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. fv ,__ 0R. tks::::::si CHAPTER LII.â€"_( Continued.) ' "A trick," he gasped. “The light; was put out. For Heaven’s sake, Heritage, don't get brooding over those fancies of yours now. I tell you the thing was done deliberately. Here, if you are too Weak or feeble, give the knife to me." The request had a. sting in it. With an effort Heritage pulled himself to- gather. “No,” he said, firmly, “I'll do it. It was a, cruel, dastardly trick to play upon me, but I quite see now that it was a trick. Only it’s going to make a man of me instead.” Bell nodded. His eyes were blaz- ing, but he said nothing. He watchâ€" ed Heritage at work With stern ap- proval. Nothing could have been more scientific, more skilful. It seemed a, long time to Ilavi'd, lookâ€" ing on. but it was a more matter of minutes. “Finished,” Heritage said, with a. triumphant thrill. “And successful.” “And another second would have seen an end of our man," Bell said. He’s coming round again. Get those lull 100k af- Give him the drug. I want him to sleep for a good long bandages on, Heritage. ter the mess. DaVid asked. *“I’ll pledge my reputation upon it." Bell said. “Hadn’t you better telephone down to your electrician to come and see to those lights? I see the fuse in the meter is intact; it is only on the one circuit that they have gone." Van Sneck opened his eyes and “stared languidly about him. In a. clear, weak, yet wholly sensible voice he asked where he was, and then lapsed into slumber. ’A little later and he lay snug and still in bed. There was a look of the deepest pleasure in the eyes of Heritage. “I’ve saved him and he’s saved me," he said. “But it Was touch and go .for both of us when that time.” “Will he be sensible toâ€"morrow?” light failed. But for 13011 I fancied thatI should have fainted. And then, it came to me that it was some' trick, and my nerve returned." “Never to leave again,” Bell said. “It tried you high, and fouud you not wanting.” “Heaven be praised,” Heritage murmured. “But how was it done?” ,lell’s face was stern as he took the kitchen candlestick from thel table and went in the direction ofI the dining-room. ' “Come with me, and I’ll explain," he said, curtly. The diningâ€"room was in pitchy darkness, for the lights there had been on the short circuit; indeed, the lights on the groundâ€"floor had all failed with the eXCeption of the hall, which fortunately had been on anâ€" other circuit. The fact had saved Van Sneck’s life, for if Bell had not speedily used that one live wire the patient must have perished. Henson looked up from his sofa with a start and a smile. “I am afraid I. must have been asleep,” he said, languidly. “Liar,” Bell thundered. “You have been plotting murder. And but for a mere accident the plot would have been successful. You have work- ed out the whole thing in your mind; you came here on purpose. You came here to stifle the light at the very moment when we were operating on Van Sneck. You thought that all the lights on the floor would be on the same circuit; you have been here before." “'Are you mad?" Henson gasped. “When have I been here ’bel‘orcâ€"” “The night that you lured Van Sneck here by a forged letter and left him for dead." Helicon gasped, his lips moved. but no words come from them. “You have a little knowledge of electricity,” Bell went on. "And you saw your way pretty clear to spoil our operation toâ€"night. You get that idea from yonder wallâ€"plug- J’nto which gees that plunger of the: reading lamp on the cabinet yonder. At the critical moment all you had to do was to dip your fingers in water and press the tips of thcml against the live wire in the wall-! plug. You (lid so, and immediately the wires fired all over the circuit and plunged us in darkness. But the hull light remained sound, and Van Sneck was saved. If it is any. consolation to you, he will be as sensible as any of a‘lS toâ€"morrow.” Henson had risen to his feet, pale and trembling. He protested. but! it was all in vain. Bell approached. the china wallâ€"plug and pointed toI it. “Hold the candle down,” he said. “There! You can see that the sur- face is still wet, there is water in the holes now, and some 0f it has trickled down the distemper on the wall. You ought to be shot where you stand, murderous dog.” Henson protested. with some digâ€" nity. It was all so much Greek to him, he said. He had been sleeping so quietly that he had not seen the light fait Bell cut him short. "Get out," he cried. “Go away; you poison the air that honest men A MIDNIGHT CALL __ ,J 'lLL'lLu_“'LL.u._I_L1â€"'”"' W ' ' r' as I am. Why don’t you pitch him into the street, Steel? Why don’t you telepho’ne to Marley at the police-station and say that the Hud- dersfield swindler is here? Oh, if you only knew what an erort it is to keep my hands off him!" HenSOn made for the door with alacrity. 