Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-06

: that before tho end Of that time he could
"skin tho colonies, T" to use his own phrase
and escape to some south sea Island with
his plumber till the inevitable Storm blew
over.
He put up at the first hotel in Brisbane
and had assigned him the rooms occupied
by Victoria's son, the Duke of Edinburgh,
when no visited tho city.
The mayor and leading citizens called
on him. Invitations to dinners, receptions,
excursions and picnics poured in on him
| by the basketful.
1t was remarked afterward that he "a.
fused the Invitations Of photographers in
this and other places to have his picture
| taken. His cards and note paper were
plain, which was regarded as an evidence
Of modesty and good taste even by those
who flOurished crests and armorial bear
ings.
There arc some noted opal mines in
Queensland, and Brisbane has quite Yepu-
tation for its jewelry made from this ex-
1uisite stone set in native gold.
This jewelry delighted his lordship He
bought thousands of dollars worth "fCr
friends at home" There was now no diff
dculty about money. The jewelefs would
have trusted him, but there was no need
for this when the banks were SO ready to
honor his drafts.
There was charity fair in full blast at
the time, presided over by the fairest wom-
On in tropical Australia. His lortlship
patronized the place, broke the hearts Of
the women, made friends of the men and
| added $500 to the receipts. But when he
left the city after a stay of ten days he car
| ried away with him SEE, 200 in gold and
jewels which he had not when he arrived.
As at Auckland, he explained tho short
ness Of his visit by the assurance that ne
would soon return, and he limited that he
| SO liked Queensland that he might make 1t
his permanent home after awhile.
From Brisbane he went by rail to Mel
bourne, some l, 100 miles to tho south, pass
| ing en- route through Sydney, the capital of
Now South Wales and by all odds the most
beautiful city south of the equator.
On the train he met a colonial Hebe
Miss Ward, in company with her widowed
| mother. They had seen Lord Cavendish Mt
Brisbane; but. though rich, the daughter
did not dare to dream Of meeting socially
the distinguished gentleman. But now
| that they were face to face with him and
objects Of his courtly attention the stout
mother was delighted, and the daughter
| was lifted into the highest heaven of social
joy.
These two women were going to Bal
larat, about 100 miles west of Melbourne,
but when they learned of his lordship's des-
! tination they decided to stop of at the
capital city Of Victoria, and with him they
| put up at Menzie's hotel.
Fortunately for his lordship, but unfor-
| tunately for his victims, Lord Hopetoun,
the governor, was not in Melbourne at the
':me. Had he been, the exposure would
have come through Captain Douglas, q
member Of his staff and formerly class
mate of the murdered Lord Cavondish and
| 4 witness of his marriage.
| Here this splendid impostor repeated the
| success of other places. The best clubs sent
him cards, and the doors of the finest man.
sions swung wide open to receive him.
| Although it was a time Of panic and
| great commercial depression in tho colo:
| MES, his lordship had no trouble in getting
money. Here he bought more jewelry and
added about $50, 900 to his winnings.
He presented Miss Ward with solitaire
diamond. The papers recorded the fact,
and ruinor engaged him to the heiress,
whose fortune was over 81, 600, 0OO.
After that he had no trouble in getting
e5, 900, about S25, 600, from Mrs. Ward;
| who was In rapturcs at the thought of hav.
| ing n lord and nephew of the Duke OF
Devonshire for a SON. in-law.
He went 10 Ballarat with his dupes and
gave out that he would visit Sydney before
returning, and that he should spend some
| months on his return.
He not only kept track of the days, now
growing less, when the cable would expose
the fraud, but with great foresight he pre-
pared for his escape should detection come
unexpectedly.
Before leaving Melbourne he chartered q
fast sloop, fit for ocean service, picked out
his crew, laid in provisions for prolonged
| voyage in the Pacific and sent her north
to Sydney, 600 miles away.
81 take sudden notions" he said te
Captain Mcdonald, land may decide tt
sail at any hour or minute"
When, ten days afterward, his lordshir
and valet reached Sydney, they found thu
sloop at anchor and ready in the beautiful
harbOr of Port Jackson.
Mrs. Ward felt that her daughter had
hooked his lordship and that it was hel
own duty to hold him. With this in mind