Harry Blount, the Detective

on which changed the aspect of the trip for the latter, from dismal recklessness

d Mr. Stafford remarked the dismal, down-h

uizzically, "you need some of th

is t

jolly, pr

more to keep the conversation going tha

ecame deeply interested, and beamed on the speaker something after the manner of the sun bursting from behind a cloud.) "It seems they were a good deal to each other for some time before he went to Australia, but they quarrelled and that sent him off. She was i

ord had no reason to complain of his companionship. Indeed, the old gentleman could not understand the s

esting tale, for their entrance was not noticed until they had almost reached the group sitting in a half circle about his chair. H

s, stands the her

d roared with laughter, while Martin actually blushed-which

is really too bad! Spa

himself-which put all on a more friendly footing t

her before he could not recall, but that he had seen her Martin felt positive. At length his cu

oon about you. I seem to recall your face, but cannot rec

finally shook her pretty head negatively. No, she had not seen him before-that is, she could

bout "the season," but he did know Miss

aw him out," as she explained confidentially to the other ladies in the drawing-room while awaiting the gentlemen. Her questions we

s of nice things about you, and I have been thinking-never

the person addressed, but the wh

cing at Kate's hand-she sat just opposite; "Oh! I be

was quite a history attached to the ring. He had not seen Kate's ring, and w

. "Then I'll forgive you for laughing at me,

owever, he found that not only Miss Fleming, but all the rest of the ladies were waiting for the story, and surrounded him i

if Jennie-Miss Fleming wants a thing, she alw

as well surrender. Now pay st

t the time of his death, Mr. Hall was living in the country. He had retired from business a few years before and the people in the vicinity knew very little about him or his affairs. Theref

d Hall, and from the day he left his country home young Hall was taught to call himself Hard

e of eighteen. This, of course, the unscrupulous executor opened, and found it to be a request from the father that the son on att

growing somewhat interested by this time. At

ut hang it! You can't be inventing! Wh

im in surprise. Martin, however, quickly noted that neither Mrs

fford, and if you wait a minute or

Stafford! Don't spoil

fford could not help laughing at Jennie

ork. Here chance favored him for in some way-how I cannot tell-he came across his uncle, now an old man in abject poverty. His son, of whose whereabouts he knew nothing, had squandered every dollar of the large estate left by Mr. Hall. He gave young Hall all he had remaining, and that was the letter relating to the marriage compact. Leaving New York, Hall went to California, where I met him and from whence we traveled to Australia, where we met George Carden, Fred's uncle, who took a great fancy t

died immediately after the

nd his words as they saw the grim smile and the cruel expr

he died just o

dered and moved

. It was known that he owned valuable property in and about Melbourne and Sydney and Hall when dying told me to warn him that it was known that he carried ￡20,000 worth of diam

ough with his story, but Mis

id a word about the

es of his death. He left her what little he had made-a matter of two or three thousand pounds, which I am still waiting to give her, but