'A moment later and he was in the street dazed, confused. and baffled, and with the cenviction strong upon him that he had failed in his great coup. Van Sneck would be sensible to-morrowâ€"he would speak. And thenâ€"â€" But he dared not think of that at present. He wanted all his nerve and courage now. He had just one last chance, one single opportunity of making money, and then he must get out of the country without delay. He almost wished now that he had not been quite so precipitate in the matter of James Merritt. That humble tool might have been of great advantage to him at this moment. But Merritt had threatened to be troublesome and must be got out of the way. But, then, the police had not picked Merritt up yet, Was it possible that Merritt had found out thatâ€"â€" But Henson did not care to think of that, either. He would go back to the quiet lodgings he had/taken in Kemp Town for a day or two; he would change his clothes and walk over to Longdean Grange, and it would go hard if he failed to get a, cheque from the misguided lady there. If he were quick he could be there by eleven o'clock. He passed into his little room. He started back to see a man sleep- ing in his armâ€"chair. Then the man, disturbed by the noise of the new- comer, opened his eycs. And those eyes were gleaming with a glow that filled Henson’s heart with horrible dread. It was Merritt who sat opâ€" posite him, and it was Merritt whose eyes told Henson that he knew of the latter’s black treachery. Henson was face to fast: with death, and he knew it. He turned and fled for his life; he scudded along the streets, past the hospital and up tOWards the dowus, with Merritt after him. The start was not ’long, but it was sufficient. Merritt took the wrong turn, and, ,with a heart beating fast and hard, Henson climbed upwards. It was a long time before his courage came back to him. He did not feel really easy in his mind until he had passed the lodgeâ€"gates at Longdean Grange, where he was fortunate enough, after a call or two, to rouse up Williams. The latter came with more alacrity than usual. There was a queer grin on his face and a suggestion of laughter in his eyes. “There seems to be a lot of light about,” Henson cried. “Take me up to the house and don’t let anybody know I am here. Your mistress gone to bed?" “She’s in the drawing-room,” Wilâ€" liams said, “singing. 'And Miss Enid’s there. I am sure they will be glad to see you, sir.” Henson doubted it, but made no reply. There was a clatter of voices in the drawingâ€"room, a chatter of a lightsomcness that Henson had never heard before. Well, he would soon settle all that. He passed quietly into the room, then stood in puzzled fear and amazement. “Our dear nephew,” said a cool, sarcastic voice. “Come in, sir, come in. This is quite charming. Well, my sweet philanthropist and most engaging gentleman, and what may we have the pleasure of doing for you to-night?" “Lord Littimer?” Henson gasped. “Lord Littimer here?" CHAPTER LIII. Bell gave a gesture of relief as the door closed upon Henson. Heritage looked like a man who does not quit e u n d-erstan d. “I haven’t quite got the hang of it yet,” he said. “Was that done for my benefit?” “Of Course it was,” Bell replied. “Henson found out that Van Sneck was here, as he was certain to do sooner or later. He comes here to make inquiries and finds you; also he Comes to spy out the land. Now, without being much of a gambler, I’m willing to stake a large sum that he introduced the subject of your old trouble?” “He invariably did that,” Heritage admitted. “Naturally. That was part of the game. And you told him that you had got over your illness and that ‘you were going to do the operation. And you told him how. Where were you when the little conversation beâ€" tween Henson and yourself took place?" “He was asked into the (liningâ€" room.