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"Reply. just as you like. m to know all about 3, or I don't want. to know." in a case like this-I do not act on my own Ji e Ll awaiting 'a-reply I do,' I answered. been over it yet, and'I well embrace the op- b want to bother my head over niatters in which I can have no rossible concern. matrimonial 'alliance of mine is of | Th far more importance to me than all the gold in the Klondyke."' 'Well, the lady is why worry further a said 2 you better go to your rest? It will surely do you ring for Rayner, the va- 'Spoke as though 'no valets, neither do I re- est," I answered 'impati- to fathom this my pardon me,"' he said defer- | ly. 'there is no mystery, as far You accidentally ur head against the statue passing through the drawing- and were rendered unconsei- blow has, according to the impaired your mental capa- tle. In a few days you'll be again. Poor Mrs. Heaton! "And how do you know, pray?' 'Because I was present at the I looked at him for a moment, unable to utter further words. "41 suppose you'll tell me next that you were my secretary in my bachelor days?' I said at last. 'And you say that you were ac- tually present at the church, and saw me married?' I cried, abso- lately incredulous. You were married at 8t. 'Andrew's, Wells was a smart wedding, too, for Mrs. Fordyce was very well society, and had a large circle of I cried in indignation. tand that! I have no wife at I certainly -a hag like th d never marry.' ised his eyebrows with a of regret, sighed, but haz- "Fordyce ¥' I echoed, puzzled. "Yes, that was, Mrs. Heaton's Come," said, "show me over \ . r before her 'marriage with e. It will be a most inter- vigit, I'm \ sure." reflecting upon my extra- position, one absolutely eled in man's history. doing so will you n one or two cheques?' he , glancing at his watch. "The ostin will call for the letters in #8 .-hour, and they must be de- "Then she was a widow?' I gasped. He nodded in the affirmative. I groaned. The affair grew more puzzling now that he declared him- self an actual witness of my matri- monial misfortune. But how could such a thing have taken place without my It was impossible. mystery, like the strange incidents which had - preceded this remark- able situation in which I found my- self," grew more and more inexpli- cablé each hour. We went forth together, passing from room to room through the great country mansion.. The place was handsome, of rather modern type, furnished glaringly in the manner "which - bespoke the It possessed no mellow, time-worn appearance, as did the dear old 'Manor House beside the vern. The furniture and hang- ings were too ap Tottenham Court the art- displayed was that of the iven 'carte blanche the newest and most fashionable fancies in the matter of wall-papers, dados, cor- and art-pottery. 1 ts and art-curtains, art-cupboards and art-chairs, art- china and art-chintzes. 'everywhere in painful 'enamel and isble greens. There were pic- ut different, indeed, to the long row of noble faces with their ruffles and doublets and their inted on shields in the gor: 'fners that looked down #0 solemnly 'alin the great hall at Heaton. '| pictures in that modern mansion ire of queue-de-sicle French here are six,' he answered, g out a large cheque-book "I've - already out if you will kindly nced at them. All six were rge amounts, each consider- 'over 'a thousand pounds.. ley relate to business transac- 11 of which are exceeding- bargains," he explained. I said, laughing again, to before signed cheques = rently of the onored is quite another i oad type, and took up-a pen and a signature to each, while he e by one in envelopes: ted to receive them. 'he said at-last, '4f you but 'the: whole thin, oll and absurd that: to furnish wi . or ed, I "Do I look li 'some rather too ount of money #1 show-room-- 2 smiled i our friends all admire the ,'! he remarked. 55 . 'Who are they?' I inquired, ter. HE ok : Se " "Friends of yours. They visit ! often enough. You surely ry| ought to know them. Lady Fraser is your wife's dearest friend." 'Fraser?' . 1 said reflectively. | "The only Fraser I know is a bak: erin Clare Market, who supplies my old servant, Mrs. Parker, with bread." = Then, after a pause, I added, "And you say that these people are friends of mine? Have I many friends?' ; 'Lots. A rich man has always plenty of good-humorod acquaint: l-ances."' "They like to come down here for a breath of country air, I sup- pose, eh?" I laughed. : - ""That's about 1it," he answered. 