proceeded to make love to Mary in an easy offhand way. The poor child, a farmer's daughter of eighteen, took his insolence for the gentlemanly style of doing things. I need not say that this was very far from being their first rencontre. Vivian had marked down the rustic beauty very soon after his arrival at Broadoak Avon. He was a student of character; he found out the old farmer at an early date, and made a complete conquest of him. Indeed Farmer Ashow, who was absolutely loyal to the Squire, of course believed in all the Squire's guests. But John Grainger hated Valentinepartly from a simple honest instinct, which taught him that there was something insincere about this superfine gentleman-partly, also, from the fact that Valentine treated him with superb indifference, scarcely appearing to notice his existence. At this moment Vivian turned his attention to his love-making with considerable energy. John Grainger would be here in a few minutes, so he made the most of the time. But, somehow, he did not take count of the time. John climbed the slope more rapidly than he expected; and, on approaching the cavern, he also smelt the fragrant tobacco. He came forward quietly. Yes, there were voices, and Mary's one of them. Should he listen? He knew it was wrong? The blood tingled right up to the tips of his great ears as he thought of it. Yet who could be with Mary in that solitary place? When people doubt, they usually do the wrong thing. John Grainger listened, and the result verified the old adage. "So you don't care much about that oaf," said Vivian. "Why, he is a merc boy, and a very stupid boy," said Mary. "How should I care for him? Poor John!" "He is awfully fond of you," said Vivian. "You treat him very badly. I suppose he would break his neck to get you a flower." All this and more John Grainger heard. What should he do? He felt inclined to take the impudent fellow by the throat, and hurl him down the slope into the river. But he was withheld from this outrage by two considerations one that Vivian was much weaker than himself, the other that a brawl in Mary's presence was not to be thought of. He could not decide what he ought to do; so at last he fairly took flight, made his way up through the woods in a different direction from that which he had traversed with Mary, and, putting on the steam, tried to walk off his annoyance. Walking or riding rapidly, the brain works. Who was the great orator that always made his speeches while iding across country? Your thoroughbred devours the ground-with like rapidity shall your eloquence destroy opposition. You fly over a big fence like a bird-similarly shall you pass over the head of your adversary. John Grainger, doing nearly six miles an hour, soon walked off his first confusion and perplexity of feeling. Out of the wood, and on the open moorland, his mental atmosphere seemed to clear. He was an immature boy, you know, and his first feelings were any thing but intelligible to himself. Now, he began to think consecutively. Did he love Mary Ashow? Not any longer, he thought. But he pitied herand he despised Vivian. These two notions were quite clear to him. Mary was in the clutches of a scoundrel, and he would rescue her, if rescue was possible. Such was the decision into which John Grainger walked himself. Meanwhile Vivian, after lighting another cigar, walked out into the wood. He could see nothing of Grainger. "Your lumpish adorer has vanished, Mary," he said. "I should have thought he was too big and heavy for that sort of business. Never mind; you and I will walk home together." "What can have become of him ?" said Mary. "I never knew him do any thing of this kind before." "He certainly doesn't look the sort of fellow to be eccentric. Never mind, my darling, it is all the better for you and me. We can stroll back leisurely. I did not expect to have so pleasant an afternoon." Leisurely indeed was their stroll towards the Mill Farm. It was long past the hour of teadrinking when they arrived - Mary with a sweet flushed face, Vivian looking as cool as Mephistopheles. But, as it happened, the hour did not matter, for Farmer Ashow had been called away to Riverdale on business, and had left word that he might not be home till late. "Then you can give me a cup of tea, Mary, with some of that divine cream," said Vivian. "I think such tea as you make is more refreshing than iced Champagne." So they had tea together; and after that they strolled about the place, and Mary Ashow showed Mr. Vivian some of the quaint nooks and angles in the old farm-house and mill. "There are such lots of curious closets in the old house," she said. "Father doesn't think he knows them all. There's a big closet, with a door in his room, and another door in mine, where I tell him he keeps all his money. He never lets any body see the inside of it." "I must see your room, Mistress Mary," said Valentine. "Just one peep through the door, you know." After some few feints, she consented; and Vivian had a glimpse of the little girl's chamber, old-fashioned and not elegant, but exquisitely clean and fragrant. And she showed him the big door of black oak which led to her father's mysterious closet. Vivian walked home slowly, there being plenty of time to smoke and reflect before the first dinner-gong sounded. On his way he again encountered the sailor of the previous day. Not now dressed as a sailor-he wore a black suit and a white necktie and spectacles, and looked very much like a Dissenting minister. He brought Vivian some letters. 