“ “And then you told him everything. Directly Henson fell upon that wall-plug he knew how to act. He made up his mind that the electric light should fail at a critical momâ€" ent. Hence the dramatic ‘accidnnt’ with the cycle. Once Henson had got into the house the rest was easy. breathe, and you are as (it and well .He had only to wet his fingers and press them hard against the two wires in the wall-plug and out pops the light, in consequence of the fuses blowing out. I don’t/know where Henson learnt the trick, but I do know that I was a, fool not to think of it. You see, the hall light being dropped through the floor above was on another circuit. If it hadn’t been we should have had our trouble with Van Sneck for nothing.” “He would have died?” David ask- ed. ' The two doctors nodded significantâ€" ly. “What a poisonous scoundrel he is!” David cried. “Miss Chris Henâ€" son does not hesitate to say that he was more or less instrumental in re- moving two people who helped her and her sister to defeat Henson, and now he makes ‘L‘vo attacks on Van Sneck’s life. Really, we ought to inform the police what has happened and have him arrested before he can do any further mischief. Penal servi- tude for life would about fit the case.” Van Sneck was jealously guarded by Heritage and Bell for the next few hours. He aWOke the next morning little the Worse for the op- eration. His eyes were clear now; the restless, eager look had gone from them. “Where am I?" he demanded. “What has happened?” Bell explained briefly. 'As he spoke his anxiety passed away. He saw that Van Sneck was following quite intelligently and rationally. “I remember coming here,” the Dutchman said. “I can't recall the rest just now. I feel like a man who is trying to piece the fragments of a dream together.” “You’ll have it all right in an hour or two,” Bell said, with an encour- aging smile. “Meanwhile your breakâ€" fast is ready. Yes, you can smoke afterwards if you like. And then you shall tell me all about Reginald Hen- son. As a matter of fact, we know all about it now." “Oh,” Van Snack said, blankly. “You do, eh?” “Yes, even to the history of the second Rembrandt, and the reason Why Henson stabbed you and gave you that crack over the head. If you tell me the truth you are safe; if you don’tâ€"why, you stand a chance of jOining Henson in the dock.” Bell went off, leaving Van Sneck to digest this speech at his leisure. Van Sneck lay back on his bed prop- ped up with pillows, and smoked many cigarettes before he expressed a desire to see Bell again. The latter came in with Steel; Heritage had gone elsewhere. “This gentleman is Van Sneck suggested. Bell responded somewhat drin that it was. “But I see you are going to tell us everything," he went on. “That being so. suppose you begin at the beginning. When you sold that copy of the ‘Crimson Illind’ to Lord' Littimcr had you the other Copy?” “Ach, you have got to the bot- tom of things, it seems," Van Sneck gurglcd. “Ye-8', and I have saved your life, foolish as it might seem,” Bell re- plied. “You came very near to los- ing it the second attempt last night at Henson’s hands. Henson is done for, played out, burst .up. We can arrest him on halfâ€"aâ€"dozen charges when we please. We can have you arrested any time on a, charge of conspiracy over those pictures " “Of which I am innocent; I swear it,” Van Sneck said, solemnly. “Those two Rembrandtsâ€"they fell into my hands by what you call a. slice of good luck. I out working hand in glove with Henson at the time, and show him them. I suggest Lord Littimer as a, purchaser. He wOUId, perhaps, buy the two, which would be a little fortune for me. Then Henson, he says, ‘Don’t you be a fool, Van Sneck. Suppress the other: say nothing about it. You get as much from Littimer for the one as you get for the two, because Lord Littimer thinks it unique." "That idea commended itself to a, curio dealer?” Bell suggested drily. “But yes," Van Sneck said eagerly. “Later on we disclose the other and get a second big price. 'And Lord Littimer he buy the first copy ,for a, long price.” “After which you discreetly disap- pear,” said Steel. “Did you steal those pictures?” “No,” Van Snack said, indignant- ly. “They came to me in the way of honest businessâ€"a poor workman who knows nothing of their value, and takes fifteen marks for them.” “Honest merchant," David mur- mured. “Pray go on." “I had to go away. Some youthâ€" ful foolishness over some garnets raked up after many years. The p0â€" lice came down upon me so suddenly that I got away with the skin of my teeth. I leave the other Rembrandt, everything, behind me. I do not, know that Heusmi he give me away so that he can steal the other Itemâ€" brandt." “So you have found that said Bell. “Who told you?” “I learn that not so long ago. I lean: it from a scoundrel called Mer- ritt, a tool of Henson. He tells me Mr. Steel?’ ’ out?" 1 to go to Littimer Casltle to steal the Rembrandt for Henson, because Dr. Bell, he find my Rembrandt. Then I what you call pump- Merritt, and he tells me all about the supposed rob- bery at Amsterdam and what was- l'ound in the portmnntcau of good Dr. 13011 yonder. Then I go to Henâ€" smi and tell him what I find out, and he laughs. Mind you, that was after I came here from "Paris on business for Henson." “About the time _‘.