CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Best Saree ery in the United | States. aaa — = ie Ned a nM ii ime ry) im aan i Copyrighted at Wadnncion: D. c. by he Saturpay Linrary Co. Entered at the post-office at New York as second-class mail-matter. Nov. 17, “1888. NO. 162. SATE Avee Sure Oo" NEW YORK. isn0'avean2Nomvers.§ WOL, IL. p bon al Mine; of, ‘ie for V WELDON J. COBB, y Mi ss ‘The bestzlaida as are not always spam eisienatesiacet Se - Cornell University Library PS 1356.C67G6 ih “Ship scuttled, and the mine is ten feet under water.” 2 THE GOLCONDA GOLD MINE; —OR,— A Scheme tor Millions. “The best-laid plans are not always suc- ecssful.”’ ae BY WELDON J, COBB. CHAPTER I. FIGURING UP. Morning in New York. It is ae dawn in the great metropolis. Here and there along the business thor- oughfares of the mighty city, which, during the day, pulsate and quiver like throbbing arteries with the din and turmoil of a rest- less activity, no sign of life exists, except the occasional rumble of a vehicle or the steady tramp of the policeman on his rounds. It isto a street located in the very heart of the city that we would conduct our read- ers this beautiful morning, and to the broad marble steps of a superb edifice bearing across its columned front the words: “THE GOLCONDA MINING CoMPANY, of Alameda, California.” The plate windows, the thickly matted hall, the frosted interior lights and the rich, handsome carpets and chandeliers evindée wealth, taste and prosperity. There are countiug-rooms and offices, pri- vate offices and reception-rooms, while the well-appointed apartments indicate a lavish expenditure pleasiug to the eye and confi- dence-inspiring to the mind. There is no trashy pe oe no “shop” reminiscences about the place, for the Gol- conda is reported wealthy and prosperous and at the high-tide of popularity. It is not with the mining workings of the company that our story has to do, but with the president of therich organization which has so suddenly sprung into notice, Cecil Vivian, and with his private secretary, Gould Dayton. A retrospective glance will be necessary to a proper understanding of the state of affairs upon the day which opens our story. Two years previous Cecil Vivian had been Jeft an orphan and the heir to a handsome fortune at the age of twenty-five. 7 Young, unmarried, and handsome, he at once became the lion of a social set, the reigning belle of which was Miss Ethel Wayne, the adopted daughter of a wealthy retired banker. The acquaintance between the twain had ripened into affection and their engagement became a matter of public gossip. Among the property left by old General Vivian to his son was a large tract of terri- tory in California. Gold having been found near this place, Vivian, Mr. Wayne and several others made atrip to the Golden State, examined the mines, and the result was the formation of the Golconda Mining Company, of Alameda, with a cash capitalof five hundred thousand dollars. Mate ; The young capitalist placed all his ready means in the enterprise and became its pres- ident. a At the time of our tale, to all outward ap- pearances the company was in a flourishing condition, and the prospect of an immense dividend soon to be made was apparently satisfactory to all concerned. Upon acquiring the fortune left him by his father, Cecil Vivian had taken into his confidence and employ a man who claimed to be his half-cousin, Gould Dayton. In his loneliness and grief the young man felt the want of a friend and counselor, and despite the fact that Dayton had never been known to his father, accepted him in his sheart as a warm friend. : Dayton was forty years of age, and on the score of years well able to become a ju- dicious and prudent adviser to his generous cousin, who little dreamed of the pertidy and treacherous nature of his dependent. He gave him a position as private secre- tary, and indeed the moving spirit in the company was Gould Dayton, whose judg- ment was consulted and confidence invited in the minutest details of the company by its young and inexperienced president. He had access to the booksof the company, carried on all private correspondence, and Grew a fine salary for his efforts. THE SATURDAY LIBRARY. Early as the morning js, the private office of the president of the company is vot un- tepanted, nor areits occupantsidle. Seated in an elegant arm-chair, with thoughtful eyes and pale features, is Cecil Viviun. Be- fore him, on a table, is a large pile of papers, closely written, and covered with perplex. ing rows of figures, while omposite him, and busily engaged adding ae naeccount, is his private secretary, Gould Dayton. The sbades of this apartment are drawn, the chandelier is lighted, and the remnants of cigars on the hearth and the half-empty tottle of wine on the tuble indicate that they have been thus engaged during the night. BT have finished,”’ said the secretary, ab- ruptly, looking up and starting his compan- ion from his deep reverie. “It is a grand thing we went over the books, and astill more fortunateevent that the real condition of affairs is unknown to the public. The bank account is overdrawn thirteen thou- sand dollars, andthe assessments on stock aro paid in to the last dollar.” A shade of startled amazement crossed the young capitalist’s brow. “ As bad as that ?’’ he murmured. “TtisasI say.” P “T knew we were running short in cash; in fact, considering the heavy expenses we have incurred, I do not marvel at it. The pay-rolls, transportation of miners and pur- chase of machinery for the past year have been run_up to over a quarter million of dollars. There is no need of anxiety or fear, however,” continued Mr. Vivian, with a forced expression of relief. ‘‘ We must tide over the present month, and then——”’ He paused suddenly as his eye caught the watching expression of his cousin’s face. Was it imagination, or the workings of his brain, weary with the night’s anxious vigils, that look of supreme triumph, mingled with deadly hate and vindictiveness? One flash, and then the calm lips serenely echoed : “And then?” ‘“Why,then we shall beallright, of course. Why not, Gould? The machinery is all up, and our first remittance of gold will be here on to-day’s steamer to brighten up the directors’ eyes. We'vesunk a fortune; we shall reap a princely harvest.” * The secretary watched his enthusiasm with a half-sneer on his lips, a veiled venom in his basilisk eyes. Then he met his look, impatiently leaned forward a little, and said, in a grave tone of voice: ‘“*] don’t want to discourage or worry you, Vivian, butI believe in facing peril and averting it if possible. Seriously, we are in shallow water.” * T know it,’’ replied his companion, in a subdued voice, his