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\/'V \2 H. . . .. . . A ._ . m: . ..l I VW~VWVV‘.Vâ€"N~ mwmum“f_~,V_'.V~\AJ“,%.W _ A‘VVV _‘ N.‘~ THE MYSTERIOUS CRIME , ON THE S.S._NEPTUNE a CHAPTER II.â€"-Continued. " Idare Say the effect wouldn‘t en- dure l‘cng,” said Ronald, lightly. “Reli- gion, which appeals purely to the senses is lnever so strong, as that which comes straight to the mind.” “Of course, not,” replied Pat, who knew nothing about what he was talk- ing, and only spoke to irritate the old lady, “ I’d‘ back Presbyterianism against Catholicism any day for fan- aticism; it’s a fight betWeen Calvin and Peterâ€"two to one on the win- ner.” Mrs. Pellypop made no reply, being struck with horror at the light way in which theyoung man treated reli- gion, and walked hastily away with Miss Lester so as to close the discussion. ‘VfI-Iang it, Pat!” said Ronald, as théy walked, slowly behind, “ why can‘t you leave theaold girl alone i" “ Because she won’t leave us alone,” retorted Pat. " \Vhy the deuce should she came with us to spoil sport 3” “ Two young men and only one girl isn‘t sport.” "Oh, begad! we’d have tossed for her, and the loser could have made himself scarce.” They then 'went to the Capuchiu Convent and saw the dried monks, looking grim and ghastlyenough in the dim light of candles carried by their living brethren. Pat’s comment on their appearance was original. " They look like Bombay duck,” he said, " alluding to the dried fish.usu- ally eaten with cuirry. " I don‘t think I’ll touch any more of it.” Kate Lester laughed. " You are amusing,” but irreligious,’ she said, turning away. “ Irreligious, certainly," observed Virtue, in the person of Mrs. Pellypop; “ but amusing, no." “I don’t think the old thing‘s got much sense of humor,” whispered Pat to Ronald as they went up again into the light of day. ' “ Well, ,if no one else laugns at your jokes, Pat, you always do yourself.” retmted the Australian. consolingly, " But come along, we’ll go to the Bar- raca and see the view.” intended for Valetta would befall this intrusive young man. Suddenly Ronald uttered an exclam- ation ; "By Jove, what pretty girls i" Valetta, its traditions, its views, its pleasures, all vanished to nothing as he saw before him feminine .-beanty. Mrs. Pellypop was disgusted, asshe considered no man had a right to ad- mire a woman when another was be- side him. This, however, was merely the Pellypop code, and ‘not generally adopted. But the two ladies who had caused Ronald‘s exclamation, fully justified his remark. One was tall and slender, with a dark, oval face, and coils of jet black hair wreathed round her small head. \Vonde-rfully dark eyes which had a sleepy look, a straight, delicate- ly chisclled nose, and a full red mouth. She was dressed in a loose, white gown, with a crimson sash round her waist, and instead of the ugly hoods generally worn by the Mal- tese ladies, had a saucy sailor hat on. her head, long Suede gloves, and a tall pcmpadour umbrella of red silk, completed her costume. The other was somewhat similar in appearance, but evidently older, and had rather a repelling expression of countenance. She was dressed in black and did not show to such ad- vantage as her companion, so after a careless glance at her, Ronaldâ€"who, like all fair men, admired dark women â€"turned his attention to the young- er of the two. They appeared to have been quarrelling, and the younger girl was walking quickly a little in ad- vance of her friend with an indignant expression on her face, while the 0th- e.r followed more slowly with a. frown on her strongly marked features. Ronald turned to his companion with a sigh. . “Yes, awfully pretty.” "I confess,” observed Mrs. Pelly- pop, slowly, “ I do not think so.” Ronald was discreet, and surren- dered. , "I dare say not,” he observed has~ tily, " but you see one is so often de- ceived by a passing glance.” . They- wandered all over ’the cityâ€"- They strolled slowly along, inhaling I went to the market and bought fruit, the fresh air, and going through the “and were warned against eating it by ruined Barraca, which was unroofed 3 an officious Malteseâ€"saw the Armory by one of the Grand Masters they I in the Grand Master’s Palaceâ€"strollâ€" stepped out on the terrace, and saw ed round St. George’s Square, that wonderful panorama, and which