Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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j lewis m. g-bist, proprietor.! fiit Jndtptndent ,dfamilg ftncspapcr: <Jjbr the fJromotion of thf political, $orial fijricuKurat and (Commercial Jntertste of the ^>outh. |terms?$2.00 a year in advance. VOLT35. . YOEKYILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1889. NO 20. U <yif.i'rli T">77 ANOTHER VOjil A |)?i i:. ? :!' , . FROM THE DIARY 01 Mil I i : : >1 i nr *i; it'iiif * i/. >11uiJi... .! " HY .ITLTIjIATV t // bllO'1' ' i / : Author of "The Great Bi :can Pern ?i ?>v/; . : i 'Mi) ii< . > nU if It -v * . "it >/ [Copyright liyCk M. Dunham, ami publi: American PreAs Association with Cn / ?) //? ' . / J. I it ' i! r_ :M ll ? s". .'lit MO '>: i i . . i >ilJ Milil-ivit >ii toi?? i/ . . i CHAPTER - . | ,^tVST.-. " r , > ~ i t ]rvnrW UDGE KETEL.-? >! > i ^ S: pro p h ec j ''} wae delayed; ;bat /vvifi^r it icame true at JK3W> la?t; Mrs. o.ll \rNolen.did not ii/ One morning ' Percy cameto the 1 nlfO^ll /MtEz house, and earner up to his mother's boudoir, where ' ' 8*ie was sitting ?. i'.'i fttSwB rea<*ing iir. Shorthouse's rowfl* mance of "John r Inglesant." Mrs. Nolen was not given to reading fiction as a rule; but Mr. Shorthouse was understood lo be a religious writer, and she enjoyed his book very much without entirely understanding it. Percy kissed her, and sat down in a chair opposite. After a little desultory conversation he said, "Mother, I'm in a scrape!" Her heart sank; she closed her book, and folded her hands upon it "Oh, my son!" she said, falteringly. "Well, it's nothing so very dreadful," he returned, forcing a smile. "I was up at Monmouth Park the other day, and lost a little money?well, it was a pretty good sum, for ma I'm not a Croesus, you know, and a few thousand dollars makes a difference." '' Monmou th Park? What is that?" "It's a track; they race horses there, you know." ?' "Percy, have you been betting on horse races?" "Mercy, mother, it's no crime! All the fellows do it. I should look queer if I didn't chip in with the rest! Only this time I happened to get in pretty deep; and as all the favorites were beaten I got badly left." "Do you mean that you lost all the money you wagered?" ".Every cent or it; you never saw sucu u run of bad luck in your life. The trouble was, I made up my mind to win anyhow;* so each time I lost I put it all on the next race, so as to get back what was gone, and more into the bargain. It was as good as certain that I wouldn't lose every race, you see. So when it came to the last I had a big pile on; and it was voted a sure thing. I believe it was the jockey's fault, after all. Anyhow, he lost the race by a short head; and if I hadn't had a return ticket I'd have been obliged to walk home." "All your money gone! Why, my son, if you had invested it, you might have lived comfortably on the interest of it! And your father gave it to you to start you in your profession. What can you do?" "Well, mother, I must do the best I can. I know it's all wrong, and I'm very sorry and all that. But it's no use . ciying for spilt milk.. I'm in a bole and I've got to bo helped out of it somehow!" ,"I will speak to Judge Ketello and see what" "Whatever you do, don't speak to Judge Ketelle! He can do no good, and would be certain to do a lot of mischief. What business is it of Judge Ketelle's anyway?" "He was appointed executor under the will and" "That is no concern of mine, mother! Mv interest in the will ceased when I got my patrimony. I have no further relations with' the judge nor he with me. He has no right to help me, oven if he wanted to, which ho doesn't." "ily sqn, ha is the best friend I have, and whatever is for our good" "Jfy dear mother, I tell you it won't do! I know what tho judge would say, and after ho had said it I would be no better off than I am now. I have some pride, and I don't want all the world to know that I'm a beggar." I shouldn't think you would, either." "Percy, you know I wish nothing but your good, but" "Tho long and short of the matter is that unless I am to be disgraced I must have some money, and without any delay, too. I owe a few bills?they don't amount to much?and I must have a little to go on with. A thousand dollars would cover the wholo thing. You can let me have it, can't you?" "A thousand dollars! But after that, Percy? You will be wanting money all the time, and this cannot go on forever." "It isn't going on forever. This is tho first time I have ever asked you for a cent, mother, and it shall bo the last. Heaven knows it was hard enough to have to como to you at any rate; but I didn't expect you would make it harder by arguing about it!" "My dearest boy, you might have all I possess, so far as I am concerned" "Who else is concerned except you? a thousand dollars isn't going to ruin you. mother, but it is ruin to me if I don't get it. And don't fear I shall be coming to you again. I am going to stop tho kind of a life I have been living tho last year and turn over a new leaf. I havo several opportunities to get positions in tho city, and I am going to set to work at onco and find out what will be the best thing. As soon as I am in a place where I can * turn around I shall put in my spare time p studying up my mining, and before another year is out I shall bo ready to accept an engagement. I can support myself as well as the next man?and make a fortune, too! But I don't suppose you want to see me miss all that for the sake of a paltry thousand dollars?"' Tho end of it was that Mrs. Nolen gave him a thousand dollars. Sh? tripd to inako him promise that ho would como and livo under her own roof, but ho put her off with a temporizing reply, alleging, in no very logical vein, that he did not wish to make himself a burden to her, but when he got "fixed" so that ho could pay her for his board and lodging he would como with pleasure. The request indicated that getting fixed was an operation that required time. The fact was that Percy paid sums on account to his most pressing creditors, including the proprietor of his lodgings, and went on living much as before; to salve his conscience he did make somo inquiries about work, but not in such a manner as to secure practicable answers. One subject possessed his mind, and that was Mrs. Tunstall. It was impossible for him to live with his mother while that affair was going on. His infatuation was intensified by Sylvia's timidity and reluctance. A man's brains count for nothing in such a matter. Percy lived in the desire of the moment; he gave no thought to the inevitable consequences. If he might see her today, or to-morrow, no matter about the day after, and no matter that the meeting was fraught with danger both to her and to him. The difference between a good desire and an evil one generally is that the former is $gce and the latter has more or less of insanity. Sylvia's heart was not engaged?if she could be said to have a heart?and it was clear in her mind that she must run no $isk of compromising herself. At the eame time, had It been in her power to hantox Peroy forever ty'the utterance of a slfigie word, it is doubtful if she would have done it. She knew that, were her husband to discover any further corre :\S CRIME! ? INSPECTOR BYRNES. JAWTIIOItNK, ink Robbery,'* "An Amerfnan." Etc. shed, through special arrangement !