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some time she amused herself by examining the various ornaments and
elegant trifles with which it was filled。 Then； in pursuance of a childish
freak； she dressed herself in her mother's laces and ribbons。 In this
occupation she chanced to touch a peg which proved to be a spring that
opened a secret panel in the wall。 Alice uttered a cry of delight as she
noticed what； to her childish fancy； appeared to be the slow…match of a
fire… work。 Taking a lucifer match in her hand she approached the fuse。
She hesitated a moment。 What would her mother and her nurse say？
Suddenly the ringing of the chimes of Sloperton parish church met her
ear。 Alice knew that the sound signified that the marriage party had
entered the church； and that she was secure from interruption。 With a
childish smile upon her lips； Alice Sedilia touched off the slow…match。
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CHAPTER VIII。
At exactly two o'clock on the seventeenth； Rupert Sedilia； who had
just returned from India； was thoughtfully descending the hill toward
Sloperton manor。 〃If I can prove that my aunt Lady Selina was married
before my father died； I can establish my claim to Sloperton Grange；〃 he
uttered； half aloud。 He paused； for a sudden trembling of the earth beneath
his feet； and a terrific explosion； as of a park of artillery； arrested his
progress。 At the same moment he beheld a dense cloud of smoke envelop
the churchyard of Sloperton； and the western tower of the Grange seemed
to be lifted bodily from its foundation。 The air seemed filled with falling
fragments； and two dark objects struck the earth close at his feet。 Rupert
picked them up。 One seemed to be a heavy volume bound in brass。
A cry burst from his lips。
〃The Parish Records。〃 He opened the volume hastily。 It contained the
marriage of Lady Selina to 〃Burke the Slogger。〃
The second object proved to be a piece of parchment。 He tore it open
with trembling fingers。 It was the missing will of Sir James Sedilia！
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CHAPTER IX。
When the bells again rang on the new parish church of Sloperton it
was for the marriage of Sir Rupert Sedilia and his cousin； the only
remaining members of the family。
Five more ghosts were added to the supernatural population of
Sloperton Grange。 Perhaps this was the reason why Sir Rupert sold the
property shortly afterward； and that for many years a dark shadow seemed
to hang over the ruins of Sloperton Grange。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
THE NINETY…NINE
GUARDSMEN。
BY ALXDR DMS
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CHAPTER I。
SHOWING THE QUALITY OF THE CUSTOMERS OF THE
INNKEEPER OF PROVINS。
Twenty years after； the gigantic innkeeper of Provins stood looking at
a cloud of dust on the highway。
This cloud of dust betokened the approach of a traveller。 Travellers
had been rare that season on the highway between Paris and Provins。
The heart of the innkeeper rejoiced。 Turning to Dame Perigord； his
wife； he said； stroking his white apron：
〃St。 Denis！ make haste and spread the cloth。 Add a bottle of
Charlevoix to the table。 This traveller； who rides so fast； by his pace must
be a Monseigneur。〃
Truly the traveller； clad in the uniform of a musketeer； as he drew up
to the door of the hostelry； did not seem to have spared his horse。
Throwing his reins to the landlord； he leaped lightly to the ground。 He was
a young man of four…and…twenty； and spoke with a slight Gascon accent。
〃I am hungry； Morbleu！ I wish to dine！〃
The gigantic innkeeper bowed and led the way to a neat apartment；
where a table stood covered with tempting viands。 The musketeer at once
set to work。 Fowls； fish； and pates disappeared before him。 Perigord
sighed as he witnessed the devastations。 Only once the stranger paused。
〃Wine！〃 Perigord brought wine。 The stranger drank a dozen bottles。
Finally he rose to depart。 Turning to the expectant landlord； he said：
〃Charge it。〃
〃To whom； your highness？〃 said Perigord； anxiously。
〃To his Eminence！〃
〃Mazarin！〃 ejaculated the innkeeper。
〃The same。 Bring me my horse；〃 and the musketeer； remounting his
favorite animal； rode away。
The innkeeper slowly turned back into the inn。 Scarcely had he
reached the courtyard before the clatter of hoofs again called him to the
doorway。 A young musketeer of a light and graceful figure rode up。
〃Parbleu； my dear Perigord； I am famishing。 What have you got for
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dinner？〃
〃Venison； capons； larks； and pigeons； your excellency；〃 replied the
obsequious landlord； bowing to the ground。
〃Enough！〃 The young musketeer dismounted and entered the inn。
Seating himself at the table replenished by the careful Perigord； he
speedily swept it as clean as the first comer。
〃Some wine； my brave Perigord；〃 said the graceful young musketeer；
as soon as he could find utterance。
Perigord brought three dozen of Charlevoix。 The young man emptied
them almost at a draught。
〃By…by； Perigord；〃 he said lightly； waving his hand； as； preceding the
astonished landlord； he slowly withdrew。
〃But； your highness；the bill；〃 said the astounded Perigord。
〃Ah； the bill。 Charge it！〃
〃To whom？〃
〃The Queen！〃
〃What； Madame？〃
〃The same。 Adieu； my good Perigord。〃 And the graceful stranger rode
away。 An interval of quiet succeeded； in which the innkeeper gazed
wofully at his wife。 Suddenly he was startled by a clatter of hoofs； and an
aristocratic figure stood in the doorway。
〃Ah；〃 said the courtier good…naturedly。 〃What； do my eyes deceive me？
No； it is the festive and luxurious Perigord。 Perigord； listen。 I famish。 I
languish。 I would dine。〃
The innkeeper again covered the table with viands。 Again it was swept
clean as the fields of Egypt before the miraculous swarm of locusts。 The
stranger looked up。
〃Bring me another fowl； my Perigord。〃
〃Impossible； your excellency； the larder is stripped clean。〃
〃Another flitch of bacon； then。〃
〃Impossible； your highness； there is no more。〃
〃Well； then； wine！〃
The landlord brought one hundred and forty…four bottles。 The courtier
drank them all。
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〃One may drink if one cannot eat；〃 said the aristocratic stranger； good…
humoredly。
The innkeeper shuddered。
The guest rose to depart。 The innkeeper came slowly forward with his
bill； to which he had covertly added the losses which he had suffered from
the previous strangers。
〃Ah； the bill。 Charge it。〃
〃Charge it！ to whom？〃
〃To the King；〃 said the guest。
〃What！ his Majesty？〃
〃Certainly。 Farewell； Perigord。〃
The innkeeper groaned。 Then he went out and took down his sign。
Then remarked to his wife：
〃I am a plain man； and don't understand politics。 It seems； however；
that the country is in a troubled state。 Between his Eminence the Cardinal；
his Majesty the King； and her Majesty the Queen； I am a ruined man。〃
〃Stay；〃 said Dame Perigord； 〃I have an idea。〃
〃And that is〃
〃Become yourself a musketeer。〃
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CHAPTER II。
THE COMBAT。
On leaving Provins the first musketeer proceeded to Nangis