‘(‘.ll bonght that diamondâ€"mounted cigar-case?" David asked, quietly. (To be Continued.) ' PAY DAYS [QR ROYALTY MANNER IN WHICH MON- ARCHS ARE PAID . How the Sovereigns of European Nations Receive Their Al- lowances. The Emperor of Russia, for inâ€" stance. says Pearson's Weekly, is the only European sovereign who is enâ€" titlcd'to draw on the revenues of the country over which he rules when- ever he plcnses and to almost an unâ€" limited extent. All the vast sums accruing from various forms of taxation in Russia are banked to the credit of two offi- cials named the Imperial Treasurers, Who discharge all the liabilities of the Russian Government. The Czar, however, has the first call upon the money paid into the imperial treasury and draws upon it whenever he wishes by Simply directâ€" ing the treasury ofllclals to lodge so much money to his priVate ac- count, giving thcm a voucher for the amount. . Under the Russian constitution the Czar is entitled to receive a seventh share of the revenue of the country, and though he, as a matter of fact, never draws upon the treasury to this extent, the Emperor of Russia is yet by far the best paid and wealthiest of European monarchs. THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY is in receipt of a. salary of $500,000 per annum from the State, but His Imperial Majesty has, of course, many other ways of supplementing this pay, which would be a. very poor one for the sovereign of a great Power, , The salary is paid into the Em- peror’s private banking aCCOUIIt twice a, year, the check for it being signed by no fewer than seven officials, and is finally indorsed by the Kaiser himself. The Emperor also receives a “mil- itary and naval” allowance, which amounts to a big sum, and the ex- penses in connection with the main- tonancc of the royal household at Potsdam are paid quarterly by the State treasury. King Edward receives a quarterly check from the I’aymasterâ€"General for his salary as monarch; the check is what is known as a negotiable reâ€" ceipt, and is sent to the keeper of the priVy purse, by whom it is signâ€" ed on behalf of the King, and then lodged to the credit of his Majesty’s private banking account. THE EMPEROR 0F AUSTREA is put to some personal inconvenience before he can obtain his salary to the love of maintaining ancient cus- toms and ceremonies that prevail in the Austrian court. On the lst of J um: and lst of Deâ€" cember the'Austrian monarch pays a. visit to the office of the State treas- ury, where he is received by three oflicials. One of these officials then reads out a document to the monâ€" arCh, reminding him of the many duties he owes to the State, and ex- horting to the faithful performance of the same. The document concludes with a, mention of the amount of money that the Emperor is entitled to receive from the State to mainâ€" tain him in a position of such great dignity becomingly. The Emperor is then asked if the amount is sufficient, and on his re- plying to the question in the affirm- ative, is given a receipt to sign for the money, which is, in due Course, lodged to the credit of the imperial account. THE KING OF PORTUGAL’S salary is never paid. to him direct, but is vested in the care of three officials, upon whom the King can draw whenever he requires money. This is an arrangement to which the King of Portugal has a distinct objection, but as it is a very old established custom his Majesty would probably have some difficulty in hav- ing it altered. Each of the three purse keepers, as these ofiiCials are called, recaives £500 per annum, which the King of Portugal has to pay out of his own pocket, so that the arrangement costs the King £1,500 a year, which could be very easily saved by" the dismissal of such entirely needless officials as the purse keepers. The Sultan of Turkey has no alâ€" lowance or salary; he simply informs the Grand Vizier when he wants money, and that official has to see that the amount required is forthâ€" coming promptly, otherwise it is more than likely he might lose his head. ._._.._+._.___ GIANTS IN GREENLAND . Christian Jensen, who has just returned from a year’s voyage in the Arctic seas, reports that while his vessel was trading on the south-west coast of Greenland there arrived from the 'interior a. party of giants, the shortest of- whom was 7ft. in height and the tallest 9ft. They had the copperâ€"colored complexions and; the features of North American linâ€" dians. ____+_â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"_. LARGEST SEAT OF LEARNING. The Year-Book of the German Uniâ€" versities, just published, makes it. clear that Berlin University is the most humorously attended seat of learning in the world. It contains 7,774» matriculated and 1,330 matriculated students. All the States of Germany, and every counâ€" try in Europe, from Norway to Sicily, from Ireland to Russia, are represented in its classâ€"rooms. 