, 1891-09-12

myers IN MS walstcoau pocket. There
was nothing there but bank notes. The
count next tried the pocket of his trou-
sers, but m~illionaires suffer from incon-
veniences, as other folks do, though of a
different kind. he pulled out, not sill
ven, but only a handful of gold.n
81 am SORRY" he said to the man; 81
have nothing but a ten dollar piece"
That's better than nothing, captainr"
the man returned, with a ludicrous affec-
tation of magnanimity. The count smiled
in recognition of the forlorn bit of humor
and threw the coin into the hat. The
man took it out between his forefnger
and thumb, ~delicately, as a prestidigita-
teur might, and by a quick movement
caused it to disappear. my thanks, D
tain," he said. Another time l will do
as much for you"
Just then there was a roar and a rush,
and a Changing of bells and snorting of
steam sweeping across the head of the
road, a couple of rods off. 1t was a fire
engine, g~alloping headlong to its destina-
ton toward the eastern water front. The
counts horses were spirited creatures,
and not as yet thoroughly broken in to
New York customs. They made a spring,
reared, and sprang again to get away.
The coachman braced himself, but felt
that he could not control them. The
count, who had placed one foot upon the
step, withdrew it just in time to escape
being knocked down by the forward
lurch of the carriage.
But the shabby man was en- terprising
in more ways than in collecting eleemo-
synary eagles. He jumped nimbly to
b heads of the horses and caught at
the bits. He might have been successful
In stopping them but that his hat, being
too large, was in some way jerked off his
head, and fell upon the nose of the off
horse, who tossed it up in the air, and
having got to the end of his endurance
made a desperate plunge: The pole of
the carriage struck the man on the left
shoulder, swinging him round toward
the right. He still chung to the reins
with his right hand, but he was being
dragged before the neal horse, and after
q moment or two his hold slipped, and
he fell on his back with his head toward
the curb. The wheels passed over his
legs below the knee, and his left leg was
broken. Meantime a policeman had
come up, and contrived to stop the
horses, and Count de Lisle stopped over
the fallen man.
care you badly hurt?' he asked him.
"One leg gone, captain. Shouldn't
mind If 1 had carriage of my own; but,
being as it is, it's announcement"
"Fn call an ambulance, sir" said the
policeman to Lisle. ''These fellers is al
ways gettin' in the way. Serves him
rightr
"Got my ten dollars all the same,
Bobby dear" murmured the crippled
man.
my carriage is not an ambulance"
said the count to the man; "but if you
think you can stand it I'll drive you to
my W house. You can be looked after
as well as if you were at the hospital"
"Never mind about the ambulance,
Bobby" said the man; ''this gentleman
and l will manage for ourselves. Don't
get in the way, my good fellow! Now,
captaip,I am at your servicei"
He was lifted into the carriage, and
his leg supported on a bundle of car
rage rugs. The count took his seat be-
side him, and they set out. The paw
ments were New York pavements, and
did their best to add TO the torture of
the sufferer; but the carriage had won
derful springs, so elastic that their prog
ress seemed more like sailing than driv-
ing.
'And where might your residence be,
If 1 may be SO bold as to inquire, cap
tain?' said the man, in an interval be-
tween two grunts of pain.
The count mentioned its situation.
'tBless mei' exclaimed the other.
"Not reallyl Well, WE'LL So the old
house is to have an occupant at lastl
Well, 1 declared"
"You appear to have been familiar
with it," said the count, amused.
sin a measure, yes. I knew Harry
Trent well-very well. He built that
house to live mas he Thought; but in
stead of living in it he was murdered in
it. Mysterious, captain, the ways of
Providencei Poor old Harry Friend of
yours, sir?"
81 have met him. Who are you?"
"Alonzo Garcia is my NAME, captain.
Sounds Italian, doesn't itr Well, / am
Of foreign extraction. Since my bust
ness connection with Trent was severed
by his decease 1 have met with some re-
verses, financial and other"
"What caused them?'
"Now there is a curious pointr' vent
ured the other; Every curious to n
who is interested in the vicissitudes
of life. The person directly infuen-
tial in causing my disaster was the
woman formerly known as Sally Match
in, but now as the widow of this
same Harry Trent. That fascinating
but fatal woman, captain, put me in jail
on a baseless charge, and l only got out
a week ago. / was the best friend she
ever had, and she used me for all she
thought 1 was worth. But l am a free
man again now, and only one leg gone.
/ think the other may yet do me to get
up with Mrs. Sally and recall myself to
her recollection. ALL here we are"
"Alonzo Garciat" said the count to
himself, as he followed the servants
who were carrying the. cripple into the
house. "Have / ever heard of him be-
fore? 1 shouldn't wonder if ! might
make some use of him."
ITO ha continuedI