j the individual: who had suggested them, and after giving some expres- , -sion to this feeling, he made another attempt to enter into conversation on the - subject. But the j Chickadee would- not permit anything of the kind. "We are losing time," said Hector, at last, making an effort to ( rise. "If you know where she is,, we must go to her rescue at once'. Speak out, only tell me where to find ,'iier,where they have taken her j, and I'll find strength. to get to ."Stop that now," said Zip, laying his. hand on Hector's shoulder; "There's no'good of your tryin'. to get up, for you haven't got the strength; and if you was as strong as Samson there 'ud ibe no use in gittin' up now. .\ The-only way to git to the place where she's been spirited away, is by the Stockton boat, and that won't leave until four o'-. clock to-morrow afternoon, If you are strong enough to travel by that , time, we'll start. If not, I'll go on I without, you." I '"How can I sleep until you tell ] me all that you know of the mat-! tei\?" groaned Hector. "Here comes the man that's got to answer that question," returned Zip, as the doctor entered the room. r "lf he can't find-a way to manage it, I should say that he hasn't got ho' business with a diplomer,"

CHAPTER XXffl

THE PRINCESS HAS A VISITOR,

Leaving Hector in charge of the doctor, Zip walked straight to Mother Hagburn's. Gina was alone in the large apartment which served as a sitting room, turning over the pages of an old-fasliioned looking book, with heavy binding and. red edges, the embossed covers of which were secured by silver clasps. This