apartments, ile looked worried. “ I ’ve seen Albertus,” he said, “ and I’ m afraid that the matter is more se rious than I had supposed. The old villain has got something up his sleeve. What it is i don’ t know, but he evident ly believes it to be a winner. I f he didn’t, Stuart, my boy, I could fix this whole matter for you. This in confi • • • By • • • dence to you: I ’ ve got a very strong HOWARD FIELDING hold on old Albertus Warren, and 1 wouldn’ t scruple to use it In a case of this kind. I f he were merely holding Copyright, 1003, by Charles W. Hooke out obstinately ugninst you. with no definite plan in view. I could swing N the old days when a father did him. But he’s trying to accomplish uot wish his dnughte# to marry something. I ’ m sure of it. though I the man o f her choice he locked don’t see what it can be unless he In her up in the turret chamber of tends to make her marry somwbody else. the castle and kept her on a diet of She is the sort o f girl to mind her fa bread and water until she was too ther." “ It is her only fault,” replied H ol weak to oppose paternal command. Tlir “ But, see here, Jack. method is unusual now in this part of lingsworth. the world, and therefore the luck of There’s one thing obvious—she Is being Stuart Hollingsworth may be called ex tricked. Nobody can convince me that she doesn’t suppose that she has sent ceptionally hard. Hollingsworth was engaged to Ruth word to me. She has trusted her letter Warren without her father’s consent. to some rapeally servant” — “ Is there anybody In the household Hollingsworth had a great reputation whom you know particularly well?” as a w it and had said one or two very asked the lawyer. And Hollingsworth clever but not unkindly things about replied that he had occasionally hold Albertus Warren. Otherwise Hollingsworth was unex amicable conversations with the house ceptionable. lie was not so rich as keeper, who seemed to be friendly dls Warren, but he was in a good way of posed toward him. “ But,” he added, '“ I ’ ve written to her business and striding on toward great already and have got no reply.” success. A brisk, bright, cheery fellow “ W rite again.” said his friend, “ and he was despite the melancholy cast of Ills countenance and the sad, sweet I’ ll try to deliver the note and get an voice which lent Itself so well to the answer. Ask her i f she can suggest any way by which you can get Into the purposes o f his unfailing jests. house without Mr. Warren knowing Warren was different from everybody It. That's the point. You must have else In the world, but most particularly an interview with Miss Ruth if it’ s in from his daughter, who possessed a any wny possible. This case is desper very amiable disposition. She was ate. It w ill come to a runaway mar plump and pretty, exceptionally cheer riage before you get through with it. ful in a gentle w ay and quite destitute and if you take my advice you'll ar o f any trait that could be called an ec range for one at the earliest possible centricity. It could be seen with half moment provided that you get a an eye that she was saturated with chance to talk to the young lady.” love for Hollingsworth in the w ay of a Hollingsworth wrote the note, and piece of cake dipped in wine. Breck hurried nwny with It. He did Her father had done his best to make not return in the course o f the evening, an old maid o f her. She was already but several other fellows drop|>od in twenty-four. Many a suitor had been The rumor that the course of true lov* frightened away from the great, square was not running smooth seemed to house, with its antique iron fence and have circulated widely, and Hollings its strips of dusty lawn. But nobody worth received the sort o f sympathy could frighten Hollingsworth. He was which one ordinarily gets In such case. not a tall man, and he was slenderly He telephoned to Brock’s office half built, but he was armed always with n dozen times next day. but could not the mighty weapon of invincible good find the lawyer In. About noon, how humor. Not even Albertus Warren ever. he appeared nt Hollingsworth’s could quarrel with him, and perhaps rooms. that is why the old sinner resorted to “ I ’ ve struck a desperate situation.” desperate measures. he said. “ I ’ ve given tlie housekeeper Whatever the explanation may be, this Is the situation: Hollingsworth your note. She’s a great creature and knew that the young lady was in her willing to act in your Interest as far father’s house. He had faith to believe as she dares, but by the devil's own that she still loved him, but he could luck she’s out of favor with Miss Ruth. neither see her nor get one word from The girl doesn’ t trust her; won't give her. The truth dawned upon him slow-1 her any message or say a word to her ly. He was Informed at the house two on the subject. So there you are. The or three times that Miss Warren was housekeeper doesn’ t know what’s up. not at home. He expected a note from but she knows that It’ s something se her by mall, and It did not come. A