PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10181, 6 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.

you responsible for the girl's safe keeping until Monday. Then you can take her home; but until then she must be kept close at the mill, and on no account be permitted to leave the premises. Such are Mr Huntingdon's instructions." Hannah's heart sank within her as she heard where she was to be imprisoned. It was not, then, to Sonora that she was going, but to another and distant portion of the ranch, where slip would be effectually separated from her mistress, and detained as "•a prisoner. „ "Return in an hour," resumed Grandin; "I have some further instructions to give you." So saying he turned and reentered the house. | As they pased the rear of the premises Hannah saw Francois, with a napkin across his arm, gazing out upon the vehicle. There was a ludicrous expresison of bewilderment and consternation upon the cook's face, that, at a more auspicious time, would have provoked the girl's mirth. "Stop a moment, Uncle Mark," she said; "I have forgotten something." Punderson thought there need be but little fear of an escape, as the great gate was securely padlocked,-'-and he had the key of the smaller one on the road to the mill in his pocket. "Well, be quick,'' he said. Hannah had sprung lightly to the gi-ound before the words were well out of his mouth. Passing through the washhouse she entered the kitchen where she confronted the alarmed Francois. ' - "Has anything happened?" he asked. "The Frenchwoman has been boasting that she has procured your dismissal." "Come away from the window, and - do not speak so loud," answered Hannah. "It is true that I am dismissed, but I am to be kept a prisoner down at the mill until .Monday. If you have any such feeling toward me as you have so often spoken of, you will find some means to help me out, so tjhat I can get into Sonora this night." "By St. Denis, I will try! answered Francois. "They will lock you up in the cottage where the Frenchwoman has been staying—it is the only decent place down there I;hat they can put a woman into. But if you succeed and get to Sonora, you will not think -if returning—it will not be safe." "No," replied Hannah. "I will put myself under my brother's protection/ "And I shall have .to go with you," said Francois. ''lt would be as much as my life is worth to show myself here again, after helping your flight. Mr Huntingdon has ordered me to report myself to him. at San Francisco on Monday to accompany him East. I j shall have to remain in concealment until the steamer hasleft.". At this moment the voice of Punderson was heard impatiently summoning his niece. , "I must go," said Hannah, "you will not' fail me?" "You may rely upon me, at the risk of my life,"' answered Francois. "I will come down to the mill, at the first .opportunity to reconnoitre this afternoon, and if things are propitious, I will come again at nine o'clock. to start with you to Sonora. By that time everything, will be, quiet down there, for the people go to bed early. If they put you in the cottage, by all means make friends with Digger Joe."

GH AFTER „_ XLll,—Continued. Hannah had finished packing her ' trunk,.and had just given Paolina the 1 derringer that she had asked for, and 1 that had been furnished her by Zip, < together with some brief, hut suffici- i ent instructions in regard to its use, s when a heavy step was heard in the hall, which caused them to start and j f look questioningly into each other's ] eyes. ' "It is the Frenchwoman's step," i Hannah; Before Paolina could reply some ■ one was heard to enter the room for- -i merly occupied by Madam Campan, from the hall. Then the door between ' that room and the sitting room was i thrown open with a bang, and the gi- • gantic form of the Frenchwoman, bonneted and shawled, presented herself in the doorway. ."Ah! you see, I am return again once more. Did I not tell you that it would be so?" x Her manner was harsh and exultant, and her dissonant voice sounded'like the cry of some bird of illomen . "Ah, I did forget," she resumed after a pause. "I am honoured..with a message from milor to Mees Hunteendon. Not from Milor, her uncle, for he has departed, but- from Milor Grandeen, who remains, and who requests that Mees Hunteengdon will gif him the pleasure of her company at luncheon." "I will not believe that this is true" cried Paolina. "Hannah, as the last service that it may perhaps be in your power to render me, will you go down and ask Mr Grandin in my name if ho has sent any message to me by this woman?" , "Indeed I will,',' returned Hannah promptly, "if he was to strike me. dead for it the next minute." Hannah passed out and in less than a minute returned, and confirmed the authenticity of Madam Campan's message. "Wait one moment," said Paolina, "and I will give you a rpply for Mr Grandin. , Retiring to her dressing room she hastily pencilled a'.note, which read as follows: . "Mr Grandin. "Dear Sir: If your message is an invitation from; you as a gentleman, I beg to be excused; if it is a summons from-my-jailor, it''is not in my power to resist. Paolina Cranch." j " She gave this to Hannah, who' j presently ' returned with the follow-' ing: .. . ■ " I: "My Dear' Miss Huntingdon: You 'almost tempt me to myself your jailer, whereas'l am simply your uncle's guest and your temporary j guardian, especially charged by him to'protect you during his absence against a'serious peril which is being threatened by a desperate young villain, North by name, who, as Mr Huntingdon believes, is planning your forcible abduction. So far as meeting me at present is concerned, I respect your wishes. But it will be absolutely necessary jto see me before the expira.'tion of thq ensuing forty-eight hours, in order to make to you an' important communication. , Let me be notified of the earliest moment at which you will receive me as a 'gentleman,' But should no such notification come sooner, T shall be compelled to act tomorrow to act upon the hint so pleasantly conveyed in your note, and in the capacity of jailer summon you to I meet me at dinner at 7 o'clock. Yours I inevitably, . Miles Grandin."

Hannah turned to take another farewell of her mistress, who again embraced her. "I am respited," whispered Pao-. lina, to her weeping handmaiden, "until to-morrow evening. Until then I think I can reckon upon respectful treatment. But I tremble 'at the thought of being left in the house alone with these wretches." "Take heart, .ma'am," returned Hannah, in the same tone, "I have good hope to see those this night who will not let you remain underj this roof another after this." At this juncture Hannah heard her name pronounced in a voice that seemed familiar to her. It proved to be Mark Punderson, avlio led her out at a side door, and placed her in a buggy which was standing there. Grandin, who Avas pacing the verandah, said to Punderson, as the latter jumped in and took the reins:

CHAPTER XLIII. PREPARING FOR DEFENCE. Not a word was exchanged between Hannah and her uncle as the buggy rolled on toward the mill and the adjacent buildings. Among these, at a distance of not more than fifteen or twenty yards from the. creek, was a small cottage, with a shed at the rear. Stopping in front of the cottage, Punderson assisted Hannah to aight. "I guess you can make yourself comfortable here for a day or two," he said, opening the door and bidding her enter. "The Frenchwoman kicked up a terrible fuss about being obliged to sleep on a pine bedstead, and under blue blankets, but everything is comfortable enough, as far as that goes." The cottage consisted of four rooms, all on one floor, a small sitting room occupying the entire width and half the depth of the house. Two doors opened out of the'back of this room, the one into a bedroom, the other into a- kitchen. ' (To Be Continued.)