enthusiasm waning at the matter-of-fact tones of the secretary. . “*Now, let us face the crisis boldly,’’ said Dayton. ‘We have issued one hundred shares of stock now ruling above par at five thousand dollarseach. We have drawn ex- tensively on our bank credits, and no assess- ment dues are payable for nearly a full quarter. The mines, at last accounts, were at work, panning out well. Suppose there isa failure; suppose the steamer carrying our first consignment of gold miscarries— what then? I have concealed the truth from you, but fifty thousand dollars must be paid before noon 1o-day or our paper goes to protest.” : A look of absolute horror spread over the ee the eet Pe Oo you mean this?’ he gasped, growin white and more startled. ponte : ‘It is true.” ; “Why did you not tell me this before?” “TI did not know how short we were until I went over the books,” : The young man lifted his hand to his brow, with an uncertain, dazed expression of face. ‘‘There are my private bonds,” he said, finally. “ Hypothecated for their full value. Our securities are allin use,” replied the secre- tary. “Then we must wait until we receive news from the steamer.” “Tm possible.” “ How impossible ?”” “The Commercial Bank holds our paper for fifty thousand.” “Renew the loan.” “Tt has been intimated that the money must be called in.” “Then what do you advise?” The secretary drew his chair near to his companion, his eyes watching every move- ment of his cousin's face. ‘‘ We're in a close box,”” he said, slowly; “but if we can keep the truth from the public fora few weeks longer we are safe. One whisper now, oue suspicion, aud crash goes the company. Prudence demands & sacrifice which honor way refuse; but what is this to the ruin of the men who have trusted you? We will wot tail; the mines noust pay, but we mus} have time. Cecil Vivian had looked up, startled and perpiexed, at the hidden insinuation in his secretary’s last words. . “1 do not understand you,” he said, con- fusedly. “T mean there is but one way out of the difficulty.” ‘Aud that is——” ' The wily conspirator drew closer to his unsuspecting tool aud whispered in a low, hoarse murmur: “An overissue of stock!” Acry of amazement, mingled with horror and anger, rang from the pale lips of Cecil Vivian as he arose to his feet, “Never!” he eried. ‘‘Ruin may come, but dishonor never!” It was more like the cry of a tortured and ensnared soul repelling an awful temptation than the indignation of a proud and sinless spirit. : CHAPTER II. "HE PLOTTERS. The human mind in unexpected dilem- mas is marvelously active in its workings, andin that one moment of surprise and emo- tion Cectl Vivian seemed to realize the en- tire import conveyed in the words of his secretary. It meant dishonor if detected, and, worst of all, it meant ruin, irretrievable ruin, if not done, and no other avenue of escape from his present financial embarrassment presented itself. “Never,” he had said, but the wily cousin knew better and kept silent. F “Do you know what it involves?” in- quired Vivian, pacing the floor and address- ing no onein particularin his present dis- - ordered mental condition. : ‘“We have reached our limit, and if a sin- gle certificate is issued and placed upon the market fraudulently, the penalty is impris- onment in the state penitentiary.” . A cunning gleam came into the secreta- ry’s eyes. “But if we redeem the issue in a few days —in fact, if we save ourselves and no one knows of the transaction, what then ?” The wavering consciencé was partially quieted. : “Tt cannot be done,’”’ murmured the presi- dent. “1¢ can.” “ How ? ‘Listen to me,’’ said Dayton, and his tone become persuasive as he spoke. ‘The value of our mines has been placed as high as five Million dollars. The stock issued already. has amounted to five hundred thousand dollars. In your private desk you have blanks which may be filled out for five thousand ashare. Sign ten of these certifi- - cates and give them tome. I will affix the - seal of the company and my signature as secretary. Then I will take the stocks to: old Isaacs. From their appearance he will never know what the conditions of their. issue are. I will pledge them with him for fifty thousand dollars, payable in thirty days, and by that time we can redeem them, and who is the wiser?” Thepresidént’s face became more hopeful, but a slight cloud of indecision and reluc- tance still lingered upon it. 4 ‘“ Besides,’” pursued the wily conspirator, “there is no criminality in the act and no - publicity. What is the deception practiced on the Jew, which he will never discover, compared to the loss of a fortune for the want of a paltry fifty thousand dollars?” _ ‘Can you do this?” queried Cecil, anx- iously. ‘‘Can the matter be arranged so that no whisper of it will get abroad?” “Jt can.” An irresolute expression still haunted the. thoughtful eyes of the young president. “I will think this over, Gould,” he said. “T will let you know this afternoon.” ‘This afternoon will be too late,” said the secretary. ‘‘Now is the time. The blanks are in your desk. Sign ten of them, and I will attend to the rest.” ~ : He started up as he spoke. A shadow, leaning in a listening attitude over the ground-glass doors in the next apartment, attracted his attention. He frowned slightly, and then turned his full attention upon his cousin, who sat nerv- ously playing with a pen-holder from the desk beforehim. ., 3 “Well?” he asked, eagerly. The young capitalist laughed uneasily. “One would believe shat you were an evil genius leading me to the commission of some crime,” he said, triflingly.. ‘I will do it, however; but only under the pressure of the necessity which exists.” : The eyes of the secretary burned triumph- antly as he saw his victim open a drawer in the desk and take therefrom a bundle of blank certificates. He watched the nervous fingers sign the name, and then, taking them one by one, affixed the company’s seal and his own name, There they lay on the table, ten certifi- cates ready for use. The president arose with a weary sigh. ‘Heaven grant that we hear from _ the mines to-day,” hesaid. ‘1 am very tired, and will go home to seek rest. This all- night business wears on me.” e lit a cigar, donned his light overcoat and hat as he spoke and left the office, The secretary watched him ashe descend- ed the steps of the building, saw him turn the street corner, and then, locking the door, flung himself into a seat with a demo- niac expression of triumph upon his evil face. ‘““Tt is done,’’ he muttered, exultantly. A low tap on the glasa door connecting with the next room caused him to start sud- denly and unlock the door. A man entered—a man whose features and form bore so strange a resemblance to Cecil Vivian that they would scarcely be distin- guishable apart in a dimly lighted room. If the expression of the face differed mate-_ rially, only a person familiar with Cecil Vivian would have discerned_this peculiar- ity. The -young man entered with a weary yawn and threw himself into a seat before the desk just deserted by the president. “Tired of waiting, Dacre?’’ inquired the secretary. : “Yes. You’ve had a mighty long confab, and I’vehad a good sleep. Well, is the game ey to be played ?”” es.” *, watched the latter part of your busi- ness through the window yonder,”’ said the pew-comer, with a nod toward the glass docrs. ‘‘You’ve roped him in. Now for orders. I say, Dayton, have you any liquor in the place?’’. The secretary took a bunch of keys from the drawer in the table and left the room. At that moment the manner of the man Dacre changed. His eyesroved quickly over every article of furniturein the room, finally resting on the open drawer of the president’s private desk. ‘There lay the balance of the unsigned certificates. It is impossible to say what thought cross- éd the man’s mind at that moment. He quickly inserted his hand into the drawer, drew out ten blank bonds of the company, and after placing the company’s stamp upon them, rolled them rapidly up and secreted them in his inner coat-pocket. The secretary returned with a bottle of whisky brought from a secret closet, and when his companion had drank a glass said: “We understand each other, Dacre, and it is not necessary to remind you that I hold your safety and liberty in my power. Your very remarkable resemblance to my cousin suzgested my using you as a party to alittie plot of miue, and] propose to pay ou well for your trouble. Only one stipu- ation I make. You are to take those ten shares of stock, leave this office within an hour, and after banking-houses have open- ed, present them as I direct to the various banks written on this piece of paper. At- tempt in every way to imitate the manner aud tone, of the man you dre to represent— Cecil Vivian. Offer the shares at seventy- five cents on the dollar. Send the money to me at once, reserving ten thousand dollars as your share. Then do asI directed. Flire a conveyance, get the woman you spoke of to accompany you on a ride, passing Mr. ‘Wayne’s residenceslowly, and you are ready for your trip to Europe. You understand your part thoroughly ?” “IT do, but——” a . A shadow crossed the young man’s face. “But what?” ; “ Mabel——”’ Gould Dayton uttered a fierce oath. “T tell you, you must leave that woman alone.”’ The other’s face grew sullen and down-: cast. “You fly high game, Gould Dayton,” he said, moodily, “and expect all the booty and none of the risk. Mabel Clare does not love THE SATURDAY LIBRARY. you and. never will, and you have avowed your indifference to her. Why, then, this Jealousy of me? Take your money and re- quest any favor of me, but give me the woman I love.” A hot flush mounted the brow of the secre- tary, a deadly glitter came into his eyes, “JT forbid you to see Mabel Clare,” he said, hotly, almost furiously. “She is not for you, and if I choose to shut out all other affections and bestow my friendship upon her, you must be content with no explana- tion of the mystery existing between us. Do my work and take your money, and seek forgetfulness of your hopeless passion in other climes.” The young man, Arnold Dacre, did not reply, but taking up thestock and list placed them in the outer pocket of his coat. Then he moodily drauk another glass of the liquor and left the office. e almost stumbled over a man who was near the door, and who brushed pest him and entered the privateroom of the president unceremoniously as the otber left it. He was a roughly dressed man of middle age. He closed the door after him and stood. facing Gould Dayton, who had turned, with a startled cry, from the desk upou which he was arranging the papers, when the foot- SLepe of the stranger annouvced a new ar- rival. “ You?’ he said, in a tone of surprise. “Yes, itis me, boss; why not? Orders is orders, and you wrote to come on at once.”’ “Well, Jones,’ he said, patronizingly, “from the mines, I suppose?” A quick look passed over the face of the other as his glance wandered over the sec- retary’sface. He was evidently puzzled at the cool reception he had not expected to meet with, ‘Yes, sir, from the mines and——"” He lifted his hands to his mouth as he spoke, in the shape of a speaking-trumpet. Then he threw his head back, and a sound like the gurgling of water proceeded from his hoarse throat. Coolly winking he eyed his companion askance. . If the secretary understood this sign he did not evince the least evidence that such was the fact, but coolly kuocking the ashes from his cigar said: ‘What does that mean, Jones?” “ Ship's scuttled.” A look of questioning innocence and amazement passed over the secretary’s face, hiding the cunning gleam of triumph which had momentarily preceded it. “Scuttled? What do you mean?” There came an expression into the bronzed face of the stranger at this assumption of ignorance on the part of his companion which fairly startled Gould Dayton. It was the look of a man incensed, entrapped, puz- zled, combined with an expression of the capabilities for resenting wrong or balking in a summary manner. ‘““Mr, Gould Dayton,” he said, ‘I’ve heerd of. fellers high-toned as yerself luring uned- ucated pals like me to do their dirty work, but I never heerd that they did not paya man for his honest labor. Come, now, the agreement was to pay on delivery. The ship’s scuttled, the gold was never shipped, and the mine’s ten feet under water. I don’t know your object. Idon’t care. All I want is my money. Atween Rio and the Horn I scuttled the ship; no lives lost; and the iron ore gone to the bottom. What then? Accordin’ to agreement, five thou- sand cash.” “See here, my man,’’ said the secretary, coolly, suavely, ‘‘are you wild or drunk? What have I to do with the scuttling of the ship, the shipment of iron ore, or the plot or plan you are hinting at?” ; A coarse oath broke from the lips of the miner. ‘“‘Did yer or did yer not hire me to leave New York and go to the mines?” “T certainly did.” “Correct. Did yer or did yer not tell me that ef I obeyed the orders of yer right- power, Arnold Dacre, I was to hev money?” “Yes, that is substantially true, also.” “Thet’s what I’ve done, boss. First, floodin’ the mines; second, puttin’ the iron in place of the gold; last, scuttlin’ the ship. What then?” Aa “What then?” cried Dayton, arising and flinging his cigar away. “I'll tell you, my friend. If you and Dacre have got up a game on me, lookout. If you think I’m to be blackmailed at your will and pleasure, take care. I repudiate you and him, too. There's a hundred dollars,” flinging him a purse, ‘‘and now, if you ever come into this place again, if you ever so much as dare to hint even at what you have said, I’ll have au put where you won’t see daylight fora ime. The miner arose to his feet, spurning the gold contemptuously, white, trembling, with murderous eyes and evil face. Rage, batiled avarice, and a gleam of de- moniac hatred sprung into his features as his hand clutched a revolver at his belt. He paused in his sudden impulse, how- ever, for the finger of the secretary rested on a little electric knob connecting with the police headquarters, and he saw what it meant. “Tl go, you devil, yousneak and villain!’’ hecried. “I'll leave ye, my friend, but be- ware. When you sleep I'll be awake; when en aaa fancied safety I’ll be plotting, and ‘11 tear you down. I'll trump your beat card if it takes my life.”’ Then he turned and was gone ere the sec- retary could stop him, leaving Gould Day- toninastate of doubt, indecision and fear which blanched his cheek and filled him with the conviction that he had made a dangerous and unrelenting enemy. CHAPTER III. IN THE NAME OF THE LAW. Of all dark schemes that had for their pur- pose the destruction of the integrity, the love and the social status of an apparently innocent man, that of Gould Dayton against his unsuspecting cousin was the blackest and direst. To crush him; to alienate him from the love of a faithful and tender heart; to de- grade him in the eyes of the community and win for him the opprobrium and punish- ment of a common criminal, he had con- ceived and partially executed a plot which could not fail of success, so carefully had it been projected, so faithfully carried out by his auxiliaries. Arnold Dacre would not fail to carry out bis agreement, and the wily conspirator had of late not only poisoned the minds of many against his cousin by vile innuendoes and careless but damaging insinuations as to his habits, but had managed to have these re- ports reach the ears of Miss Wayne. Too proud was she to question further, as she had the fullest, confidence in her lover’s integrity and honor, and while these re- ports failed to convince her of the unfaith- fulness of her betrothed, yet they prepared her mind for the stunning proofs of Cecil Vivian’s unworthiness with which she was so soon and unexpectedly to be con- fronted. : Ethel Wayne was the adopted and only child of Mr. Wayne. Years before he had found her, a child of three years of age, upon a cold winter’s night, homeless and friendless, with noclew to her real identity, and had taken her to his lonely home, and as she grew up her beauty of face and character had well repaid him for the love he had lavished upon her. Daily unfolding new beauties of soul, she had entranced and captivated both Cecil Vivian and his cousin, Gould Dayton; but while the former inspired her with a deep and pure affection, the latter filled her with an aversion and repugnance she could not avoid exhibiting in his presence at all times. The result was a natural one; the engage- ment of Cecil and_the lady in question, and jealousy and a feeling of hatred for his suc- cessful rival on the part of Gould Dayton: Upon the afternoon of the day which ushers in our story Ethel was seated in the wing of Mr. Wayne’s house devoted to the library, when looking up from the book she was perusiug she saw passing the house slowly in an elegant vehicle her lover, as she supposed, Cecil Vivian. At first she thought herself mistaken, but a second view satisfied her that it could be no other than he. By his side, gaudy with bright attire and flashing jewels, with rouged cheeks and painted face, was a woman, a bold, brazen- faced thing, whose every gay gesture and smile told of an abandon and recklessness habitual only to one class of women. The hot biood flushed the face of Ethel - Wayuxe with indignation as she recognized the open insult offered her, and she burst into a flood of tears, An hour passed, when she was aroused from her fit of sad meditations by the sound of voices in the hall,and she started up pale and agitated as Mr. Wayne entered the room, followed by Gould Dayton evidently laboring under some intense excitement. ‘‘TImpossible, Mr. Dayton!’’ Ethel’s father was saying. 4 THE SATURDAY LIBRARY. “Ttis as TI say, Mr. Wayne. Excuse me, sir; Miss Wayne is present.” He noticed with satisfaction the scarcely dried tears on her face, the pale features, the agitated manner. “Remain, Ethel,” commanded the old man, sternly. “Consider her feeliugs, Mr. Wayne,” in- terposed the wily hypocrite; ‘the news ee too severe for her." ‘““My Ethel is a true woman,” returned the capitalist, proudly. ‘She knows how to accept and treat the unmasked swindler as readily as her friends, Ethel, I have painful news for you. Cecil Vivian is a fugitive from justice—a common swindler. He has made an overissue of stock of the company of which he is president, and has misrepre- pened the affairs of the company to the public.” ‘Oh! it cannot be!" There wasa gasp of pain, a white horror in the fair young girl’s face, and then, as Gould Dayton sprung forward, she sunk to the sofa, withdrawing herself from his will- ing grasp and placing ber handkerchief to her eyes. “The discovery came at noon, sir,’’ con- tinued Dayton to Mr. Wayne. ‘The ship Arizona has sunk in mid-ocean with the first eonsignment of gold from the mines aboard; and late intelligence from California states that over ten feet of water have flooded the mines, involving a loss of thousands of dol- lars and a consequent delay for future op- erations which will deteriorate the value of the property. The news spread like wild- fire and the stock is offered for sale at any price. In fact, the company is a total wreck,” The old man listened with a white face and trembling lips. “I do not care for the fifty thousand dol- lars I have invested in the company and will probably lose,” he said. ‘It is yonder poor, crushed girl’s condition which grieves me, To think that she should have been sugared to a common swindler, for such heis. Tho ae of disgrace which points out his fall will reflect scorn upon her. Cheer up, my poor child,” hesaid, tenderly, turning to his daughter. ‘It is well we ascertained in time the character of the man whom you were to bave wedded.” A low moan was her only reply. Utterly crushed, the events of that fated hour had bent the gentle spirit like a frail flower in the storm. “Whether Mr. Vivian intended to flee the country I know not,’ pursued the secretary, slowly. “I know that the affairs of the com- pany show a sad discrepancy between. the Teal and publicly stated condition of things. The overissue is in itself bad enough, but the forgery of my name makes it infinitely worse.’ “Did he do that?” “He did. If I could shield him I would, vut I cannot bear the odium of complicity when none existed.” At that moment a servant opened the door and announced : “Mr, Vivian!" At the mention of that name Mr. Wayne turned red and angry. Dayton shrunk into the shadow of the curtain, while Ethel, pale but composed, faced him sternly. He entered the apartment full of life and vivacity, with no knowledge of the blow ‘which had fallen, of the terrible odium which the events of the past few hours had attached to his name. ’ The glad smile on his face was checked anda presentiment of evil came into his mind as he glanced from the stern face of Mr. Wayne to the pale, sad featutes of his viancee. “Ethel! Mr. Wayne!’ he ejaculated, in surprise, ‘‘ what has happeued’? What means this agitation?” ‘““What does it mean?” cried the old mdn, placing a detaining hand between tae two jovers. ‘It means, sir, \uat you have for- fcited all claim to our friendship and respect by your conduct. How dare you pollute a gentleman's house with your presence or in- sult its inmates while the street is ringing ‘with the story of your shame?” : 2 Shame!” echoed the young man in sur- prise. ‘Strange words, Mr. Wayne.” ‘‘And true ones, sir. Do you deny the rumors afloat concerning your swindling op- erations—the overissue of stocks and their sale at a ruinous sacrifice ?” A chill struck the heart of the young man ns be realized the meaning of the coldness of Mr. Wayne, of the silence of his daugh- tor, The stocks had been sold, then, and the news had spread abroad. His manner indicated that there was some foundation for the charges made, and Ethel Wayne, with a low cry, sunk ber head on her father’s shoulder. “Ethel, my darling!’ cried the youn, man, springing forward, distressed beyon measure at this exhibition of her sorrow, and catching her hand in his own, ‘listen tome. l may have consented to the over- issue of stocks, but only to save the com- pany.” . ‘Silence, sir! Do not touch me!" cried the maiden, raising ber arm and flinging aside his band, while With head erect and flashing eyes she confronted him. ‘Dare you stand in m org tee after committin the crime whi! as brought disgrace an dishonor to youand grief and shame to me? Never enter this house again; never ap- proach me with hollow mockeries of affeo- tion, forthe man who can descend to the level of the swindler and the forger is be- neath any true woman’s love.”’ He bent his white face as if a blow had struck him, He stood self-accused before her, and as she swept from the room it seemed to him as if Jife and hope had gone with her. In a dazed, jeeghanical way he walked ee the opon door-way out in- to the hall and down the marble steps into the street. Had Dayton led himinto a trap? Had the story of the stocks by some fearful error got abroad, or was it a dream? As be moved on he saw nothing, heard nothing, until he had walked he knew not how far. A crowd had stopped the thoroughfare be- fore him and were reading the bulletin of anevening paper posted conspicuously in the window. He looked up and started into conscious- nesa as he read the lines in black, announc- ing his own doom, for the bulletin read: STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS! THE GoLconDA GOLD-MINING CoMPANY, OF ALAMEDA, A WRECK! Its Mines Flooded, its Bullion Lost at Sea, and its Stock Worthless! The President is a Defaulter and a Fugitive from Justice! He turned from the spot with a suppressed ery of amazement, doubt and horror. Was it true, or a dream ? Hestarted asa hand touched his shoulder, and raising his woe-haunted eyes he stood face to-face with a neatly dressed, profes- sional-looking man, “Mr. Cecil Vivian ?” he said. He bowed mutely. “ T arrest you in the name of the law,” he said slowly as he took his arm. The young man looked at him confusedly, dazedly. ‘‘ Arrest me?” he repeated, slowly. “ Yes.”’ “Upon what charge?” “ Swindling and forgery.” ‘ He allowed the man to lead him on. He had a dim idea of a curious, pressing, looking crowd, of a hurried drive in a close carriage, of a brief few minutes ina dark, unwholesome office, of a clanking of iron doors, and then, as he realized that there were iron bars shutting out the view from without and iron doors the light frora within, he sunk unconscious on a wooden seat—a prisoner. CHAPTER IV. THE INTERCEPTED LETTER. A man in jail isa man in a tomb. It has been said that riches in a reforma- tory or corrective institution purchase im- munity for the wealthy captive and bring to him many little attentions and delicacies not vouchsafed to the poor prisoner. Cecil Vivian found that in his especial —e every prison-rule was strictly adhered i The peculiarity of his case, his inability to command bail, his utter desertion by his former friends, emanated from a source he little dreamed of, Not satisfied with all the evil he had worked, Gould Dayton had systematically furnished the press and public with state- ments enttrely false and calculated to tra- duce his character. It was only when he had sent for Gould ‘Dayton and had an interview with him that Cecil Vivian realized the true depths of the man's villainy, It was the day after his arrest, and he was seated ina dejected attitude in bis prison cell, when he heard the outer door of the corridor of cells open, and a minute later he looked_up as his name was called, to find Gould Dayton standing at the door of his cell. “You, Gould!’ ejaculated the prisoner, awakening from his moodiness and gloom into attention and interest as he saw his vis- itor, “Tam eae you have come.” From the first he noticed a constrained manner in his cousin’s bearing. He did not magnify the change in his appearance into anything important until the latter eaid coolly : “You are ina bad box, Cecil. Your own judgment should have taught you better than to attempt the wholesale fraud you undertook.”’ = “Fraud !"’ echoed Vivian. “T tell you, Gould, Ido not understand these allusions. TI am treated as a common felon, and on charges neler without foundation, and am not even allowed to send for my friends. The overissue of thestocks was bad enough, put the charges of forgery and swindling, as you know, are utterly unfounded.” “‘T know nothing of the kind,” bluntly re- lied the secretary. ‘“‘ You may play that ‘ane before the court, but 1t won’t go down with me. The ten certificates you gave me I handed to a friend to negotiate as agreed upon. Those bonds have entirely disap- peared, and in their place ten consecutive certificates having entirely different num, bers have been sold to the banks. ae me!" ejaculated Cecil, in amaze- ment. ‘‘Yes; the cashier swears positively to the fact of your individuality. I accuse you of nothing, Cecil, but it looks bad tor you.” “Why, I was at home the entire day and in bed!" exclaimed the prisoner. ‘'So far from being abroad, I had just left home when I was arrested, having only called at Mr. Wayne's house. You know this tobe a fact, Gould.” A perplexing anxiety began to evince it- self in the young man’s face, “T know what you say, that only. These men positively swear to your presenting the stocks, and my signature is a torgery.” ‘The president started asifa shot had struck him, “ Gould,” hesaid, ‘are you in a plotagainst Ine, or what is the mystery of this affair? If. the stocks, running from ove hundred and one to one hundred and ten inclusive, have not been presented on the market, before my Maker I swear that I am innocent of any crime. Under your instigation I signed those papers; beyond that T know nothing of these you refer to.” 7 The secretary was silent, and at that mo- ment, a-turnkey entering, the interview terminated, Dayton agreeing to endeavor to secure bail for his cousin, and to send him his dressing-case and other necessaries. He never called again. The case came to trial. and pleaded not guilty. : lt was a case which interested every one and involved the employment of consider- able legal talent, and although every. effort was made to prove an alibi on the part ot the prisoner, the evidence against him was overwhelming. Two bank cashiers swore distinctly to hig appearance, and to the purchase of the stocks from him. . Experts made affidavits to the fact that the signature of the secretary was aforgery. In vain the president explained and argued; the case was dead against him, and he was adjudged guilty and sentenced on two sep- arate charges to penal servitude for fifteen years. It was upon the trial that Gould Dayton manifested to his cousin the depth of perfidy and villainy of which he was capable. __ He never went near his unfortunate cousir, in jail, and while he marveled at the substi. tution of the stocks for the original ones: and pondered deeply over this mystery, he knew in his inmost heart that Cecil Vivian was innocent; and so it becamea nine-days’ talk, and then gossip allowed some other equally strange watter to take precedence, and the young financier disappeared from public view within the walls of a prion, Ethel, in the face of such overwhelming evidence of the criminality of her lover, was well-nigh heart-broken. Poverty or loss of friends never could have turned the pure-minded girl from her love for him, but dishonor she shrunk from, She could not retain in her mind a respect the prisoner THE SATURDAY LIBRARY. 5 for the man who had trampled upon the truth and set society at open defiance. Tearfully and despairingly she Jaid down her love, and met the world with half the sweetness of life gone. Had she ever received the letter which Ceoil Vivian had written to her upon the day which found him a condemned man she might have gone to hisside and comfort- ed him in his loneliness aad distress, He had written her a letter, telling her everything and beseeching her to come to him ere he was sent to his prison home. She never came, and the weary heart, over- burdened and feeling at enmity with all mankind, hardened like the unimpressible heart of a stoic. The keen eyes of the secretary had seen Vivian hand a letter toa boy to mail upon the evening when an adverse decision was reached in his case. To prevent its reachiug its destination he would risk everything. He followed the messenger from the court- room, watched him approach the letter-box and drop the missive into it. He consulted his waich; it was 6:30 P. m., and the last evening mail had been collected from the boxes. Then his eyes lighted with a demoniac expression as he hit upon a plan Ho pies ek the delivery of the letter to the lady for whom it was intended, for he intuitively divined that it was for Ethel Wayne. 2 He repaired toa drug store, ordered sev- ~ eral articles and went to his room to arrange the infernal machine which was to destroy pe letter and its companions in the letter- OX. At nine o’clock that night he went to the vicinity of the box, and at a moment when no one seemed to be observing him dropped an oblong object into the slitin the recep- tacle for letters, first applying his cigar to a fuse which protruded from one end of the mysterious package. Then he turned quickly from the spot, erossed the road, and stood in the shadow of ‘a door-way awaiting the result of hisscheme. There was a pause, a dull report within the ‘little box, and then satisfied that within a ’ few minutes the letters contained in it would be a mass of cinders he hastened fre— the spot. . io started as, turning the corner of the street, he came face to face with a man whose eyes glittered and glowed upon him as he passed- him with menacing signif- cance. ‘Both men went on their way, but the secretary felt a vague fear at his heart as he recognized in the lurid eye and evil face of the man the miner, Tom Jones. On the trail, sure enough; on the track of the man who had lured him to sin and left him unrecompensed. ; 4 The rough miner, in carrying out his own schemes of vengeance, was unconsciously aiding the successful exposition of the plot ugeiust the life itself of Cecil Vivian. CHAPTER V. IN THE PRISON. Cecil Vivian was conducted to prison. To the delicately nurtured child of fortune and refinement this life had horrors un- known to those of coarser mold. __ The prison-rot sickened and disgusted hima with an existence the monotony and dreariness of which appalled. him and filled him with thoughts of suicide. He never noticed a man who entered the prison about one year after he had been sent theré. Jt was Tom Jones, the miner, but he had never seen him before and did not know him now. : He observed the white pallor of the man’s face when he first saw him, but prison rule prevented any conversation, a! though he was startled onéday by being called ‘ Da- cre” by the new prisoner. — The presence of a guard interrupted any further conversation, and Vivian, with a perplexed air, resumed his labor ut the work-bench. There was another man who, of all that motley gang, the prisoner had noticed and evinced 2 genuine sorrow for. This was a gray-headed man of perhaps fifty years, whose lines of sorrow on his broad, intel- lectual forehead and care-worn features be- spokea suffering the sentiment of which precluded the idea of any innate baseness. Often the magnetic eyes had met those of Vivian, and there was a tacit although unexpressed friendship existing between them. . At seven o’clock every evening the huge wooden doors were closed over the interior iron frames, and from that moment until six tbe