PAOLINA, OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10162, 11 February 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA, OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

OUR SERIAL.

By MARIPOSA WEIR. Author of "Evadync's Temptation," ' "A Chase Round the World," etc,

CHAPTER XXV.—Continued. ; "By much persuasion, and liberal bribes," the doctor continued, "1 endeavoured to learn what light, if anj > this woman could throw upon the matter that engaged my efforts. She told me at length that the girl I was in search of was in this city, leading a life of abject poverty. She said the child had been stolen from its parents by its governess, who had adopted this means of avenging some slight which .she had received from the mother. The governess had fled to Australia with her husband, taking the child with her. Soon after the news of discovery of gold in Cali- i fornia they had come to San Francisco, where the husband opened a low concert hall. Here the child ran away from her kidnappers, probably 011 account of ill-treatment, and they had never been able to recapture, although they had been at great pains to do so, believing that she would be very useful to them, and a source of great profit in their business. "When. cross-examined 011 the details of her story, the nurse contradicted herself in many particulars. At one time she said that the child's parents were living in London when she had been stolen, and at another time she said it was in New York. "I was satisfied," continued Spiretti, "that the woman's- narratiwvius founded on truth, but that there were some particulars withi i her knewledge that she wished to conceal. That the child had been in San Francisco, and had here escaped from her captors, probably on account of cruel treatment, I fully believed, and for a long time I entertained the hope of being able to find her. From alt the circumstances I derived the impression that she would be discovered in some of'the low places of the city." Zip asked Spiretti what" sort of a looking woman * 'that nuss might be." "She was repulsive in features," answered the doctor, "and in stature far above that of her sex, or the average stature of ours." 1 "Do you know where she is?" 1 ' "No, I have lost sight of her for : some time, now, and the friend at whose house I first saw her knows nothing concerning her." "Well," returned Zip, "I shouldn't mind gambling to a moderate figure on the event that when that miss is reckoned tip, she'll turn out to he the governess, too. At any rate, from all the information I've got on the subject, there's a strong family resemblance between 'em." The doctor had already been told the particulars of the abduction, "and lie now showed great agitation in alluding to the subject. ' He said that 1 his age and infirmities would render him of no use in. going assist- in person in prosecuting the search,; but Jie would be represented in the search not only by his young friend (indicating Zip), in whose sagacity he had great reliance, but also by another person, a friend of his young friend's, who, he was assured, could be of great service. He, the doctor, had alreadybeen at great expense in prosecuting the search, and he had still, some little means at his disposal, all of which he was willing, if necessary, to devote to the same object. Zip, who had before spoken ; to Hector about Hannah Hagburn, and the part she had undertaken in the scheme for Paolina's rescue, now explained that his "friend" alluded to by the doctor was Seth Hagburn, her brother. He briefly stated Seth's present situation, and the steps that he (Zip) had taken to secure his discharge. He related how, while in the hospital, he had overheard 'another patient, who thought he was about to die, confess the agency he had had in the conspiracy which sent Hagburn to San Quentin; how he had after his discharge, had the man's depositions taken, and collected other proofs clearly establishing Seth's innocence. He told how the district attorney had agreed to enter a nolle prosequi on the new-indictments in case the governor should employ the executive prerogative to release Hagburn from the remainder of .big term -for.the original offence; how thcr proper document from the governor had been procured and laid before the district attorney, and finally, how that officer and Counselor Tripp had both given him tho assurance that befoie noon of the next day, the prisoner would be released, fully exonerated of the crime with whfch he had Loon I

charged. "Setli Hagburn," added Zip, as he finished, "is a man to bet on, an' if it comes to fight-in' he'll be worth half-a-dozen common men, lor he's as brave as a lion, and as strong as a bull." . After some further conversation having reference to details, Zip and the doctor took their leavo, the former agreeing to call again in the morning and report anything new and important that he might ascertain in the meantime. "For you see, sir," he said, as lie bade Hector good-night. "I've got some scout-in' to do before I sleep that may result in thro win' a little more light onto this extraordinary affair." When Hector was left alone an expression of anxiety revealed itself in his countenance. The trouble that thus showed itself was one of a financial character. He was almost absolutely destitute of money, and scarcely knew in what direction to turn to i procure the requisite supplies for his I contemplated journey. He was natu- | rally thoughtless and improvident in regard to money, and now he dwelt upon this improvidence with hitter self-reproach when he considered how helpless it might make him at the most momentous crisis that had ever occurred in his life. As Doctor Spiretti, having just parted with Zip, passed the drug store then located at the corner of Stockton and Jackson streets, he came suddenly face to face with a showily dressed man, of swarthy complexion, and with dark hair and eyes, who was issuing from the druggist's,' walking with a jaunty step that was almost a swagger. The stranger, who I had apparently -been making some purchase, for he carried a package in his hand, did not look up " until he had nearly run against the doctor. As the eyes of the two men met, both started back in surprise, with ' the mutual exclamations: 1 ' "Doctor Spiretti I" "Ludovico Giorni!" "It is not singular, Signor Doctor," said the sti-anger, "that \ou mistake me for my half-brother-, for we were always as nearly alike as twins. But look again and you will recognise me as Count Leandro Marliani, the nephew of the Marchese Ercole Marliani, whom you cannot very well have forgotten. I have known for some weeks that you were sojourning in the city, and I have much desired to see you on matters of moment. If you will favour me with your address, I will do myself the honour of calling on you to-morrow. At present I am on a pressing errand, carrying medicine to a sick friend." Spiretti took out his note book, and writing his,address, tore out the leaf, and gave it to the other, who took it hastily,' and thrust it into his vest pocket. "Thanks, Signor Doctor,' he said, somewhat nervously, and with the air of . a man anxious to be gone. "I shall not fail to call upon you tomorrow/' and with this farewell he turned and vanished up the street. "What ! can be the meaning of this masquerade, I wonder?" said Spiretti to himself, as lie looked after the swiftly retreating figure of his countryman. "It is a flight, and I shall not see him- again if he can help it. He the Count Leandro Marliani! The impudent impostor! Though truly the likeness in form and feature is as striking as when they were boys, but to imagine the count with that coarse manner, and that swagger of the theatre! It must he something connected with the inheritance that brings him.here in this false character. Is it possible that lie can have anything to do with the disappearance of my little Paolin'a? Why did I not think to ask him for his address ? But it matters not. The rogue would have deceived me had I asked him for it, so that I suspect nothing is lost through my lack of presence of mind." (To Bp. Contiwlc^.J