'A good many of them are not very sincere in their friendship, I fear. e man who has money, lives well, keeps a good table, and has choice wines in his cellar need never be ut a loss for genial companions." "You seem to be a bit of a philo- sopher, my .friend,'"" I remarked. e smiled knowingly. "I haven't' acted as your secre- tary without learning a few of the crooked ways of the world." "What ?' I exclaimed. "Don't I always act honestly, then?' This was something entirely new. "Nobody can be honest in fi- nance." "Well," I said, resenting his imputation, 'I wasn't aware that 1 had ever swindled a person of sixpence in my life." - "Sixpences m such sums as they deal in at Winchester House don't count. It's the thousands." We passed a couple of gaping maid-servants in long-stringed caps, who stood aside, looking at me in wonder. No doubt the news that a demented man was in the house had reached the servants' hall. . I was, in fact, on show to the domestics. . "Then you mean to imply that '| these financial dealings of mine -- of which, by the way, I have no knowledge whatsoever--are not al- ways quite straight?' I said, as wé walked together down a long carpeted corridor. EE He looked at me in hesitation. "It's, of course, business,"' he answered--' 'sharp business. don't mean to imply that the deal- ings at Winchester House are any more unfair than those of any other financier in the City ; but sometimes, you know, there's just a flavor of smartness about them that might be misconstrued by a clever counsel in a Criminal court." . "What?' I cried, halting and glaring at him. 'Now, be frank with me, Gedge. Tell me plainly, have I ever swindled anybody! "Certainly not," he said, laugh- ness that has made you what you are to-day -- a millionaire. If you bad not been very wide awake and shrewd you'd have been ruined long ago."' . "Then, I, suppose, I'm well known in the city, eh?' "Your name's as well known as Bennett's clock, and your credit gtands as high-as any one's be-| tween Ludgate Hill and Fenchurch eet." Bet caordinary 7 1 said." "What you tell me sounds like some re- markable fairy tale." ey "The balance at your banker's is sufficient proof that what I say is | truth," he remarked. 'There may be a good many fairy tales in cer- tain prospectuses, but there cer tainly is none in your, financial soundness.' gr (To be Continued. oorning room; you 'mean: 2 scoring aimlessly frem side fo side, too no ng E- The Fag Tlie Irightoney. too much ravaged to thirty-five guineas know the sort of {Vo ~ Sat ; : |. "Twenty thousand pounds would pull fe through," said Shuler, watching the T amusement 8% WY oher's face over the flame of the match. "Old man," be said, as hé threw the "| mateh into ihe fender' and look the yet | this 'way. If I can't get twenty thdusand '| peunds I'm finished.' "I never heard of them in all my} = am' Rup rm sixty thousand pounds: lewn. 1 can only meet forly thousand de What am I to do? A ._Borlase. whistled a: little - French air through his teeth, and sat regarding Shuter for half a minute. asked at length. Shuter laughed out loud. "Secu "Yes, security," said Borlase. "M Shuter. "My niece's marriage settlement. My lodge's funds are in it, Security! You're my last straw." Borlase presirved silence. 'P'r'aps you think me mad," Shuter went on. "P'raps I am. 1 ought to be, L'know. It's hard enough for me to come to you like this. But I think your my friend, and--and you put me on the Deep Mine." He colored slowly under Borlase's eye. "Of course, 1 know you've dropped a lot yourself, old man," he said, in exten- uation of his offence, "But I'd have sold 'out In time. if I hadn't had confidence in the thing. I didn't think you could go wrong. You know how it came down. The bottom simply fell oul. One day it was shaky and the next it was scrap." Barlase puifed his cigar. "IV's not ruin I funk," continued Shut- er; "but this means gaol. And the boy's just gone to Trinity." His volce broke. The big man lay back in his chair, staring a ming «n the wk! with his fnger-nails. TLere wus not other sound in the room. The hope died out of Shuter's