following morning the: prisoners were kept in solitary seclusion, with no light save that which penetrated the dia- mond-shaped hole in the doors, or such as was afforded by the moonor stars through their barred windows. Cecil Vivian had often marked outa pre- sumptive course of escape if the opportunity ever preseuted itself, but he never schemed to perfect such a plan through his own un- aided efforts. In the prison he was known aa No. 93. His name was never called from the day he entered its doors, Upon his breast, in blue worsted figures, was sewed the nember he went by—93. The prisoner in the next cell adjoining that of Vivian, however, was known through the prison, by name, being referred to as Colonel Andre, the murderer. The doors of the celis had been closed fully half an hour one evening, aud silence reigned within the huge dormitory of the prison, when Cecil Vivian’s attention was attracted from observing the distant moon- lit waters without, and sadly meditating over the lost past, by three distinct knocks upon the stone partition separating his cell from the one adjoining. Among prisoners, commonly at war with the keepers of a jail, and ever willing to con- ceal anything from them and to aid and abet a fellow-prisoner, a signal is a sufficient reason for attentior. The knocking continued at intervals, night after night, until he was not a little sur- prised to observe a piece of hard mortar drop from its crevice, followed immediately thereafter by the moving of a sione, and toon te an instant the truth flashed upon his noind. Colonel Andre, the so-called murderer, his next-cell com panion,had penetrated the wall between their cells, and the supposition on the part of Vivian was soon verified as the block of stone was pushed from its place, followed by a human head. “Hist!” camein a tow tone. He placed his head near the aperture and looked. There was the pale face before him, the well-known features of the colonel. He held in his hand a chisel with which he had made the embrasure, and half leaning through he spoke in a low tone of voice: ‘Lay dowp upon your bunk with your head near the holeso the guards may not see me if they suspect anything. I have some- aoe importance to both you and myself to tell.” The young man obeyed him mechanically, coolly, his quiet composure of manner con- trasting straugely with the nervous tremu- lousness of the other, who, resuming a re- cumbent posture, bent half way through the breach made in the partition, and said in a low, trembling tone of voice: ~ ‘«The tools I have used in communicating with you Iobtained a month since. I have cut the bars at my window and could have escaped a week ago. Ihave used the utmost caution in my work. Do you know why I did not escape at once—why I have.risked this much, all my chance of escape, perhaps, by thus delaying and breaking through to ou?” : P The young man moved his head negatively. “ Because,”’ went on the colonel, in a hur- ried, agitated manner, ‘‘I want you to es- cape with me.” “T! do you mean this?” A new light broke in upon the prisoner’s mind, anew hopeset his pulse throbbing wildly, his heart beating with the same anxious turbulency which his companion evinced. ; “ Hist!’ cried the other warningly. ‘‘ One loud word and all our plans may fail. Yes, I offer you « chance~for freedom, but I de- mand a reward.” “ Any honorable return [I can make you, be sure I will do,” said the young man eagerly. ; ; “T know it. I was sure of it. Listen to me, No. 93. Since I first saw you, of all the men I have ever seen your face attracted me. Your honest, pitying glance inspired, me with confidencein you. You believe me innocent. Nay, I can read you. You at least deem me the victim of circumstances. I can read extenuation of my crime in your face. I can see that you too are a wronged man. “You are not known here, save as 93. Your name is a mystery to every man in this prison; mine is @ distinctive title. I am called a murderer, and the future has many ‘Yisks for me. With much to accomplish if I regain my liberty, do you wonder that I seek an assistant—that I offer you freedom with the promise that you aid me in the execu- tion of two of the most powerful motives which actuate the human heart—love and vengeance? “] trust you, my friend, and I am going to tell you my story. Thenif you accedetg my request we join lots and endeavor to escape; it not, then [ go alone, with no hindrance on your part. Is this understood?” ¥ ae young man bowed his head assent- ingly. CHAPTER VI. THE BRETHREN OF THE BLOOD. “Tf my story is not a long one,’”’ continued the man, keeping the same watchful air for any sound on the outside, ‘‘it is as strange a one as youever heard. I shall tellit to you simply as aman would divulge a secret toa stranger to whom some irresistible attrac- tion had drawn him—whose manner had in- vited confidence, and whose honest soul shining in the eyes repelled any suspicion of a violation of that candor. I trust in you to retain my secrét—more, I depend on you to assist me in unraveling amystery, in defeat- ing a possible crime, in_ establishing the rights of a woman whom I ask you to make your wife.” The young prisoner regarded his older com- panion pityiugly. In his restless eyes he had insanity, in his manner the evidences of an honorable career misspent, perhaps the wasting of noble energiesand a high order of intellect in pursuit of wealth or in some criminality. He listened quietly, however, as the former went on: ‘“* My name is George Andre, and I won the title of colonel in the Mexican war. Born wealthy, lreceived a fine education, losing my fatherand mother, the latter at my birth, the former one year previous to my entering tbhearmy. I went through the Mexican war with a few slight wounds, and when I left the service}weut with a score of others of my companions to Lower California, where it was reported vast deposits of gold had been found. : “In my travels thither I became acquaint- ed on the way with a Spaniard uamed Don Alvarez Cervantes. We became friendly and familiar, although he was a much older man than myself. At his hacienda I remained for many weeks and there met and loved his beautiful daughter Inez. “Among our party wasa man whom all disliked and whom we had regarded with suspicion and aversion ever sinve his first joining us on our way to Old California. The don owned and operated extensive mining. claims near his hacienda and the majority of our company remained there working in the mines tor him or in the immediate vicin- ity on their own individual account. Mars- ton, the man referred to, remained with them. Of his past history, save that he had been asutler and speculator in our regi- ment, we knew nothing. One