PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10178, 2 March 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 XXXlX.—Continued. Handsome Bob was eager to finger some of this money, so ho proposed a game with Punderson. The hitter was unwilling to risk his winnings any further that mght, but was at length persuaded. In less than an hour Handsome Bob was "broke," and Punderson had added to his purse fully two hundred dollars more, • As Punderson left the saloon, having first tpssikl a half : eagle \to Bob, to drink'-his health, he was followed by: a man who had his hat drawn over his ejes, This last person v> as himself closely followed by Handsome Bob. The man who had followed Punderson was no other than our old acquaintance, , the Count Leandro.

"It appears from this," said Hagburn, "that Hannah thinks the lady will be in no danger until to-morrow night."

Punclersdn was naturally suspicious and seeing that he was followed, he hesitated to enter the unlighted region that separated the "Tigerie" and the business portion of the town. He accordingly turned into a restaurant he was passing, in which he heard the 'sound of voices. It was the same place where Hector North had been introduced to the "Honourable Deadly Dade," some days before. As Punderson entered he saw three persons, sitting at one of the tables from the door, apparently in j. close consultation.. One of these persons sat with his face toward the enI trance.

No sooner did Punderson's eye light; upon this man than, he turned/and' left the place-, with precipitation, 'and passing,the count and Handsome Bob 'without appearing to see them,.- 1 he returned to jbhe gambling saloon the three had left a. minute before.

The person, the'sight*of" whom'"had produced such a marked effect, upon Pundersoh, -was Seth Hagbuni. His two companions were Hector and the,. Honourable Deadly Dade. Seth had. arrived that evening from San Francisco, escorting Gina,.who was at that moment sleeping soundly at the Plaza .Hotel, after the fatigue of the rough ride frdm Stockton. Seth had not looked up until Punderson had turned his.back., and consequently did not recognise Him. > ' ,"I am anxious to get started as soon as possible now,'' said Hector, impatiently, looking at his. watch. . "Very weli," said .Dade, "but it won't do to go out *of; town all in a body. We must rendezvous on some point on the road." .'<■■: . "Where do you suggest?" asked Hector. . "There's a big oak that stands on the right side of the road a mile from the town. Alongside of it is an old quarts shaft, dug by. some Amlucky prospectors, 1 and never worked. I'll be there in three-quarters of an hour with my folks, but I wish this could wait until to-morrow." "It can't,'' said Hector. "The thing must be done to-night, if I have to try it alone." - Hagburn had seeii Taggart white at San Francisco, and become satis? fied that Grandin had been in Sonora j "for several..days... v.; j At this moment a face peered in at I ihe door; of the restaurant. , j .- . "Ali, T rather expected I'd find you here," said the newcomer, • joining the 7 three. "I've got new;s from the ranch,'' and he produced a half sheet of fqolscap awkwardly folded. .■'■',' "Read that," he said, handing the paper to Hagburn. "You know the handwritin'." , \ ■ • ~ ;Seth unfolded it and read as folV .'.,-.' •■",.■ "I hav' got away By the help of-a Frend, wliich is a frend indead being in Nead. I lftiv' looked all over for you,; They sed you wood not be back till late. A boy sed you went lip the hill, frnyard the tigry wich my Frend ses he nows. ,¥e will be back bime by. The Man Has arrived. , The is 'safe,"bill to-morrer 'nite. To-tnorrer nite. she must be got a way" from that -place certin. , I want to. see you par-' :.tfclfer'.'fpr;'l;\- ; am'.-ajfra3e' to go back, j Pices excuse bad'spelling- and rating] on account of Haste and • truhble of mind. >? , / Hannah.f This unique document had no direc-',' tion. '

"How did you get it?" asked Hagbiim. : ' ; "It was left at the hotel half-an-hour ago. The clerk says two. men came with it. One of them was a good looking chap dressed like a vaquero. It was he that give the clerk the letter, and told him to deliver it to you or me, whichever come in first."

, "And Hannah's a girl," added Zip, "that's got a head onto her, and she knows what" she's talking about all the

time." "". . ' "I should like to see her," said Hec- - tor, "and find out what reason she has for saying that there will be no danger until to-morrow night." "F!l go down to.the hotejf* said ~ ■Sotli; "and have a talk with the ; clerk. If my sister's in town I.must find her." "I've an idee," said Zip, "from one expression in that there document, that they may come up to the- 'Tig\ \\ erie'to look for us." "It would be a fine spectacle," re- ■ turned Seth, rather shortly, "to see , a respectable looking girl like Hannah spying about among these slums." "I've an idee," returned Zip, "that Hannah's the good-looking young fellow dressed as a vaquero. She's got grit, and though she's as good a girl as there is in Californy, and as cor-J, rect, too, she ain't a girl to stand about delikit appearances when there is a big p'int to be made. She's resk-. Ed a good deal, I guess, to ran away from that place to tell us how things ; are going on there, and I guess she'll resk coming up here to find tis if she' thinks that's the .right move." : Hector had been reflecting. "I'll go -with you, Hagburn," he said "You," he added, addressing Zip, "had better remain in this neighbourhood, keeping a look-out for the young woman since you think it possible she may seek her brother here. If you meet her, bring her down to the hotel. If we find her, : Seth or T will ! come in search of you. As for the rendezvous at the big oak, that had better stand in. abeyance for a while. See your men, Mr Dade, but don't send any one out. on the road till I ; see you again. Can you meet me here in ah hour?" Dade assented. "There are two or three pi my folk around here tor-night," he said, "and I must keep my eye on them, ' or they will get drinking like the rascals I've got my friend the {sheriff to lock up for me to sober off. They'll be all right by to-morrow, and he'll let 'em out when I say the word. I'll be here in an hour ,hoping/!that you may get such news as will justify your putting off the stroke another day." Thereupon the four men left the restaurant, and went, their several directions, North and- Hagburn ,going ."down town" as it was called, whilej and Zip separated, and began to stroll through the" "Tigerie.", Meanwhile Count Leandro, pulling | his hat over his eyes, kept steadily on the track of Punderson; and Handsome Bob, seeing clearly enough that the Italian was dogging the lucky gambler, contented himself with keeping him in sight.

CHAPTER XL. "I FEAR THE WORST." Some evenings previous, to the one when,Tripp and Pundersbn rode together to'town, and the latter made his appearance at £he "Tigerie," as previously recorded, Zip had ; called upon the notable desperado, Mr Dead-, ly Dade, and explained their business with him. He was a small, consumptive looking man, not over one hundred and thirty pounds in weight, with a restless,unpleasant eye, and appeared to be no match, physically, for even a well-developed boy of sixteen. Yet he bore'the' reputation of being a dead shot,, the quickest in getting in his deadly work, and a- man j whom no peril could daunt. He "promptly agreed, for a stated reward,' to lend his valuable assistance, with that of some hundred spirits of His own choosing, to "make an 'attack on the house where Paolina was confined. He' advised that the attack be deferred until Friday evening of the following week, when a public execution was announced Lo take place in Sonora. (To. Be Continued.)