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Show WESTERN ¢ found herself suddenly thrown upon her Grace why can’t you be an heiress. Sup- own resources for a livelihood. | ‘Like many others in a like condition she fled from false friends, and the sad scenes of her recent sorrow to the city of New York, where she advertised for copying, and soon had all the employ- pose you were the heiress to this estate, for instance; what a good client yen would be.” “And why should I be a good client?” ment she needed. Among her employers was one Septimus Smirk, Attorney at Law, who fell in love with her at first sight, and to whose exertions she unconsciously owed most of her success.. Mr. Smirk, by frequent business calls, had managed to become well acquainted with Grace, and learning of her, little by little, most of her sad history, had interested his widowed mother in her, to such an extent that one day the old _ lady called on Grace; and persuaded her to come and take up her abode with her, on condition that she should be allowed to pay for her maintenance, for Grace had learned to be proud of her independ- ence. And so she had lived with Mrs. Smirk over a year. At the other side of the table sat Septimus Smirk himself, deeply in a daily paper. sized young man, absorbed He was a medium rather inélined to stoutness, with light hair and eves, and a face from every feature of which beamed good nature. | ‘Mr. Septimus suddenly sprang from his chair, holding the paper in one hand, and slapping his forehead tragically with the other, said, glaring at the paper: “And here’s look at it! another! Look Every day I see at them it! star- asked Grace. . soak “Because,” answered Septimus, “I have you right here under my thumb, and I would tell you this and that and the other, and make a big fuss and pile up my fees right and left, and I would go over to this Ardentown—” “Ardentown?”’ interrupted Grace; “How singular! My mother’sname was Arden-—Ellen Arden.” “What!” exclaimed Septimus, springing once mora to his feet. “Your mother’s name was Arden? Now I emplore you, Miss Grace, tell me all you know about your mother’s family.” “That is very little,” answered Grace. “My mother’s family lived in Trenton, New Jersey, and she was an, only child. Her mother died before she was married, and her father soon after.’’ “Had they :ny relatives?” from her chair near Grace, with think was Charles—’’ “Charles — Charles—”’ said Septimus, hastily referring to the paper he held in his hand. “By heaven! it zs Charles, Miss Grace! and you are an heiress and a prophetess to—ha! ha!” “But, might there not be some mistake?” suggested Grace, when Septimus strode around the room till he was calm again. “There may be,” replied eactiaue. “But [ll risk it: and tomorrow I’ll run come back, get you, re- turn upinquiringly. and fortune! Hurrah!” and again he began striding around the room, where we will leave him to return to Richhard “Why,Septimus! What 2 “Cases, cases,” replied a tragic stride Septimus, with toward his mother, “by the hundred, hanging around in all parts of the country like ripe fruit, waiting to fall into somebody’s lap. Dothey Oh -no! Hardly. ’ ever fall into mine? But Brown, Jones, Smith or Jenkins, who need them no more than I need another head, will get them. Such luck ‘ is enough to drive a man to suicide,” he concluded with a fierce glare at the paper. “What do you mean Septimus?” asked 7 “You must be wild - his mother again. tonight.” “Tisten,” said Septimus, and he read from the paper as follows: “*Richard Arden, heir to the estate of Charles Arden, was lost at sea with the schooner Vulture on the ——day of July, 18—. Relatives of the deceased, or any person having information of the whereabouts of any of the said relatives or claimants of the estate of the deceased Charles Arden, will confer a favor by calling Robert said New upon or communicating with Grimshaw, administrator of the estate, at Jersey.’”’ Ardentown,-— County, “There,” he continued as he finished reading; “isn’t that enough to drivea man mad? To make and melancholy? “T said My him discontented stars!” don’t know his mother. what you mean yet,” “But I don’t think your fate issuch a bad one, with a nice home, a comfortable eased. smiling at income, and,” she Grace, “good pany.” " “But have I won fame?” asked comSepti- mus, with another tragic stride or two. “Does my name appear in capital letters in the court items of the papers? Have I won a fortune? count show up with the first figure? both fame Does four Oh, no! and fortune my bank ac- naughts after And yet I see staring at me every day but, always out of my reach.” “Explain yourself,” said his mother, “and do sit down again like a christian.” “Well,” said Septimus resuming his seat, “listen. ‘Here isa party advertis ing for some one ’'to come to him and claim a fortune. Now.there is a claimant for that fortune somewhere, per- haps a dozen of them, and they will read » this will advertisement, and their first act be to go to a solicitor for advice. Will any of them come to me, think you? No; as I said before, they will go to Brown, J eee Smith or J ao to anyone but me.’ “Ah well,” aud Grace jealainie up with a bright smile, “they will come to you eee then a look of alarm on her pleasant face, while Grace stoped her work and looked ails you?” TSR there, and someday.” ‘Do you really think so?” Salad Gttimus. st hope.sso I’m sure. Now to Ardentown claim, and then and establish your look out for fees, fame Arden. CHAPTER THE RESCUE AND DYING left Richard lying beside Skewes on his little raft, in despair at seeing the vessel alter her course and bear away from them. But had he continued to look at her a little longer, he would have seen that she had only luffed up in the wind, and that a boat had been manned and lowered and was on the way to them. He was aroused by the sound of in the rowlocks oars and the voices of men, and raising his head sullenly, he saw the boat within a few feet of his raft. Then a sudden revulsion of feeling swept over him, and he tried to find voice .to for joy again. But nature, when shout tried to .a certain tension must give way, and he sank back in a swoon. When he revived he found himself in a comfortable berth, vaguely conscious of a swarthy faced personage standing over him. with a towel in one hand and spoon in the other, which he was trying to force in Richard’s mouth; and realizing in a dozed sort of way that the contents of the spoon were moist and savory, he feebly opened his mouth and swallowed them. This operation was re- peated several times at short intervals, and after a while with and Skewes continued: his request, © | “You’ve been very good to me, lad,ahd if I could spin out my cruise a little longer, I’d try to git even with you. But its no use talkin’ of that now, and I’m goin’ to ask another good turn of you, that may be a good turn as well. I know to yourself I’m sailin’ to my last port now, and in a few hours I’ll be safe in Davey Jones’ locker. And I know you won't refuse a favor to a dyin’ man?” “Come, cheer up,’ said Richard. “Don’t talk that way now, man, when we are so near port.”’ “Aye, aye, my lad, I’m than you think for. And have got something to set an account to square with eyes glowed as he spoke “Will you promise to do good turn, messmate?” he answered nearer port before I go I straight, and him,” and his the last word. me one more continued. Richard. “A dozen of them if you name them.” “Well,” said Skewes, “get me some paper, and a pen and some ink, and [’ll write it; for I.don’t want yon to know it now, for mebbe, when you know I’ve gone, you won’t think so hard of me, as you: would now.” Richard went cut and hunting up an old pen, some paper and ink, came back and handed them to Skewes, who took them silently and began to write feebly and awkwardly, while Richard sat down a short distance away and watched him. For half an hour the pen went scratching and grating over the paper, when it suddenly ceased and Skewes said: “There, my short, hut lad, it’ll do. tight and pocket.” Richard did humor patient his I’ve put it had And away as to now cut it seal it up safe directed, in your | more _ to than anything, and that, or let it out of your keeping for a Richard, feeling a lit- tle bit stronger and clearer in his mind, asked his nurse: “Who are you; and where is poor Skewes?” single minute, till you get back to Ardentown, and that when you do get there you'll read it and do une square thing. ren _“T swear,” said Richard raising his hand. . “And now,” said Skewes, “shake, and then leave me, alone, lad, and when I’m gone let my old hulk down into the sea.” Richard then pressed thinking he wanted to his hand, and sleep, went out and left him alone. Returning afew hours later, he found him with his face turned to the wal]— dead. And that night his body, wrapped only in a-coarse sheet, with a weight at a little mutilated English, and here he took up his quarters... Here he wrote a long letter to Mr. Grimshaw, describing his helpless condition: and asking for a remittance to be forwarded as soon as possible. After waiting nearly a month for an answer, which never came, he became discouraged and deter- mined to find some means of getting back to Ardentown. He was walking up the street one day ruminating on his unpleasant condition, and wondering how to get out of it, Mississippi, where could sell his thought of it the more he liked it, as the ride would be a pleasant excitement of itself and he “would see the country.” he So he bid fifteen dollars, not expeeting it to be accepted. and the next moment. found himself the owner of a fair horse, with his eyes wide open. As TAKES HAND, coast until Here the trail he left reached the Camaigo. coast and north-west, at an angle with the the Mexican Central that time had not railroad, been ran line of which at thought of, and