PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10183, 8 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 XLlV.—Continued. j "Whew!" cried Bulger, with difficulty trying to loosen Francois' clutch upon his throat. "Is this another woman in disguise? He claws and scratches lite one, anyhow." So saying, he succeeded in separating himself from his furious assailant, and as the latter rushed upon him once again, dealt him a heavy blow in the chest that sent him sprawling halfway across the alley. "Now for you, my pretty vaquero, ' lie cried, turning toward Hannah, and again seizing her arm, "if you will corns a-masquerading to the "Tigerie" you must take the consequences. Nothing shall prevent me from having one kiss of them twin rosebuds .of yours!" Hannah uttered a loud scream, and exerted all hor energy to escape from the ruffian's grasp; but it was too powerful and determined to be shak- ■ 311 off by any effort that she could | make. At this instant a diminutive figure squeezed itself through the circle of spectators, and thrusting a cocked derringer into Bulger's face, uttered the words that Punderson had heard as he glided from the saloon. "Stand back, you overgrowed vagabone. Stand back, I say, or I'll let a streak of daylight through you!" "Ain't I got no sympathising friend that'll take Tom Thumb off of me, and give a feller a chance?" cried "the uivdaunted ruffian, still retaining his vice like grip of the struggling Hannah. This appeal met 1 with a prompt response from one of his admirers. "Handsome Bob ain't a-goin' to use the girl rough," cried Bob's friend. "All he wants is a kiss, and that will not do her any harm." But the fates were averse to the accomplishment of the gallant Bulgers innocent purpose. The crowd suddenly parted before the; impetuous rush of a newcomer, who, bursting through the circle, prostrated the last speaker with a buffet in the face, and then turning like lightning upon Handsome Bob dealt him a terrific blow between the eyes that felled him,.like a bullock at the stroke of the butcher.

ing back, they saw an excited crowd surging towards them. ( In the midst towered the huge form of Bulger, of Sawmill Flat, his face livid with rage. In his right hand he brandished a bowie knife as big as a butcher's cleaver, and in his left he grasped a sixshooter. "Where is the man that struck me?" he said, in tones hoarse and strident with concentrated fury. "Show me the man that struck that cowardly blow; I'll have his heart's blood." "Oh, what shall we do?" cried Hannah, looking round wildly, "where shall we fly? There comes that dreadful wretch. They will murder you." "Zip," said Seth, "take Hannah into the restaurant yonder." "Take my pistol, Seth," said Zip, handing him the derringer -.which he had recovered, and don't you wait for him to shoot first." They were just at the door of the little restaurant Avhere Punderson had seen Dade, Hector and Hagburn in consultation. Zip and Francois half carried Hannah into it. "You ain't armed, and can't be of no use in this row," said Zip to Francois. "You stay and take care of the girl." And he darted back and placed himself at Seth's side. Attracted by the noise of the crowd, the entire population of the adjacent alleys swarmed out on every side. Bulger advanced towards his antagonist. who kept his eye upon his every movement, holding the derringpr which Zip had given him close to his 'side, cocked and ready for instant

"Take my arm," said Setii Hagburn, for it was he, "and let me see the man that dares insult you!" he added, glaring round at the crowd. Zip had already regained his pistol. Picking up Hannah's' hat;' that had fallen from Bulger's grasp, lie restored it to her, and with unsteady hands she adjusted it upon her head. "Where is my.friend Mr Francois?" she, said, looking round her, as they began to walk towards the entrance to the alley. "He must not be deserted." • ' "He must be a pretty friend," said Seth sternly, "to bring you to such a place as this, and tlien leave you to bo insulted by ruffians." "Indeed you do him wrong,'" returned {Hannah, with animation.. ' 'lt was not his fault, as neither of us breamed what it was, and it was I <vho insisted on coming. But for him I could never have made my escape from the ranch, to teJl the friends of that poor lady what dangers Surround her." ' At this moment Mr Francois joined the little group, looking much crestfallen at, the disaster that had befallen him. . Hannah introduced him tq her brother, who did not receive him with much cordiality, whereat the poor fellow became more depressed. "Let us get away from here as soon as possible," said Seth, moving on with his sister, followed by Zip and the dejected Francois. ""I*seen you get that knock down, sir," said Zip, in a sympathetic tone. "But there's nothing disgraceful, according to my idee, -in bein' knocked down by a man that's bigger than you are. Mere physical superiority, sir, don't seem to me to be a thing to be proud of. I'm not a man of gigantic stature myself, and can't balance any more'n a hundred and eighteen on the scale. If I get linked by, a fellow six foot, and weighin' a hundred and eighty, I don't see no cause to feel humilyated., It's the sperrit that makes the man, sir, and not the stature or the physique—leastways, that's my idee. But hello! what's that? Are we goin' to have another rumpus, I Wonder?" ■ A hoarse murmur of many voices and the sounds of sudden commotionwere heard in the neighbourhood of the saloon they had just left. Look-

j The spectators hastened to get out of range of the weapons, and stood in two long parallel rows to the right and left of the principals, leaving a vacant space behind, each of them. Bulger continued to advance until he was within five paces of Hagburn, when he paused. Just as he was in the act of elevating the muzzle of his revolver, a man issued from the door of the restaurant and approaching Hagburn, passed him, and walked straight toward his antagonist. This man had both his hands in his pockets. He, did not seem hurried in his movements, nor did he appear in the slightest degree to participate in the general excitement. As he passed Seth he said in a quiet, colloquial tone: "Put up your pistol, Hagburn, and go and look after your sister. She's fainted. I'll take charge of this business." A low murmur ran down the line of spectators. "It's Deadly Dade. There .won't be no'fight after all." "Stop this nonsense," cried Dade, in abrupt, tones. "Stop it,' I say, I won't have it." "You get out of the way, Dade,'' returned Bulger. "The man struck me, and I'm bound to have my re.venge. Get out of the way and let me come at him. I don't want no , quarrel with you." "Of course you don't. I know that very . well. So stop this at once. It can't go on." i "I ain't no boy to be talked to that Avay. You'll crowd some one to hard one of these days, Dade. Get out of the way, I tell you, once for all:" The man's tone was half menace, 1 half remonstrance, like the rebellious growl of a menagerie lion confronting the eye and whip of the trainer whom he hates —and fears. , "Tush, nonsense. "You know me, Bob Bulger," returned Dade, still advancing with his hands in his pockets, and speaking in the same jerky, staccato fashion. "I tell you>that this has got to stop; and when I tell you that you know what it means." What strange spell was there in the steel gray eye and metallic voice of this spare, insignificant little man, that gave him power in a moment to quell the fury of the great bulky ruffian who confronted him? Bulger muttered an oath or two, and growled out a . half-smothered threat about something. that would happen some day when Dade tried to "crowd some one too hard." And so, muttering and blaspheming, [ he turned and reentered the saloon, j followed by a large portion of the crowd. - (To Be Continued. ) J