thing, how- ever, impressed me strongly—he loved the Donna Inez. “His openly expressed preference for the lady forced wwe to early measures, and I pro- posed for the heart and hand of the don's lovely daughter and received both. For one year we led a lifeof unalloyed bliss and then our little child, Portia, was born. ‘* Marston was sullen and unfriendly over my success in winning the hand of the seno- rita, and more than once I caught his eye fixed jealously and malignantly upon my- self. I knew his evil nature would seek re- venge, but I guarded against any sudden attack by exerting the utmost vigilance. It wasin vain. Some secret influence was at work and the vengeance of the villain was consummated quickly and terribly. “One by one the mines of the don were mysteriously flooded or ruined. His resi- Genve was burned, his stock poisoued, and although we suspected Marston of being at the bottom of all these iniquities, not the slightest clew could be obtained which would implicate him in the atrocities referred to. Fivally, however, I resolved to watch him, individually, for I was positive that the de- struction of the property of my father-in- law had been instigated or committed by him and his confederates, and I one evening traced him from the village to a rocky defile leading from the hacienda to a lonely por- tion of the mountains. “It was a cloudless night with a crescent moon, and the exquisite ae served to hide me in the distance as I followed his steps and to show his outline plainly asl epee from tree to tree, from rock to rock. 4 ‘He was on horseback and I on foot, but 6 I kept the same distance steadily between us, he beiug unable to urge his horse to more thau au ordinary trot over the rough and unfrequeuted mountain-road. “At just be reached a point where the road made an abrupt divergence to the left and descended along a rocky oliff into a valley. Here, at a point where the gulch branched off into opposite directions, before a deep fissure in the rooks,he paused. I watched him curiously. He rolled a stone away from its place easily, and as he did so an aperture appeared leading into apparent darkness. Then heentered and disappeared from my view. “T waited a few minutes and then boldly determined to advance iuto the secret of the cave, for I doubted not this was an en- trance to it, and immediately crawled into the hole. “There was a long, narrow, and low pas- sage, gainiug in height as I advanced and finally widening into a large room. In a niche in the rock was a spirit-lamp that, fluring up, cast a brilliant radiance over the roof and sides of the cavern, which were composed of glittering stalactites that hung pendant, reflecting a myriad of prismatic rays, varied and beautiful as those of the rainbow, ‘“T was lost in admiration of the scene when my eyes rested upon the second sub- terranean corridor leading from this cave, and supplied here and there with lamps placed in fissures of the solid rock evidently intended to light the way to some place still further in the mountain. “T hastened on, noting that the pathway was well trodden and smooth until it came to a door made of solid forest wood, pend- ant on huge, frame hinges firmly imbedded in the rock. It yielded tomy touch, swung open, and I had just time to spring into a dark recess to evade the notice of a dozen or more persons gathered in a semicirclein the vast cavern which I had so strangely en- tered. “It was an Aladdin-like dream of beauty, wonderment aud marvels. “The cave was resplendent with magnifi- cent rock crystals, reflegting a thousand varied Lues from the light radiated toward them from perfumed lamps hung from the lofty ceiling. “In the center of the place, perched upon a high } latturm of white, transparent stoue, resemblivg -gypsum or alabaster, was a fig- ure hewn frum solid rock, such as I had never seen berore. It was a dark, forbid- ding representation of the Aztec god of dim traditiou—Zeus Inflamma. I récognized it atonce as the object of superstition, the worshiped divinity of a fanatic sect then dying out, called the Brethren of the Blood, whose devotees dwelt amid the ancient ruins of Mexico. “In the center of the altar upon a pure white shield were other symbols in blood- red characters, and in the hand of the idol was a scepter of gold, upon the end of which, glaring and burning like a fiery sun, was an immense yellow diamond. “It emanated such a flood of molten, liquid light, so subtle, so diffusive, that my eyes were almost blinded by the light of it. Of immense value, and doubtless ancient as the knowledge of the mountain itself which concealed it from the eyes of unbelievers, its votaries here worshiped the fiery symbol of their belief. “T had heard of the order, had often won- dered at their strange fidelity to their cause, and at once divined the secret influence of the villain. Marston was a member of the order. “By what means he, a stranger, had been accepted asa member I know not. I only know that, seated there with the dark-skin- ned, burning-eyedremnant of a race almost extinct, he conversed with them ina pure dialect, simple and of but few words, and spoken very generally in Central America. JI understood their conversation very thor- oughly and I listened intently, every word sounding distinct and loud in thereverberat- ing cavern. : “*T have kept my promise, Brethern of the Blood,’ Marston was saying. ‘You have aided me in my plot against my rival, and I in return have delivered to you secrets of the army’s movements, of the movements of its dispersed members in whom you _ see fit to be interested. I desire the Donna Inez and the death of my rival.’ “ «Tt cannot be done,’ said one of the men, who, richly although quaintly attired, ap- peared to bea high-priest or other import- ant official of the order. ‘Death can only pe dealt out by Brethren of the Blood to its THE SATURDAY LIBRARY. direot enemies. This man you hate has done no overt act to entail such a doom.’ “«Heis my enemy, and am I not a mem- ber of your order and a friend to all your movements? replied Marston. ‘Of what avail is the burning of the don’s hacienda, the poisoning of his flocks, the destruction of his mines and other property if he, my enemy, lives and the senorita is not mine? es The Aztec was silent for a few minutes deeply engaged in looking over a roll of parchment be held iu his hand. Finally he said: “ «Brother, when you entered this order we promised mutual society and aid. We have extended itto you. Further than we have dove we will not do. Let that suffice, “A flush of anger, deep aud uncontrolla- ble, evinced the ready passion of the other. “¢Beware !’ he said, revealing his true spirit to the men about him. ‘ Your secrets are— “ee He arose, ‘ Se “