'Very good," said Vivian, after glancing at | tion upon this very fine gentleman, and unthem. "There is no important alteration, hesitatingly believed every word that he said. Mark, except that I intend to be there myself." | Honest John Grainger, huge and hideous, seem"I am glad of that, sir," he said; and was ed an inferior animal in comparison with Mr. Vivian, who was all elegance and grace, yet seemed full of fire and spirit. gone. Mary Ashow, left to herself, went to her room and looked in her mirror, and questioned herself to know whether she was pretty enough for Mr. Vivian. Then she came down to wait for her father and John Grainger. John arrived first, but not till eight o'clock; and then went | off to bed, telling one of the servants to say he was not very well. Farmer Ashow got home about ten. "I'm dog-tired, Mary," he said. "And I'm very cross and very hungry. Give me a kiss to cure my crossness, and then see if you can find any supper." CHAPTER V. A NIGHT ATTACK. "Here laws are all inviolate." Though under the middle size, there was nothing unmanly about Vivian; and when you saw him on horseback, the most daring rider in the county, you recognized the fact that size is, after all, a secondary consideration. The more Mary thought of him, lying sleepless, yet not unhappy, through the midnight hours, the more she loved him. He was like a hero of romance to her. She had never seen any body like him, and made up her mind that he could not possibly have an equal among mortals. John Grainger did not get any sleep at all. He was fiercely indignant. He thought Vivian an effeminate fop, and Mary a heartless little fool. He strode up and down his chamber in a towering rage. His room was on an upper floor, down a long corridor, so that the rest of the household were not liable to be disturbed by his chemical explosions and emissions of odor. He exploded this night more furiously and continuously than any of his gases. EVERY BODY remembers how Don Juan's sagacious reflections on the beatitude of this island were suddenly interrupted. If there were always a convenient footpad to stop peo- It was about two o'clock, and John Grainger ple when they begin to utter sagacious reflec- was still striding up and down, and Mary Ashow tions, by putting a pistol to the reflector's ear, it was just sinking into the pleasant visionary doze would be a considerable blessing. And, oh what which precedes sound sleep, when there was a a treat would it be if there were somebody to movement in Farmer Ashow's dark chamber. jerk a novel-writer's elbow when his invention A man emerged cautiously from his concealfails him, and his pen goes off into prosy “ pad-ment beneath the bed, and crept towards the ding," and bring him back to his legitimate pillow. The old gentleman was very fast asleep; work ! Well, let me go back to mine. his journey, and a good supper, and some hot Farmer Ashow had his supper, and smoked spirits and water, had sent him to bed in a somhis pipe, and went to bed, where he soon slept | nolent state. It was an easy business to take soundly. His was a huge old-fashioned room, the keys from the pillow without waking him. with several closets, all carefully locked; and The thief, a slight man, wearing a black mask his last business, before saying his prayers, and carrying a dark lantern, secured the keys, which (being churchwarden) he did with great opened the chamber door, locked it behind him, regularity, was to ascertain that things were and then went quietly down stairs. Next he safe in these receptacles. Then he put his big unfastened the house door, and, standing on the bunch of keys under his pillow, and slumbered threshold, gave a low whistle. In a moment he in full confidence. Was there not his ancient was joined by several other men, all masked like blunderbuss over his bed's head, and would not himself. The great yard-dog did not bark all the old watch-dog in the yard give him ample this time, and the house lay at the mercy of the warning? Certainly the blunderbuss had not robbers. been fired off for many a year; and Rover, a There was a whispered consultation. Then very fine mastiff in his time, had lost most of his the scoundrels stole silently up stairs. Farmer teeth, and nearly forgotten how to bark; but these Ashow's room was entered, and the old gentleconsiderations did not occur to Farmer Ashow. man skillfully bound and gagged before he was Mistress Mary, who slept in the next room to half awake. Every closet in its turn was inher father, did not compose herself very com-vestigated, but nothing of much value found, fortably to rest this night. She was a good except in that which has already been described deal fluttered by the events of the afternoon. as having a door which communicated with She had met Mr. Vivian before, and he had | Mary's room. Herein was an iron safe, the treated her with condescending familiarity; but on this occasion he had quite taken her by storm, and she could not help going over and over again all that he had said to