1.1091“! \~J"fl .av ’.U" WW VW)LHYCI FOLKS g Cooooooooooooooooom>od COUNTED IN. The three new vauaintanccs, each 993111de in a huge rocker, Sat side by Side on the veranda of the little hotel. Before them lay the lake, gray under the shadow of a passing cloud and the heaVy fringe of pines along the shore. Lawrence and Teddy had known each other for two days, but Annabel was an arrival of the morning. “She’s only a girl,” Lawrence had said, “and her name's silly, but we’ll try her, and if she can do things and knows lots, like boys, we’ll count her in. and ask her to catch. turtles with us, shall we, Teddy?" There were no other children at the hotel, and'the two boys were eager to find a worthy playmate. Lawrence, by virtue of being the oldest, Conducted the examination. “Can you I‘OW?” he asked. “Mâ€"hm," answered Annabel, indifâ€" ferenlly. _ ‘ “Can you swim?” “Yes.” Annabel swayed her gently to rock the chair. “I’ve swam in,La.ke Superior," said Lawrence, proudly. “I've swum in Miller's Lake and head in this lake, ’ chimed in Teddy, eagerly. “Swain,” corrected Lawrence. “Yes, swam,” assented Teddy. "Where h.ve you swum, Annabel?” “Lots of places,” returned the lit- tle girl. “I used to in the Atlantic Ocean when I was littlcr, and once, a year ago, in Great Salt Lake." “Oo-oo!" said Lawrence. “Is that Jake salty, the way they say?" Annabel nodded. Evidently LaWâ€" l‘enco must make the advances. “Couldn’t you tell about it?" he suggested. “Why, certainly," said Annabel, politely. “Mama and papa and Frankie and I were at Salt Lake City for a day. and we took the Cars and went to the lake. You have to ride over white ground, whpre the lake was once. It is an sa1ty, The lake hasâ€"receded, mama says.” “Why 'did it?" asked Teddy, blunt- 1y. “It evaporated." Lawrence and puzzled glances. “That means the sun dried it up," explained Annabel. “This one doesn't dry up,” said Teddy, skeptically. “I’ve been here lots of srunmcrs." ' “Well, this has an outlet. The steamer passes it. You remember. I Saw it when I came.’ “Oh, yes.” “Well. Great Salt Lake hasn't any outlet, and the sun dries the water up and leaves the salt, lots of it.’£« “Didn’t it smart your eyes?” “I didn't put my eyes in, ’ said Annabel. “You. see it isn’t deep at all. We waded out a long way, sev- eral blocks, I guess, and it didn’t come up to our necks, and only just came above papa’s knees. It was very warm, the water was, almost hot, and felt so good. You can float on it. It has so much salt in it vou can’t go down, and we sort of padâ€" dled along on our stomachs, with our heads sticking up. It’s real sticky, and we had caps on our heads to keep our hair from getting sticky. Mama had a. big bath~towel wound round her head. “We spattercd each other and shut our eyes, and when the water dried off our faces there were white patches of salt. The sand under the water is gray, such a nice, clean gray. I brought Some home in a bottle. There’s a long bathâ€"house with lots of dressing-rooms in it, hundreds, I guess, and there’s a freshâ€"water spray in each one, so you can take a, 11400 showerâ€"bath when you come out, and get the sticky off." . Each boy hung over the arm of 1115 chair nearest the middle chair, and listened in wonderment. 'Annabel leaned back idly and told her story like the finished little traveller that she was. “Have you studied percenâ€" tage?” she asked. Even Lawrence shook his without a Word. “It’s sixteen per cent. salt,” she said, “and that's a great deal. Papa told me. They think that onCe it Was lots biggcr’n it is now, twenty times. They think, you know, that in time there won’t be any lake left." “Ooâ€"oo!” Said Lawrence. And “0 my!” said Teddy. Annabel leaned forward, somewhat excited by the appreciation Of her au- ditors. “It‘ll be all evaporated, yru know, and if you ‘boys want to go swimming in it you’d better go quick!” Lawrence looked at Teddy, Ian-d when he caught his eye gave a feigniâ€" (icant nod. Then he turned to Ann 1- bel, politely. “Will you go and catch turtles with us?" he said. Teddy exchanged head __.___+____. RED-BLIND MARINES. The lnost common form of color blindness is an inability to distinâ€" guish red. " nst year thirtyâ€"four oili- ccrs and wouldâ€"be officers of the Brltâ€" ish mercantile marine service failyi ion their color tests, t\'~'0nty:thl'0c beâ€" ing redâ€"blind and the remainder unâ€" able to distinguish grl'cn. The 4,600 Icnndidutcs for certificates were also isubmittcd to the form vision tests. [and tucnty-two of them failed .l.0 {distinguish the form of the object ' submittch . , I . 1 l l . l I l l