PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10195, 23 March 1911, Page 2

PAOLINA OR THE MILLIONAIRE'S PLOT.

OUR SERIAL.

5y MARIPOSA WEIR. Author of "Eva'Jyno's Temptation," "A Chase Round the World," etc,

CHAPTER LlL—Continued

suicide by blowing his brains out with a pistol.

"I fear, Hannah," said PaoTina, "our major domo is somewhat givento boasting. But what of the sleeping apartments?" "If the gentlemen will be content to sleep two in a room, the accommodation will be sufficient for all who are present." "Then, dear friends," said Paolina, "I heartily invite you to remain and accept such hospitality as it is in my poiier to offer. And now, if you will be good enough to retire to the rooms below, I will make some changes in my toilet, and in half an hour meet you at supper."

Three weeks after the firm of North and Barne commenced business the necessity of a third partner to attend to produce buying became apparent. The consequence was that the firm was put to tire expense of a new sign, that read"North, Barno and Hagburn." And so, gentlo reader, this long and loitering story must come to an end without a wedding, for although MiFrancois gave out that he was engaged, and was looking out for an eligible location in which, to start his firstclass restaurant, .Hannah, i>n being questioned on the subject by stoutly declared that she. /"had not named the day." THE END.

CHAPTER LIII.

CONCLUSION,

"Hector, 1 always did like you, said Mrs Cranch, "and now that you have restored my dear child to me, I feel as if I could absolutely love you. I am afraid, too, that during the last few weeks Paolina has grown too fond of you to make it of any use to oppose you. If you will agree to go into business for a year and if'you show any business capacity, I will withdraw my opposition." Hector accepted the terms. The next day he called upon Mi' Barne. "Dan," said he, "how would you like to go into business P"

"What business?" "Commission and produce. I know a little about it—deuced little." "It takes capital."

"Well, I'll furnish what's necessary. It isn't; much, 'and Mrs Cranch has forced it on to me as a loan at reasonable interest. But what I want is a partner, a shrewd, wide-awake, energetic'many. a-man tha;t I know-loan rqly upon. If I can get such a man I'll put in my money against his time and talent. You're just the man I want." "I'll go in, Mr North, on one condition." "Whatisit?"

"You see, the marchese —or whatever his nobby title is—excuse me, Mr North, I mean no disrespect to him, for lie's a splendid old gentleman, arid not in the least stuck-up, as I s'posed all them aristokrasy was —well, he's agoing to tak« Gina—Miss Marlyanny, I mean—he's a-goin' t6 take her travellin' for a year. When that year's up she's to come back here—if not to stay, at any rate for a visit. I shan't see her for a', year." "Well," said Hector, "go on, what is the condition?" "Here it is then. I want to make the most of that year to improve myself, and I want you to-help me. That is the condition." . ' •

"Agreed, with all my lrearc ,'' ans-wered-Hector.- ;

"You see, I know well enough that I'm naturally as smart as.the averse, but I haint had no hadvanlygfes. I've no doubt that I'll get' ftlv.nff veil en - ough in business but that niu't 'vJiafc I want. What I want is to'n«t a little polish, a little varnish and so that I can go to balls and parties, and talk and behave' '.myself eoireck and gentlemanlike. 1 to learn i etiket artd' ir.anners, all that. ' I want to ; learii grainr.ii.' j anJ I'in blowed if I ain't a'-goirr to—.— ' "Well, then, .Dan,ito .begui :he polishing process right oft, you -simst stop using slang." . "I know it,: and I'm ji.y'nV to login varnishin' te-morrow.. to my old habits. But to-'mak3-.lt''em-phatic, sir, I'll repeat. I'm blowed if I ,ain't a-goin' to danci'j' school and to learn the piann6r! And wlit'i Gina —whioli is to Miss Marlvannv — comes back after the yo-ir's up—but, never mind, you agreo?" "To the varnishing and yencei'ii'g | business?- Yes" "Then, pardrier, heri s my hand." Miles Grandin sailed vtvfcek after the events narrated in the last chapter, foi' Europe, leaving his affairs to be wound up by an age.n*. Doctor Guberlei aisappear'-d from the city about the same time as Gran- . din.. He was last heard of in Paris, where he was regarded by the savants

and men of science as alman devoted' to investigations as chimerical as the search for "the elixir of . life,' or the philosopher's stone. Sidney Huntingdon, having discovered that the Italian fortune was not inherited by Paolina, and that his papers were worthless, went to a German \ watering place, where, after a bad run of luck at rouge et noir, he committed