After All;

person be but Bulliker ? He had come then to consummate his vile deeds , and now he would be caught red-handed . Still it would be well to watch the full extent of his operations if circumstances allowed of it . He ascended the rickety stairs rather clumsily , and by the time he had reached the lower office Arthur had secreted the two books , and he beckoned to Mr . Phane to follow him into a large cupboard in case Bulliker should come into that apartment .

Surely enough he was again ascending the stairs , and he seemed to be discarding ordinary precaution , for his step was unsteady and echoed strangely through the empty building . Quickly Arthur extinguished the light and ensconded himself within the capacious closet just as the cashier stumbled into the room . He had a lantern in his shaking hand , which he flashed uneasily about the room , and then placed it on the table , muttering to himself the while .

" Of course , it ' s all right ; what a fool I am ! There ' s nobody here ! " he ejaculated in uncertain tones . " But I must hurry up ; ho , ho ! what a merry game this is ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! That cynical devil , Humberton , ruined ! Poor Merrisslope ruined ! Silly old Phane ruined ! Ho ! ho ! ho ! All through poor unsuspected me ! But I must be quick and get it all over , " and he relieved the room of his presence . He had been drinking to keep up his courage for some desperate deed which he was evidently about to commit .

When he reached the bottom of the stairs he closed the door and bolted it on the other side . Arthur and Mr . Phane crept down the stairs very carefully , not wishing to make their presence known just then . Reaching the foot of the stairs , they listened intently at the door , ready at any moment to burst it open should occasion require it . They heard the inebriated cashier ramblingabout in all the cornersdoubtless making certainas he thoughtthat no one

, , , but himself was present and aware of his actions . Then they heard him sit . down and mutter to himself . At first they could not catch the sounds of his words , but presently they grew louder ancl less guarded , and they discovered that he was exuberantly rejoicing over his own cunning .

" Ha ! ha ! ha ! Pretty little thing this ! That will do it , I know ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! Just to think how it will astonish them ! Phane ruined , Humberton will only have a penniless daughter to marry . Perhaps that won ' t be good enough , but he can have her ; I am satisfied . Suppose I can't help myself in that case ; fox and the grapes . Ha ! ha ! Poor girl , I ' m rather sorry ; but it can't be helped . Wish her joy . Ha ! ha ! ha ! What a fool Merrislope was though ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! All his estates are mine ; mine ! mine 1 Yes ! the

honest Bulliker lord of Oakrush estates ! Ho ! ho ! Won't that be grand ! and all through Phane ' s money ! Ho ! ho ! ho ! " Here it was as much as Arthur could do to keep Mr . Phane from throwing himself through the door , for he felt ready to throttle the unscrupulous villain . Bulliker continued his ejaculations , but in a lower tone , as he rose from his seat and fumbled about the safe-door . This he openedand he

, appeared to be piling something up inside , while he walked backwards and forwards , as though carrying articles of furniture . At last he stopped . " There , he said , " I think that Avill settle it ; one more look at the lovel y furniture , ancl then I must be off . Ha' ha ! ha ! Isn't it beautiful ? Ha ! ha ! and who'll be the wiser ? Nobody but me ! One little bang and all will be over , and foolish Phane"

Arthur could now no longer restrain Mr . Phane , as he kicked at the door , and shouted in passionate tones : " Villain ! Your time has come ! Just let me get at you , and I'll break your d d neck ; " and Mr . Phane kicked frantically at the wooden obstruction , while Bulliker ejaculated in horror-struck tones , "Oh ! the devil !" and preeijritately fled . Arthur now lent his aid and the shattered door soon flew open , and by the light of the lantern which the cashier had left behind him , they saw a fearful sight which made them shiver with terror , for there , at