astic hoops over its conical end. Then he returned to the
car.

"We are saved."

Lady Caroline, blushing, gathered her slim but antique drapery against
the other end of the car.

CHAPTER X.

They were slowly descending. Presently Lady Caroline distinguished the
outlines of Raby Hall. "I think I will get out here," she said.

Little anchored the balloon and prepared to follow her.

"Not so, my friend," she said, with an arch smile. "We must not be
seen together. People might talk. Farewell."

Little sprang again into the balloon and sped away to America. He came
down in California, oddly enough in front of Hardin's door, at Dutch
Flat. Hardin was just examining a specimen of ore.

"You are a scientist; can you tell me if that is worth anything?" he
said, handing it to Little.

Little held it to the light. "It contains ninety per cent of silver."

Hardin embraced him. "Can I do anything for you, and why are you here?"

Little told his story. Hardin asked to see the rope. Then he examined
it carefully.

"Ah, this was cut, not broken!"

"With a knife?" asked Little.

"No. Observe both sides are equally indented. It was done with a
SCISSORS!"

"Just Heaven!" gasped Little. "Therese!"

CHAPTER XI.

Little returned to London. Passing through London one day he met a
dog-fancier. "Buy a nice poodle, sir?"

Something in the animal attracted his attention. "Fido!" he gasped.

The dog yelped.

Little bought him. On taking off his collar a piece of paper rustled
to the floor. He knew the handwriting and kissed it. It ran:--

"TO THE HON. AUGUSTUS RABY--I cannot marry you. If I marry any one"
(sly puss) "it will be the man who has twice saved my life,--Professor
Little.

"CAROLINE COVENTRY."

And she did.

LOTHAW;

OR,

THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OF A RELIGION.

BY MR. BENJAMINS.

CHAPTER I.

"I remember him a little boy," said the Duchess. "His mother was a
dear friend of mine; you know she was one of my bridesmaids."

"And you have never seen him since, mamma?" asked the oldest married
daughter, who did not look a day older than her mother.

"Never; he was an orphan shortly after. I have often reproached
myself, but it is so difficult to see boys."

This simple yet first-class conversation existed in the morning-room of
Plusham, where the mistress of the palatial mansion sat involved in the
sacred privacy of a circle of her