is viewed with patriotic pride the flat- one of the finest things in Valetta. A te.ring inscription to British Power magnificent view, of the open sea, the over the Main Guard-Houseâ€"sat in blue waters of the Quarantine Har~ bar, while immediately below are the Sultan’s garden, the huge walls of Fort Lascaris, and the Fish Market. the carriage of the last Grand Mas- ter, and then went and had a light afternoon meal at a Well-known ho- tel. It was now getting late, so, with Away in the distance can be seen Fort . a farewell glance at the Strada Reule St. Elmo protecting the entrance to the port, Fort St. Angelo, which is one of: the oldest in Malta, and the angular lines of fortification standing sharp and clear against the vividly blue sky. It was a gorgeous panor- ama, and even Mrs. Pellypop was im- pressed. ' "This place is impregnable,” she said, surveying it through her glasses. " I don‘t think so,” said Pat, in a contradictory tone; “a few of our new guns would knock it to pieces in no time." ‘ Mrs. Pellypop deigned no reply to this flippant remark, but walked off indignantly, wishing that the fate he a Honors d hyss and its queer crowd, they went down to the water-gate, where they found their boat waiting. A crowd of pas- sengers was there, full of excitement about bargains made and experiences gained, and some guilelessly thought they had got the better of the Maltese this enlightened age. They rowed to the steamer through the dark waters, with the lights of the city gleaming like stars in the disâ€" tance, and the tall forms of ships looming like phantoms in the gloom. At last, after an adventurous journey, they arrived on board, and the first thing Ronald saw was Ventin leaning t... lac, Trusted and Admired by Tens of Thousands of Grateful cured fines is Dr. W. A. chase. First, by his famous Recipe Book, Hearing of Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food and later by his great family remedies, Dr. Chase proved his wonderful skill as a conqueror of disease. A grateful world now rises to call him blessed and to tell of the incalculable benefits i now derived from the use of his great pre- scriptions. I EGZEMA ON THE HEAD. Mrs. Joseph Querin, Ethel, Huron 00., Ont., \vriteszâ€""I was troubled with eczema on the head and face for about 9 years. My head was a mass of scabs, and though [tried the doc- tors I was all the time getting worse. {finally began to use Dr. Chase's Olnt. ment, and to my surprise obtained re- lief from the first application. Three boxes have cured me, and I would not begrudge $200 for the benefit I have derived from this great remedy. Dr. Chase's Ointment is of almost daily use in the home, and I would advrse land the wonderful results it has ac- complished in others, I obtained a box and began using it as directed. 1 be- gan to improve immediately, and am restored to full health and vigour." “Dr. Chase's Nerve Food is an‘ exâ€" cellent remedy, and I can recommend it to a 11 who are weak, nervous, or run down ill health." KIDNEY BAGKAGHE. Mr. D..vid McLe‘sh, 279 Slater st., Ottawa, Ont., states:â€"â€"“l was troubled with kidney disease and backache for four or five years and have used very many remedies without obtaining per~ manent benefits. Some time ago 1 be- gan‘ using Dr. Chase's Kdiney-Liver Pills, and found them to be the best medicine I ever used. Their use took away that kidney backache, and made me feel better in every way, gave me .,_ v.1: _ mamâ€"w“hhlmtmu._wxmmâ€"m over the bulwarks watching fresh ar- rivals. As soon as Mrs. Pellypop and Kate, escorted by Pat, had gone be- low, Ronald went to Ventin. " Have you been on board all day 9" he asked. Ventin shook his head. ‘ ‘No; I changed my mind and went on shore shortly after you left.” “ Did you see her i" I“’I did." “ The devilâ€"did she see you 9’ “I think so.” " Oh, so she didn’t speak to you 2” “No! I was afraid of ascene and came back to the ship at once.” " Well, she won’t come on board now,” said Ronald consolingly; “so you’ll be all right.” Ventin sighed. “Nothing is so certain as the un- foreseen,” he replied monrnfully. CHAPTER III. - The excitement of arrival at' a new place is only equalled by the excite- ment of departure, and as the " Nep- tune,” was to leave at nine o’clock no one thought of going to bed until the anchor was up. The deck was crowded with passen- gers talking gaily about their adven- tvulres during the day, and here and there could be seen the strange faces of new arrivals on board. All round the steamer numerous boats, each bearing a light, were cruising about, and the water looked as if covered with restless fire-flies. Every now and then the whistle would sound in order to summon headless passengers who had forgotten the hour of sail- ing. A lot of people had come to see new p‘asSengers off, and some were having a parting glass at the .bar, while others were talking together in knots on deck. 