Year: 1873

looking much surprised. He, however,
opened his right hand, as if perfectly
willing for me to shake it if I chose to.


Then I had good look at the ring,
and felt ashamed of my suspicious. The
device was a common heart, which GER
tainly bore no resemblance to a chariot
wheel.


After general conversation to recov-
er my self-possession, I turue1 away, re-
solved in the future to have better
opinion of my fellow-creatures
attract the attention of n good many of
the ladies. One especially, a modest
looking little thing attired in black, kept
directing furtive glances at the hand
some passenger. Finally she glided SO
close to him that in turning he brushed
against her.


An apology, smilingly received by the
little lady, a remark about the weather
on the part of the gentleman, and the
two were soon conversing with anima-
ton. Meanwhile the blushing cheek
and bright eyes of the fair one seemed
to betoken that she was well pleased
with her companion, whose air was more
conceited than ever.


81 am afraid we shall have a storm"
she remarked, pointing toward a dark



boat was gazing anxiously.


"We may, but do not be alarmed,
madam"


With an air of nonchalance he pulled
a red cigar-case from his pocket and
asked his companion if she objected to
smoke. Then he started, and quickly
returning the red one to his pocket pull
ed forth another of blue color.


"How many cigars do you smoke in
day ?" inquired the lady, evidently
amused at the sight of two cases.


The other colored, and it struck me
that his voice slightly faltered and his
hand trembled, as he made some laugh
ing reply.


Soon the storm came pounclng down
upon us. We were midway in the chan
mel, so that we caught the full force of
the sea and gale. Both were terrific.


The sea swept the boat, which lay SO
far over that her machinery was soon
damaged so that it would not work.
The wind, screaming like a demon,
threw her over still farther.


Suddenly we observed the sailors en-
deavoring to loosen long boat on the
davits at the stern. Meanwhile, there
was an ominous grinding, smashing
noise under the counter. The truth
could not be concealed we were sink
ing.


The ladies screamed the handsome
passenger lost his self possession, and
ran hither and thither.


The cool behavior of the little lady ia
black contrasted strangely with the agf
tated demeanor of those around her.


There she stood calm and immovable,
her bright steel-blue eyes fixed upon the
handsome stranger, of whom she did
not lose sight for a moment.


Keep quiet, ladies and gentlemen
sang out the captain" keep quiet, and
don't crowd around the boat so There
will be loom enough for you all and,
besides, there is schooner coming to
our assistance" pointing to a vessel
blowing toward us before the wind.


There was, however, a panic among
those addressed. The moment the boat
was lowered, into it they all bundled in,
among them the handsome passenger.
A huge sea coming along, roaring like
thunder, parted the tackles, tearing
the boat from the steamer before the
lady in black or I could enter it
The handsome passenger, losing his
balance, fell over the gunwale, and be-
ing unable to swim wildly threw up his
arms.


1 must acknowledge that was so en-
crossed with the perilous situation Of
my fair companion and mysef-now the
only two left aboard the steamer-that
I paid little attention to the drowning
man.


The steamer was, in fact, going down
fast-was already nearly engulfed in the
stormy waves, her heated and half sub
merged boilers kissing as the steam
came gushing out like the spout of a
whale.


I was advancing to throw an arm
around the little lady, fearing to see hel
me back with one hand, she seized q
coil of rope and threw the end to the
handsome passenger. He caught it,
when turning to me, the lady requested
me to help haul the man aboard.
complied, marveling at the love and de
votion thus shown by a woman to al
acquaintance of an hour.
! His power over the female sex mus
be great, I thought. He is conceited
but not without reason.


The idea flashed clearly across my
mind in spite of my danger. The
schooner, however was very near, and
had every reason to believe that VT
should be picked up.


I was right. We were all take1
aboard the schooner, the handsome pas
SeuSer among Gno TeSG 1Hou Guo Idu.
in black pulled forth revolver, point
ing it at the head of him whom she hat
rescued.


"Out with that red cigar-case r' sh,
said sternly. 81 would like to SCI
what monsieur carries in it,


Why-why," stammered the stran
ger d" what is"


Before he could say another word tn
little Amazon thrust her disengage'
hand in his pocket, pulled forth the reo
cigar-case, and opening it, a ring drop
ped to the deck.


The ring she picked up, and holding
it up before us all she exclaimed


"I have found it at last. The jewel
er assured me it was the only one of tn
device in Paris-a chariot-wheel Thi
person is the murderer of the Counties
de Marville.


The handsome passenger stood as
frozen to the deck, making no resist
ance as the lady in black slipped pal
of handouts over his wrists.
=" By what right, - he then stammered
edo you"


He paused as the other threw off he
dress and false hair, revealing the pei
son of a slender man with delicate, gir