> / tlio tssell A Co., New York and London.] i . ' T* . spondence between them, lie would not : hesitate to act decisively and finally, and the first result of that action would lie 4 that she would find herself cast upon , the ' world with a damaged reputation. Such i a thing was not to be thought of. But the very peril of her position was an allurement to linger in it; and then there was the excitement of knowing that a man was in love with her who had no business to be so, and who was willing to go all lengths for her. Moreover, she was angry as well as dismayed because | her husband had spoken to her as he did I rniro nil wnmpn. she intenireted what was said by what was meant), and found a pleasure in defying him in thought if not in deed. So, although she did not openly and explicitly encourage Percy, she allowed him to believe that he was not indifferent to her. Neither ho nor she had committed any actual sin, but they were on the road to do so. People always believe that they can pull up at the last moment, and are therefore willing to go on until the last moment is reached. But by that time events combine in an unforeseen manner and push them over the edge. Then they arc- astonished to find themselves linked with the brotherhood of crime. And once that link is forged it defies all attempts to break it. It happened before long that Percy needed more money. He had less than two hundred dollars left, and he owed more than that He did not wish to go to his mother again, partly from shame, partly because he knew that, in order to raise the sum he needed, she would be obliged to sell some stock, and that would involve applying to Judge Ketelle. One night at a club he was asked to take a hand at a game of poker with three others. He sat down and played with varying success for an hour or two. Then two of the quartet withdrew and Kq o nrl tlm nthor bont; nn Percy had faith iu his luck, and had fortified himself with several whisky cocktails. His opponent was a quiet man, and seemed to be m a dejected and timid frame of mind. The chips on the table represented a good deal of money, how much exactly Percy did not know; he meant to win it all. Some good cards were dealt to him; he drew, and found himself in possession of a superb hand. He was quite certain that his adversary held no such cards, and he began to bet. His adversary was drawn into raising him; they continued to raise each other. Percy swallowed another cocktail, aud felt that he could not lose. He acted i upon this conviction and^ost. Upon inj vestigation, it appeared that the quiet : man had won not only Percy's original stakes, but some nine hundred dollars into the bargain. Percy preserved a calm exterior, and wrote his I. 0. U. for the amount, to be redeemed within twenty-four hours. Meanwhile, he was in a cold sweat of consternation, for he did not know how he was to get the money. It was too large a sum to borrow from any of his acquaintance^; those whom he knew well enough to approach on such a matter were aware of his financial standing, and would not lend anything. There was notliincr for it but to fro to his 1110 ther. The money must be forthcoming. If he failed to pay, he would be dishonored. Sylvia would hear of it * # * Nol he must have the money at any cost. Ho went to bed, passed a very bad night, and after attempting to eat some breakfast ho betook himself to his mother's house. The nature of his errand was so apparent in his manner and appearance that she divined it at once. The interview that ensued was a very painful one to both parties Mrs. Nolen had not got the money, and could not get it for a week at least. She Imr crm Ktr otti. WW ? "J -WWUVUIWJ dence that such was the case. It might be possible to borrow from Judge Ketelle: there was no other way. These were facts which no arguments or entreaties could alter. Mrs. Nolen was terribly agitated by the revelation of her son's incorrigible perversity, and her tears and anguish put liim in almost a suicidal frame of mind. It seemed to him that if he could only escape from this predicament he would never allow himself to get caught again. But there was no escape, except through the judge, and that was almost as bad as no escape at all. The judge, even if ho agreed to the loan, was not the man to spare Percy a plain and severe statement of the reprehensibility of his behavior." The young man writhed ' in anticipation of this rebuke. He knew ho deserved it, but it would not be easier to endure on that account. Under ordinary circumstances he might rebel and answer back; but it would not do to fight' wini u luuu wuulu no was oegging money of. He had always been proud of his pride; now that pride was going to suffer a fatal humiliation. Only one thing could bo worse, and that was to inform his opponent of the night before that he could not pay him. Percy wished that ho had never been born, and then ho wished that ho were dead. The first wish being impracticable, and the second one that ho did not care to put into practice, he left his mother's house in an unenviable frame of mind, i and turned his steps in the direction of i Judge Ketelle's office. He felt gloomy and desperate. He could understand how men, heretofore respectable, were induced to become thieves or robbers. Had bo been a bank cashier, he felt that he was in a mood to rob the safe and depart for Canada; or if ho had been alone on a dark road with a wealthy old gentleman, lie could have taken him by the throat and gone through his pockets, j But he was or. Fifth avenue, in broad j daylight, and these 6hort methods of rei imbursing himself were not available. Ho struck into Broadway, and presi ently, about a block in advance, he caught sight of a graceful female figure that ho knew, walking in the same direction with himself. It was Sylvia Tunstull. He hastened his steps; but just before he came up with her she turned into a large jewelry shop on the right. It was as good a place as another for an interview, and ho felt a feverish desire to speak to her. Ho followed her into the shop, and, as she came to a pause at one of the counters, he stood lieside her and uttered her name. CHAPTER V. A FATAL MEETING. i ?aAy HE shop was a ^ very large one, anc* wns xjv ?3^^ customers, for and the wealthier portion of the mBnP& community was presenting itself I jjjjji$ t o in o r s were though there was also a fair sprinkling of the other sex. There were also the salesmen and the walkers, and perhaps a few other persons whose office was not to promote sales but to prevent appropriations of stock by individuals who had not gor.? through the formality of paying for it. Yet it seemed impossible that, among such a multitude, the eyes of u detective should be able to fix upon the malefac.tors, and nevertheless a successful theft was a very uncommon occurrence in the great jewelry shop. When Mrs. Tunstall heard her name, she turned with a start, and her vivid but pretty face paled. "Don't 6tay," she said in a low voice: "do go! what is | the use of running any risks?" "I have as good a right as anybody to ' be here," Percy replied. "If wo both happen to bo hero at the samo time, what of that?" "What is the matter? You look quite I ill I" oVl?> CO,VI At this moment a salesman, having dispatched an adjoining customer, presented himself before her with a "What can f do for you, madam?" She handed him a card and said, "I have called about that necklace; it was to have been ready this morning." The man took the card, bowed and hurried off. She turned again to Percy. Her muff was in her left hand, and as she turned she laid it upon the glass counter, on the side furthest away from him. His sudden appearance had evidently disconcerted her. He met her look and thought how - charming she was. She wa& dressed in fine black velvet trimmed with soft furs, and wore a wonderful bonnet, adorned with birds' feathers and sparkling points; a delicate silken veil was bound around it Her oval face, with its bright'eyes, small straight nose and rather full Lips, was perfectly pretty; and now the blood, which had been driven from her cheeks for a moment, came ebbing back beneath the transparent skin. She was lovely, luxurious and rich; those diamonds in her ears would have paid all his debts, and he believed that she would relievo his necessities in a moment had she known of them. But how impossible it was to tell her! How inaccessible she was, though ho could have thrown his arms around her as she stood there! He felt a helpless rage?an impulse to seize upon her and make off with her bodily. If he only had had money?money, and plenty of it?there was nothing so.wild that he would not havo ventured to "propose it to her. What a power money was in this world! All this time ho stood gazing at her and saying not a word. "What is the matter with you, Percy?" she repeated. "What makes you look so? You are making everybody notice us. Are you"? She hesitated. "I am sober, if that's what you mean," ho said. "If