PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10188, 14 March 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

OUR SERIAL.

By-MARIPOSA WEIR. Author of "Evadyne's Temptation," Round the World, 1 ' etc

CHATTER XLVllL—Continued, j "Not, till after dark." "I shouldn't have lot Huntingdon j;o beyond my reach," muttered Grandin, continuing his walk. "With him '■->•» to piay host and guardian, i *\m\\i[ know liov.' to Imffle tliese scburi-j clrolw haiHl.-mn,ly. I'd give twenty thousand dollars if he worn hero now." ' "Wouldn't ho como, sir, if you sent for hinj? ! heard of him at Dr. Osborne's place yesterday afternoon.' "But lie probably went-down in tho stage this morning. Osborne couldn't send him in in time." "I saw both the stages start," returned Lucas. "I wanted to see if Boh Bulger, or the foreigner whom I expected to bo-concerned in. tho attack on Punderson, was amongst the pas-

scngers. Mr Huntingdon certainly was not among them." . "Saddle a horse at ;once, and ride over to Osborne's with a note which I will have ready in a minute. If he's there," he added, as Lucas departed to get ready, "we'll get up a nice little surprise for this beggardly champion of distresed damsels and his gang of ruf-

fians." The note having been written and despatched,, Grandin repaired to the appartment to which Doctor Gubelet had. closely confined himself since his arrival. "Well, doctor,' said Grandin, "howgoes the experiment?" Upon a low tnickle bed was extended the apparently inanimate form of Digger Joey, who had probably been selected as the subject., of Guberlet's 1 experiments on'the'ground of her being near" enough to humanity to show how other and higher forms of it would I>9 affected by them, and yet so near the beasts that she might without compunction be exposed to some peril in the interests of science. v "The further experiments and studies which I have made while here," replied the doctor, "have convinced me that, with ordinary precautions, 'a. patient in ordinary health can .safely

be kept in this condition for sixty or more" hours." Grandin -remained silent for some minutes.. Then ho walked slowly toward the door. "Doctor," he said,.."l will return in an hour, when I must confer with you on a most important subject . Let the girl remain as she is until them. I t':sh to witness the process of restor-j ing her." ; I As he left the room, he encountered ] Madame Campan in the hall. Herj brow wore a most portentous frown. } As she pausddin front of Grandin he, noticed that her breath smelled of brandy. "I haf come to seek an interview] with Monsieur," said she. "Mees Hun- j tmgdon refuses to, eat or to drink. She has take no food now since the girl Hanaro is dismees. I entreat her in vain." "Ah! madame;" returned Grandin, . . ." "I,was about to send a request to see you. Will you step into the" diningroom a minute?" , When he had handed madaive a diair, and seated himself opposite io her, ho.resumed'the conversation.: \': ■■ "You eay-Miss Huntingdon can4at'j nothing," he said. "She'must be ill. I shall send into Sonora immediately for the! best medical aid; meantime the physician who is in the house as Mr: Huntingdon's guest had better see her i —will you be good enough, l madame, j

I,to request Miss Huntingdon to prepare to receive him?" -When the Frenchwoman went to deliver Grandin's message/ she found that Paolina had locked herself up in her bedroom, and refused to open the door until madame threatened to use force to effect an entrance. I As Paolina opened ihe ■ there was something in her eye like the look of a hunted creature in whom terror is giving place to desperation. ; Madame looked fixedly at her. and said, in a tone of intense commisera-.

tion, shaking her head and speaking very slowly: "Poor chile, she is seek. She mast retire to iier bed. Then tlie doctor will come and gif .her some medicine that will make a. cure." *'l am not sick,", returned Paolm.i, "and I need no medicine; what is the mesage you spoke of ?" "It is the command of miter," that yon prepare yourself to receiva the visit of the doctor." "You may say to Mr Grand™, 1 ' said Paolina, "that I refuse to see a physician, as I deny that I am ill. They '

will have to break open my door, for I will not admit him." "Ha! Is it so! Then it is best to take measures," cried tli-s i; adnuie. Sho passed Paoliua in iliroe stridor, ran into her bedroom, :m J returned in a moment with the keys of Hie two in"Aiv rooms. "So! you will iiot adm't heemi" .she cried, holding them up m i:iun>j>h. "Weshalsec." lettering a discordant laugh, and still waving the keys a"oo\e her head, she retired to her own apartment, ainl procededo to refresh hers.)lf \ ith a. tumbler of absinthe aid water. CHAPTER XLiX. DADE INVESTIGATES A MIS - TELVT.

The interview between Grandiu arid madame was just concluded when Locas returned from Doctor Osborne's. He had found Huntingdon there, as he had anticipated, and the latter h:;d shown some surprise at the message, and asked to have it explained to him how it was known that he had not | started from San Francisco as he had at first designed. Lucas having given the explanation, Huntingdon bad sni'i that he would drive over in twenty minutes. Lucas had barely his report when Huntingdon arrived and was shown into the library, -where Grandin awaited him. "Is it true that the girl is sick?" asked Huntingdon, taking the initiative.

"Not yet," said Grandin, fiercely, "but she will be soon, and want to have it given out in advance, so that, if anything shoiild happen people may be prepared for it. Did you mention it to Osborne?" "Yes, I showed him yon mote." "Good. I meant you should." "Will you be kind enough to explain your design. Either I ; am very doll, or you are not in your right mind." "The house is to be attacked to-night by a gang of ruffians, led on by this young fellow North, the object being to carry off your neice by force, and restore her to Mrs Cranch."

"And you want me to assist in repelling the rascals? It would afford me much pleasure to pick off a few : of them. I haven't had a shot at an unfeathcred biped for so long, that I need a little practice." "Don't you see that I can't afford to have a. general fight here ? If we were to go into it, it would certainly he a desperate affair, and on such a scale as to attract attention throughout the country. That would #bt suit either of .us." , Huntingdon reflected.' "You are right," he said. "What, then do you propose?" ', ■ "Come first with me to'the apart- \ meiit of GuWlet, where I have prom-, I ised to witness the result'.of a curious experiment. After that I will explain." Then Madame Campan was summoned to join them. Ten minutes later, she left them and went to Guberlet's door, which was .opened in reply ' to her knock, and she entered. "I am disgusted with ■ the whole business," said Huntingdon, when' he and Grandin were left alone; "and I wash my, hands of it except so far as playing my part in the drama you (are

getting xip. ' j "What sort of a man is your friend Osborne,?" "An easy-going man. Not overbright, but with good impulses and fine j tastes. I consider him the best judge of claret or burgundy I ever met. What ever induced him to come into exile up here, I can't divine. I made, his acquaintance in Paris in'4B." ] ' , ' "fe'he much of a doctor?'' / "He attended lectures in Paris, and pretended to practice 'after coming back; but he has abandoned the pretence for some years. He's rich, you know." ; "Don't you think him a good man to have over here to see the patient ? He's well known in the country, and

generally respecrted." "You're right* There ought to be some medical man here besides Gubei'Ict, for appearance's sake. And I think Osborne will be likely to see things through py spectacles. He's ; not the least suspicious in his disposi- [ tion." . '■;. ■ ■ ■-' | "Suppose you write a line asking | hint to come over. I will send it by | Lucas, who can drive back with' mim." Huntingdon sat down at the table and wrote the note. Five minutes' later Lucas was on his way fo deliver &■'";.■ ...'. •';.,'. 1 ■, ' (To Be Continued')