PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA. OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

OUR SERIAL.

By MARIPOSA WEIR. I Author of "Svadyne's Temptation," "A Chase Round the World," etc.

CHAPTER LlL—Continued

At lenth Zip, who had been eyinf, him in wistful expectation, brought the box containing the apparatus, ind placed it on a chair beside him. "Here is the machine, doctor," ho said, pointing to it.

"She is not dead. Save her!" "Is it you, my child?" said Spirelli gently. "Alas! it is too late."

The words sounded like the knell of dying hope.

But the apathy of despair by which Spirctti was overwhelmed seemed to seal up his senses. He took no notice of what was said to him, "though Zip made repeated attempts to gain his attention.

"It is in vain," said Hector at last. "Ho sees that he can do nothing." While they were still listening in the solemn silence inspired by the presence of death, there came a low knock at the door. Zip opened it. It was Dado "who knocked. There was a party of people below, he said, who had driven into the grounds, and then been stopped by the sentinels. They • requested to be. admitted.. Hagburn's sister--and a young girl'.were of. the party.,, "'',''. • j ' -Zip ran downstairs and ran out to J see whose these visitors were. --The' carriage in which they had corue was within a few yards of the' porch,- Approaching it, he saw the face of -Counsellor .Tripp a.t the Window. Tripp beckoned to him.

"Why do you speak so?" asked Gina. "They have- given her the same drug as they gave to him at the hospital" (here she indicated Zip), "and you saved him." "Yes; but life still lingered in Mra when I was apprised of his peril. His heart still beat, though feebly, and the trance stupor had not yet deepened into the last sleep. He lingered upon the confines between somnolency and death; but, alas, she has passed it."

"Why do you say so?" answered Gina. "Her hands have still the warmth of life."

. "Hero are two ladies whom you know," he said,' "and a gentleman who is related to Miss Huntingdon. I suppose there can be no objection to their being permittecf to see her?" . """I suppose* not," said Zip. "Wait a minute."

Returning to the chamber, he loid Hector who were below, and stated the request that Tripp had made on their,behalf.

."Admit,.-whori!.. you please," said Hector, "but see that no one leaves the house." "

"Desist, my child," answered Spiretti. "These are but vain and mocking hopes which you cherish. The colour lines at the base of the nose are the certain signet of death. Nay, they are the swift precursors of the physical decomposition which reduces the pride of manhood and the bloom of beauty to dust and ashes." j Gina turned and bent over the body till her face was almost in contact with that of the dead. "Will some one bring me a glass of water?" she said, standing up and looking appealingly toward Zip. Zip, whose senses were on the alert, darted out and soon returned with a glass of water, which he handed to Gina. There was something in the girl's voice and manner that seemed to excite ciiriosity and'command attention. All eyes were now riveted upon her. -' '■ " "'. ' '■■ '"' ""' :

' Zip returned to the carriage and escorted the occupants upstairs. The' fourth of the party was a tail, distinguished looking gentleman who had been awaiting the. arrival of the "lawyer in the-hotel -pn flour earlier in the evening'. >■■ '■ Just before they entered the - ' room Tripp whispered in his ear-: "Remember your, promise, and be on your guard. Whatever and whomsoever you see.to-night ? no matter now ■•'ilie»l)Beted or. startling, you are to saw nothing and show no surprise until I, shall signify that the time has come when I release you from;.'your promise." .... The tall gentleman, bowed gravely. ' "I remember," he replied, "and I am accustomed to control myself. Have no fear." " ; ,

At* this moment the door from' the hall intc Madam' Campari's room was softly ope: ■od, some one entered, and the face of Doctor Guberlet appeared, looking into the sitting room from the other door. Gina moistened a corner of her handkerchief by dipping it into the glass of Water. She then aplied theh pandkerchief to Paolina's face. Spiretti roSO from his chair, and placed himself at har side, washing hjjn with interest'.

"See!" she cried, turning to Spiretti, and holding up the handkerchief, now soiled and diseokuMth, have painted her face to make it look like the' face of a corpse.. She is not; "dead. Bestore her." ,

"Still, be on yjo'ur guard; for your power 1 of self-control will be severely tested."

Everyone arose and crowded rounds the bed in a state of indescribable ex-' citement. It was true. The face that had heen marked by all theearthly and repulsive characteristics of death' now looked like that of a perso.n in a sweet and healthful slumber.

It seemed as if the lawyer spoke truly, for no sooner did his companion's eyes fall upon Spiretti, who was sitting beside the bed in an attitude of deep dejection, than he gave a start, and uttered a half-suppressed exclamation. But when he turned uis gaze from the aged doctor to the form that'"was stretched upon the bed, his emotion, seemed • to, become uncontrollable.

Spiretti laid his hand upon the forehead, then upon the breast in the region of the heart.

"Heavens! what do-I behold!" he exclaimed, and made three quick steps towards the bed.

"Signor, your promise!". said Tripp in a low,voice, while everyone except Spiretti and Hector looked round at the person who uttere'd the'.' exclamation.* '.'...

"Where is the battery?"\he asked, in tones tremulous with eagerness. In a second the box was placed before him by Zip. He arranged the battery rapidly, and, drawing 1 Paolina's left hand from beenath,the bedclothes, placed the handle of one of the poles in her fingers, which he clasped around it. Moistening a small sponge he attached it to the other pole, and applied it to her i throat, head and chest. When Guherlet saw this last proceed-, irig, he turned and disappeared as noiselessly as he had come.•■;', :

.Then the strange gentleman passed his hands-slowly over his eyes, and, murmuring something below his breath retired to the other end of trie apartment.

Suddenly there was a slight movement, a sigh; the supposed corpse sat up in bed and opened her eyes. ■■••.' Hannah Hagburn uttered a low cry, and, rushing forward,"threw her arms around her with a hysterical sob.

Hannah Hagburn and Gina approached the bed together. Hannah said nothing, and at first made no demonstration. , She stood weeping so quietly that, but for the movements if her frame when it was shaken by halfsuppressed sobs, no one would have known that she was weeping. Gina remained pale and motionless as a statue. She shed not a word, nor did she shed a tear, until Hannah, turning suddenly towards the place where Hector sat, exclaimed: • ''"They have poisoned her; Whero are the murderers? Surely you have not let them escape?" Then Gina walked up,to Spiretti, and, plucking him by the sleeve, said, in a tone that sent a thrill right through everyone in the room; and caused the stranger to spring to his feet as if he had heard a voice from the i grave:

The scene that ensued cannot be de-i scribed. , "What is this? Where am I? What has happened?" said Paolina, gazing j round upon the circle of faces that sur- i rounded her, like one bewildered. "Hector!" She.held out her hand toward him. He seized it and pressed it to his lips. "I heard all; I knew all that was going on around me," she said, in a faltering voice. ' "But I could not move, I could not speak. I feared that,l was going to be buried alive. Then I heard your voice, arid hope revived in my heart, Who are all these people ?" I (To Be Continued.)