we were alone I would show you what is the matter with me! Good God! Is there noplace in the world where we can be alone together for half an hour?" Some one touched him on tho arm. He turned savagely. It was only a gentleman who begged his pardon. He had left a cane standing against the counter; it was not there; he apologized and went off. Percy came round to the other side of Sylvia and leaned on the counter, taking her muff in his hands. "I can't stand this," ho resumed. "I never see you at all now. I have as much right to see you as any of your acquaintances. You keep out of my way!" "If you would be content to see me as my other acquaintances do?but you know perfectly well how dangerous it is. And you could not have chosen a worse place than this." She bent forward and added in a whisper, "I expect Mr. Tunstall may come in at any moment. He knew I was coming here this morning about the necklace, and said something about intending to try and meet ine. Do go! It will only make it more difficult hereafter.". "It cannot be more difficult than it is already," replied Percy sullenly. "I should like to meet him and have it out with him, if he wants to say anything! What is there he can say, for that matter? He has no business to interfere." "You don't know him!" "He doesn't know me, if lie thinks I care for him! Why should wo mind? If the worst comes to the worst, it would only throw U3 together I am ready for it?are you?" "Percy, you are crazy! How can you talk so! You will make mo wish never to see you again. Nothing of that sort is possible. I never thought of such a thing." "Such things have been thought of. and they are possible. You are not happy as you are now, Sylvia, and you know it. Why not let society and respectability go to the devil, where they belong, and enjoy life in our own way? There are other places in the world besides New York or America." "Here is the necklace, Mrs. Tunstall," said the voico of the salesman. He was standing on the opposite side of the counter, with the box in his hands. She was thankful for the interruption, for she was becoming seriously alarmed at Percy's manner: and. drawing the box towards her, she opened it. It contained a necklace of fine diamonds, which had bebn selected some time liefore, and set according to Mrs. Tunstall's directions. She examined them and expressed her approval. "It is twenty-five hundred dollars, is it not?" she said. "Twenty-live hundred dollars." repeated the salesman, softly. She looked arouud for her mulT, which Percy had just replaced on the counter. She slipped her hand in it and uttered an exclamation. Then she sent a quick glance over the counter and on the floor. "Have you seen it?" sho said in a startled tone. "I beg your pardon," said the salesman, blandly. Percy maintained a gloomy silence and an abstracted gaze. "My pocket book?and some money in bank notes. I had them in my mufT," she exclaimed. ^ "Have yoit" sho went on, turning to Percy. He looked at her uncomprehendiugly. "What is it?" ho demanded. "My purse?and the money. Why, you had my muH just now. Didn't you" "Did I have your mulf? I wasn't aware nf if T l-imw nnfhinrr idmut it." said he. unconcernedly. "But I can't loso it?it must l>e found ?it was right there!" she exclaimed again. "It can't have disappeared into nothing!" "May I inquiro if the sum was a large one?" put in the salesman, softly. "Why, yes! there were twenty-five hundred dollars and some smaller notes in the purse. I had brought it to pay for the necklace." By this time several persons had collected, drawn by the evident agitation of the handsomo young lady; among them was a small, bright looking man, with an alert and confident manner. Ho subjected Mrs. Tunstall and Percy to a keen but unobtrusive scrutiny. "Perhaps you put it in your pocket," Percy suggested, who, on hearing so largo a sum mentioned, had begun to arouse himself from his curious apathy. She put her hand in the pocket of her dress and felt in it anxiously, then shook her head. "No," she said, "and, besides, I recollect it all now distinctly. I put tho money in my purse when I went out this morning, and put tho purse in my muff, as I always do. When I got hero I took out tho purso und took the notes from it" "Pardon me, madam," interposed the bright looking man at this point; "I am connected with this establishment, and it is my duty to investigate casesof missing articles. Can you state what was tho denomination of tho bills representing tho sum of money?twenty-fivo hundred dollars I think you said?" "There wero four bank notes," Mrs. Tunstall replied; "one of a thousand dollars, and threo of five hundred each." "Thank you," said tho man, making a note on some tablets in his hand. "Do you recollect tho numbers of tho notes or the banks they belonged to?" She shook her head. "I didn't look," she.said. "You took theso notes out of your i purso, you say" ! "I took tliem out so as to have them j ready. I was a little nervous about car! yying so much money, and I thought if I ' should lose tho purso I would have the monoy separate. But now it is all gonel" "After taking the notes out of your . purse, what did you do with them?" pur| sued tho bright looking man. "I held them in my hand in my muff; in this hand," indicating her left. ' 'Then, just as I camo up to the counter, this gentleman spoke to me." "This gentleman is a friend of yours?" Mrs. Tunstall hesitated and colored. "I am acquainted with him?slightly acquainted with him," sho said at length. "Will you oblige mo with your name, sir?" said the other, turning to Percy. "I don't know what my name has got to do with it!" returned Percy, rather brusquely. "Who are you?" Tho man turned back the lapel of his coat and showed the badge of the Central TV~i UUIUUU. "lain attending to my business, sir," he said, "and as you were in this lady's company at tho time the loss occurred you will bo needed as a witness, if for no other purpose I" Ho pronounced tho last words in a peculiar tone, which caused Percy to turn upon him sharply. "What do you mean by that?" ho demanded. i"I mean, sir, that it is proper for mo to make a note of your name," tho detective replied. "I have 110 power at present to make you give it, however." "Oh, I havo no objection," Percy returned, carelessly. "Here is my card," and ho handed it to tho other, who read it, nodded and slipped it into his pocket. "Now, madam, what did you do after this gentleman spoko to you?" "I answered him." "Did you still hold tho money in your hand?" "No," she said, after a moment's thought. "I took my 'hfod out of tho muff and left it Jyi^fthero on tho coun"Wero tho jrahBO rad the money still in it?" "Yes." "Where was he standing?" "He was facing me, on this side." "So your back was turned on your muff?" "For a minuto or two?yes." "Did any ono approach you during that time?" "Not that I remember. Of course, onmn nnn mitrVifr lmrn nnmn nn VinVnnrl without my knowing of it." "What did you do next?" "I think the salesman came up then and I spoko to him about the necklace. Ho went off to get it." "And you continued your conversation with this gentleman?" "Yes." "Was ho in tlio same position as before?" "No?yes?I don't remember!" She had suddenly become embarrassed and the color flow in"to her cheeks again. She glanced at Percy with a frightened look. There was a short pause. "Does your memory servo you on that point, sir?" inquired the detective, turning to Percy. "I have no particular recollection," he replied; "but I know that when the salesman came back with the necklace this lady was between me and the door and I had her muff in my hands." "That agrees with my own impression," said the detective, dryly. "I hapnened to bo looking at you at the time, bid vou notice whether there was anything in the muff at the time you were holding it?" "There was nothing in it, I put my hands inside, and if there had been anything there I would liavo felt it." "When you first spoko to the lady you were between her and the door. Afterwards, you went round to tho other sido of her. I want to bo sure I have tho details all right, you know. What was the occasion of your changing 'round?" "I don't know. I wasn't thinking of what I was doing. While she was canting with tho salesman I had nothing to occupy me; I didn't even remember thai I touched tho muff until you asked me." Tho detective glanced over his tablets, and said, slowly: "The question is, how to reconcile tho two facts: that the Inuff had tho purso and inone*y in it when you first 6poko to tho lady, and a few moments afterwards, when you had hold of it, it was empty." "I don't pretend to account for it; that is your business, I suppose," Percy replied. "Of course, if tho money was there, somebody must liavo taken it out." "Yes, sir, somebody must have taken it out," tho detective repeated, fixing his eyes upon tho young man. "Well, you don't mean to accuse me vP if " r LimtiA.