The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

stition changed the human being who possessed such a power into the philosopher's stone-the stone which so many alchemist

ns happiness in most of those things, which the fortunate possessor of it may choose to touch. Should he speculate, he is successful; if he marry, his wife will surely prove everything to be desired; should he aspir

xpected. He had come out in the early days of the colony with comparatively little money, but his great perseverance and never-failing luck had soon changed his hundreds into thousands, and now at the age of fifty-five he did not himself know the extent of his income. He had large stati

th pretty and an heiress, naturally attracted crowds of suitors. But Madge Frettlby was capricious, and refused innumerable offers. Being an extremely independent young person, with

tance he came at his appointed time, in the person of one Brian Fitz

t, and talked darkly about the Land League and other agreeable things. Under these circumstances, with no rent coming in, and no prospect of doing anyt

us for spending than for saving, and it was an agreeable surprise to their latest representative to find the money rolling in instead of out. He began to indulge in castles in the air concerning that other castle in Ireland, with the barren acres and discontented tenants. In his mind's-eye he saw t

pportunity, and declared himself. She, woman-like, coquetted with him for some time, but at last, unable to withstand the impetuosity of her Irish lover, confessed in a low voice, with a pretty smile on her face, that she could not live without him. Whereupon-well-lovers being of a conservative turn of mind, and accustomed to observ

ng occurred which postponed the interview indefinitely. Mrs. Frettlby was out driving, and the horses took frigh

o the earth, with all the pomp and ceremony which money could give, the bereaved husband rode home, and resumed his old life. But he was never the same again. His face, which had always been so genial and so bright, became stern and sad. He seldom smiled, and when he did, it was a faint wintry smile, which seemed mechanical. His whole interes

his daughter. But for the second time fate interposed. A rival suitor

of introduction to Mr. Frettlby, who received him hospitably, as was his custom. Taking advan

rided himself on his perspicuity in reading character. His opinion of Whyte was anything

tions, much to Brian's disgust. At length he asked her to be his wife, and notwithstanding her prompt refusal, spoke to her father on the subject. Much to the astonishment of his

eat Brian with an insolence which was highly galling to Fitzgerald's proud nature. He had called on Whyte at hi

and that his love was returned. So, when Madge added her entreaties to Brian's, Mr. Frettlby f

from his own lips that such was the case, he left the house at once, and swore that he would never enter it again. He little knew how prophetic were his words, for on that same night he met his death in the hanso

ide there was a kind of screen of tropical plants, and through the tangle of the boughs the guests, seated at the table, could just see the waters of the bay glittering in the pale moonlight. Brian was seated opposite to Madge, and every now and then he caugh

in Melbourne, and was always bright, happy, and full of news. For details of any scandal you were safe in applying to Felix Rolleston. He knew all that was going on, both at home and abroad. And his knowledge, if not very accurate, was at least extensive, while his conversation was piquant, and at times w

wn signs of languishing before

slipped into a seat by Madge; "but a fellow like me

adge, with a disbelieving smile. "Confess,

vantage of having a large circle of acquaintances. The

have something els

but Mr. Rolleston disdained

" he went on, "is, that it brings people

tlby, who was looking at him with a

e never heard of," quoted Rolleston gravely. "

ation in his hands. There w

his eye-glass, "they have found out the name o

ied every o

ston, "and what's mo

?" said Brian, in

, rather annoyed at being forestalled. "Why

d to meet Whyte constantly, and as I have not seen him f

asked Mr. Frettlby, idly

ellows, you know," answered F

fact that Whyte was murdered. "He had a letter of introd

in which it was shrouded. When the ladies retired they chatted about it in the drawingroom, but finally dropped it for more agreeable subjects. The men, however, when the cloth was removed, f

ho was amusing himself with cracking nuts, "is

comparatively little known here, as he had been out from England such a

clothes-which nine men out of ten are in the habit of wearing in the evening-no cards in his pockets, and no name on his linen, I rat

Felix, whose reading was of the lightest description. "Awfully exciting, like p

said Mr. Frettlby, with an amused sm

ix, shrewdly; "some fellows are like trifle at a pa

id the police will have a more difficult task in discovering the man

discovered?" asked Brian, rousi

for tracking is so highly developed, needs some sort of a trail to enable him to find out his enemies. Depend upon it," went on Calton, warmin

y, I should think that a hansom cab in

tion. There was nothing about the gentleman in the light coat who murdered Whyte to excite Royston's suspicions. He entered the cab with Whyte; no noise or anything likely to attract attention was heard, and then he alighte

?" asked

rne to Fitzroy, or he walked back through the Fitzroy Gardens into town. There was no one about at that time of the morning, and he could return to his lodgings, hotel, or wherever h

really did seem the most natural thing that would

y to the drawing-room, "if the fellow that committed the crime