CHAPTER LIX.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 16 September 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER LIX.

Obadiah drove away from the scene of his discomfiture in a very evil and chagrined frame of mind. That a man of his consequence and wealth should bo compelled to fly from so despicable a being as Jack, who had neither property' or money — not even a decent suit of clothes ! Obadiah ground his teeth when he thought of the many unavailing attempts ho had made to get rid of this fellow. Yet with all this he was ever turning up, and throwing his best laid plans into confusion. While the cab was being driven' back to Grit, Obadiah resolved scheme after scheme in his mind, but cast them away one after the other as of no utility. He could think of nothing at present that wotild humble this man. For the first time he confessed that his wealth and position were valueless ; they could not give him revenge. It was a beautiful day. The air was clear and cold, fresh and bracing, the sky as blue as lapis lazuli, yet to Obadiah nature gave no pleasure. lie fe't like a baffled demon. But what puzzled him most of all was a strange unaccountable feeling of sadness and despondency that came over him — a presenti- ' ment of evil to come, wjfcch he could not explain — a feeling that alnvas vanity of vanities. Perhaps this frame of mind was brought about by the severe wound his vanity had received. He might have been greatly cheered had his carriage been waiting so that he could drive down the main street in all the glory of a chariot and four, humbling the pride of the inhabitants of Grit, and showing to them his exceeding glory. But even this was wanting. He drove through in a common" cab. Still it was some balm to his vanity to find that every pfab turned round and stared at the successful reefer. But had he heard the unkind and scathing remarks that were made, his pride' would have received another wound. -Sniggle Snickers hardly spoke a word during the journey. His gaze was steadfastly fixed upon vacancy, and now and then with a strafltge expression of face he would laugh to hinwelf . Had Obadiah not been so occupied with his own thoughts heNvould have noticed this. '^But who was Sniggle Snickers that Obadiah Sweetcomfort should trouble his mighty soul about him ! There waa the accustqmed bustle at the Hesperus Extended. The stanvpers were rattling and crushing, .and the steam engines puffings and snorting. Obadiah and Sniggle Snickers went into the office, and the former threw off his 'coat preparatory to donning garments -suited for the mine. Sniggle began opening the letters. "I wish," said he,, when Obadiah was equipped for the underground fajip, " that you would do without me fora little while, I find there is a lot of work to be done. , The underground,boss will show you round and 'I'll be down in a quarter of an Hour.",, . ."Ph| as for thai,'' feaid Obadiah ; "there's no need for you to go down at all, except to show nic the newest indications; I think I know as muoh about the mine as you do. But here is, my pocket-book ; it contains the Hesperus Extended scrip, fcock it in Ijh'e safe, for fear ii may bg stolen." „.r t , ' < ' " There is no-dahger of that," said Sniggle quietly, but with a strange glitter in his eyesi « However, I>l} puUt in." „ ' \ t \ , .^ . , And he threw the pocket-booking the safe *and locked^.,, Oba^djah^aLkedjahl, and, in a , few,,' .mjnvLiei&.tixe, > signal^ Jiammfflr. . "toldswhe*

bulky. SJiijjglo drew -back tho elastic, and laid hold of the great roll of bcrip tho book contained. One by one he turned them over, carefully glancing at their • numbers'and, the names of the original holders. Not one share was in Obadiah's name. A wild exultation appeared in the man's face. He> walked backwards and forwards, stopping occasionally as if to think. At times it seemed that he wavered in whatever purpose he had formed, but the moment he looked at the scrip irresolution vanished. __„ After a while, his face became grim and determined; the blood vanished from his countenance; it became ashy pale, and the eyes bloodshot. He put the book back into the safe, locked it, and then giving one or two glances round the office, walked out and shut Ine door. A shuddering came over him when he 'stood without, and gazed upon the beautiful panorama of Nature. It was winter, and tho eaith was covered with tender grass, of a beautiful green — for verdure was only vouchsafed even to Grit at this season. The blue f-ky, the emerald earth, with here and there a deep brown or a rusty red as a contrast, the fresh breeze seemed to bring back bitter thoughts. But the revulsion was momentary. With a smothered curse, he walked to the shaft where a cage was waiting, and f- topping into it, noislessly descended into the depths of the earth, the verdure, the sky vanishing from his gaze as peace departed 'for over from his mind.