-n " I'liininod Ppmv. with \JL HI, ?- j . a laugh. "I am not accusing anybody at present, sir. What does tho lady think?" "Oh, of course, that is impossible!" said Mrs. Tunstall, looking much distressed. At this moment a gentleman entered the shop, glanced this way and that until ho saw Mrs. Tunstall, and then came straight toward her. As ho approached Percy recognized him; it was Cuthberfc Tunstall. Tho two men bowed politely and coldly. ' CHAPTER VI. THE END OF AN INTRIGUE. f j i y ELL, Sylvia," JkvA I said her husband, Oal f "have you transacted your busiUTi standing with her j\ rfjj {jw back toward him / r U as he approached; iTfif! 'ns v?ice6^??avo SSSlIiiili a start niu^ ^ncc(^ mIIIIII '"m* ^or ^ace ffifk. expressed alarm, agitation and * ' ^ fiance. Tunstall, on tho contrary, was quiet, cold and slightly contemptuous in his beai'ing. It was certainly unfortunate that ho should have como upon her and Percy together. For months past slio had taken every precaution to avoid such a mishap, and now it had occurred, nor had an}' advantage accrued as between her and Percy, but quite the reverse. "I came in here to pay for the necklace, you know," sho said. "I know. If you liavo paid for it, I am ready to escort you home?unless you liavo some engagement with this gentleman." 4'0h, I have no engagement. Mr. Nolen happened to come in and find mo here. But" "Then perhaps Mr. Nolen will excuse us.". "But, I liavo just found?I have mislaid my jioeketbook." "Left it at home?" "No, I liavo lost it since I carno in here." "Do you mean it has been stolen from you?" "It seems to liavo been. I can't account lor it." "If you will step this way, madam and gentlemen " put in the detective, "wo can talk over the matter in private. There is a parlor at the back, where wo shall not lie disturbed. You understand, sir," lie added, addressing Tunstall, "that tiuio is of importance in such things, and the sooner wo can take measures to capturo the thief, tho better chance there is to recover llio bank notes." "Let us go in, by all means," said Tunstall. "But in what manner is Mr. Nolen concerned?" "I was hero when the robbery was committed?if thcro was a robbery," said Percy, "and, according to this detective, my assistance is necessary." Tho detectivo pushed a way through tho crowd that had collected, aud led the others to the rear part of the building, where there was a small room with chairs and a tablo. Into this room were admitted Mr. 'and Mrs. Tunstall, Percy ! and the salesman. "Now, then," said the detective, shutting the door, and taking up a position with his back toward it, "plain words don't break any bones, and the best thing wo can do is to clear away what ever may look puzzling. Here's the way 1 the case stands: Mrs. Tunstall conies : into the shop with her hands in her j muff, and four bank notes to the amount I of two thov^and five hundred dollars were insidpti together with the purse. > I n, -L 1 one cornea up w taic uuuuter, ouu itua gentleman," pointing to Nolen, "comes in right after her, and speaka to her. While she is talking with him, she lays her muff, with the money and the purse in it, on the dounter, and turns her back on it After* a while, along comes the salesman, and while she la speaking to him tliis gentleman goes round the other side and takes up her muff, and turns it in his hands, as It were. A minute afterwards she tabes the muff from him, and finds that thW money and the purse are gone. The gentleman says iie had his hands in the muff, and that it was empty. That's how me case stands. Now, I want to know if the gentleman has anything more to say." And he looked at Nolen. "I have told all I know about it," replied Percy steadily. "I found the muff empty, and if Mrs. Tunstall had not been so positive that the purse and the I money were in it I should say she must ! have been mistaken. The bank notes might have fallen on the ground and not been noticed, but the purse would have been heard to drop." "May I ask, then, what your theory is?" inquired Tunstall, courteously. "I have none," he answered shortly. "And what is yours, Sylvia?" her husband continued. "I'm sure 1 don't know what to think," she said in a faltering voice. The eyes of Tunstall and the detective fixed themselves upon Percy in silence. He reddened as he returned the gaze, but whether with anger or with some other emotion it was impossible to determine. "Weli," he broke out at length, "it seems to me that 1 stand in the position of a suspected person. I can hardly believe," he added, in a hoarser voice, "that I can bo seriously charged with picking a lady's pocaet?especiauy a iaay wiiu whom I am acquainted." He paused; no one 6poke. "Well, then," he went on, angrily. "I will say that I repudiate the charge, and I will hold to account whoever has tko face to make it I mean you, sir!" ho said, with a fierce look at Tunstall. "Have you anything to say to it?" "So far as I am aware," said Tunstall, coolly, "the only person who has spoken of charging you with the theft is yourself. I was not present, and can only judge from hearsay. But I will say this, Mr. Nolen: if 1 were in your place, I should wish to vindicate my innocence in some other way than by asserting it 1 should begin by asking this detective to search my pockets." "Do you dare to say you want me to be searched?" cried Nolen, his face flushing red, while lie advanced a step toward the other, with a threatening gesture. "That is what an honest man would wish to have done," replied the other, not flinching. "Come, come," said the detective, stepping between them, "we don't want any hard words here, gentlemen. But I'm bound to tell you, Mr. Nolen, that Mr. Tunstall is right There's no disgrace in being searched, that I know of; and it would be worth more than a lot of loud talking." Percy stood uncertain for a moment; then ho stripped off his overcoat, and tossed it to the detective. "Do as you like," said he. "You have your duty to perform, I suppose. I will settle with llr. Tunstall afterwards." The detective put his hand into one of the side pockets of the overcoat, then into the other. "Here's something, at any rate," he remarked; and with the words he drew out a lady's purse. Percy uttered a cry, as of utter astonishment and dismay, and stared at the pocket book like a man bewildered. "Is that yours, Sylvia?" inquired her husband quietly, taking the purse and handing it to her. She took it mechanically and opened I it "It is mine." she said, under her breath. "Are tho notes in it?' demanded the detective. She shook her head. "They aro not in the overcoat," the detective added. "We shall have to pursue our examination a little further, Mr. Nolen," he said in a grave tone. "1 don't understand?I have nothing to say?there seems to have been some plot against me," said Percy, in a dazed manner. "I desire to have the thing cleared up more than any one else can. I wish to bo taken to the station and examined." "That's the best sense you've talked yet," answered tho other approvingly. "Call a couplo of hacks. Ferris," he said to the salesman, "and we'll start at once. You charge this man on suspicion of tho robbery?" ho added, turning to Mrs. TunBtalL She was standing with her eyes cast down and her hands hanging folded before her, leaning against tho table. She was in a delicate position, and she knew it If she sided with Percy, it would be tantamount to a defiance of her husband ?a defiance which lie would never forgive and would fight out to tho bitter end. It would mean for her loss of social position and consequent exile and obscur-' ity, or, if not obscurity, a kind of prominence that no one would envy her. If, on tho other hand, she took sides with her husband, it would afford tho strongest possible indication, in his eyes, of her virtuous and wifely conduct and rebuke of tho suspicions ho had entertained against her. Moreover, tho evidence against Percy was very strong and plausible. It might bo misleading?and in the bottom of her heart she did not believe him guilty?but, in case it should turn out that ho had yielded to some sudden temptation, it would be awkward, to say the least, to have compromised herself for a felon. Had she loved him, indeed, there might have been a tragic pleasure in sacrificing herself; but it was now revealed to her that the only love in the matter was a love, not of Percy, but of excitement. The excitement had run itself out. and was succeeded by a desire to get out of the scrape by the shortest route. Rut did she feel no remorse at abandoning her lover at the moment of his greatest need? No; the feminine conscience is not so easily caught. It was with a glow of conscious virtue and connubial rectitude thatsho lifted her pretty face, and addressing her husband, said: "Well, 1 suppose he must have done it. I don't see who else could have. Yes, I will make the complaint, though it will bo very disagreeable to appear in court among a lot of criminals!" Sho just glanced at Percy as .she turned away, perhaps to seo how ho would take it. His eyes wero fixed upon her with an expression of half incredulous curiosity; but the next moment ho threw back his head and burst into a loud laugh. She shrank a little at that sound, and edged toward tho door; and this was the lovers' carting scene. TO UK CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. .rtf" A process, called the C'oopor process, of lining iron pipes with glass, is reported, which is said to have stood the severe tost of having water passed through them at the boiling point and immediately followad by water at a toinporaturoof thirty-throe degrees, and without in anyway cracking or damaging the glass. If the invention should prove equal to such changes of temperature in ordinary service without injury, it will lie found exceedingly valuable. The Great War Syndicate. By FRANK B. STOCKTON, Author of "Rudder Grange," "Auioi Kilbrlght," "Tlie Bee Man of Orn," "The Clirlitman' Wreck," "Tlie Lady or the Tiger," "Tho Late Mr*. Null," "The Hundredth Man," "Tho Cuating Away of Mis. I.celts and Mrs. Ateahlne," "The Dusuntes," etc. [Copyrighted by P. F. Collier, of Collier's Once a Week, and published by special arrangement with him through the American Press Association. All rights reserved.) Crab J, after darting swiftly in and out among her antagonists for some time, suddenly made a turn, and dashing at one of the boats, ran under it, and rais ing it on its glistening back, rolled it, bottom upward, into tho sea. In a moment the crew of tho boat were swimming for their lives. They were quickly picked up by two of tlio other boats, which tlien deemed it prudent to return to the ship. But the second officer of the Adamant, who commanded the fourth boat, did not give up the fight. Having noted the spring armor of Crab K, ho believed that if he could get a grapnel between its steel ribs ho yet might capture the 6ca monster. For some minutes Crab K contented itself with eluding him; but, tired of this, it turned, and raising its huge nippers almost out of the water, it seized the bow of tho boat and gave it a geutle crunch, after which it released its hold and retired. Tho boat, leaking rapidly through two ragged holes, was rowed back to the ship, winch .it reached half full of water. The great battle ship, totally bereft of the power of moving herself, was now rolling in the trough of the sea, and a signal came from the repeller for Crab El to make fast to her and put her head to the wind. This was quickly done, the crab attaching itself to the stern post of the Adamant by a pair of towing nippers. These were projected from the stern of tho crab, and/were so constructed that the larger vessel did not communicate all its motion to the smaller one, and could not run down upon it. As soon as the Adamant was brought up with her head to the wind she opened fire upon the repeller- The latter vessel could easily have sailed out of tho range of a motionless enemy, but her orders forbade this. Her director had been instructed by the syndicate to expose his vessel to the fire of tho Adamant's heavy guns. Accordingly the repeller steamed nearer, and turned her broadside toward the British ship. Scarcely had this been done when tho two great bow guns of the Adamant shook the air with tremendous roars, each hurling over the sea nearly a ton of steel. One of these great shot passed over tho repeller, but tho other struck her armored side fairly amidship. There woo it wiaou auu oviciun v/* steel, and Repeller No. 7 rolled over to windward as if she had been struck by a heavy sea. In a moment she righted, and shot ahead, and, turning, presented her port side to the enemy. Instant examination of the armor on her other side showed that the two banks of springs wero uninjured, and that not an air buffer had exploded or failed to spring back to its normal length. Firing from the Adamant now came thick and fast, the crab in obedience to signals turning her about 60 as to admit the firing of some heavy guns mounted amidships. Three enormous solid shot struck the repeller at different points on jher starboard, armor without inflicting damage, while the explosion of several shells which hit her had no more effect upon her clastic armor than the impact of the solid shot. It was the desire of the syndicate not only to demonstrate to its own satisfaction the efficiency of its spring armor, but to convince Great Britain that her heaviest guns on her mightiest battle ships could have no effect upon its armored vessels. To prove the absolute superiority of their means of offense and defense was the supreme object of the syndicate. For this its members studied and worked by day and by night; for this they poured out their millions; for this they waged war. To prove what they claimed would be victory. When Repeller No. 7 had sustained the heavy fire of the Adamant for about half an hour, it was considered that the strength of her armor had been sufficiently demonstrated; and, with a much lighter heart than when ho had turned her broadside to the Adamant, her direc-' tor gave orders that she should steam out of the range of the guns of the British ship. During the cannonade Crab J had quietly slipped away from tko vicinity of the Adamant, and now joined tho repeller. The great ironclad battle ship, with her lofty sides plated with nearly two feet of solid steel, with her six great guns, each weigliing more than a hundred tons, with lier armament of other guns, machine cannon, and almost every applianco of naval warfare, with a small army of officers and men on board, was left in charge of Crab K, of which only a few square yards of armored roof could bo seen above the water. This little vessel now proceeded to tow southward her vast prize, uninjured, except That her rudder and propeller blades were broken and useless. Although the engines of the crab were of enormous power, the progress made was slow, for the Adamant was being towed stern foremost. It would have been easier to tow the great vessel had the crab been attached to her bow, but a ram which extended many feet under water rendered it dangerous for a submerged vessel to attach itself in its | vicinity. During the night tho ropellcr kept company, although at a considerable distance, with the captured vessel; and early tho next morning her director prepared to send to the Adamant a boat with a flag of truce and a letter demanding the surrender and subsequent evacuation of the British ship. It was supposed that now, when tho officers of the Adamant had had time to appreciate the fact that they had.no control over the