her. His words were very pleasant indeed. She was a There were then three men left behind, one very foolish simple little girl, without a thought of them the fellow who had been concealed in of wrong, and she looked with immense admira- | the house. They talked in whispers. | key of which the burglars could not find; so, after a cursory examination, they decided to take the safe with all its contents, and a couple of them carried it away down stairs. "If he comes there'll be an awful row. But let us try it. He can't help it when it's over. They were discussing the fate of poor little Mary Ashow. In another moment she was startled from her sleep, and saw three masked ruffians at her bedside. She gave a shrill shriek, and fainted. Nothing more did she remember, until the fresh air revived her, and she found herself travelling rapidly over the moor in some sort of open vehicle. In her terror she swooned again; and when she next regained consciousness, she was lying in a very comfortable bedroom, and a kind-looking old woman sat by her bedside. But we must return to the Farm. Mary's shrill shriek had been heard. John Grainger heard it, and came rushing and tumbling down stairs, and found the house-door wide open, and heard wheels retreating in the distance. In his haste, he had brought no light, though his candle was burning. Another who heard it was Valentine Vivian, who, we know, was in the habit of riding late at night. He spurred his mare, and reached the farm just as John Grainger, having found a candle, again reached the front door. Vivian, who was smoking, as usual, sprang from his horse, and said "What is the matter, Grainger ?" "I don't understand it," said John, who was not frightened, but completely bewildered. "There have been robbers here." "But I heard a scream," said Vivian. Miss Mary safe?" heavy weight even now, and the animal in question, though capable of travelling any distance, could not travel any distance rapidly. Hence was it that it was past daybreak when he reached the head-quarters of the Riverdale police. The active Chief Constable had just arrived. John Grainger, in as few words as possible, acquainted him with what had happened. "The county police were sent for, of course," said Severne. "Yes, at once." "Well, they will do their best, no doubt-but I fear that will be very little. The young lady and the big chest are somewhere in Riverdale, without a question." "It seems strange," said John Grainger, "that a young lady can be carried away and concealed in such times as these. Surely you ought to be able to find her in a few hours, if she is in Riverdale." "I'll try. This gang of scoundrels has been wonderfully lucky; but I mean to have them at last." "There is no time to be lost now," said John, whose big frame was tremulous with anxiety. "You must rescue Miss Ashow." "Take good heart, my boy. Go and get some breakfast after your ride; then you'll be fit to help us if we want you." "Very well," said John. "I shall wait at the Maypole till I hear from you." Severne was naturally in a highly irritated condition of mind. Ordinary county robberies were no business of his; but in the present instance it was clear that the burglars and high"Is waymen who had startled the county with their depredations were quartered in Riverdale. They had been at work for weeks, and yet he had not traced them. It was a frightful nuisance to a man with whom baffling thieves was a passion. "I don't know," said John. Calling him a confounded fool, Vivian made his way up stairs. Mary's room-door was open, and the pretty bird was gone from her nest. Then he passed into Farmer Ashow's room, and cut the ropes which bound that unlucky old gentleman. By this time the whole household was aroused, and every body was talking at once. "Look here," said Vivian, "you are all wasting time. Grainger, send a fellow on horseback to the county police-station, and ride yourself into Riverdale, to Mr. Severne. You know him, don't you?" 66 "Yes," replied Grainger, still rather devoid of presence of mind. "Rouse yourself, my good fellow," said Vivian. 66 If you don't care for the old gentleman's money, you do for your pretty sweetheart, I suppose. Think of her in the hands of those ruffians." This last speech cut Grainger like the lash of a whip, and drove away his stupid bewilderment. He obeyed orders at once. The messenger to the county police had not far to go, and some of those officials were soon upon the spot. John Grainger, however, had a long ride to Riverdale. Let us follow him. He mounted the best horse in the farmer's stables; but John was a Now he set all his detective machinery at work. Plenty of suspected persons and places there were in the great town of Riverdale, and these had all been carefully watched since the depredations commenced; but there had been nothing to connect them with the outrages which had alarmed the county. Clearly this was a new movement, an independent organization. Severne, with all his Cambridge acumen, was thoroughly perplexed. Leaving the Chief Constable to do his utmost, and John Grainger to breakfast with what appetite he may at the Maypole, let us return to Broadoak Avon. Vivian, having liberated Farmer Ashow, and seen the county police in possession of the premises, rode quietly