The Holly chieftain., 1905-08-04
Copyright. 1887. by F. Tennyson Nicely.
CHAPTER lll.-continued.

CHAPTER lli.-Continued.
His identity! Good heavens! they
seem to know him already. since the
old sinner had called him by name,
and still addresses him as Senor Jack.
Can it be possible this is some
shrewd. canny Scotch game to In
veigle him into a marriage that Will
put him in the power of a gang OF
blackmailers?
He might even suspect such thing
only for Howard's connection with H.
and his declaration that he had .
mortgage upon the name OF JACK
Trayers.
At any rate there is still lapse OF
time before the hnal round. and that
same powerless curiosity urges him
on-he may yet be able to fathom the
amazing depths of this mystery.
He has aroused himself. He asks
questions SO fashioned that they may
not betray his ignorance of the sub.
ject. receiving in reply non-committai
explanations that only partially salts
fy him.
In the midst Of it all an explosion
threatens.
"Senor Jack" says the remarkable
host, who stands eyeing him from
head to foot in critical manner, Il
believe you will make wonderful hit
with the charming young lady. and
she will not think the union 80 dis
agreeable as she feared. Pardon me,
but had not dreamed from your de-
scription that you were 80 dashing, 80
very handsome"
1t is not often man receives
compliment from his own sex, and
Jack laughs in some confusion. mean
while muttering under his breath:
"Well, don't wonder the old chaps
surprised if Howard gave a truthful
description of himself, since I've
known him to scare a coyote by smil-
=. ing at it."
His strange host continues:
"Ihere is one thing we have for
gotten-not that suppose it matters
at all. but you will of course remem-
Der, Senior Jack, that it was agreed
between us you should prove your
identity when you came"
"Just So" remarks Jack, serenely.
wondering which identity he is called
upon to produce the evidence for, and
hardly ready to stand UP and swear
he is the genuine party whose arrival
has been SO anxiously anticipated.
'Ahem! have you those letters with
you?' asks the other, suavely.
Letters! That reminds him Ah Sin
picked up packet in the street after
the wreck of the Caledonian hanson.
Jack draws them out with confident
air; he is now ready to believe For
tune plays the cards for him, since
everything seems to fit as neatly as
though the ends were dovetailed by
an experienced joiner.
"Ah! the last doubt is thrown to
the wind. Buenos! We shall be
merry. Last of all. senor Jack, you
remember the compact"
) Suppose you repeat it, to refresh
my memory" suggests the artful
Jack, using the brush on his curly
locks.
Briefly, then, you have agreed to
carry out your share of this business
for third of the spoils, which shall
be placed in your hands as soon as
} we secure possession, and all is ar
ranged SO that you need not fear be
ing cheated. On my part, because OF
my influence in the matter, receive
another third, or as much as l can
coax from my lovely ward. The
one point insisted on by her is hard
with you, senior"
"How so?" asks Jack, deeply in
terested.
"You remember, I explained, and
you agreed to abide by 1t. Otherwise
there could have been no wedding
. here tonight. 1t is this-that Ince
the ceremony is over, you part from
your wife, and never seek to- come