eyes. "For God's sake, Borlase--" "Let me tell you a story," said Borlase, and Shuter had to listen. "About ten years ago," Borlase said, "l was, as you may or may not know, | yj. 19 at the very bottom, right in the ooze. It doesn't matter how 1 got there an: more than it matters how I got cu again . But thers I was. My entire wardrobe, Shuter, consisted of the dark gréen--once black--jacket, the cotton shirt, the tweed trousers, the boots, and he hat in which I stood up. You may have seen a hat just like that, and I re- member that my back hair used to work through the place where tne brim and the crown had parted company. Did you ever see the flesh of your knee through A hole in your bags? I thought not. 1 did. I saw it every time I looked down- wards, and it made me ashamed, as if I'd been stark naked on the stree. My jacket was of a rather expensive alpaca. Il may have been made originally for the summer wear of a business man. If you have ever worn such a garment, you will recognize that at its best it js tw me ill-fitted for keeping out the wind. Mine y was well ventilated, too. "I was sitling, thus clad, about two o'clock of a {resh winter morning on one al the benches by the railings of the Green Park. It was my purpose, with the kind permission of the police, to snatch a few hours' refreshing sleep, The wind was strong from the north-east, but I'm not the mam to complain of a liltle fresh alr, and there had. been no rain for over an hour. In spite of all these mer- cies I was in a thoroughly naughty tem- per, and, if you will credit it, as I sat on that damp bench I was ready to curse and swear with vexalion. There are h some people, Shuler, who are never sat- ing. 'Why, it's this very smart-|isfled. "A man came out of one of the clubs opposite me and crossed over to where | was sitting. He walked past me quick- ly and glanced for a moment in my dir- ection. Then he stopped and came back to my side and stood looking at me. He wore a soft Homburg hat and a good ser- viceable overcoat. His hands were thrust deep in his pockets and he had a fat cigar | t could do wtih a bed to-night. tetween his feeth, I have had several best in his clu d the futility of what it is do- ing, "A cigar? said Borlase. "Now: ahead. 8 read nothing there, t cigar from between his teeth, "it's #You should bé worth more than that." unds of that if 1 sell my last stick. "What security can you give me?" he rity!" he said. mother's {ncome's ip it," said Shuter, smoking slowly, drum- and he never smokes bedy else if they had got that ten-pound nete, and was saying what a clever dedge it was. Well, as you know, when one of these magazine publishers goes as good a one as that, his rivals simply have to go one better; so in a very few days this dally was giving away gold on a smaller beginnin, "l said, 'Youre jes "Not a bit,' says he, fishing out an en- velope. 'Here itis." And he pulled it out. 'I've been trying to plant it all day, but | coming (n. nc one's asked me for it. Thought it'd | "'Dear me, Pullel, he cried, 'what's be more handy to you than to most, eh? "I was very nearly crying with happi- I tried to master my voice to thank him, but he cut me short. *'No thanks, no thanks, my man! Sign this receipt and put down your address, | henest, He'd have bolted if it had been if you've gol one. i a plant.' "I took the piece of paper he held out It was a typewrilten receipt for fifly pounds, acknowledging that it had been gained under the conditions men- ticned in 'Watherspoon's Weekly." He | you've been had. gave me a pockel-pen, and I signed my | ur.dersland? name, writing on the top of the bench. Then I said, 'Do you want my address in full?' "He said he did, so I wrole 'London under my name. He read it, and laughed again, ness. 'Account of the Fifty-pound Cheque Com- petition.' viously. then he said: 'Present it to-morrow morning after | lo clear. They won't have notice of your name ill then. Goodnight!' "'I beg your pardon,' I cried, 'but could vou advance me a couple of shillings. 