movements of their vessel: that their armament was powerless against their enemies; that tho Adamant could be towed wherever tho syndicate chose to order, or left helpless in mid-ocean, they would bo obliged to admit that there was nothing for them to do but to surrender. But events proved that no such ideas had entered tho minds of the Adamant's officers, and their action totally prevented sending a flag of truce l?at. As soon as it was light enough to see the rcpcllcr the Adamant began tiring great guns at her. She was too far away for the shot to striko her, but to launch and send a boat of any kind into a storm of shot and shell was of course impossible. The cannon suspended over the stern of tho Adamant was also again brought into play, and shot after shot was driven down upon tho towing crab. Every ball rebounded from the spring armor, but the officer in charge of tho crab became convinced that after a time this constant pounding, almost in tho same place, would injure his vessel, and ho signaled tho repeller to that effect. The director of Repeller No. 7 had been considering tho situation. Thero was only one gun on tho Adamant which could be brought to bear upon Crab K, and it would bo tho part of wisdom to interfere with tho persistent use of this gun. Accordingly tho bow of tho repeller was brought to bear upon the Adamant, and her motor gun was aimed at tho boom from which tho cannon was suspended. The projectile with which tho cannon was loaded was not an instantaneous motor bomb. It was simply a heavy solid shot, driven by an instantaneous motor attachment, and was thus impelled by the same power and iiLthe same man ner as the motor bombs. The instantaneous motor power had not yet been used at so great a distance as that between the repeller and the Adamant, and the occasion was one of intense interest to the small body of scientific men having chargo of the aiming and firing. The calculations of the distance, of the necessary elevation and direction, and of the degree of motor power required, were made with careful exactness, and when the proper instant arrived tho button was touched, and tho shot with j which the cannon was charged was j instantaneously removed to a point in ' tho ocean about a mile beyond the Adamant, accompanied by a large portion of the heavy boom at which the gun had been aimed. The cannon which had been suspended from tho end of this boom fell into the cca, and would have crashed down upon tho roof of Crab K, had not that vessel, in obedience to a signal from tho repeller, loosened its hold upon the Adamant and retjred a short distance astern. Material injury might not have resulted from the fall of this great mass of nietal upon the crab, but it was considered prudent not to take useless risks. The ofiicers of the Adamant were greatly surprised and chagrined by the fall of their gun, with which they had expected ultimately to pound in the roof of the crab. No damage had been done to the vessel except the removal of a portion of the boom, with some of the chains and blocks attached, and no one on board the British ship imagined for a moment that this injury had been occasioned by the distant re poller. It was supposed that the constant bring of the cannot had cracked the boom, and that tt had suddenly snapped. Even if there had been on board the Adamant the means for rigging up another arrangement of the kind for perpendicular artillery practice, it would have required a long time to get it into working order, and the director of Rcpeller No. 7 hoped that now the British captain would sec the uselessness of continued resistance. But the British captain saw nothing of the kind, and shot after shot from his guns were hurled high into the air, in hopes that the great curves described would bring some of them down on the deck of the rcpeiler. If this beastly store ship, which could stand fire but never returned it, could be sunk, the Adamant's captain would be happy. With the exception of the loss of her motive power, liis vessel was intact, and if the stupid crab would oulv continuo to keep the Adamant's head to tho sea until the noise of her cannonade should attract some other British vessel to the scene, the condition of affairs might bo altered. All that day the great guns of the Adamant continued to roar. The next morn ing, however, the tiring was not resumed, and the officers of. the repeller were greatly surprised to see approaching from the British ship a boat carrying a white flag. Tliis was a very welcome sight, and the arrival of the boat was awaited with eager interest. During the night a council had been held on l>oard tho Adamant. Her cannonading had had no effect, either in bringing assistance or in injuring the enemy; sho was being towed steadily southward farther and farther from the probable neighborhood of a British manof-war; and it was agreed that it would be the part of wisdom to come to terms with the syndicate's vessels. Therefore tho captain of tho Adamant sent a letter to the repeller, in which he stated to the persons in charge of that ship that although his vessel had been injured in a manner totally at variance withtherulgsof naval warfare, he would overlook this fact and. would agree to cease firing upon the syndicate's vessels, provided that the submerged craft which was now made fast to his vessel should attach itself to the Adamant's bow, and by means of a suitable cable which she would furnish, would tow her into British waters. If this were done ho would guarantee that the towing craft should have six hours in which to get away. When this letter was read on board the repeller it created considerable merriment, and an answer was sent back that no conditions but those of absolute surrender could bo received from the British ship. In three minutes after this answer had been received by the captain of the Adamant two shells went whirring and shrieking through the air toward RepelTi:r.m.'ii hack WARD BY A C16AB BEFORE THE WHOLE BRITISH FLEET, ler No. 7, and after that the cannonading from the how, the stern, the starboard and the port guns of the great battle ship went on whenever there was a visible object on the ocean wliich looked in the least like an American coasting vessel or man-of-war. For a week Crab K towed steadily to thotouth this blazing and thundering marine citadel; and then the crab signaled to the still accompanying repeller that it must be relieved. It had not been fitted out for so long a cruise, and supplies were getting low. The syndicate, which had been kept informed of ull the details of this affair, had already perceived the necessity of relieving Crab K, and another crab, well provisioned and fitted out, was already on the way to lake its place. This was Crab C, possessing jiowerful engines, but in point of roof armor the weakest of its class. It could be better spared than any other crab to tow the Adamant, and as the British ship had not, and probably could not, put out another suspended cannon, it was considered quite suitable for the scrvico required. But when Crab C came within half a mile of the Adamant it stopped. It was evident that on board the British ship a steady lookout had been maintained for the approach of fresh crabs, for several enormous shell and shot from heavy guns, which had been trained upward at a high angle, now fell into the sea a short distance from the crab. Crab C would not have feared these i heavy shot had they been fired from an ordinary elevation; and although no other vessel in the syndicate's service would havo hesitated to run the terrible j .gauntlet, tins one, by reason or errors in a i.' . 