Chapter 3

A desperate struggle ensued. Breaking free for a moment from the vice-like grip of the other, Jasper leapt with the spring of a panther at one of the sails of the windmill as it came round, and was whirled upwards; with the spring of another panther, Andrew leapt on to the next sail and was whirled after him. At that moment the wind dropped, and the combatants were suspended in mid-air.

Illustration: The Duel at the Mill.

It was upon this terrible scene that Richard arrived. Already a crowd was collecting; and, though at present it did not seem greatly alarmed, feeling convinced that it was only assisting at another cinematograph rehearsal, its suspicions might at any moment be aroused. With a shout, he dashed into the mill. Seeing him coming Jasper dropped his revolver and slid down the sail into the window. In a moment he reappeared at the door of the mill with Hyacinth under his arm. "Stop him!" cried Richard from underneath a sack of flour. It was no good. Jasper had leapt with his fair burden upon the back of his mustang and was gone....

The usual pursuit followed.

IV.

It was the gala night at the Royal Circus. Ricardo Harringtoni, the wonderful new acrobat of whom everybody was talking, stood high above the crowd on his platform. His marvellous performance on the swinging horizontal bar was about to begin. Richard Harrington (for it was he) was troubled. Since he had entered on his new profession--as a disguise from the police who were still searching for him--he had had a vague suspicion that the lion-tamer was dogging him. _Who was the lion-tamer?_ Could it be Jasper?

At that moment the band struck up and Richard leapt lightly on to the swinging bar. With a movement full of grace he let go of the bar and swung on to the opposite platform. And then, even as he was in mid-air, he realized what was happening.

Illustration: An Awkward Moment for Richard.

Jasper had let the lion loose!

_It was waiting for him._

With a gasping cry Ricardo Harrington fainted.

V.

When he recovered consciousness, Richard found himself on the S.S. _Boracic_, which was forging her way through the--

[MANAGER.--_Somewhere where there are sharks._]

--the Indian Ocean. Mr. Bellingham was bathing his forehead with cooling drinks.

"Forgive me, my boy," said Mr. Bellingham, "for the wrong I did you. It was Jasper who stole the compromising documents. He refuses to give them back unless I let him marry Hyacinth. What can I do?"

"Where is she?" asked Richard.

"Hidden away no one knows where. Find her, get back the documents for me, and she is yours."

Illustration: The Rescue. [_Inset--the Cinema Shark, 3s. 6d._]

At that moment a terrible cry rang through the ship; "Man overboard!" Pushing over Mr. Bellingham and running on deck, Richard saw that a woman and her baby were battling for life in the shark-infested waters. In an instant he had plunged in and rescued them. As they were dragged together up the ship's side he heard her murmur, "Is little Jasper safe?"

"Jasper?" cried Richard.

"Yes, called after his daddy."

"Where is daddy now?" asked Richard hoarsely.

"In America."

"Can't you see the likeness?" whispered Richard to Mr. Bellingham. "It must be. The villain is married to another. But now I will pursue him and get back the papers." And he left the boat at the next port and boarded one for America.

VI.

The search through North and South America for Jasper was protracted. Accompanied sometimes by a band of cowboys, sometimes by a tribe of Indians, Richard scoured the continent for his enemy. There were hours when he would rest awhile and amuse himself by watching the antics of the common mosquito. [MANAGER. _Good!_] or he would lie at full length and gaze at a bud bursting into flower [MANAGER. _Excellent!_]. Then he would leap on to his steed and pursue the trail relentlessly once more.

One night he was dozing by his camp-fire, when he was awakened roughly by strong arms around his neck and Jasper's hot breath in his ear.

Illustration: Another Awkward Moment.

"At last!" cried Jasper, and, knocking Richard heavily on the head with a boot, he picked up his unconscious enemy and carried him to a tributary of the Amazon noted for its alligators. Once there he tied him to a post in mid-stream and rode hastily off to the nearest town, where he spent the evening witnessing the first half of _The Merchant of Venice_. [MANAGER. _Splendid!_] But in the morning a surprise awaited him. As he was proceeding along the top of a lonely cliff he was confronted suddenly by the enemy whom he had thought to kill.

"Richard!" he cried, "escaped again!"

"Now, Jasper, I have you."

