Dialstone Lane, Complete

indulge in hints to his two greatest friends, which caused those gentlemen to entertain some doubts as to his sanity. Mr. Robert Stobell, whose work as a contractor

e burglar was offering for some reason to share his loot with him. A conversation betw

making mysteries of things

ought it over. "I believe it's all my eye and Betty Martin," he said, at length, quoting a saying wh

Yesterday he came in and asked me what I thought of a man who wouldn't break his word for half a million. Half a million, mi

the lines of his heavy face; Mr. Tredgold, whose sharp, alert features bred mo

don't," said Mr. Stobell,

to his friend's mental processe

as he turned to cross the road to his office. "You come too, and we'll get it

the part of a partial and overbearing judge, Mr. Chalk, after a display of fortitude which surprised himself almost a

go for it?" ejaculated Mr. T

aid Mr. Chalk. "The captain's word is his bond, a

anced at Mr. Stobell; that gentleman, afte

r else risk losing it by telling the men who rescued him about it, and he's had no opportunity since. It wants money to take a ship out th

ns. Mr. Tredgold relapsed into silence, and for some time the only sound audible c

ting cruise of yours, Chalk?" demanded

it to Captain Bowers only the other day.

e at Mr. Stobell. In return he got a wink which t

n't got the money for such an expedition; you have. The yarn about passing his word was so that you shouldn't open your mo

et," said Mr. Stobel

and looked from

impressively. "I'm a business man and I could put it on a business footing. It's a big risk

lowly, gazed in deep thought at the

"sea-air . . . change . . . blow away the cobwebs . . . experience for Edwa

hair in his huge hands and drew his b

usiness with pleasure?" he said,

p for the love of it,"

e ought to pay a bigger share,

ll," said Tred

one hand, indicated that he was in the throes o

ience for Edward to be left

" was t

declared the contractor, "because

tly. "If the captain consents we three will find the

this discussion, came back to earth again. "I

'll have the first refusal. Things like that soon get about. Wh

rection of Dialstone Lane surprised neither of them. Mr. Tredgold leading, they went round by the

efore, Tredgold,"

her. "Binchester ought to be proud of i

e church for a couple o' hundr

on's hot. At any rate," he concluded, as Mr. Chalk voi

the way in. Captain Bowers, who was sitting with Prudence, looked up at

g in," said Mr. Tredgold, "and I haven't

rvously awaiting events. Mr. Tasker set out the whisky, and, Miss Drewitt avowing a fondness for smoke in other people, a comfo

ld could hark back to the sea again Mr. Stobell was discoursing, almost eloquently for him, upon drains. From drains to the shortcomings of the district council they progressed by natural

s," he said, desperately, as he glanced at the c

d glanced shrewdly at his visitor

Tredgold. "I suppose you'll have another voya

f the sea; other men may have a turn now. Th

ured something about breaking

career," sigh

said Mr. Tredgol

ofession, it has two side

the wily Tredgold, "but I suppose one gets chan

is who had made a small fortune by selling Japan

intent upon business. Mr. Stobell took his pipe out of his mouth and cleared h

stonished captain, as Mr. Chalk be

ather to!" added Mr. Stobell, making t

ked inquiringly

s pipe in his mouth as a sign that he had finis

s of some precious stones you buried, I think," sa

said his friend.

r to fit out and give him the command of an expedition to recover the treasure. In a speech which included the benevolent Mr. Stobell's hospitals, widows, and orphans, he pointed out a score of reasons

word," he s

r a little encouragement. "Tredgold has broke his word b

not for that?" inquired Tredgold,

captain, smiling; "but

ittle hesitation asked as a great favour to be permitted to see the map. As a

took the map from the bureau, and placing it on the table kept

s ever seen the other side,"

wanted to see it, and I trust her as I would tru

-line until, coming to the extreme south-west corner,

"All you've got to do is to find

ook his head as at a cho

suppose anybody found it without your

it first," sa

ld you?" inqu

d it to its place in the bureau. "You go a

ermission?" de

o go and dig over all the islands in the Pacific; there's

owly. "That is to say, it's anybody's that finds it. It is

othing to do with me. You go and fi

mechanically towards the bureau. "If we do," h

rown study trying to separate the serious from the jocular, he drank success to their search. He was about to give vent to further pleasantries when he was stopped

he silhouette of a young woman in a large hat put the upper panels in shadow. The

said Mr. Chalk, i

falling in with his mood. "I've already warned tha

ere still on that theme when they rose to depart some time later. Tredgold and Chalk bade the captain a cordial good-night; but Stobell, a creature of primit

and thinking over the events of the evening. Then Mr. Tasker's second infringeme

e?" he inquired, cautious

" was th

nded the captain, with sudden lo

. "It ain't my fault," he sai

"Don't talk nonsense. What do

ly; "that's why. She's took a fancy to me, and, that bein

" said hi

," he said, with some bitterness; "that's what comes of hav

o come here in the first place

, with respectful scorn. "Ask

me for, then?" in

road-Mint Street. Somehow it got put about that we were walking out. A week afterwards she saw me in Harris's, the grocer's, and waited outside for me till I come

for if you don't want her?" inquired the

't know Selina. She bought the ring and said I was to pay it

ack and regarded

her ain't 'it 'er mother not since Selina was seventeen. He dursent. The last time Selina went for him tooth and nail; s

ptain

allowed to go into pubs. If he does it's no good, because they won't serve 'im. If they do Selina goes in next morning and gives them a piece of 'er mind. Sh

ve her here," said the cap

" was the reply, "and all she says is sh

wistfully. The captain's brows were bent in thought, and Mr. Tasker, reminding himself that

as he turned and caught sight of hi

towards the door

ld do to prevent her coming, sir," he said, slowly

said the

her young lady for some ti

the latch. Under the baleful stare with which the indignant capt