1 must confess I could eat something, and He filled in my namie on it, and ten palm. that. welll "Then he walked away quickly, and I could hear him laughing to himself as he went west along Piccadilly. "I weighed in my mind the respective n't have both. After careful considera- tion I decided that, as I had gone with- out anything to eat for only twenty-four hours, I would stand it for another nine. But I had to get out of the wind. I was always a luxurious dog, Shuter, and love , 80 I said 1 was. | (n sleep warm and soft. Try a Seasonable Diet and Give Your Stomach a Chance. Shredded Wheat with Strawberries will be found wholesome, appetizing and much more nutritious than meat ; also with raspberries, peaches and other fresh fruits. It Will Tone Up Your Liver and Stomach. Sold by all grocers. giving me enough for a bed. 1 told my- selt that I should have spoiled my appe- tite with stodgy bread at a coffee-stall But that omelette be- gan lo seem prodigiously attractive. "Ten o'clock came round somehow, and I wenl into the bank with a bursting watches, and that monthly was promot- | heart. Among other sensations 1 was ing its circulation by the gratuitous offer of diamond-rings, and at last here was | breeches, a weekly plunging heavily with fifty- pcund cheques. 1 had heard of these | me to clear out. things, of course. Down in the mud we | he said. had talked the matler over, and some had tried desperately for the prizes; but | with him. they all seemed to be won by people who lived in Brixton and Hampstead and had plenty of money already. "This last paper, though, had been very } | tricky, putting its cheques n the custody | CUlously. Then 1 threw of all sorts of unlikely-looking people-- women dressed up like old bodies up for the Oaks, or down-at-heel-looking fellows like myself. This chap in the Homburg bat, I thought, was trying me. By Heav- en, he had come to the wrong shop! "I could have killed him for his mis- take, but I thought he might give me six- pence if I could keep him lalking a min- ube or two, so I imply said, with a grin, 'Have you got it yourself?' "He laughed merrily, and dived into his breast-pocket. either.' "'Yes,' says he, 'I have. Would you * 'Oh, nonsense! pound cheque competition fn "Wather- "I nearly fainted where 1 sat. Fifty [spoons Weekly," you know, pounds--he was going to give he fifty any of your tricks on with me.' pcunds. Do you understand, Shuter? He | * was going to give me new clothes and food, and a hot bath and a clean shirt and tobacco, and a chance to make some money -again. I had made my frst pile | sonable that a cheque like this shouldn't £ be cashed without some safeguards. ing.' "He led the way into the room of the manager, who looked up in some sur- prise at seeing a seedy trump like me the night before. ashamed of that cut in the knee of my The cashier looked at me deubtfully, as you can imagine, and told He'd nothing for me, "Shuter, I was so happy that I jested 'Oh, yes, you have, says I, 'you've got fifty pounds.' "I look out the cheque and endorsed it with a hand which trembled most ridi- counter to the cashier. 'That's all right, [ think,' I said; and 1 winked at the fel- low out of pure good nature. "He picked it up and glanced at it. 'What's all this? he asked. "'Why," 1 sald, 'it's the cheque competition. in my name yel? My heart sank a liltle, for T thought my breukfasl was going to be pul off for a few minutes, 'What's your game? asked the cash- fer 'We've no one of that name on our account of that Haven't they sent books and no 'You'd better come in and see the manager," he said. "All right,' said 1, quite pleased. 'He'll know all about it." It seemed to me rea- this, what's this? * 'This person's got some story about a fitty-pound cheque replied the cashier, Le's talking about. compelition, sir,' 'T don't know what He seems perfectly "*What's vour tale? said the manager. "I told him the whole story, and the cashier showed him the cheque. "Very sorry,' said the manager, 'but I's a hoax; do you Walherspoon doesn't bank here, and we've no account of any sort. What a shabby trick, though, to play on a poor devil like you.' bank manager (hought of il. Imagine how [looked at it; as he finishad I turned turtie--fainted bang off across "'Like a club guest's address, eh? | the table. Here's the boodle.' "They put "It was an order<cheque for fifly pounds cn the Oxford Street branch of the Great Northern Bank, signed William Wather- That's what the some brandy down throat, and I came round, and then th ¥) were, I must say, very kind. ager said he had never heard of a crueller spoon, and at