The Press., 1889-07-04

yard why should he not now play of Hill yard against Cracroft?
 With this admirable idea, he dispatched a conciliatory note to Daisy, with one or two hints in it, which had the effect of bringing that young lady back to the pa- rental roof within few hours. Simultan- eously with this, the old gentleman had written diplomatic note to Hillyard, in answer to which that gentleman also quic1- ly presented himself in person. The lovers were summoned together into the fathers presence to hear his proposals.
 Mir. Lightfoot's scheme was this: Daisy
 was to cooperate Loyalty in carrying on the breach of promise action, and to give her evidence at the trial if necessary. On his side, MT. Lightfoot would, after the trial, give his consent to a marriage be-
 tween his daughter and Frank Hillyard
 and would hand over to Daisy sum equal
 to whatever damages might be awarded
 her in the action, provided no further de-
 mands were made upon him in connection
 with the marriage.
 1 sFor instance" he said, eff you get abO0
 will make it g1, ,OOO. If you get thous-
 and will make it up to two. I hope you
 may" The good gentleman did not add
 that his solicitors were of the opinion that
 the plaintiff would be lucky if she got
 elOO, and was not likely to get more than
 half that sum.
 Nor did he express what was really in his
 mind namely, that his daughter would
 thus have every inducement to make the
 case look as bad as possible for the defend
 ant.
 ''But is this quite fair to Cracroft, sir P
 hazarded Hillyard.
 "Why not Shouldn't we make him pay as much as we can ?" returned Mir. Light
 foot. "At any rate, if you don't approve of 1t you need not take the money" "I should like little time to think it over, replied Hillyard.
 ''I will give you till this time tomorrow, '' said the old gentleman, rather shortly "but understand that if you decline this you will get nothing more out of me-" CHAPTER v.-THE OLD MAN EUcHRED. Whether or not this hint influenced him it is impossible to tell, but at the expira. tion twenty -four hours MT. Hillyard had . overcome his scruples, and intimated that he and Daisy were content to fall in with
 MT. Lightfoot's proposal. The old gentle man was visibly elated at this announce ment, for he felt that he now stood to vii in any, event.
 He remained under this impression fol : :. two or three days, when his views were @ somewhat modified by the receipt of tn, a following letter:
 j. L1aHTFooT vs. CRAcRoFT.
 r Dear Sir We enclose copy letter re
 ceived this day from the defendants solic !. . itor offering the sum of e2,5 800 in settle 7; '; ment of plaintiffs claim for damages ant costs herein. As this handsome offer ia y exceeds the best anticipations we coul' = - form of the verdict we presume that yo1 q will have no hesitation in accepting it ;, Awaiting your instructions, we remain you obedient servants,
 70 WHILE, HAWKE & J1NKs.
 "What is the matter, papa ?" inquire' " Miss Lightfoot, astonished at the exclams v tions which burst from her father as he fin !, ished reading the letter.
 10 MT. Lightfoot's only answer was to tos m the document toward his daughter. h "But don't understand it, said Daisy :, when she had read the letter. "What doe n it mean ?"
 "It means, suppose" said her father T. 'ethat shall be asked to hand over G2, 50 ,e to you and young Hillyard. But I'll nc do 1t l swear won't. It's a fraud-a plc ,e between Hillyard and Cracroft. will nc .. be bound by any promise have made UT st der such circumstances.
 He repeated this declaration few houl later at somewhat warm interview wit n. his would be son-in-law. "Excuse me, sir," replied Hillyard, "s ,e the promise was entirely voluntary on you s, part-as, in fact, the suggestion emanate ve from you, I feel that am entitled to hol :: you strictly to the arrangement" ar ooh you do, do you ?" replied tf le father. ''And how do you propose to e V feet it ?"
 S' ;r' "In the event of your receding from 70, t's bargain shall feel compelled to infor n- MT. Cracroft of the whole circumstances
 your understanding with your daught if and me in regard to the breach of promi he case. need hardly remind you that u er law of conspiracy is very wide, and tn As there is such an offense known to Englil ld law as suborning perjury" ,s It is sufficient to add that Mir. Lightfo
 did not recede from his bargain, but han "a ed to his daughter on her wedding day h. check for G5, ,00O, which, of course, inclu g- ed the e2,5oo paid by cracroft. .e' "And you arranged it all with Georg at Yes |; I understand that, said Daisy to h
 husband not long after. "But where d ,e- the money come from ?" ,is '.I raised the G2, 500 with Cracroft's g Ie sistance, and then passed the amount on pt him, and he, in due course, transferred all to your father, who as you know, hand' Ie. it over to you with his own G2, 300. No' to of course, we must at once return o' n. s2, 800 decoy to the source from whence re came. The G2 300, however, which yo' he father kindly added to, will give us COT
 fortable start in life."
 on, "Ah! I see it all now," remarked Dais he I"and. at the same time, I understand wi on moor mana cave me such queer look wht ii- he told me that had got a very clev nc husband. "-Lond0n Zre1th. V Brussels soap never disappoints anybod Hi, It is always universally good.