The herald., 1896-10-28

particular chums, who knew how hard he
was hit, had done their best with him and
failed. They could not convince him that
there were as good fish left in the North
sea as any that had reached Grirnshy mar
ket. Neither could they persuade him that
Mamie Wrottesley was heartless mink
and worth no true mans alteration.
Meanwhile Mr.. Porter had not been &C.
cessible.
Ralph had called twice and had not seen
him. He had written and received no an
swer.
The truth was that his client irritated
the shrewd detective, who preferred not to
see Ralph until he had hit what he was
aiming at or was positive he never could
hit it. Mr.. Porter was, in fact, "not at
home" to Mr.. Ralph Ruyton.
This. il Ralph could have known it,
would have been yet one more of those
| pleasant arrows which the fates just then
took delight in shooting ut him.
| AS it was, he thought comparatively lit
tie about the detective and all about
| Maimio.
He had seen her and the Coolgarlie man
driving together, with Mrs. Wrottesley, in
the row, and he had seen them together in
Maimie's face, she was prodigiously happy.
And he did so judge.
| Mrs Wrottesley was wiser. She knew
better. Now that the marriage was only
three days distant this astute lady felt sure
nothing could keep her from being mother
in-law to a millionaire. But instinct told
her SO much that was in her daughter s
mind sthat she longed for the quick and
safe transit of these last three days.
! Needless anxiety you would have
! thought IL you could have seen the mar
riage ceremony, which was duly celebrated
! with all the pomp exacted of the rich by
! Dame Fashion. There was not hitch
! anywhere. True Mamie was very pale,
and once held her hand to her heart. But
other brides did the same thing and were
| not whit less happy for it as wives.
! Then came the breakfast, and soon aft
| erward Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were car
ricd north.
| Mamie hankered after the lakes for a
| honeymoon, said her mamma, and so Mr.
! Ferguson had engaged rooms at Winder-
/ mere hotel.
Matters had got thus far, indeed, ere Mr.
! Porter obtruded himself upon the unhap-
/ py Ralph. The latter was at the office.
after an Intellectual luncheon, when the
detective appeared.
/ "Well, Mr.. Por''- Ralph was begin.
! ming with great irony when the other
stopped him
"Theres no time for talk, SIR" he ex.
| claimed, "come with me at once"
! "But do you know
/ ~ know everything That confounded
ship only camo in at II o'clock this morn
| ing, and 1 couldn't trust my documents
i t1 60 ,I,,
q special for us all. -
The detective spoke with unction He
enjoyed his clients surprise immeasurably.
"I'll explain it as we go along in the
! hansom," he added. "The others are al
ready at Euston.''
1t was Ralphs turn to feel faint. How
ever, Mr.. Porters subsequent words were
/ better for him than sal volatile.
"There was another woman in the case, -
ran Porters tale. 81 learned that from a
! Melbourne man who knew the parties. He
! vowed Ferguson was married to her eight
years ago That was what he had to es-
tablish, and it's taken some doing, l can
tell you, in the time However, they're a
wide awake lot in Melbourne and, thanks
/ quite us much to that Melbourne man,
who has a mighty fine grudGe against Fer
guson rs to your hundreds MIR. Ruyton,
overything's clear. The wife herself and
her eldest boy are at Euston. She has the
certificate, and the lads face tells it's own
tale. Oh, it's just beautiful bit of piecing
throughout, and all we've to do Is to fix up
the rogue about supper time"
Ralph's feelings may be imagined.
Happily, there was no difficulty about
tho train. 1t could be SO managed that this
special arrived even before the other, car
rying Maimio and the man who was not
( her husband.
| Of the journey in both cases nothing
need be said except this-Maimie came
near wishing there could be a collision,
with her death as one Of the consequences.
MIR. Ferguson 3 veneer of refinement was
cast ruthlessly aside between London and
Windermere. She was by no means the
conventionally happy wife on her wedding
/ day when she was invited to leave the train
for tho luxurious carriage that was await
ing them.
But at tho hotel, much to the managers
chagrin, a dramatic scene had been ar
ranged for them.
smiles as he handed Mamie across the ho-
tel threshold.
"At lastp' he exclaimed.
The next moment he started and swors
A woman and a boy had approached him
in the vestibule.
"Donald!' said the former, and the boy
exclaimed, "Fatherp'
Thewoman's eyes were tear stained and
reproachful. They did not look at Mamie,
however.
"This is a plot. Who is in itp' then
cried the millionaire. He glanced at
Mamie, whose agitation was unmistak-
able. "You don't believe this nonsense,
my DEAR"
But Mamie only looked at the boy. That
suf1iced.
"I'm in 1t, Mr.. Donald Ferguson, at
your SERVICE" then said Mir. Porter, hand
ing tho millionaire his card Further
more, I have to place you under arrest"
Ralph also stepped forward, trembling,
with eyes for Mamie and no one else.
"Maimie," he murmured, "shall 1 take
you home?''
But for answer the bride who was no
bride could only stammer, "Oh, Ralph, "
and faint into his arms.
When she recovered her senses, Mr.. Fer
guson was out of Westmorland and she
was being excellently cared for by SYM
pathetic domestic.
The next morning Mrs. Wrottesley ap-
peared on the scene in a prodigious rage.
Nor was her rage much abated by the res
, ionatjOn - even bright resignation - of