... . BY NORA HOPPER. MY friend wants to know what noise that is, I said, laying my brushes down and. turning to my pretty model, patiently balancing her milk-pails for my benefit, and so much prettier in her bare feet and brown homespun gown than in her Sunday bravery of huge starched cap, enormous silver ear-rings, and vivid scarlet skirt. All this astounding JT X. gear she had worn when I saw ...

... . BY FRANCIS GRIBBLE. A RIPPIN' fine girl Thus did the Honourable Bob lorrington sum lip the attractions of Miss Dollv Chester, of the Absurdity. Be careful, my boy She 's a married woman, objected his friend, Charlie Hather- leigli, to whom he was confiding the deplorable condition of his affections. Bob Torrington took a long pull at the hrandy-and-soda, and paced his Jermyn Street ...

... THE INTERCEPTED MESSAGE f A STORY OR TIIR NEW TELEGRAPHY. /jEm BY CATHERINE ADAMS. WE MUST intercept that message, said Schmidt. I could only look my unutterable astonishment. Schmidt was the senior partner in the firm of Schmidt, Rosenberg, and Carey. I was Carey, the junior. Rosenberg we seldom saw, and it was just as well; he had no brains, but his money had been very useful when the firm ...

... A NOVEL IN A NUTSHELL. THE FRAUDULENT ELECTION. BY EDWARD F. SPENCE. MR. WINDSON was at breakfast. He always ate a big breakfast, hungry or not, since it was an article of his faith that he should begin the day well-- even with a handsome indigestion. After his second cup of coffee, he said to his wife, You see, my dear, as I predicted, the Dissolution is announced today. va F fTTOvS'J ...

... . BY FLORENCE BRIGHT. Scene: Waterloo Station. Time: About four o' clock in the afternoon Mrs Ponsonby, a young ana stylishly gowned woman is seated in a first-class carriage with Sketch held up in her hand. An official's head appears at the open door. Mrs. Ponsonby. This train runs express to Weybridge, floes it not? Gives him her ticket to clip Official. Yes, M'm quite right, M'm. Shuts door ...

... . BY L. PARRY TRUSCOTT. [All Rights Reserved.] i. HE must be the Guide, she told herself. Yet he looked in her estimation so smart for a German, even for a German of Position much less just a Guide, that she hesitated obviously before addressing him. Now hesitation was not natural to her. Even he, seeing her for the first time, realised that, and although he decided it became her wonderfully ...

... . By NAT GOULD. SOME curious transactions took place in Victoria in the early seventies. Men were not over particular in those days, and had not learned the true meaning of the rights of owner ship of property-- if they considered they possessed any rights at all. Get money-- honestly if you can, but get it-- was a maxim much thought of, honesty, however, being at a dis count. Horse-stealing ...

... . BY MARGERY WILLIAMS. WE had all of us rather stood aside to watch how the little drama would unfold itself. Our attitude was, perhaps, influenced less by the fact of its being none of our business than by the girl's complete air of being on all occasions able to look after herself. It was as if she went out of her way to impress this upon one, and she certainly took particular pains in the ...

... . BY RICHARD TUKPIN. Characters: The Duke of St. Asaph Wisdom of the IVise Sir Daniel Carteret (Mrs. Dane's Defence) Mr. Thomas Sandys Sentimental Tommy The Duchess of St. Asaph Wisdom of the Wise)-, Lady Palmira Fenton, Lady Louisa Macray (The Noble Lord)-, Mrs. Daventry (Mr. and Mrs. Daventnj)-, Miss Amabel Fast Wisdom of the Wise). Time, 3 30 p.m. Mrs. Dayentry's boudoir. Mrs. ...

... . BY ALICIA RAMSEY. Life is n fctirce-cornerecl puff sugar on top, heavy paste at bottom, and jam very little jam-- in between. Pbovekbs of an Old Frenchwoman. THIS is a bad little story, but it is interesting. Bad little stories generally are interesting; that 's why I like them. Once upon a time, when I was a young man, I used to write good little stories, and be good to my mother. Now, I ...

... MRS. EG ERROR'S SECRET BY EDWARD F. SPENCE. HE rustled into the room--a pretty little woman with splendid furs and a superbly cut cloth skirt. The physician, with a graceful wave of his well-manicured hand, Pointed to a chair in a glaring light. XT-' lour name, u you piease, no saui, A'.C 1 1 and address 1 come to you, sue answered, oeeause my nerves are out of order, and because she ...

... BY A I MKK STEWART. THEY met under depressing; circumstances. She lay at full length, kicking her heels up in the air, her resting-place a heap of rubbish steaming under the hot rays of a summer sun. She munched a mouldy crust which she had picked up on this same dust-heap-- a crust which had escaped the attention of the dogs and cats of the neighbourhood. She was an undersized, gpblin ...