With a triumphant cry they rushed at each other; a terrible contest ensued; and then Jasper, with one blow of his palm, hurled his adversary over the precipice.

Illustration: Over the Precipice.

VII.

How many times the two made an end of each other after this the films will show. Sometimes Jasper sealed Richard in a barrel and pushed him over Niagara; sometimes Richard tied Jasper to a stake, and set light to him; sometimes they would both fall out of a balloon together. But the day of reckoning was at hand.

[MANAGER. _We've only got the Burning House and the 1913 Derby left._

AUTHOR. _Right._]

It is the evening of the 3rd of June. A cry rends the air suddenly, whistles are blowing, there is a rattling of horses' hoofs. "Fire! Fire!" Richard, who was passing Soho Square at the time, heard the cry and dashed into the burning house. In a room full of smoke he perceived a cowering woman. Hyacinth! To pick her up was the work of a moment, but how shall he save her? Stay! The telegraph wire! His training at the Royal Circus stood him in good stead. Treading lightly on the swaying wire he carried Hyacinth across to the house opposite.

"At last, my love," he breathed.

"But the papers," she cried. "You must get them, or father will not let you marry me."

Once more he treads the rocking wire; once more he re-crosses, with the papers on his back. Then the house behind him crumbles to the ground, with the wicked Jasper in its ruins.

Illustration: Richard Recovers the Letters.

VIII.

"Excellent," said Mr. Bellingham at dinner that evening. "Not only are the papers here, but a full confession by Jasper. My first wife was drowned all the time; he stole the documents from her father. Richard, my boy, when the Home Secretary knows everything he will give you a free pardon. And then you can marry my daughter."

At these words Hyacinth and Richard were locked in a close embrace. On the next day they all went to the Derby together.

A. A. M.

* * * * *

Illustration: A MASTERPIECE IN THE MAKING.

LORD LANSDOWNE (_Art Dealer, to Mr. ASQUITH_). "YES, I QUITE SEE YOUR IDEA--A FIGURE OF PEACE; BUT, SINCE YOU INVITE SUGGESTIONS FROM ME, I SHOULD SAY THAT THE ADDITION OF A FEW RECOGNISABLE SYMBOLS, SUCH AS A PAIR OF WINGS, OR A DOVE, OR AN OLIVE-BRANCH, MIGHT HELP TO MAKE IT CORRESPOND MORE CLEARLY WITH MY PUBLIC'S NOTION OF THE GODDESS IN QUESTION."

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

(EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.)

_House of Commons, Monday, June 29._--Curious how the Labour Party, who the other day, joining hands with the Conservatives, nearly threw the Government out, lead the way in sartorial fashion. Since DON'T KEIR HARDIE, home from the storied East, presented himself in a reach-me-down suit of white drill such as is worn aboard ship in the Red Sea, nothing has created such sensation as the dropping in this afternoon of Mr. HODGE, arrayed in a summer suit. It was not, as some might have expected, the simple garment of the elder branch of his honourable family. No. It was not a smock such as FRANK LOCKWOOD pictured BOBBY SPENCER wearing when he made his historic declaration, "I am not an agricultural labourer." HODGE (Gorton Div., Lancs., Lab.), as _The Times'_ parliamentary report has it, burst upon the attention of a crowded House at Question-time got up in wondrous garment, white in the foundation of colour, but relieved from the crude hardness of DON'T KEIR HARDIE'S suit by what suggested dexterous process of patting and lightly smearing with a mustard-spoon. A Trilby hat crowned and accentuated this creation.

As the vision crossed the Bar Members sat silent, gazing upon it with lips slightly parted. Similarly, upon a peak in Darien, stout CORTEZ stared at the Pacific.

Silence was broken by a burst of hearty cheering, in which the keen ear detected a slightly discordant note. Whilst Members were frankly disposed to applaud the boldness of what I believe purveyors of new models of female dress call the "confection," whilst they were lost in admiration of its effect, there was a feeling of disappointment that they had not thought of it themselves, and been the first to enter the field.