I rious and that old Albertus Warren re very earnest communication from him gards the game as already won.” Hollingsworth’s Jaw dropped. He self brought no response from her. stared nt Breck blankly. Then he called at Mr. Warren’s office “ What In blazes um I going to d o ? ’ and was denied. At the end o f a week Hollingsworth he demanded. ‘T v e been all over this subject.” said had a confidential talk with his friend. John Breck. who was a lawyer. Breck the lawyer, “ from a legal and every treated the subject with levity. He otner aspect, and there’s only one pos had recently been the victim o f a very sible course o f action. You must have good Joke which Hollingsworth had a personal interview with Miss W ar "put up.” and he expressed a mean ren; you must see her without her fa spirited gratification that fate should ther's knowledge, and you must do it have avenged him. Coming to a more right away. Therefore It Is absolutely essential that you get Into thnt house.” serious view at last, he said: “ But I can’t break In!” exclaimed "There are various things that you can do. The young lady is o f age. She Hollingsworth. " I can’t do nnytliing public and make a guy o f the woman can claim her liberty.” "T h a t’s the way f look at it,” re I love. ’E xtra! Extra!* Holy Moses, I can seem to bear It!” sponded Hollingsworth. “ Ruth Warren is to be spirited nwny.” Breck shook his head. said Breck. "T h e housekeeper doesn’ t "T h e old man w ill get tired o f it,” he know where nor how. But If It hap said. “ He won’t Imprison her long.” T w o or three days elapsed without pens It w ill be fatal. The poor girl bringing any new developments, and w ill suppose thnt you know where she's then Breck called at Hollingsworth's gone; she fancies that she’s writing to A Fiance by Express I you every any. ir vou don't follow ner —and you couldn’t because you would not know where she's gone.” Hollingsworth struck his dripping forehead. “ I ’ ve got to get into that house,” he said, “ even If I crawl in through the gas pipe.” “ Precisely.” sn’ d Breck. “ and for that reason I’ ve put up a Job. It’s queer, but the thing’s been done dozens of times in New York—In fact. I ’ ve man aged It myself for one of my clients when there w ts a question o f serving some papers. And you remember the case of Mrs. Wilmington, who kid naped her own daughter.” "Took her »¡wny in a trunk, didn't she?” said Ilo ’ llngsworth. “ But there’s no trunk In the world that w ill hold me. You migiit bring my legs along in n dress suit case, but” — “ This Is serious,” interrupted Breck. “ I’ve already arranged for the trunk. It w ill be lure in a few minutes. It’s the same on-» that I used In the case I mentioned Just now, and my clerk lived in it for five hours without much incon venience. By good luck, as I ’ ve learned from the housekeeper, thnt trunk Is an exact matt for one thnt Miss Warren has in storage. It won’t seem unusunl If we havt, it delivered nt the Warren house today. Come, Stuart. H ave you got the sa*id?” “ Have I ?’’ cried Hollingsworth. “ Watch me. This is really the very best thing thnt we could do. It w ill settle the whole matter. And I ’ ll remember you, Breck. You shall have $1,000 if I live through this and fo.000 If I don't. My grati tude w ill be the same in either case, but if I'm dead I can afford to be more liberal. Fix up my will. What’s that?” A sound of shuflllng feet came from the hall, followed by n quick ring of the bell. Breck opened the door, and four men entered with the trunk. It was a monstrous affair and had a l ready teen stripped of its trays and provided with ventilating holes, suffi cient nr d not too obvious. “ I can live in It for a week.” said Hollingsworth, “ if they set it on the right e id .” The tw o men pndded the Inside with hlnnkots and made experiments in the mattei o f the most comfortable position and the limits o f movement when the lid bed been closed upon the occupnnt. Then they went out and had luncheon, for t i e trunk was not to be delivered nt the Warren residence before 5 in the afternoon. Hollingsworth suggested that it would be awkward If the real one should get there first, but Breck replied that he had sent a bogus mes- sngfc to the warehouse countermanding the order. Promptly nt 5 o’clock the expressmen whom Breck had engaged arrived at Hollingsworth’s rooms. They were well bribed and carefully Instructed. Hollingsworth got Into the trunk, and Breck closed, locked and strapped It. “ Now. for heaven's sake,” he said In a low tone to the men. "don’t drop him on the stnlrs.” “ What's the mntter with the elevat or?” came In anxious but muffied tone« from the Interior of the trunk. " I t ’s all right In this building.” re sponded Breck. “ but in the Warren house there are two flights, and they are pretty bad. the housekeeper snys O f course you’ ll go up the back stairs.” The descent to the street was easy, but the ride to the Wnrren house was long The longer the ride the longer Hollings worth's legs seemed to be. nnd before II wns finished he would have paid any rea sonable sum for the privilege of straight ening them out. "This Is a singular paradox.” he said tc himself. "M y legs are getUng longer ev ery minute and still I widit to stretch ’em.” One of the expressmen, who was sitting beside the trunk. Informed him of his ar rival at his destination and then climbed out of the wagon. There was a long waft. Then Hollingsworth felt a swaying of the vehicle, and Immediately a voice spoke cautlouslv. •••mere's a hitch somewhere.” It said. "Don't speak loud. Old Warren la stand ing by the gate." “ What's the trouble?’ "H e says It’s the wrong trunk. He swears that this one Is full o f furs. They're hunting for the key. but the housekeeper's all right. Don’t you worry. Whatever happens, you’re safe. The old man won’ t get you. Hush!” Another long wait, and then the vo again: “ W e’ll have to take you back. You been positively Identified. You’re a lot sealskin and stuff that belonged to N a. Warren when she was alive. 8-s-s-sh!" Presently the wagon swayed violently and then started. Hollingsworth felt the expressman settling himself down beside the trunk. Then came a very soft, hardly audible whisper: "Don't speak. Don’ t make any noise. W e’ll get you out of this yet.” The wagon Jolted along. It seemed to travel a thousand miles, and there were a thousand new pains for every mile. F i nally the wagon stopped. Tho trunk was lifted out. Hollingsworth heard a cob- fused murmur of voices. Then he felt the motion of an elevator. There followed a great bumping and dragging, followed by a stillness nnd a peculiar chill, gradually but surely Increasing. It seemed as If drafts of Icy air were blowing through the holes In the trank. Hollingsworth stood It as long ns he could, and then In a sud den paroxysm he pounded and kicked up on the roof of his prison and yelled like a wounded elephant. It was a marvolous relief. While he was enjoying It he heard a clanking sound, and then a strange, loud, seared voice cried: "W h o's here?” " I am. hang It!” yelled Hollingsworth. "H ow could I be anywhere else? Holy Moses, do you think I can crawl out through one of these holes?" "Cirsnr's ghost!" exclaimed the voice. “ How did you come to be In htre?” "W here am I?" "This Is the Columbia warehouse. You're In the cold storage room. W e al ways keep our furs"— “ Blast your furs! *Who are you ?’ “ I’ m tho watchman. Everybody else has gone home.” "W ell.” said Hollingsworth In a voice of smoldering rage, “ I went to go home too. Open this trunk.” " I ain’t got no key,” snld the mnn. "not no tools. This Is a mighty strong trunk. How’d you get Into It?" "N ever mind that. Kick the lid off It.” "Bless your soul," said the watchman, “ I can't do that. It's bound with Iron. But when the day watchman comes tn the morning” — He was Immediately Interrupted by a vi olent straining nnd groaning Inside the trunk. “ I say,” he continued, ” !t’a pretty thun derin’ cold In here. I can drag you Into a warmer room. There's one where I can light a lot of gas, and I guess you'll be comfortable.” Without waiting for a reply the tnen seized the trank and dragged It along the floor with Incredible speed. Holllngswor' h seemed to feel a change In the temper »- ture, nnd ho saw lights through the hole* In the trunk. “ I'll lift JTOU up on to this shelf.” snld the mnn. " I t ’ ll bo wnrmer there than on the floor.” Hollingsworth felt tho trank lifted nnd set upon some sort of support. Ho had Just sense enough left to wonder at the strength of the man who lifted It. flureiy such an Individual could And some means of releasing hltn. While this thought wns In his mind there was a scratching sound, nnd then suddenly the lid o f the trunk flew back. Hollingsworth, staring upwnrl, beheld a dnzzllngly brilliant and very or nate chandelier. A babel of voices brolc« out around him. " I ’m crazy,” he thought. "W ell. It's no wonder.” And with thnt he painfully scrambled to his feet. He was standing In the middle of a bountifully laden banquet table sur rounded by at least forty men In evening dress, and directly In front of him stood John Breck. "Gentlemen,” snld the lawyer, pouncing on the table, “ I take great pleasure In In troducing Mr. fltuart Hollingsworth. You will remember him well because there It not one of you upon whom he has not per petrated some sort of Joke In his day. Mr. Hollingsworth recently consulted me In an affair of the heart, and I wns nhle to assist him materially. You will nil he pleased to hear that the stern parent hni yielded and that our friend’ s marriage will shortly be celebrated. Having served him In this way, I could not resist the temptation to square accounts with him by means of this merry Jest from which you have Just seen him escape with hi.« life. As this Is h e bachelor dinner he wl!l doubtless oblige Cne company with” — "Speech, speech!” yelled all the men nt once, pounding in tho table with their flats. Hollingsworth glanced around the circle. Then he slowly subsided Into the triu 1« and closed the lid.