PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10168, 18 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 XXXl.—Continued

od the other. "Did yon not help the rogue Punderson to rob inc. I suspect so, at least." "Then you do me an injustice," said Tripp. "What I now wish to speak with you about is connected with the matter of which you are so deeply interested. Your cousin, Paolina Huntingdon, the daughter of Paolina Marliani, is now discovered without the shadow of a doubt. I know where she is, and I possess the power to identify her without the shadow of a doubt." , "Bah, for Paolina Huntingdon," returned the count contemptuously. "I care for her not so much as. one .whiff of this cigarette. She interests me no longer." The lawyer started, and eyed him in a keen fashion. ' N "What," he said, "you no longer care for her and her fortune ? This is scarcely cousinly." "Bah! for her and her fortune, I say again!" cried the count. "She has no fortune. She shall not inherit the estate and" property of old Manutoli, so much as Avill purchase her a pair,of gloves. I, also, Signor Lawyer, have made a discovery."

Just as the boat came in sight of Benicia, the bell rang for dinner. Hector had been so completely occupied throughout tho day that he had found no time to take any refreshments since a hasty breakfast, and the keen appetite of youth was now clamouring for satisfaction. Accordingly, when at the first sound of the hell Mr Barne suggested the propriety of getting places as near as possible to "the captain's end of the table," Hector promptly acceded to the spirit 'of the proposition, and the two soon found themselves seated near the head of the'board. B'or the space of some ten minutes Hector was too much engrossed in the serious business of satisfying his hunger to take any notice of the persons seated with him at table. When at length he began to look about him he caught the eye of Counselor Tripp, who, from his position nearly opposite him, seemed to be watching Mr Barno and himself with deep interest. i As soon as Hector looked up the lawyer nodded to him, and removing his gaze, became entirely absorbed in disposing of the contents of his plate. "When dinner was over, the lawyer returned to the upper saloon, and resumed the reading of the evening Bulletin, which he had bought of a newsboy five minutes before the boat left the wharf.' Having finished the telegraphic news, he turned to the-local columns, where his eye was arrested by an item entitled "Murder or Suicide?" It read as follows: "About apon to-day 'lady, the wife of one Leandro Marliani, was found dead at her,, rooms at the Antique Castle'at the corner of Sacramento' and Stockton streets. Deceased was found lying on the floor of her dressing room, in her nightdress, under cir-. cumstances-such as warrant the belief that she died of poison; whether taken by herself or administered by another, remains in doubt. The coroner was notified at once, and an inquest will be held at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. The lady's husband has been supposed to be out of town for some days, but he must have visited his rooms last night after the inmates of the house had retired, since •his hat was found this morning in the bedroom, while another, belonging to one of the lodgers, was missing from the hatrack. "Just as we are going to press, we learn that a' letter written by the deceased, and addressed to her husband as -'Count Leandro Marliani,' has been discovered, in which she aWvs her intention of committing suicide. A.vjal containing pimssic acid was also found on the dressing table, and these circumstances seem to remove all ground for suspicion of foul play." Having carefully re-read the item and reflected for a few minutes, the lawyer took out his penknife, and cut the first portion of it out, omitting the concluding paragraph, which re-? corded the finding of the note. He then placed the extracts in his vest pocket, and left the cabin in search of the count, whom he had seen come on board at the last moment. He appeared to knqw instinctively where to look for him, for he proceeded at once, to the lower deck, where he found him , sitting on a sack of potatoes among the freight, smoking cigarettes at the \ rate of one per minute. Tho spot which . the Italian had! chosen was nearly amidships, and between the two decks, and it was so screened from observation by crates i of goods and piles of boxes as inevitable to suggest the idea that it had been selected with the idea of concealment. "Why, count," said the lawyer, affecting as much surprise as if the count was the last person he had expected to meet, "what a queer place you have chosen for your meditations. You didn't want to be interrupted, I presume ". •The count started. "I cannot pursue my thoughts in a crowd," he said in a hoarse voice, "and I sought this retired nook to be alone." He slightly shifted his position as he spoke, turning his face away from the intruder. But if his object was to get away from the lawyer, he. did not succeed. "Count," said the lawyer. "I ani glad .to meet you, for there is a matter of importance on which I much desire to talk with you." "lit is not my desire, then," return-

"Come with me to my stateroom,'' said Tripp, "where we can have a quiet talk over a glass of old cognac.'' The Italian shook his head impatiently. "You annoy me with your civilities," he said. "I do not find myself disposed for society." "Natural enough,", said Tripp, "under the circumstances. But you made a.mistake m running away from it. You should stayed, and then nobody would have suspected you." ; "What is it yoii speak of?" demanded the count, in a hoarse whisper, and looking round in .agitation. .:>' ._•••; - "What! Haven't you seen th'c'.eve'r ning paper?" "Come with me," said Tripp, "and I'll slioav it to you. Besides, I'm sure a thimbleful, of brandy will do you good!" The count probably thought so, ,too, by this time, for he made no further objection, but rose and* followed the lawyer without another word.

CHAPTER XXXII

A MOONLIGHT RIDE,

It lacked a few minutes to half past nine, p.m. when the opposition', stage from Stockton drew up in front* of Wells and Fargo's express office in the main street of the town of Sonora.

At Mr Ba rue's suggestion Hector had taken the -opposition stage, while the former gentleman and Seth Hagbum had booked themselves for the coach of the regular line.

Some fifteen "minutes after the passengers of the first arrival had dispersed, the regular stage made its appearance. Mr Barne, springing down from his seat beside the driver, ; was the first to alight. Next, from the inside, came Seth Hagburn, and after him Count Leandro, followed by the counselor.

Nodding to Hector as if abicnov/ledging a slight acquaintance with him, Mr Barne, accompanied by Hagburn, walked up the street toward the principal hotel'hi Sonoma—the Plaza. Tripp and the count crossed the street together, and entered a Mexican restaurant, and Hector, having given some directions about his baggage, proceeded to the City Hotel, where it had heen agreed that he was to take up his quarters. Half an hour later, as Hector was smoking a cigar in the large room which served the various purposes of office, bar, and reading room, Barne made his appearnaes. - " "Taggart's bound to let us know that he's still alive," said he, handing Hector a telegram. "This came ten minutes ago." It read as follows: San Francisco, Tuesday. "Mr Daniel Barne: McGinnis was on the street at 8 p.m. ■.■■■"'•'•-■ "■ - ■ ' 'Eben." ' <To Be. Continued;)