1 1 . fl.nt, rttiir COUbll'UCUOIl, UClllg iL'SO uuic muii mij other crab to resist the fall from a great height of ponderous shot and shell, thought it prudent not venture into this rain of iron, and moving rapidly beyond tho line of danger, it attempted to approach the Adamant from another quarter. If it could get' within the circle of falling shot it would be safe. But this it could not do. On all sides of the Adamant guns had been trained to drop 6liot mid shells at a distance of half a mile from tho sliip. Around and around tho mighty ironclad steamed Crab C, but wherever she went her presence was betrayed to the fine glasses on board the Adamant by tho bit of her shining back and tho ripple about it, and ever between her and tho ship came down that hail of iron in masses of a quarter ton, half ton, or nearly a whole ton. Crab C eouhl not venture under these, and all day she accompanied the Adamant on her voyage south, dashing to this side and that, mid looking for the cliance that did not come, for all day the cannon of tho battle ship roared at her wherever she might be. The inmutes of Crab K were now very restive and uneasy, for they were on short rations, both of food and water. They would have lieen glad enough to cast loose from the Adamant, and leave the spiteful ship to roll to her heart's content, broadside to the sea. They did not fear to run their vessel, with its thick roof plates protected by spring armor, through tho heaviest cannonade. But signals from the repeller commanded them to stay by the Adamant as long as they could hold out, and they were obliged to content themselves with a hope that when night fell the other crab would be able to get in under the stern of the Adamant, and mako the desired exchange. But to the great discomforturo of the syndicate's forces darkness had scarcely come on before four enormous electric | lights blazed high up on the single lofty ! mast of the Adamant, lighting up the j ocean for a mile on every side of the i ship. It was of no more use for Crab C to try to get in now than in broad daylight; and all night the great guns roared, and the little crub maneuvered. Tho next morning a heavy fog fell nnnn flio can nnrl t.lua Kofflo cViir* nnrl i Crab C were completely shut out of sight j of each other. Now the cannon of the I | Adamant were silent, for the only result i of firing would bo to indicate to the crab the location'of the British ship. The smoke signals of the towing crab could not bo seen through the fog by her consorts, and she seemed to bo incapable of making signals by sound. Therefore the commander of the Adamant thought it likely that until tho fog rose tho crab could not find his ship. What that other crab intended to do could be, of course, on board the Adai inant, only a surmisa, but it was believed that she would bring with her a torpedo to be exploded under tho British ship. That one crab should tow her away from possible aid until another should bring a torpedo to fasten to her stern post seemed a reasonable explanation of the action of the syndicate's vessels. The officers of the Adamant little understood tho resources and intentions of their opponents. Every vessel of the syndicate carried a magnetic indicator, which was designed to prevent collisions with iron vessels. This little instrument was placed at night and during fogs at the bow of the vessel, and a delicate arm of steel, which ordinarily pointed upward at a considerable angle, fell into a horizontal position when any large body of iron approached within a quarter of a mile; and, so falling, rang a small bell Its point then turned toward tho mass of irop. Soon after the fog came on one of these indicators, properly protected from the attraction of the metal about it, was put into position on Crab C. Before very long it indicated the proximity of the Adamant; and, guided by its Bteel point, the crab moved quietly to the ironclad, attached itself to its stern post and allowed tho happy crew of Crab K to depart coastward. When the fog rose the glasses of the Adamant showed tho approach of no crab, but it was observed in looking over the stern that the beggarly devil fish which had the ship in tow appeared to have made some change in its back. In the afternoon of that day a truce boat was sent from the repeller to the Adamant. It was allowed to come alongside, but when the British captain found that tho syndicate merely renewed its demand for his surrender he waxed fiercely angry, and sent the boat back with the word that no further message need be sent to him unless it should be one complying with the conditions ho had offered. The syndicate now gave up the task of inducing the captain of the Adamant to surrender. Crab C was commanded to continue towing the great ship southward, and to keep her well away from the coast, in order to avoid danger to seaport towns and coasting vessels, wliile the repeller steamed away. Week after week the Adamant moved southward, roaring away with her great guns whenever an American sail came within possible range, and surrounding herself with a circle of burs.ing bombs to let any crab know what it might expect if it attempted to come near. Blazing and thundering, stern foremost but stoutly she rode the waves, ready to show the world that she was an impregnable British battle ship, from which no enemy could snatch the royal colors which floated high above her. It was during the first week of the involuntary cruise of the Adamant that the syndicate finished its preparations for what it hoped would be the decisive movement of its campaign. To do this a repeller and six crabs, all with extraordinary powers, had been fitted out with great care, and also with great rapidity, for the British government was working night and day to get its fleet of ironclads in readiness for a descent upon the American coast. Many of the British vessels were already well prepared for ordinary naval warfare; but to resist crabs additional defenses were necessary. It was known that the Adamant had been captured, and consequently the manufacture of stern jackets had been abandoned, but it was believed that protection could be effectually given to rudders and propeller blades by a new method which the admiralty had adopted. Tho repeller which was to take part in the syndicate's proposed movement had been a vessel of the United States navy which for a long time had been out of commission and undergoing a course of very slow and desultory Repairs in a dock yard. She had always been considered tho most unlucky craft in the service, and nearly every accident that could happen to a ship had happened to her. Years and years before, when she would se?out upon a cruise, her officers and crew would receive tho humorous sympathy of their friends, and wagers were frequently laid in regard to tho different kinds of mishaps which might befall this unluoky vessel, which was then knpwn as the Tallapoosa. The syndicate did r.ot particularly desire this vessel, but tVcre was no other that could readily bo made available for its purposes, and accordingly the Tallapoosa was purchased from the government and work immediately begun upon her. Her engines and hull were put into good condition, and outside of her was built another hull, composed of heavy steel armor plates and strongly braced by great transverse beams run ning through tho ship. Still outside of this was placed an improved system of spring armor, much stronger and more effective than any which had yet been constructed. This, with the armor plate, added nearly fifteen feet to the width of the vessel above water. All her superstructures wero removed from her deck, which was covered by a curved steel roof, and under a bomb proof canopy at the bow were placed two guns capable of carrying the largest sized motor bombs. The Tallapoosa, thus transformed, was called Repeller No. 11. * * The immense addition to her weight would of courso interfere very much with the speed of tho new repeller, but this was considered of little importance, as she would depend cn her own engines only in time of action. She was now j believed to possess more perfect defenses than any battle ship in the world. Early on a misty morning Repeller No. 11, towed by four of tho swiftest and ! most powerful crabs, and followed by j two others, left a northern port of the j United States, bound for the coast of j Great Britain. Iler course was a very j northerly one, for tlio reason that the syndicate had planned work for her to do while on her way across the Atlantic. The syndicate had now determined, j without unnecessarily losing an hour, to j plainly demonstrate the power of the instantaneous motor bomb. It had been intended to do this upon