Chapter Iii.

having , and yet to get once away with a fair sum , and out _ pf the power of my good friend Moss would be worth one of that Hebrew * gentleman ' s eyes . Ancl if I take anything and do well at the tables , I'll certainly make reparation when things come round . " Oh ! that superstitious belief in triangular things coming round . "I'll bo guided by circumstances . "

Now the 'day of the dress rehearsal came , and the tenour of the three' scenes was thus : in the first was the rustic young conide , played by Lady Crauford and Captain Newnham , in

then * country house m quiet attire , whence they are prevailed by a false friend to dive in the gaiety of London , as exemplified by a great crush in a granel ladies' salon . In the third they return one more to rusticity and plainness .

" In that second scene I shall wear all my diamonds , " said Lady Crauford . Yerner strongly deprecated ' the folly of this ; they were too valuable to be wasted on such a matter j he said ; bnt her daughters , loving to see their mother in her gems , backed her up , and she kept to her determination .

I he last rehearsal was over , the last touch put to the scenes , and an hour or so before the performance began , Hardaway walked down to the pier to cool his excitement , while the guests were already arriving . As he passed in the darkness towards the end , he thought he heard the voice of Yerner say :

" Twelve , sharp , ancl don ' t forget the brandy . " Another , the voice of a sailor , "Aye , aye , sir . " Lord , you will have your spree ; but when he got to the house he foimd Yerner there before him , attending to preliminaries before the curtain was raised .

the hall made a splendid theatre , both for auditorium and stage , and there were little closets aud studies in the passages beside it here and there , which served as dressing rooms . In one of these Lady Crauford made her toilet , and the others were similarly apportioned . The play was a vast success , Ladv

Crauford's appearance in her beautiful , ball dress and diamonds only exciting less delight than when she donned afresh the simple conntry frock . All were applauded to the echo , author and artiste , but most of all the stage manager , to whom it was evident the success was in greatest manner due .

Helooked anxious and troubled , however , when he made his bow , and when , as is usual , the hall was cleared for a dance , in which the performers retained their costume , he begged to be excused on the score of fatigue , and at once departed . As he passed out of the door the last thing he saw was Virginia bearing the jewel case to her ladyship ' s boudoir .

The next day was Sunday , and every one was too tired to express surprise at his non-appearance . On Monday , however , a message was sent to his lodgings , when an answer was receiveel to the effect that A erner had not been seen since Saturday night . This was considered strange , and stranger still was the ' arrival

m harbour the following day of the Pearl , whose owner reported that at midnight on Saturday Mr . Yernor had engaged them to sail to Deal for a freak , but that as it was fair weather he had prevailed on them to convey him to Calais , where he had

disappeared , though they had waited a whole day for him . Hardaway ' s worst suspicions were aroused , and without unduly exciting Lady Cra 11 ford's suspicion , suggested to her to see that her diamonds were all right .

" How well this case wears , ' she said , taking it lovingly down , and , then looking at it more closely , shrieked " Why it ' s not my case at all ! " It was burst open in a second , and there were stones in it , but they were the stones that one picks up on the beach at Broadstairs .

Chapter Iii.

He had a long start , and was never caught . A woman recovers from the loss of husband and children ; but not of her jewels , and Lady Crauford was very ill , while Mr . Moss cursed exceedingly . But little consolation was to be derived from this paragraph , which appeared four months later : —

"We have to record another suicide at Monte Carlo ; deceased was apparently au elderly man , who had gambled heavily at the tables till he had lost everything , and shot himself . It was

discovered that his grey hair and board - » yere but disguises , and there is little doubt that this man was Yerner , of the great jewel robbery at Broadstairs . " Anil that was the last of our Model Stage Manager . W . V . GOLDBERG .

Closing Ode.

Closing Ode .

T . B . WllYTI'lIEAD . Almighty Architect ! to Thee we raise With one accord our closing hymn of praise ; We join to bless Thee ere our labours cease , Begun in harmony , and closed in peace .

Grant to each Craftsman skill to do his part ; Thy favour pour upon our Royal Art ; Preserve our Order by Thy gracious care , Cemented and adorned with virtues rare .

Shed on us all Thy influence divine ; Upon our plans let heavenly wisdom shine ; And , as we cherish here fraternal love , Take us at last to Thy Grand Lodge above .

Engraved Lists Of Lodges.

Engraved Lists of Lodges .

BY Bun . WILLIAM J ' AJIKS HUOIIAX , P . G . D .

•fjj ^ ROM the year l 7 ' 2 ' - \ to 1778 , tho Grand Lodge of England lP * | authorised the issue of Lists of Lodges on its Roll , the ¥ | S > xiynss of the houses , taverns , inns , & c , in which the " 1 = ^ 3 members assembled being most artistically enr / raced ' * - " ' down to 1700 . Evidently several editions were published durino * the same year , in the early part of the last century , bufc as time rolled onward , fewer generally wero issued annually . Then a rival appeared in the form of a "Freemasons' Calendar , "

by authority of the Stationers Company m 177 *"» -70 , followed by another , published by the Grand Lodge of England in A . D . 1777 , which was continued in 12 mo size until LSI -I- ( issued in the prcccdiiiij year apparently in each case , being thus dated hi

advance ) when , after the Union oi December , 181 . 'J , the new scries was changed to large : J 2 ino , beginning wilh the Calendar for 18 L "> ( issued latter part of 1811 ) which series has been continued , year by year , to the present day , the profits being devoted to Masonic charity .

'These Lists and Calendars are invaluable Registers of regular lodges , in many instances being the only references discoverable as to early places of meetings , aud sometimes the sole evidence of the existence of certain old lodges .

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