almost parallel with the Rio Grande. Up to this time he would occasionally pass small bands of men on the trail, none of whom molested him, but as he proceeded north the country became wilder, and the settlements farther apart, and the ranches fewer and more scattered. Still he feared trail, and kept on to leave the it, hoping to come to some American town at last, where he could get help and information as to his route. His money was exhausted by this time, and he had almost coneluded to sell his horse and walk the rest of the way, when one day after he had gone over a distance of nearly six hundred miles from Tuspan, he heard the clatter of horse’s hoofs coming down the trail ahead of him, and drawing to one side, he waited. He heard the report of agun and the next instant a riderless horse dashed past him. Drawing his revolver, he spurred:-his horse forward to find out what had happened, and on riding around a bend in the trail saw a group of armed men rifling the pockets of a man lying on the blood pouring his head. ground from a bullet with the wound in Richard had advanced within a few yards of the group before they discovered him, but in another moment he was covered with half a dozen carbines, and one of the men called out to him in English: “Halt! on His his pistol horse was again. then taken Then one from of the another held his carbine to his head. The others went behind a clump of bushes and led six horses back to the trail. The whole party then rode off west of the trail with Richard a prisoner in their midst. After an honr’s ride the party dismounted at the foot of alow range of mountains, and pulling him from his said in broken Eng- lish: “What’s your name?” “Richard Arden.” “Where from?” looked at the deadly tubes expected. He heard’ the 1eports of rifles, but felt no pain, and looking up saw two of his enemies lying on the ground motionless, while “Americano?” “Yes,” answered Richard again. Then he held ashort consultation with the rest of the party, during which the word “Americano”’ smile: “Dog ji of an - Americano, you each of his companions shall as he pointed them out. “Well, gentlemen,” said Richard, “I can only thank you for your good ser- vices.” “Never } mind that,” said Joe Land, “but tell us how you came to be way out here alone.” ; ‘“T wastraveling from town on the American from where I Tuspan side to some of the intended to go line, on east. How I came tobe in Mexico, however, is a long story and I will postpone it,” said Richard. “You mean to say you came all the way from the Mexican coast to here all alone?” exclaimed Joe Land. “Yes,” replied Richard, “and why not?” “Holy Moses!” said Joe Land, “you are a bird.” “And isit such asked Richard. an unusual thing?” “Well I should smile,” said Land. “But this is the first time I have been molested on the way,” said Rickard. — “Well,” said Land, “you was in luck. And what do you intend to do now?” “Go on, I suppose,” said Richard. “Why man,” said Land, “you'll either be scalped by ’Paches, or shot by Greasers before you go ten miles alone.” “Ts it as bad as that?” asked Richard. “Bad,” said Land. “It couldn’t well be worse. Its worth an American’s life to be seen anywhere country alone, the this part of the Greasers in hate us so. I don’t want to scare you, but I tell you honest that you’ve got-no more show of getting back to civilization alone, than you that so, boys?” he companions who “Heaven only shall do,” replied money, and am country.” from here, have of flying. Ain’t asked, appealing to his all assented. knows, then, what I Richard. “I have no atotal stranger in the “See here, stranger,” said Land, “did you ever do any mining?” “No,” said Richard. “Well now,” said Land, “T’ll tell you what. Us fellers is down in this country on the sly, looking for something rich in the way of placer diggings, and we can spot it. Seeing you’re want to get back home alive, come with us and take your Do what you please, and then we think alone and you can chances. when we get backover theline again in a couple of months, we’ll see you safe on your road. What do you say naw?” “Well,” replied Richard, “as there_ seems “Tuspan, last,” answered Ricliatdl over. ' he Richard their and the dark cruel faces behind them, then closing his eyes waited the end. But the end came in a different man- ner from what he MAN repeateda great many times, and presHe soon understood that the owner of ently he came back to Richard and said, his white teeth in a cruel the horse was trying to sell the animal showing of idle curiosity, crossed returned, he found Skewes lying quietly bed the when he saw a crowd gathered about a man and horse across the way, and out Richard heard animal for enough money, in all probability to carry him home. Themore he in A and waited the word to fire. from leader. Richard, not being familiar with the the other four scrambled on their horses lawless state «f the country, did not reaand using whip