the Adamant, i but as it had been found impossible to induce the captain of that vessel to evacuate his ship, the syndicate had declined to exhibit the efficiency of their new j agent of destruction upon a disabled ! craft crowded with human beings. This course had been highly proju- | dicial to the claims of the syndicate, for ' as Repeller No. 7 had made no use in the contest with the Adamant of the motor bombs with which she was said to be supplied, it was generally believed 011 both sides ol the Atlantic that she carried no such bombs, and the conviction that the destruction at the Canadian port had been effected by means of mines continued as strong as it had ever been. To correct these false ideas was now the duty of Repeller No. 11. For some timo Great Britain had been steadily forwarding troops and munitions of war to Canada, without interruption from liar enemy. Only once had the syndicate's vessels appeared above the banks of Newfoundland, and as the number of these peculiar craft must necessarily be small, it was not supposed , that their line of operations would be extended very far north, and no danger from them was apprehended, provided the English vessels laid their courses well to the north. Shortly before the sailing of Repeller No. 11, the syndicate had received news that one of the largest transatlantic mail steamers, loaded with troops, and with heavy cannon for Canadian fortifications, and accompanied by the Craglevin, one of the largest ironclads in the Royal navy, had started across the Atlantic. The first business of the repeller and her attendant crabs concerned these two vessels. Owing to the power and speed of the crabs which towed her, Repeller No. 11 made excellent time; and on the morning of the third day out the two British vessels were sighted. Somewhat altering their course, the syndicate's vessels were soon within a few miles of the enemy. The Craglevin was a magnificent war ship. She was not quite so largo as the Adamant, and she was unprovided with a stern jacket or other defense of the kind. In sending her out the admiralty liad designed her to defend the transport against the regular vessels of the United States navy; for although the nature of the contract with the syndicate was well understood in England, it was not supposed that the American government would long consent to allow their war vessels to remain entirely idle. When the captain of the Craglevin perceived the approach of the repeller, ilU Wtttj IIJUCU bUlptlBCU, (JUL UU U1U UUb ' hesitate for a moment as to his course. He signaled to the transport, then about a mile to the north, to keep on the way while ho steered to meet the enemy. It had been decided in British naval circles that the proper thing to do in regard to a repeller was to ram her as quickly as possible. These vessels were necessarily slow and unwieldy, and if a heavy ironclad could keep clear of crabs long enough to rush down upon one, there was every reason to believe that the "ball bouncer," as the repellers were called by British sailors, could be crushed in below the water line and sunk. So, full of courage and determination, the captain of the Craglevin bore down upon the repeller. It is not necessary to enter into details of the ensuing action. Before the Craglevin was within half a mile of he# enemy she was seized by two crabs, all of which had cast loose from the repeller, and in less than twenty minutes both of her screws were extracted and her rudder shattered. In the meantime two of the swiftest crabs had pursued the transport; and coming up with her,, one of them had fastened to her rudder, without, however, making any attempt to injure it. When the captain of the steamer saw that one of the sea devils had him by the stern, while another was near by ready to attack him, ho prudently stopped his engines and lay to, the crab keeping his ship's head to the sea. The captain of the Craglevin was a very different man from the captain of the Adamant He was quite as brave, but ho was wiser and mora prudent He saw that the transport had been captured and forced to lay to; he saw that the repoller mounted two heavy guns at her bow, and whatever might bo the character of those guns, there could be no reasonable doubt that they were sufficient to sink an ordinary mail steamer. His own vessel was entirely out of his control, and even if he chose to try his guns on the spring armor of the repeller, it would probably result in the repeller turning her fire upon the transport. With a disabled ship, and the lives of so many men in his charge, the captain of the Craglevin saw that it would be wrong for him to attempt to fight, and he did not fire a gun. With as much calmness as tbo circumstances would permit ho awaited the progress of events. In a very short time a message came to him from Repeller No. 11, which stated that in two hours his ship would be destroyed by instantaneous motor bombs. Every opportunity, however, would bo given for the transfer to the mail steamer of all the officers and men on board the Craglevin, together with such of their possessions *as they could take with them in that time. "When this had been done the transport would be allowed to proceed on her way. To this demand nothing but acquiescence was possible. Whether or not tlir>rn wnn siip.h a thine as an instantan0 ous motor bomb the Craglevin's officers did not know; but they knew that if left to herself their ship would soon attend to her own sinking, for there was a terrible rent in her stern, owing to a pitch of the vessel while one of the propeller shafts was being extracted. Preparations for leaving the ship were therefore immediately begun. The crab was ordered to release the mail steamer, which, in obedience to signals from the Craglevin, steamed as near that vessel as safety would permit Boats were lowered from both ships, and the work of transfer went on with great activity. There was no lowering of flags on board the Craglevin, for the syndicate attached no importance to such outward signs and formalities. If the captain of tho British ship chose to haul down his colors lie could do so, but if he preferred to leave them still bravely floating above his vessel, ho was equally welcome to do that. When nearly every one liad left the Craglevin, a boat was sent from the repeller, which lay near by, with a note requesting the captain and first officer of the British ship to come on board Repellor No. 11 and witness the method of discharging tho instantaneous motor bomb, after which they would be put on board tho transport. This invitation struck tho captain of tho Craglevm with surprise, but a little reflection showed him that it would be wise to accept it. In the first place, it was in the nature of a command, which in the presence of six crabs and a repeller it would bo ridiculous to disobey, and, moreover, he was moved by a desiro to know sometiling about the syndicate's mysterious engine of destruction, if, indeed, such a thing really existed. Accordingly, when all the others had left tho ship, tho captain of the Craglevin and his first officer came on board tho repeller, curiously observing the spring armor over which they passed by means of a light gangboard with hand rail. They were received by the director atonoof the hatches of the steel deck, which were now all open, and conducted by him to tho bombproof compartment in the bow. Thero was no reason why tho nature of the repellcr's defenses should not bo known to tho world nor adopted by other nations. They were intended as a protection against ordinary shot and shell; they would avail nothing against the instantaneous motor bomb. Tho British officers were shown the 4-s\ lin icoliorrriirl urKinK U1UKJ* UUUiU VVT WW *? externally, was very much like an ordinary shell, except that it was nearly as long as the bore of the cannon; and the director stated that although, of course,, the principle of the motor bomb was the syndicate's secret, it was highly desirable tliat its effects and its methods of operation should bo .generally, known. [TO MR CONTINUED NKXT WEEK.] [Tliis story was commenced in No. 16. Hack numbers will be furnished on application.]