PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10182, 7 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 XLIIT. —Continued. The bedroom was lighted by one small window of four panes of glass, set in one sash, that could neither be raised nor lowered, and it had no other door than that communicating with the sitting-room. Back of the kitchen was the fourth room, consisting of an addition much resembling a largo dog kennel. From this; at the call of Punderson, emerged a young Digger female, whose features exhibited the most brutish characteristics of her tribe. She was short and fat, arid her straight, dead-black hair was cropped close and even all round, and her little lacklustre eyes had no hum- ; an expression in them. "This is your cook, chambermaid, and maid of all work," said Punderson. "We call her Joey. She is not pretty to look at, but you'll find her hftlitiy and goocl-natured. She will give .'you your meals, ancl whatever you may be in need of that can be had jon the ranch. If you go out of the . house you will have to pass through her quarters, for I shall lock the front door and carry off the key, as I'm responsible for your safe-keeping." "But about my trunk," said Hannah. "I Avant it very badly." "What, to-night?" asked Pund-21-son. "Yes, as soon as I can get il. [ have not. so much as a comb or a hairpin, | a thimble or st spool throaa, but j what is in it,"

"Well;*, 'growled Piuifej'i.- W? TSS j clfoV'6 ofe, "I suppose a trUnk ft,'id a dressing case have come to bo as necessary to you as if you had been reared as a lady. Anyway, I'll send the traps along in an hour." • When Punderson returned to the dwelling-house to receive further instructions from Grandin, ho was directed to make preparations to repel an expected attack upon the ranch. He was also told to pay a visit to Sonora that night, to learn what he was able regarding the movements of Hector North and his friend. Soon after he had departed upon this mission the susceptible Francois emerged from one of the windows of the kitchen in a stealthy manner. He had a parcel under his arm, and in his right hand he clutched a black bottle. Ah, ha," he chuckled, as lie hastened off in the direction of the mill, "I was almost forgetting that Digger Joey is fond of whisky."- ,

CHAPTER XLIV.

HANDSOME 808 KNOCKED OUT. ' On the night- of Punderson's visit to the "Tigerie," his unusually good luck made him somewhat cheerful, He had won four hundred dollars, and his spirits were correspondingly elated. It was not. until Punderson had reentered the saloon that he discovered that one of the men who appeared to be dogging him was the count. This discovery sent a cold thrill through him. Going to the bar he swallowed half a tumbler of brandy, and then he sat down and tried to reflect. Hp had brought into town with him a young man named Lucas, to assist in making the investigations directed by Grandin. To this young man he had delegated the task of keeping track of Hector North, and to discover whether any important movement was in preparation. He was to meet Punderson: at the Plaza Hotel at half-past ten and communicate the result. But before that time arrived Punderson had begun to drink and gamble, and finally became so absorbed in a game of poker that when the recollection of his' appointment recurred to his mind, the hour was long past. Punderson now reflected that as Lucas was well acquainted with his habits and his places •of resort, he would in all probability soon come in search of him. He accordingly resolved to remain where he was for a while, longer in the hope that Lucas would make his appearance when he could have the benefit of his company in threading the dangerous precincts of the "Tigerie, and returning to the ranch. He had hardly come to this resolution when he felt a "hand laid upon his shoulder, and turning with a nervous start he saw the man he was waiting and hoping for at His side. "Why, what's the matter," said the young man, "you look as scared as if I was an officer come to arrest you for robbing a bank." "Hush," said Punderson, taking

his companion by the arm, "'let's ;; out of this as quickly and as quietly us possible." As ' Punderson looked toward the' placo where lie had last seen Count Leandro, he observed a sudden gathering of persons at the front of the saloon near the extreme right entrance, as if a fight, or some other matter, of more than usual interest, were in progress at that point. Hoping to get away unobserved while all eyes were attracted in that direction, Punderson drew his companion to the left, and the two issued from the place at the end opposite that which seemed to be the scene of the ;iew excitement. Just as they stepped into the alley, a shrill voice, which did not sound altogether unfamiliar to Punderson, could be heard above the rush and murmur of the crowd, exclaiming in threatening tones; "Stand back, you overgrowed vagabone! Stand back, I tell you, or I'll let a streak of daylight through you." The disturbance of which Punderson had taken advantage for the purpose of escaping unnoticed from the saloon occurred in this wise: Mr Bulger, alias Handsome Bob, in order to prevent the Italian. from suspecting that he was watching him, every now and then changed his position, and while near the entrance of the saloon he saw standing in the middle of the alley way two figures that immediately attracted his attention. One of ;.hcse was a man of thirty-two 01* three ' —dressed with soiiie pretensions to taste, and of respectable appearance. The other was a Jiandsoine youth of about twenty, clad in the style occasionally affected by a vaquero who is inclined to play the dandy. They both stood, peering into the place with an I eager, yet hesitating , air, as if they wished to discover some person there, but were unwilling to enter. Handsome Bob was a keen observer, and as he scanned the face and figure of the younger of these persons there 1 was something in the features, and j outlines of the form that aroused his 1 suspicions. } "That may be a good vaquero for a picture of a play," he muttered to himself, "but it's never been my luck to com© across such a dainty looking cattle driver before. Lookin' for any one in particular?" he said, advancing a step or two and addressing the pair. Hannah —for the pretended vaquero was no other —touched her companion's arm and whispered: "Let us go away. They can't be in such a place as that." "If there's anyone in there that you'd like to see," resumed Bulger, in an 'insinuating voice, and with a look at Hannah that caused her face to turn crimson, "don't be afraid to come in. I'll protect you." "Thank you," returned Francois, bristling up, "but we're only strangers here, and we are just looking around the town. As for your protection, we are abundantly able to protect ourselves." "Not a doubt of it;" retorted Handsome Bob, with a sneer. "You look the very pattern of a dangerous fighting man, and I wouldn't tackle you on no sort of provocation. As to this jolly lookin' vaquero, if I was to try to get a chance to see how he looks without that slouched hat that's turned down so curiously over his shoulders, I dare say he'd lasso me with his lariat in true Spanish style, and strangle me like a horse thief. As he spoke he reached out his right hand, and, seizing Hannah, by the arm, drew her forward under the wooden awning where the light fell full upon her face, and at ,the same time he snatched the hat from her head with his left, hand, exposing to view the masses of the pretended vaquero's black hair, skilfullyi disposed in close coils, which had been tucked up opt of sight. Both movements were so entirely unexpected, and were executed so suddenly and dexterously, that even a much more ready man than Francois 1 could not have prevented them. But [ recovering almost instantly from the .( surprise occasioned by the attack he sprang like a wild cat at. the throat of his formidable antagonist, assailing him with an unscientific ferocity that nevertheless compelled him to relinquish his grasp of Hannah in order to defend himself. (To Be Continued.)