Thanks to the genius of FRANK LOCKWOOD a former House was able to realise the figure presented by the present. Earl SPENCER, whilst still with us in the Commons, skipping along in the purity of a Monday morning smock, carrying in his right hand a garlanded pitchfork. What the present House, jaded with a succession of Budgets and the persistence of the Ulster question, would like to see is the entrance of those twin brethren, Lord CASTLEREAGH and Earl WINTERTON, walking arm-in-arm, arrayed in garb approaching as nearly as possible that which, thanks to Mr. HODGE, this afternoon illuminated the Legislative Chamber.

_Business done._--CHANCELLOR OF EXCHEQUER announced third edition of Budget. "Before the end of the week," said SARK, "I expect we shall meet him running up and down the Terrace with hand to widely-opened mouth shouting "Extry Speshul!"

* * *

Illustration: "EXTRY SPESHUL!"

* * *

_Tuesday._--AMERY began to think he had escaped consequences of his little mistake. Nearly a week has sped since he called attention to indiscretion of Captain BELLINGHAM, _aide-de-camp_ to the LORD-LIEUTENANT, who, reviewing small body of Nationalist volunteers, enjoined them to stand fast by cause of Home Rule. From answer of CHIEF SECRETARY it appeared that Member for South Birmingham had been forestalled by Lord ABERDEEN, who had called upon the Captain for explanation and received suitable apology for the error.

Irish Members quick to see opening innocently made for them. Having long regarded with resentment Lord LONDONDERRY'S active patronage of movements of Ulster volunteers, have sedulously sought opportunity of bringing it under notice of House. AMERY obligingly provided it. Unexpected delay in seizing it was due to search for particulars now presented in form of question addressed to PREMIER, citing with dates and places six separate occasions when the _aide-de-camp_ to the KING had, by his presence and counsel, sanctioned reviews of Ulster volunteers, "whose avowed object," as the question put it, "is, in event of enactment of Home Rule Bill, to resist by armed force the authority of the Crown and Parliament, and to make the administration of the law impossible." What Mr. DEVLIN, with studied politeness, was anxious to know was "whether there is any special reason why in this matter the Marquis of LONDONDERRY should be treated differently from Captain BELLINGHAM?"

PREMIER not to be drawn into the controversy. Duties of _aide-de-camp_ to the KING, unlike those of _aide-de-camp_ to LORD-LIEUTENANT, are, he said, of entirely honorary character. In such circumstances he did not think it worth while to take notice of the matter.

Effect of the reply designedly chilling; object of question attained by publicly submitting it. AMERY "wishes he hadn't spoke."

The PREMIER'S imperturbability stood him in even greater stead at later proceedings. On going into Committee of Supply, HOPE of Sheffield moved reduction of his salary on account of alleged failure to take necessary steps to maintain high standard of single-minded disinterestedness in public service. Though nominally concerned with the PREMIER and the public service HOPE told a flattering tale which was a thinly veiled attack on that meek personage the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.

ARCHER-SHEE, who followed, was less circuitous in his retrograde march on old Marconi quarters. Soon had Committee in state of uproar vainly combated by those champions of order, WINTERTON, ARTHUR MARKHAM and SWIFT MACNEILL. WINTERTON, whilst constitutionally forceful, was irresistibly irrelevant. Member for Pontefract venturing to offer an observation, WINTERTON shouted, "Order, pigeons!"

Of course there were no pigeons about. An active mind, quick to seize a point, had harked back to DICK TURPIN BOOTH'S ride to Yorkshire in a race with carrier pigeons.

MARKHAM denounced ARCHER-SHEE for delivering "a low attack that could not be answered." Accusation summarised by other Members with yell of "Coward!"

As for SWIFT MACNEILL, ARCHER-SHEE presuming to rise simultaneously with one of his many upgettings, he turned upon him and roared, "Sit down, Sir!" Gallant Major so terrified that he incontinently fell back in his seat.

To general discussion Members from various quarters of House contributed the observations, "Dirty lies!" "Coward!" "Caddish!" "Unspeakably low!" "Shut up!" Only for coolness, courage and prompt decision of WHITLEY in the Chair discreditable scene would have worthily taken its place among others that smirch pages of Parliamentary record. Having occupied two hours of time assumed to be valuable it died out from sheer exhaustion. On division what was avowedly vote of censure on PREMIER negatived by majority of 152.

_Business done._--Summer storm in Committee of Supply.

* * *

Illustration: _Lord MORLEY._"Thanks, I won't trouble you; I still have a crust left."