home, soliloquizing as he rode. "Confound these fellows!" he said to himself. "I shall have to come down upon them pretty sharp. What's the best thing to do? The Squire will want to go to Riverdale. I'll go with him." Squire Redfern was an early riser. Soon after five he was out on the lawn, and was surprised to see Vivian there already. "Why, Valentine," he said, "what's the ter than Braham, and Moses more euphonious meaning of this ?" than Moss. But the name of the great lawgiver, having been shortened to Moss by a nasal process, is often further corrupted to Boss. This was the name over the largest silversmith's shop in Riverdale. "Another robbery to-night, Redfern. I was taking one of my nocturnal rides, and heard a terrific shriek, and found they had broken into the Mill Farm, and carried off Ashow's money and his daughter." Boss was a garrulous little Jew of about for"His daughter!" said the Squire in amaze- ty, who cringed to his customers in the most abment. "Are you serious?" "True, upon my life. It was her scream I heard. When I got down I found old Ashow tied and gagged, and that stupid fellow Grainger mooning about without the least idea of what to do. I sent for the county police, and made Grainger ride off to Severne, at Riverdale." "It's a most extraordinary and audacious thing," said the Squire. "I shall go over to Riverdale at once. Will you come ?" "You had better see Eva first, and ascertain if she would like to come also. A robbery so close will frighten her, perhaps. Meanwhile, suppose we go down to the farm." They found Mr. Ashow in a fierce state of indignation. He had never been known to swear with such fine fluency and fervor. He abused every body, but especially the police; there was a big puffy pulpy superintendent in charge, and on him Mr. Ashow's wrath descended most fiercely. "Feed up the police as if they were prize oxen, like that fellow Iremonger," said the enraged farmer, "and, of course, they're too big and too stupid to do their duty. They do nothing but eat and drink at the expense of the rates. We shall be obliged to become our own police. If I'd been keeping watch last night, some of those fellows would have found out their mistake." "I'm going to drive over to Riverdale this morning," said the Squire. "Will you come with us, Ashow? We shall be very likely to hear something of your daughter there. Come up to Broadoak and have some breakfast, and by that time the carriage will be ready." The farmer assented. On their return they found Lady Eva, whose lady's maid had brought her the news in an exaggerated form, ready to breakfast with them. The Squire, who was a famous whip, ordered out his favorite four-inhand team, and off they started for the town, Eva on the box by her husband, and Vivian and the farmer behind them. CHAPTER VI. A SILVERSMITH'S SHOP. Eton Latin Grammar. ject way, and who sold his plate and jewelry at the highest obtainable prices. Of course he was prosperous. All the leading people of the coun ty patronized him. Harry Mauleverer had taken to yachting, and all his race-cups were to be seen in Boss's window. His establishment stood in the Rope Walk, on the best side of the great open market-place of Riverdale. To this shop came Vivian, soon after the party from Broadoak had arrived in the town. Mr. Boss was behind his counter. "I want to speak to you, Boss," he said, and went with the jeweller into his private parlor. "You know what these scoundrels did last night?" said Vivian. "They broke into a house, I hear. They have brought away a big safe, which they don't know how to open," he said, with a grin. "They have done worse than that. They have brought away a little girl with them, a farmer's daughter, about eighteen years old." "The devil! What fools!" "Yes, it is that big ruffian, Black Ned. He begins to think he can do just what he likes. I'll teach him a lesson this time." "Don't do any thing rash, Mr. Vivian," said the Jew. "Rash!" he repeated, with a contemptuous laugh. "Come along. I suppose they are in their usual haunt." Vivian and the Jew descended long flights of stone steps, till they came to an arched cellar cut in the sandy rock, and lighted throughout with gas. Riverdale is built on a sandy foundation, and abounds in such cavernous excavations. This was a wine-cellar, well stocked with both casks and bottles. By-and-by they came to an iron gate, which being unlocked, they passed into a second cellar. In one compartment of this a room was fitted up, and here they found a dozen fellows, some asleep, some smoking and drinking. Farmer Ashow's impracticable safe was in one corner of the room: tough as its owner, it had resisted a whole heap of iron implements, which lay broken beside it. "Now, Mark," said Vivian, sharply, addressing the man whom he had met in the Broadoak woods, "what is the meaning of this? Why do you let that big blockhead Barnett make such a fool of you?" The said Barnett, otherwise Black Ned, lay forward with his head on the table, having evidently been drinking hard. 