'It was_a ; very ani~ mated scene, and Ronald, standing by Ventin, felt amused at the chatter and bustle that was going on. Ventin, hoWevelr, eyed the crowd in his usual gloomy manner, and Ronald could not help asking him the cause of his low- curing looks. "Nothing more than common,” he answered, carelessly; " I’ve seen all this sort of thing so often, it has be- come drearyâ€"ll'm bored, and I detest being bored." "Are you afraid of seeing your wife ?" “ Well, I don’t know," replled Ven~ tin, pulling his . mustache; " if she thinks she can make a row she cer- tainly will, but as I am under anoth- er name she will ask for me by my real one, and therefore, she will be told there’s no such person on board.” "And then i” interrogatively. " 0b, as she saw me in Valetta. to- day she will think I’m stopping there, and hunt everywhere for meâ€"l hope her patiencewill be rewardedâ€"by the way, when do we start ?” “ Nine o’clock,” replied Ronald, look- ing at his watch, “ it’s now half-past eight." “I’ll go to bed, I think,” observed Mr. Ventin, holding out his hand. “ Won’t you wait till we start i” “Too sleepy,” yawned the other. “\Vell, if your fellow-traveller en- ters later you will be awakened.” “ I daresay,” said Ventin; "but I’ve got a whole cabin to myselfâ€"queer you haven’t seen itâ€"I’ve some things you’d like to look at.” “ What is the number 9” asked Mon- teith, carelessly. “ Forty-thlree.” Some one pushed against Ronald at that moment and he did not hear Ven- tin’s answer. ' “What number did you say i” “Forty-three,” from Ventin, in a louder tone of voice, “ look me up in the morningâ€"at present, goodâ€"bye,”- and he shook the young man’s hand - cordially. “Good night, you mean,” said Ron- ald laughing. “it’s all the same thing,” replied Ventin idly, "like Kathleen Mavour- neenâ€"it may be for years and it may be for everâ€"good night,” and he mov- ed away slowly down the saloon steps.’ Ronald remained leaning over the bulwarks looking at the stream of people coming up, and presently he was-joined by [’at Ryan, who made facetious remarks on the late arrivals. “ How much sham jewallery have ye got, Chester '4” he asked of a fair young man who came lurching up evidently having more on board than he could carry. Mr. Chester made some unintelligible reply, and Pat re- sumed, “Oh! it’s sham-pagne ye took instead; it’s a bad pun, but a heavenly truth. That you, Bently? how many girls have you mashed to- day? Begad, if your success has only been equal to your knowledge of Mal- tese it's mighty small progress ye’ve rim-wwwuuu'VMâ€"uâ€"WW The girl iniquestion was neither pretty, nor fascinating, bu’t Pat’s brogue, once started, never knew when to stop; and Ronald was just going to march him off to the bar as the only way of closing his mouth, when the last bell was rung, and the cry of “ All aboard for the shore," was heard. A rush took place to the side, and a black line of people streamed down the gangway; then the ladder was lift- ed up; the old and new passengers lined the bulwarks 'and sang out “good byes” to their friends in the darknessâ€"the anchor was trippedâ€"- the .whistle blow, and the thr‘ob of the engines announced that the “Nep- tune ” was once more on her way to England. ' " "I wonder if anyone 'is left behind,” said Ronald to Ryan, as they Went to the smoking-ll'oom.. “They must be deaf if they are,” retorted Pat; " that divil of a whis- tle would wake the deadâ€"now, me boy what. is it to be '5" “Whiskey and soda for, me,” said Montcith, when they were comfort- ably established in the smokingâ€"room through the wide doorway of which they could see the lights of‘Vuletta fading slowly away. " l’ll follow suit,” said Pat, prompt- , ly lighting his pipe. “Two whiskeys and soda, steward, and not too much