Year: 1870

But I had no time to consider. for my
friend entered, and putting the two pieces
of paper in my drawer. I emptied the
basket in the fire, and went out with him
to do good days work.


| Returning late in the evening, relit
the fire, and addressed myself to the writ
ing Of two important letters to be posted
by II 80 that night, 10 order to be in time
for the Cunard liner, which sailed early in
the morning; and then it was that the
black darkness of the doorless room oppo-
site to me began to trouble me most.


It had troubled me before, but on this
night it troubled me tenfold. From child
hood l have been imaginative, and know
ing this, I stirred the fire, called myself
an ass, and went on with my letter. But
not for long. My eyes wandered to the
black darkness of the doorway, and be-
gan to ransack my memory for statistics
of men who could tell by some occult
power if any one were hidden in the room
they entered; and laughed aloud when
I remembered that had read of one sen
sitive gentleman, who by this same occult
sense had found that surgeons skeleton
was in closet behind him.


own l dislike being in the dark, but I
will do myselfthe justice to say that have
resolution enough to overcome the dislike.


Therefore proposed to myself to very
quietly walk into the dark room which
troubled me (and without light. } look
out of the windows. and slowly return.


I went-the very first step beyond the
threshold dispelled my fears. I could see
the glimmer of the stars through the glass.
hear the rattle of the cabs outside Why,
it was quite cheerful place, after all
Ha! there was shufaing noise there
by the closet, and then my fears returned
and .overpowered me. strove to walk
out like tragedy hero; but my pace
quickened as I neared the door, and heard
the sbuf1ing noise close to me, and the
next moment powerful hand was at my
throat, and helpless on the floor with the
uvita pistof pressed to ony-sHv-
l was bound and dragged into the outer
Office. thrust into my chair and confronted
by two quiet-looking men, one of whom
laid his revolver on the table, saying at
the same time with an ugly sneer:


$50, Bruuton, we have caught you at
last"


CHAPTER II.


The speaker was mild, intelligent
looking man of about thirty-fve. In a
proper dress he would have looked like a
high-church clergyman. His companion
was evidently foreigner. and [ imagine
a German. He was about fifty years Of
age and wore spectacles. and profussion
Of beard and whiskers covered more than
half his face. But he had winning
smile and good teeth, which he often took
an opportunity of showing.


1--WE have found you at last"


I am thankful to say that I am not ner-
vous when l see danger, and boldly
replied


"My name is Harker and not Brunton;
MIR. Moss, the landlord of these premises.
has noticed my resemblance to his late
tenant, and is satisfied that am not the
same. Depend upon it that / shall make
you repent this outrage


I tried to rise to call for help from the
street, but the pistol was cooked and point
ed at me, and there was that in the man s
face which cautioned me against rashness
in my helpless position.


II will sit down." I replied, "and hear
what you have to say but if I choose to
do it shall do my best to raise an alarm
in spite Of your revolver"


''Vell spoke, Carl" said the foreigner;
"Louisc always say he plucky one.''


"Now then, Brunton," whispered the
other, "let US have no nonsense. We
have not met before, it is true, but Louise
has so we'll described you. that putting
another name on your door was simply
idiotic. Besides one of ours has watched
for your return, and we communicated
with him directly we landed. Go free if
you like, but 0e wiW haze the plates"
''Dat's the matter vid u.s." echoed the
German; "ve will have the plates"


II know nothing Of any plates" cried.
"nor of Louise, nor of you. All I know
is, that you will see the inside of a prison
very shortly"


And you think you can throw US.
throw ME over in this way! Do you think
you deal with children p


II think I deal with burglar. Most
certainly with a rascal of some sort or
o;her"


Here my two friends held a whispered
conference. Then he of the revolver
turned sharply towards me.


"Will you marry Louise? Will you
give up the plates and marry my sister p


'.She lofe you like old boots" added
the German; and from which 1 opine that
he prided himself on knowledge Of Eng
lish idiom.