and spur were out of lize that his trip was beset with the utsight in a moment. most danger, and that he was apt to. A minute afterward he was surrounded meet bands of roving Apache Indians, by a dozen men, whom he saw even beafter he had traveled away from the fore they spoke, were Americans, the more thickly settled sections, or, what was quite as bad, tle bands of Mexican leader of whom said, as he began cutting Richard’s bands with an _ugly lookbandits and cut-throats who ieee ing knife: the country. “A close shave, stranger. Another Had he realized for one moment the jiffy and your case would have been setextent of his undertaking, he would tled by them Greaser’s rifles.” never have started. But his ignorance “You are right, sir,” replied Richard, saved him at least much mental disgrasping his deliverer’s hand, “and who tress. have I to thank for my escape?” His only weapon wasa revolver. So “If you mean me, my name’s Joe he left Tuspan, following an old trail Land, and this.is Andy Archer, and that ran along a low range of hills near this is Ted Sullivan,” and so named horse, the leader a Spanish trader, bound for Mexico. The time passed slowly away and after a week of suffering, always delirious and always calling for water, Skewes seemed When RED NGBLE party held his horse while talk the so much easier one day that Richard left VITI. THE could him Richard learned that the vessel was one CHAPTER did. man on board who could talk English at all,and that of the smallest quantity and worst quality imaginable. But from There was only WHICH him, his arms bound and he was _ helped and heard ten dollars vid. Now Richard’s sole possessions consisted of twenty dollars, and the idea struck him that if he could buy the horsé he could proceed over-land on horseback to some town on charge of Skewes. IN up at a stable that night and morning set out on his long The captain of the trader showed him a lodging house, the proprietor of which telligible to Richard, and feeling too weak and tired to carry the conversation any farther under such difficulties, he only to come out of his stupor delirious, and moaning,“Water—-water.” Richard, however, so far recovered in a couple of days as to be able to take the animal early next ride. strange language. He had not enough money left to pay unconscious, and in spite of the offorts of his kind hearted rescuers to revive him, remained so until the next day, -Overjoyed at, his good fortune he put Richard, seeing it was useless to conIn a few days the vessel touched at tend with such a force, obeyed the comTuspan, on the coast of Mexico, where mand. The men then surrounded him Richard landed, friendless, and almost and the one who had spoken before | penniless among a strange people and a ordered him to dismount. This he also his passage by sea or land, and knowing absolutely nothing of seamanship, could not work his passage on any of the trading vessels that touched there. turned over and went to sleep. But Skewes, who had been put to bed in another part of the vessel, was still a wornout saddlevand wbridle. his feet was cast into the ocean. unin- ‘The nurse replied in a language him for a short walk on deck. SepMiss MAN’S CONFESSION. We complied then Skewes, sinking back exhausted on his pillow said: “Now hold up your hand, lad, and swear that you'll never open or read VII- THE Richard “Certainly,” “T have heared my mother speak of a distant relation of hers, whose name, I ing at me from some corner of the paper, and yet I find them not!” ‘over to Trenton, find out ali I can there, “Why, Septimus!” exclaimed Mrs. then go to Ardentown, find out all I can Smirk Richard approached him:he: tried. £6: put out his hand and said feebly: “Sit down, my lad, and listen to me.” to be no other alternative, I say yes.” “Good enough,” said Land. “Now get 01 yourhorse and follow us, We go on foot, butyou’d better keep the cayuse, he may be useful.” And so Richard started off ‘with his new found friends in search of gold. They traveled days when they westward for several came to a small but swift stream, which ran from out a nar: row, dark, deep canyon into a small valdie!” “Why should you murder me?” What ley. Here they camped the first night, have I done. to you that you should seek and one of the men went down to tie ‘banks of the stream for water. He was to kill me?” asked Richard. “Words are vain. You are an accursed gone some time, but: finally came rundie,” replied ning back into camp, and as soon as he had recovered his breath, he said: He then called to. his. companions, who surrounded Richard, and. leading him “Boys, we've struck it! If there aint pay dirt in that ee down. there, I'm a fool’. “Hurrah!” and:in ten minutes every Americano; his captor. out away and oy shall from the horses, bound his ankles, and then stepping back a few paces from him leveled their carbi-:es man of them was down to. tue . ae river,’2) i. 3 sie Ys EE = 190 |