the top was typewritten. | thing. The cashier said thal fhe man was a ruflian. The commissionaire, who It was dated two days pre- | had been called, said he was blowed. was utterly knocked out, and I remem- bered I'd no business there, and 1 got up "Then the manager dived into his pock- cl and forked out ten shillings. here.' gays he, 'I believe your story. and I'm thundering sorry for you. hand me my hat.' He pul the ten shillings into it and "No, he seid, 'I'll see you hanged first! | landed it to of those very Cigars since. They are the | Haven't you got your cheque. Here's | rcund the bank, Pullet, he said, 'and tell i] fcurpence for you, though. By Jove, your any other. -I didn't know that at the face just now was worth it! time; but I met him, Shuter, later on at a City Banquet, and he froze on to me, and, as I recognized him, I accepted his Invitation fo dinner next evening, And we became great pals. He didn't remem- ter me, though. No, by Jove, he didn't remember me! "He stood, as I say, looking down at me as il 1 were some new Leadt, and | stared up at him defiantly, for, although I'd been in' the gutter some time then, I radn't got used to the insolence of the rich. He took the weed out of his mouth, and said, in a silky voice: "'My friend, you seem to be down on your luck. "I thought he might give me some men- ey if I was civil to him T even called him. 'sir.' 'cm about this poor chap. they'll add something to it.' "He dealt out four pennies into my | "Pullet put in a shilling and went I longed to throw them in his teeth, bul I had stronger longings than I thanked him instead. round among the other clerks. them told him to go to the deuce, but others forked out like men, and between "'Good-night," he said again; 'sleep | them they made up the managers ten shillings lo seventeen shillings and four- pence. There was a young chap paying n some cash at the counter, and he asked what the hat was going round for. The other cashier told him, and he said he'd : - | made a good thing oul of the National, advantages of food and shelter. I could and he'd contribute! And he did; a whole scvereign! So that 1 after all, you see." Borlase took a fresh cigar, for the first had gone out during the tale. "And 1 kept the cheque," he said, "to remind me of their kindness, and of other gol my breakfast, "'You don't Jcok as if you'd much of a balance at Coutts.' he remarked. "I could have struck But I said 'No, I have Th re # a a) you e a good 'fSmokes. cigars that him to the ground. not.' 'Shuter, when you in his grip 1 from a man who smejl like that one on earth he was 'Coutts' and his at all, and 1 ov the table. "You sha'n't man, who. kept 'fun out of me. Not that way." "It don't matter much where I spent | things." the night. It was somewhere in the orighborhood of King's Cross Station, and my bed was as slances permitted, What with the trains and other things I didn't sleep very much; I simply lay warm, and told my- seli what I-was going to do with that money. First of all 1 devised a little menu for the breakfast to which I would sit. down about len-fifteen a.m., in a lit- tle. Swiss restaurant not five minutes' walk from the bank. There was an ome- lette in il. and some hot coffee and French bread and good butter. I knew just fhe kind of cigar I should buy in the fobacconist's opposite the bank, and T knew just how 1 should lean back in 'I'that little restaurant and smoke if. I °, | even anticipated the trouble I should have at first with the little fat i about going Then he opened a drawer in the lable and took out an gnvelope. From it he - | drew a crumpled cheque. He leaned over as my circu ¥ circum and spread it out carefully in front of Shuter. "Da you recognize it?" he asked. Shuter muttered an inaudible reply as hoe reached blindly for his hat. "Stop a minute," said Borlase. "I've something else fo show you." 'He look out a second envelope and laid it, un~ opened on the table. "Look inside," he said. : Shuter unfastened it mechanically, and found in il a second cheque. It was made oul to his order for forty thousand peunds, and was signed "John Borlase." "'No," said Shuter. as he dropped it gel any more "I's all right," said Borlase, "Pick it T'm not plagiarising." d (WP, Tin ok pin g he swear--" began Shuter, as t the thing" ¢ad and a beast, Shuter"