him. "Here, Bland, catch hold. ye?-don't be faint-hearted, man. take ye long."

Where are
It won't

It was quite dark now in the cell, but as Bland advanced, his face was like a white mask floating upon the darkness, it was so ghastly pale. Dawes pressed his lucky comrade's hand, and withdrew to the farthest corner. Bland and Mooney were for a few moments, occupied with the rope-doubtless preparing for escape by means of it. The silence was broken only by the convulsive jangling of Bland's irons-he was shuddering violently. At last Mooney spoke again, in strangely soft and subdued tones.

Dawes, lad, do you think there is a Heaven ?"

"I know there is a Hell," said Dawes, without turning his face.

Ay, and a Heaven, lad. I think I shall go there. You will, old chap, for you've been good to me-God bless you, you've been very good to me."

When Troke came in the morning, he saw what had occurred at a glance, and hastened to remove the corpse of the strangled Mooney.

"We drew lots," said Rufus Dawes, pointing to Bland, who crouched in the corner farthest from his victim, "and it fell upon him to do it. I'm the witness."

"They'll hang you for all that," said Troke.

"I hope so," said Rufus Dawes.

The scheme of escape hit upon by the convict intellect was simply this. Three men being together, lots were drawn to determine whom should be murdered. The drawer of the longest straw was the "lucky" man. He was killed. The drawer of the next longest straw was the murderer. .He was hanged. The unlucky one was the witness. He had, of course, an excellent chance of being hung also, but his doom was not so certain, and he therefore looked upon himself as unfortunate.

J

CHAPTER X.

A MEETING.

OHN REX found the George disagreeably prepared for his august arrival. Obsequious waiters took his dressing-bag and overcoat, the landlord himself welcomed him at the door. Two naval gentlemen came out of the coffee-room to stare at him. "Have you any more luggage, Mr. Devine ?" asked the landlord, as he flung open the door of the best drawingroom. It was awkwardly evident that his wife had no notion of suffering him to hide his borrowed light under a bushel.

A supper-table laid for two people gleamed bright from the cheeriest corner. A fire crackled beneath the marble mantelshelf.

The latest evening paper lay upon a chair; and, brushing it carelessly with her costly dress, the woman he had so basely deserted came smiling to meet him.

+66

'Well, Mr. Richard Devine," said she, did not expect to see me again, did

you you ?”

Although, on his journey down, he had composed an elaborate speech wherewith to greet her, this unnatural civility dumbfounded him. "Sarah! I never meant to

to▬▬

Hush, my dear Richard-it must be Richard now, I suppose-This is not the time for explanations. Besides, the waiter might hear you. Let us have some supper, you must be hungry I am sure.' He advanced to the table mechanically. "How fat you are!" she continued. "Too good living, I suppose. You were not so fat at Port Ar― Oh, I forgot, my dear! Come and sit down. That's right. I have told them all that I am your wife, for whom you have sent. They regard me with some interest and respect in consequence. Don't spoil their good opinion of me."

He was about to utter an imprecation, but she stopped him by a glance. "No bad language, John, or I shall ring for a constable

Let us understand one another, my dear. You may be a very great man to other people, but to me you are merely my runaway husband—an escaped convict. If you don't eat your supper civilly, I shall send for the police."

"Sarah!" he burst out, "I never meant to Upon my word. It is all a mis

desert you. you.

take. Let me explain."

"There is no need for explanations yet, Jack-I mean Richard. Have your supper. Ah! I know what you want."

She poured out half a tumbler of brandy, and gave it to him. He took the glass from her hand, drank the contents, and then, as though warmed by the spirit, laughed. “What a woman you are, Sarah. I have been a great brute, I confess."

"You have been an ungrateful villain,” said she, with sudden passion, "a hardened, selfish, villain."

But, Sarah”

"Don't touch me!"

"'Pon my word, you are a fine creature, and I was a fool to leave you."

The compliment seemed to soothe her, for

her tone changed somewhat.

"It was a

wicked, cruel act, Jack. You whom I saved.