The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02

| cnap that bought the ring. OF course
Brown, he gammoned his name was. A,
If didn't know! Well. don't think he'll
recognize the seller In his lordship!' Blu,
what mug he must have been to lei
Barnes lumber him like thati Won't there
be, a row when they find out they've made
| such a bfoomin' mull?" And the speaker
chuckled heartily at his own reflection in
| the mirror.
| By now JImmie's vision Of the $500 had
vanished. His only thought was to get
away unperceived and kick himself He
| also wanted to sneeze worse than ever.
| The pungent. penetrating, chemical odor
still Initiated his aese. and repression
was causing him to suffer acutely. He
had shut the watching eye. when a sharp
clicking made him reopen It. And what
he saw put new power of endurance into
his nerves.
His lordship held in his hands a diamond
bracelet, and plying a pair Of nippers was
with practiced skill extracting the stones.
flashing as he turned them in the electric
light. Close to him lay broad belt Of
stout flannel that he had Just taken on.
1t contained many small pockets that
bulged. And Jimmie needed no informa-
ton as to their contents. Very rapidly the
worker cut and shipped until the diamonds.
six in all. were freed from their setting.
Then, dropping them into one of the COM
partments Of the belt, he took needle
and thread and stitched the mouth up.
Then mutterfng, They may search as
much as they like now!" he made as
though to fasten it around lis waist again.
But his eye falling on the torn and cut
gold, lie laid the belt on the couch, gath
cred DIP all the pieces. wrapped them in
paper, and putting the parcel in the pock-
ct Of his pajama coat lit cigar, opened
the door. and stepped on deck.
Hardly waiting for him to disappear.
Jimmie leaped like a fash from his lair
and snatched the precious parcel. But at
that moment the long-repressed sneeze
burst forth with dreadful piercing sound
that echoed high above the wash Of wa
ter and thump Of the engines. He darted
at the door, threw it wide, and was act
tally over the sill when a pair OF strong
hands. gripping his throat. forced him
back into the cabin, and voice hoarse
with rage muttered In his ear:
"Oh, you clever beggar! Now, I'll kill
you quietly and chuck you overheard. tool"
The yellow face grew black, and the
narrow black sunken eyes came out OF
their sockets in an appalling fashion as the
man. tightening his clutch. and intent only
en- finishing his work. jammed the Chi
nose silently, GRUMPY, on the settee. Then
ali at once Jimmie remembered.
And ceasing to claw futilely at the rigid
under his loose Jumper. and. drawing his
knife, struck with all his remaining
strength deep between rib and hip. In
5tantly a change came over the flushed,
lark face and the fierce eyes staring into
his own; the iron grip relaxed. and jim
mie, tearing himself loose. drew a long.
choking breath IS the other, groaning.
and coughing up blood, sank to his knees
IN the floor.
For few minutes Jimmie could do
lothing but pant; then, recovering some
What, he snatched up the belt, already In
'art stained crimson, and, without another
,laEce at the figure bowed against the
ouch. he rushed on deck and along 1t and
p the steps Of the bridge, whence, elud-
ng the grip Of the officer Of the watch.
e darted into the captains room and
hook him as he lay in his cot and -four
she'd his treasure. crying aloud, "All II,
all. me catctee! He try chokee me. No
ain dol Me stickee alice same pig. You
avee me catchee dollar at Ii. sahr'
The wounded man lived for nearly two
avs. during most Of which time he al
ernately ieered at the unhappy Barnes
nd cursed Jimmie for spelling what he
yerred was one of his finest efforts.
And what made you take my title?"
sked Brown on one occasion. Wasn't it
noush to land me in all this trouble with
ut adding to the Obligation"
Well" replied the other. with grin,
1t was just matter of chance. saw you
nee long time ago in Auckland, when
OH were staying at Government House
lere. Then when sold you the ring up
Seattle, although you gammoned plain
rown, l recognized you at once. Well.
len, l heard you were nabbed; then. after
while, came tie news that you and good
thar n
by. as I meant to work this Yankee boat
+ all she was worth. thought I couldn't
better than do it as a lord-especially
hen the chances were that very few
,ople except myself knew what lad be-
me of the said lord. See? But you've
It rafting good action against the Gov
nment for damages; and as for Barnes.
IL probably get the sack. That was
essed up job at Bezil and Carat's. So
ng, / don't feel. somehow, as IL could
any more talk"
No case Of Brown or Wardour against
e Crown, however. came into any Colo
al court of law The matter was settled
etly by arbitration. And nobody for
rtain appeared to be aware of the ex-
{ amount awarded. STILL the hole made
the Treasury account with the Bank Of
rpentaria must have been very consid-
able.
Heaven knows, Jack" remarked his
-dship afterwards to his cousin. Captain
Arcy, that although I wanted money
dly enough. didn't. as some people
ably hint. lay myself out to take ad-
ntage of the mistake. I told the beg
rs the truth. and that I was merely q
Or devil of a titled Englishman trav-
lg around under his family name. But
en- l saw how eursedly cocksure they
re- the notion entered my mind to make
IN pay pretty dearly for the tune they
iced me to. l have done so. And pres
ly I'll give up wandering and go home
settle at Mount Wardour. I'm able
raise the mortgage now, and then have
ney to spare. Barnes comes with me.
ey made scapegoat Of him. but can
him something better to do over yon-
John Arthur Barry, in the Strand
gazine.
Ran Away In a Private Chr.
(From the Chicago Ncws.)