soda." All the ladies, tired with their ex- periences of Valetta had gone to bed, and the smokingâ€"room was filled with gentlemen whose tastings of the wines of the country had made them more exhilarated than usual. Being convivi- ally disposed they ordered more liquor and prepared to make a night of it. “ VVhere’s Ventin I” {15de Pat. “Gone to bed,” replied Monteith, knocking the ashes from his pipe. I “ The deuce he has,” said Ryan with surprise, “ that’s unusual for him.” “Tired, I suppose” was the an- swer. ' “It’s a pity,” observed Ryan, .reâ€" gretfully; " he is a deuced good' fel- low for a song.” . “Give us one'yourself, Pat,” said Bentley, tapping his glass on the ta- ble. " Mr. Ryan for ‘a song, gentlemen.” " Yes, a somgâ€"a song ‘?â€"from all. "I’ll sing ye ‘Killaloe,’ ” said Pat, " it’s got a touch of the brogue about it that will go beautifully with the whiskey.” ' ' So he accordingly sang “Killaloe” to a delighted audience, who joined in the chorus with bacchanalian vehem- ence, and who gave the “ Whoop ye divils,” at ‘the end with a vigolr wor- thy of Donnybrook Fair. Then Ronald sang, " \V'rap me up in my old stable jacket "â€"that old song which is al- ways such a favorite; and after sun- dry other selections had been given by gentlemen with good intentions, but husky voices, Pat was called on to sing his favorite nigger song, “ I love a lubly gal.” A pleasant voice had Pat, and he sang the plaintive little melody in a charmingly sympathetic manner. ' “I love a lubly gal, I do. And I have loved a gal or two; An I know how agal should be Lub’dâ€"you bot Ido.” Ronaldfound himself humming it as he want to bed, and then fell to sleep, and dreamt the dark girl he had seen that day in Valetta, was the “lubly gal” he loved. " o o o o c _ 0 (To be Continued. ‘ __+_ ELLIPTICAL TRUTH. A kindâ€"hearted clergyman was late- ly compelled to dismiss a gardener who used to purloin his fruit and vege- tables. For the-sake of his wife and family he gave him a letter of recom- mendation, and this is how, he worded it: I I hereby certify that A. B. has been my gardener for over two years, and that during that time he got more out of my garden than any man I ever employed. / 'A PLACE UNUSURPED. Well, said Mrs. Sirius Barker, with characteristic cynicism, I’m glad they draw the line in this feminine deter- mination to :usunp the place of man in modern civilization. What do you meanff I note that there is no movement afoot to have the wives stay in town during the summer and earn money so as to send their husbands to the seashore. \ SCORING A NE\V POINT‘. How did you like my recitation?I asked the young man. .3 _,., _ . ' . ______.â€"â€"â€"â€"_â€"â€"-â€". w. GHEERS FUR THEMDNSUUN HOUSE OF COMMONS REJOICES OVER NEWS FROM INDIA. Danger of Fumble to Euglamlâ€"Crluclsml or she Indian Pressâ€"Complaint Tim! the lirlllsh Gln‘ermuenl (Rivas No All]; But. Exams Unremluing Taxation. _The British House of Commons the other day was so far roused from its habitual apathy when Indian affairs were under discussion as to receive the information with a; successron of hearty cheers that the monsoon had broka on the parched soil of the famine district. Lord George Humilâ€" ton, the Secretary of State for ~India. is described as having given the wel- come news in a voice of tremlulous un- certainty, and when the House seiz- ed the importance of the event it gave fullexpression' to the sense of re- lief whlch overcome it. If the reports of persons quite recently returned from India are to be credited, asuc- cessful monsoon may go a long way to avert serious trouble in that coun- try. A man associated with one of the missionary societies, who left In- dia a few weeks ago, has expressed the opinion that the maintenance of English rule out there depends now on'an expenditure of money or blood. He gave as his reason for putting the case so strongly the fact that, even if the rains are all that are hoped for, the loss of ploughing cattle has been so unprecedented that the im- poverished and enfeebled peasants, will have no means of cultivating the land. The cattle have died literally by hundreds of thousands and cannot be replaced, according to the lowest estimate, under $5,000,0U0. Then the wretched people will need food and shelter until the crops, supposing they succeed in getting the seed into the ‘ ground, come to maturity. A corres- pondent of the Times of indie depicts their condition in the following sen- ‘ tehces : “ These poor people; before they left their village homes for the far- off famine works, had to Sell every- thing to satisfy the gnawing cravings of hunger; even the flimsy materials of their huts were disposed of either for fuel or for grain. They are now quite worn out by constant and un- familiar work, sustained only by a scanty diet. Their clothes,»if any, are threadbare and-hardly sufficient to ensure decency much less to cover their bodies. In this condition, if they are exposed to the inclemency of the rains when they return to their vil- lages, they will simply die by thou- sands. All the endeavors of the Gov- ernm 311i are directed only toward keeping them alive. Clothing for them is ua'g-ehtly required.” A large money grant by the British Government in order to start the In- dian peasant'in the famine area once more in life is, in the opinion of the man referred to, imperativer called for. If "for want of such assistance the unfavorable season passes away without a crop being got into the ground, and the people have again to, face famine with its attendant con- ‘sequences of plague and pestilence be- cause the British Government refused the needed help, then he thinks it will have to make its hold of India good by the expenditure of blood. Already Indian papers are contrast- ing the action of the Government of the Czar. during the last great fam- ine in Russia with the inaction of. the British Government in this supreme crisis in India, with nearly sixty mil- lions of people in the grip of hunger, plague and cholera. The Russian Government spent close on $120,000,- 000 of its spare resources to relieve the distress of its moujiks, while the scanty relief which the British Indian Government gives its starving rycts is taken out of their own taxation or from borrowings which they will have to make good out of their future ' earnings, the land revenue being the main source of. the Indian Govern- ment’s income. The Indian. press, growing bolder as the crisis increases in gravity, furth- er points out that while the British Government gives no active aid to its Indian subjects in their extremity, it makes no remittances of taxes, as was customary under the native rulers in times of distress, but vigorously ex- acts the last fraction of taxation due by the impoverished ryots. It like- wise continues ‘the drain of revenue to England to pay what are called the “ home charges ” among them such a charge as $23,750,000, exacted annu- ally to pay the cost of maintenance in England of the depots of regiments serving in India. It is estimated that the total drain from India to Eng- land this year will amount to not less than $80,000,000, for which no com- mercial return or equivalent in any shape whatever will be made; the to- tal similarly abstracted during the at the aMmM om. "an ....»..........hm...--w- "msâ€"r «w- â€" -~»-â€"-â€"-â€"â€"-u-â€"â€"-â€".~ A , t 1 t -‘ v v‘v~v‘-VV&.- V‘W v V9-4; ‘ ‘ «Lunaâ€"h: r. ‘ WVNN .~'-n' _ ~,-_ f. It was truly remarkable, answeredllagt twenty years being put refreshing sleep, and made my diges- tion' good." Imitators of Dr. Chase’s Remedies do not dare to reproduce his portrait and signature, which are to be found on every box of his genuine remedies. Bates everybody to keep some on hand." WEAK AND NERVOUS. Mrs. J. M. Bradley, 100 Jane street, Ottawa, states:â€"“For several years i have been gradually runnlng down in health;I was ‘very nervous and‘weak, At all dealers, or Edmanson, “ and worried greatly over my future. l and 00., Toronto. made- A115 Montenh‘ m3 boy, that’s [Miss Cayenne. It has given me a new stupendous figure 'of-t52.500,000,000. It ‘ v ' ' . a! - ~ . ‘ ~ . . lis such stories as these that give point a pretty girl in black. I hope sheslinsight . into_.Shakspea1e. I never;to the complaints and protests__£°’ i“ come on board to stop; keep your 1until this evening realized how much} wicked eyes off her. ye villian, or I’ll genuine comedy there is in Hamlet’s' set Mrs. Pellypop on to you’ soliloquy and Marc Antony’s oration. they are nothing more as yetâ€"of the ' ., Indian press and Indian public speak- are on Indian affairs. shopmen, a thing quite impossible meV-N N‘v-rVâ€"a/xhw" ff." ,.- ,m! A W I as .