PAOLINA, OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10166, 16 February 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA, OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

OUR SERIAL.

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

CHAPTER XXlX—Continued. It wits not until he found himself in Montgomery Street tint he recovered from his panic. Entering a saloon he .Jrank a glass of brandy at the after which lie seated himself at one of the high .stools ranged hi front of the refreshment counter, &r.d ate three successive plates of oysters with an excellent appetite. When he- had finished, having no longer any pretence for icmnining ir, the place, -vlitch in some in.vxphccbl • way seemed so pleasant to him, h:drank another glass of brandy ...and departed. When he began to think in a collected manner concerning what had happened, his first feeling was one of bitter wrath against the dead girl for her thoughtlessness in having placed him in so embarrassing a position. Had ,he seen the note which she had left "on his dressing case he would have learned how far from thoughtless of him.she had been when in her last moments. He would have learned that even when standing on the very verge of doom, she had taken all .-precautions to save hini from all suspicion and all trouble resulting from her act of self-destruction. But of this he knew nothing. Reflecting on the course which it was best for him to pursue, he-'resolved to go to an hotel and get a few hours' sleep, after that he would nerve himself for the unpleasant sceno that must ensue upon the tragedy becoming known, and return to the house. Having come to -.this decision he started for an hotel on Jackson Street, entered, wrote the :first name that occurred to him, oh the rpgister,, and followed the porter carrying the key and a bit of candle, .to the room, assigned him. ■•/ As it was.,now nearly dawn he removed only his hat and boots, and threw himself upon the bed, drawing the coverlet over him. lii spite of all the noises of the extensive establishment just awaking to the life and activities of the new day, he jvas'soon lost in a deep and dreamless sleep. CHAPTER XXX. PLOTTERS AND COUNTER PLOTTERS. When Mr Daniel Barne ascended 'the passenger gang plank that led to the upper deck of the Stockton boat, the first person that he encountered on board was no, other than his learned friend. Counselor Tripp. The surprise I evinced by the former at this encounter was genuine and unaffected, While that manifested by the counselor looked a trifle like acting.' After the usual greeting, the counselor carelessly asked: "Going any-further.than Stockton?" j "Well, I caii't say at present," an-; swered Zip. "You see, I'm jest a-! takin' a little trip for my health. I've rather overworked myself lately." j : "Exactly my case," returned the j counselor. "I think, however, that.11 shall go as far as Sonora." . i "Soiiora," said Zip, trying to look, as if he had never heard of such a ' place. ' "I "Yes," said Tripp, with the mild, i didactic air of a man who experiences a disinterested pleasure in imparting | useful information to all who stand in need of it. "It is the county seat of Tuolumne County, situated in the midst of one of the richest mining districts in California, and is, I venture to say, the wickedest hole this side of the Rocky Mountains." 1 ''l've heard of Sonora," observed Zip,,, in accents so innocent that the lawyer was almost deceived for the moment, notwithstanding the excellent reasons lie had for believing that the speaker's place of destination was the same as his own; "I've heard of*Sonora, where the wine comes from ,but you don't get there by the way of Stockton." "Certainly not," returned Tripp, with the same instructive air as before. . At this moment Tripp's attention | seemed to be. attracted by a man who had just come'"upon the wharf, and was walking up and down it, in the neighbourhood of the steamer, in an uncertain, aimless sort of fashion. The lawyer started, and uttered an exclamation of surprise when he saw this person; and Zip, following the direction of his gaze, scrutinized with some curiosity the individual who had pip-' duced such an effect upon his companion, j The man was powerfully, though j

not heavily built, his broad shoulders j seeming still broader than they were, in contrast with his slender waist. His hair, eyebrows, and moustache were as black as jet, and his complexion of a clear brown. 1 Almost at the first glance Zip recognised him- as the man Gina had described to him, who had followed her homo on Sunday morning, and talked to her in so Ltrange a manner. Not having seen the Italian before, he could not. like Tripp, compare his usual complacent self-satisfied ..•"•re - sion and foppish appearance with his present haggard countenance and disordered clothes. ..:.-• As for the lawyer he felt certain it must be something quite out of the ordinary way that had produced this singular change in his former client. "The man looks scared," mused the counselor, "and )f it wasn't for the fact that Punderson is out of town I should really imagine that the ' two had met. aad that the Italian had murdered him. I hope he's bound on this trip, as it will save me the trouble of hunting him up." A minute later Zip caught sight of Seth Hagburti walking along the quay toward the steamer with the easy, swinging stride of a strong man. Counselor Tripp saw him a'S5, an I as lie recognised him, his lips formed themselves into the shape of a whistler's, and with a sidelong.look at Zip, he gave vent to his feelings in a prolonged and significant "whew!" As Hagburn ascended the plank, and stepped upon the upper deek, Mr Bame rushed forward with the air of a man being very much a? mazed at seeing him there, and saluted llim as he shook hands with: "Well, old fellow, what the deuce; brings you here?" -'■■•"'* He accompanied the question with a wink of portentous significance, which would have been quite lost on Hagburn had he not seen, at the same moment,, the eyes of Tripp fixed upon •him with an expression of intense curiosity. This helped to give him the cue, and, returning the lawyer's recognition with a nod, he said, in answer to Zip-'s question,: '•'Now that I'm a-fr«e man again, I am going back to try my luck at my old stamping ground in the Southern mines. That's what brings me here, but where are you,going?" "Time enough to talk of that bime by," said Zip, moving away. I have got to look after my baggage at -sent," and with a gesture designed to convey to Hagburn a hint to get away from Tripp as soon as possible, he betook himself to the . lo>ver deck, and proceeding forward, he took up a position beside the broad gangway *, by which the freight was brought on to j the deck. As the boat lay with her bow toward the gate at the base of the pier through which all persons and vehicles coming to the steamer had to pass, it enabled Zip to get a good view of all person? approaching the steamer. He had been but a few minutes at his post, when lie saw Hector \ T orth advancing along the pier. When Hec- . tor was nearly abreast of him, Zip managed to attract his attention and .beckoned . hiir to come on board by; the freight gangway, which he did. "Lawyer Tripp is aboard," whisper-; ed Zip, drawing Hector into the shelter of the Avheclliouse, and looking round to see that there were no eavesdroppers in sight. "He's aboard, bound for Sonora like our selves. I don't see exact y what it means, and I can't, say I like the looks of it altogether." ' "I know the man by sight and reputation," returned Hector. "I don't think that he's the kind of man Miles Grandin would be. likely to employ —if that's what you are afrv-J of." "It ain't so easy to tell," said Zip, shaking his head dubiously, "what sort of men Miles Grandin is likely to employ. My idee is that he wouldn't stick about givin' a job to Belzybub, or anyone of his imps, purvided heis satisfied that they Would do it neat. Tripp's only a p'lice court lawyer, I'm aware, but lie's twice as cunning as old Sloane or any of those high-toned lawyers. And then he wouldn't be partic'lar about the nature, of the job, if it paid well. Hector reflected a moment. ■ j "Do you know," he asked, "wheI ther Tripp is likely to have got any j hints about the business . from ; any I other sourca than Grandin ?" i (To Be Continue.)