The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-09-10

shaped glass It was only when this hap
pened and when felt all the comfort of be-
ing at last able to survey my abode at ease
for the artificial light was far brighter than
the natural one had been-that realized the
striking apprehension with which had re-
garded the prospect of night spent in alb
solute darkness in such a place.
"If only had book now," said to my
self, "and-why yes, l should really enjoy
cup of tea. Surely the millionaire would
not begru ige me that IL he knew how much
/ should relish itl'
Hardly had the words passed my lips than
i heard the click of key, and then saw
that the Little trap in the door had been
opened and that Flinter was regarding me
with sardonic smile upon his ugly face.
All authorities on the subject are agreed as
to the surprising effect which solitary con-
fnement has in tanning a mans spirits.
found now that the autheritie, were right
Instead of making wild dash at the spot
where the ill-omened copntenance of my
captor was visible, i sat still and merely in
dulged myself with a silent stare of disdain
in return for his grin of derisiOn.
He shifted andibly, inhaling the fumes of
tobacco with which my little room was
filed.
Enjoying yourself pretty well, it seems
to mo. You do right. No good in kicking
when you can only hurt yourself by it. Be
civil and quiet and you won't be kept so
long perhaps as you suppose where you are
now. l came to see il you would like some
dinner"
.'Dinner!n I said. II thought the meat
YOU left for me was intended for my dinner;
and 1 really found it very good" Seeing
that had given up for the present the
thought of trying violence, I felt it better to
keep up in his presence the air of philcsophic
GOODNESS which i had adopted for ny own
comfort.
NO; lunch," he replied, sententiously
you'll have good victuals here If you only
behave yourself. If you give me your prom
Use to keep quiet, I'll bring you your dinner
as soon as it is ready"
I hesitated for a moment, troubled by tho
thought Of keeping any terms with such
ruffian, but then i somewhat sullenly gave
him the promise he asked. He Immediately
disappeared.
In about half an hour he returned, and,
throwing open the door, entered with tray,
which he balanced as the ship rolled as
cleverly as steward on board a Cunard
liner could have done. In n surprisingly
short space of time he had cleared away the
remains of my morning meal, and had laid
upon the table a dinner such as few captives,
venture to say, are INDUCED with.
"Ship's rolling too much for me to bring
you any soup; but there's fish and outlets and
partridge, cheese and celery, and pint of
champagne. It's as good dinner, bet, as
you would have got in Scarborough"
VERY good, indeed, l am sure. 1t is of
no use, l suppose, asking you, Mr.. Flinter,
why am here" he shook his head; "but at
least you might tell me where 1 am going"
"No use asking questions" he responded,
shortly. Because why: l never answer
'em. So that's plain. But if you keep quiet,
as I've told you already, you shall be as well
served with food and drink as if you wero
the old man himself Now is there anything
more you wantE'
81 should like book to read"
"a book! Oh, yes; if that is ALL you shall
soon have book. Bless me, I'll bring you
will keep you quiet"
He left me to partake of my dinner in sol-
tude. l did justice to it, and despite my un-
pleasant situation and my dislike, not to say
dread, of the ruffian who was responsible for
my imprisonment, l felt almost cheerful
when he presently returned carrying nearly
dozen volumes in his arms, in addition to
some blankets for my use during the night.
"Theres books for you'll" he said, tumbling
them in a pile on the chest of drawers.
snake what you can of them; they're nothing
in my linz"
And right eagerly did / avail myself of Lis
invitation to do so when / was once more
left alone. 1t was true that l was disap-
pointed with Mr.. Flinter's choice in literary
matters. One of his volumes was a list of
the Royal Yacht Squadron, two more were
works relating to the art of navigation,
fourth was nothing more than q series OF
tables of logarithms, a fifth was an old vol
ume Of that venerable work, "RusselPs Els
tory of Modern Europe;" then there was a
well-thumbed copy of "Buchan's Domestic
Medicine" a dictionary, a copy of Thomas
Moore's poems and. last of all in the pile,
Guy and Terriers forensic Medicine"
1t was this book which, though it was at
the bottom of thu heap, attracted me first.
It did so partly because it was the only work
which had modern appearance in the col
lection, and partly because my own medical
studies had given me an interest in 1t. The
rest of the books were old and battered. /
could not imagine how they had been intro
duced into such a palace as the Golden
Hawk. The copy of Forensic Medicine"
was in good preservation, and was evidently
the latest edition of that standard work.
/ took it into my hands and turned to the
title page. 1t was the edition, l saw, Of
1875. The binding was quite new, and the
pages were clean. The book apparently had
hardly been opened. was holding it lightly
in my hand while l speculatel as to how
such volume CHANGED to have como here,
when found that it had opened, almost, as
it seemed 10 me, of its own accord, at a par
ticular page. knew in q moment what had
happened. When the volume was first
bought it had evidently been opened at this
page and the reader, whoever he might be,
wishing to keep it open there, had bent the
stiff now back in such way Us to make
something like a spring of it-a spring
which, when the volume was held in a GER
tain way, caused it always to open at one
particular place. Any of my readers who
cares to destroy the outward appearance of
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