'Tis odd how gentlemen of the Hebrew race, though Mr. Disraeli attempts to teach them that they ought to be proud of their origin, are in the habit of disguising the grand old names which belong to them. Surely Abraham is bet- | Wiley in charge of her.” "I can't manage him, your honor. He is always leading the other men into danger." "I'll manage him. Is the girl safe?" "She is in bed up stairs, with old Mother "You took her away with. scarcely any clothes, I know. Go at once and tell the old woman to find some sort of clothing that is fit for her, and then take her out when the street is quiet, and leave her in the market-place. The little girl does not know much of Riverdale, so she can easily manage so that she won't know where she is. See that done immediately, then come back here to me." down stairs, and through some narrow streets into the market-place. There she left her, and the child saw a policeman, to whom she told her story." "Can't she show the way to the place she came from?" asked Vivian. "No-she has tried, but without an approach to success. She was very much bewildered, naturally; and these alleys leading to the market-place are all so very much alike. But Severne, who is awfully annoyed at being so com Mark went. Vivian sat down and lighted a cigar. Such of the men who were awake eyed him very much as wild beasts eye their keeper.pletely foiled, declares he will find the place bePresently Mark returned. "Is it done?" "Yes, your honor. The old woman slipped round the corner, and saw the girl talking to a policeman." "Good. You have been to blame in this affair, Mark; but the real fault is with Barnett. Wake him up, some of you." A couple of fellows 'shook him, and he stared stupidly at Vivian. "Listen to me, my men. You all ought to know me by this time. I'm just as determined here as I was at sea. Perhaps you remember what came of Jack Randal. Now, if I didn't know Barnett to be only a fool, I'd shoot him at once, and you might dig his grave in the sand; but I'll give him one more chance. Mark, get the cat, and strap him down-he shall have three dozen." Barnett, still stupefied with drink, did not seem to understand all this; but another fellow sprang up, with a big cudgel in his hand, and swore a frightful oath that nobody should touch Black Ned. "Indeed," said Vivian. And, with prompt rapidity, he took a revolver from his pocket, and put a shot through the ruffian's right arm. "Now," he said, "look to your own affairs. Tie that blackguard up, Mark." He was obeyed, and Barnett received three dozen lashes, as skillfully and sternly applied as if Mark had been a boatswain in the old days of fierce flogging. "That will teach the fellow to leave the girls alone," said Vivian to the Jew, with a laugh. "He has wanted a lesson for some time." Therewith they left the chamber, and found their way back to the upper air. Vivian came into the shop just as Squire Redfern and Lady Eva stopped at the door. "Mary Ashow is found, Valentine!" exclaimed Lady Eva. "But not the safe," said the Squire. "And Severne is triumphant, of course," remarked Vivian. fore sunset." "Well done, Severne! let us hope he'll succeed. Boss, here, tells me that the people of Riverdale are in a terrible state of panic dismay. They don't venture out at nights. Some of the leading tradesmen have a select club they call the Institution, and they have been actually frightened into giving up their meetings. The town is demoralized." "The thieves will do some good," said the Squire, "if they make the Riverdale people go to bed at respectable hours. They keep up a great deal too late in general." "Will Mr. Severne find the safe, I wonder?" said Lady Eva. "Severne's too clever by half," replied Vivian. "Boss has just been showing me a love of a bracelet, Eva. I'll wager it with you against a box of Redfern's best cigars, that your astute constable doesn't find the safe." "You may risk that, Eva," said the Squire. “Valentine will be sure to smoke the cigars, whether he wins them or not." So the bet was made; and soon afterwards the party returned to Broadoak, Mary Ashow, by reason of her rather curious apparel, being an inside passenger. As to the farmer, he was completely incredulous as to there being the remotest possibility of recovering his property. "It doesn't matter, Squire," said the tough old boy, with a sardonic grin. "They haven't ruined me I shall be able to pay my rent. But I couldn't have got on without Mary." CHAPTER VII. ON A GREEK ISLAND. "Pity he loved adventurous life's variety, He was so great a loss to good society." How Valentine Vivian came, years before this story commenced, upon a small island in the Ægean Sea, need not be stated at length. "Why, he had nothing to do with it," said the Weary of the beaten tracks of European amuseSquire. "The little girl says she remembers ment, he hired at Marseilles a rakish half-deckscarcely any thing after she was taken away, un-ed craft, with a most villainous crew of mixed til she found herself in bed, and an old woman in charge of her. She was very kindly treated, but it was no use to ask any questions. By-andby the old woman went away for a time; when she returned, she dressed Mary in clothes that did not belong to her, and took her very quickly nationality, and steered straight for the Greek islands. One of the crew, an Englishman, named Mark Walsh, had been, in days gone by, a very reputable fellow, in the employ of English yachtsmen, and from him Vivian learnt that it was the design of the exemplary gentle |