River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-11-25

10y
evening"" said the Basilisk. with u
laugh. which was among her most I'M
pleasant efforts.
Mary flushed, and then shrank away
towards me.
81 am not at all glad 10 hear it" she
said; ''but it is nothing to me-"
my dear Mary. you mustn't let Herr
Plowitz hear that sort of thing. Ii
would vex him deeply"
Mary Fortescue showed that in spite
of her calm and generally subdued
manner there were possibilities of re-
sistance, and even of assertion in her.
She looked very angry, and very dig
nified.
al beg you will not speak of him to
me in that way" she said, and went
into the house.
Come" said Miss Beaufoy. az win
play to you in the drawing-room.
Whenever she had vexed her cousin.
she became gracious and pleasant to
me. Having a close game to play
smothered my feelings and went into
the house.
WHO is Herr PlowitzP" asked
carelessly.
A spiteful CLEAN shone in the
Basilisk's eyes.
..He is friend of my fathers, and a
great admirer of Mary s."
Then she went on playing in her
favorite manner, talking, charmingly
enough, through the music.
Suddenly the door WAS hurriedly
opened. and Mr.. Beaufoy. looking agi-
tated and Hurried, stood on the
threshold with = newspaper in his
hand.
Il want to speak to you. Giulia." he
said.
Very well. papa" she said playing
slowing, and making no sign of
moving.
Here is something that will interest
you" he said in tone of affected COM
posture.
/ watched his face. 1t was fan Of
warning and anxiety. Their eyes
met. He looked at me. She nodded
reaSsuringly.
"Here is the account of the mar
riage of your cousin Henrietta" he
said. ''Read that"
He handed her an Evening Standard,
folded small, and pointed to a para
graph with q large heading. As she
read, he watched her with very
anxious eyes, which wandered un-
easily to me.
Very interesting" she replied
calmly, putting the paper down on the
piano. '.And l have something to show
you. Here is a telegram from
Plowitz. =
From Plowitz himselfI' He seized
the telegram with feverish haste.
The contrast between voice and
manner was suddenly lost.
The Basilisk lifted warning finger,
and he glanced at me and checked
himself.
From Dover, you see." she said
calmly.
A look of intense relief passed over
his face.
That's all right" he said. He
will be here by dinner-time.
And so he left the room.
Miss Beaufoy made slight and gra-
cious apology to me for leaving me
so suddenly, and followed her father.
The paper lay on the piano. There
was the paragraph staring me in the
face. | drew the paper towards me.
and, playing softly, leaned forward, and
read:
Extensive seizure of counterfeit
coin in Germany"
1t appeared from the report that
number of very ingeniouslym de
counterfeit coins. with a large percent
age of gold in their composition, bad
been put in circulation. aud that the
day before, acting on a clue. the police
had searched the lodgings OF Polish
student, and discovered q large num-
Der of counterfeit twenty-mark pieces.
Some papers still smouldering spoke
of hurriedly-burnt correspondence. and
t hasty flight of the occupant of the
room was testified by the fact that no
luggage had apparently been taken,
though the most scrutinizing search OF
the police failed to bring to light any
papers or clues to the mans connec-
lions.
Shortly before dinner, Just as | was
going to dress, L was surprised to hear
the sound of wheels outside. A can
drew UP at the door. As | crossed the
hall to go up to my room, there stood
n the full light of the hall lamp a man
closely mufIled. but showing, distinctly
enough, long grey hair and grey
beard. He was inst being greeted by
Mr. Beaufoy. On seeing me he sud
denly drew his cloak over his face; but
on Mr.. Beaufoy Whispering something
to him be dropped his ssrm, and looked
at me with smile. No one was in the
hall except these two.
Dinner was a little late, and we wait
ed in the drawing-room for the appear
ance of the visitor.
At last he entered. Mr.. Beaufoy
preceded him. and gave sort of gen.
eral introduction.
Professor Plowitz."
The ladies greeted him as fornllar
acquaintance.
mir. CoplestoDe, a distinguished
musician, also, said Mr.. Beaufoy.
l bowed and looked at the man be-
fore me. He was young. with hort
black hair and small black moustache.
Who was the man with the grey hair
and the long beard? This verify was
puzzling question.
TO BE CONTINUED.