["The noble marquis seemed to regard the Government as a shipwrecked mariner--I presume a pirate. If I am a pirate he is the last man to whom I should think of applying for aid, unless the distress was dire indeed."

_Lord MORLEY._]

* * *

_House of Lords, Thursday._--Second night of debate on Amending Bill to modify a measure not yet enacted. House crowded, evidently weighed down by a sense of direct responsibility at grave crisis. _Le brave_ WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE has no patience with attitude of noble lords on Front Opposition Bench. Is congenitally prone to take a short way with dissenters. Came to the fore five years ago, when what HALDANE called LLOYD GEORGE'S first great Budget (eclipsed by his second) fell like a bomb in the Parliamentary arena. Whilst elder peers were disposed to temporise in view of constitutional difficulty, WILLOUGHBY had only three words to say--"Throw it out!"--MILNER adding a fearless remark about the consequences whose emphasis has been excelled only by Mrs. PATRICK CAMPBELL in _Pygmalion_. So the Budget was shattered on the rock of the House of Lords, and in swift reprisal with it went the supremacy of that ancient institution.

Less effectual in his resistance to the Parliament Act which promptly followed, DE BROKE is insistent upon treating the Amending Bill as the Budget of 1909 was treated. Has moved its rejection and, in spite of HALSBURY, threatens to go to a division.

Meanwhile LANSDOWNE, in weighty speech worthy great occasion, announces intention of voting for Second Reading of Bill, with intent to amend it in Committee. Originally planned that division should be taken to-night. So many peers have something to say that it is postponed till Monday.

_Business done._--Debate on Amending (Home Rule) Bill continued.

* * * * *

Illustration: THE "FRESH AIR FUND": AN APPRECIATION.

"THERE, NOW, AIN'T THAT A TREAT, BILLY? THERE AIN'T NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD I LIKE SO MUCH AS ENGLAND."

* * * * *

THE NEW PROFESSIONAL HUMILITY.

["I have always held a decided opinion that the less people trouble themselves about literature the better for them."--_M. PIERRE LOTI_ (vide "_Daily Chronicle._")]

_Sir THOMAS LIPTON._ How can a tea-drinking people hope to lift the Cup? Tannin is a poison fatal to the true sportsman.

_The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER._ The interest taken in politics diverts attention from everything that really matters.

_The POET LAUREATE._ Poetry is not only a drug on the market, it is a drug that narcotises and debilitates all true manhood.

_Mr. EUSTACE H. MILES._ Vegetarianism is fit only for pigs. The noble king of the forest is a meat-eater.

_Lord ROBERTS._ The military bias is the only obstacle to peace.

_Mme. CLARA BUTT._ The human voice was given us for fish-hawking and encouraging football-players, not for singing.

_Sir H. BEERBOHM TREE._ I cannot think why anyone goes to the theatre. It bores me horribly.

_Mr. H. G. WELLS._ The past alone possesses interest for intelligent men.

_Mr. G. K. CHESTERTON._ Orthodoxy, it has been said, is my doxy; heterodoxy is other people's doxy; but paradoxy is the devil's doxy.

_Sir E. ELGAR._ Music? How can any serious man fiddle while Home is burning?

_Sir E. J. POYNTER._ The Royal Academy is crushing the life out of English Art. The country's only hope is in Cubism.

_Signor MARINETTI._ Your Royal Academy is the true Temple of Art. I never cross its threshold without first removing my sandals.

* * * * *

A RECORD CAST.

"A 3 lb. 15 oz. chub has been taken at Abingdon by Mr. A. Owen near Henley."

_Field._

* * * * *

Illustration: WHY SHOULD NOT PERSEVERING PETER OF THE PUSH-BIKE ADOPT, WHEN TRAVELLING, THE SAME SUPERCILIOUS ATTITUDE AS LANGUID LIONEL OF THE TOURING-CAR DE LUXE.

* * * * *

THE JESTING OF JANE.

(_In which it is explained how competent I am to keep the servants in their places even when their mistress is away._)

I like a good practical joke; as the garland adorning The hair of a maiden it shines, as the balm that is shed On the brain of a wandering minstrel; it comes without warning, Transmuting to gold an existence that once was as lead. It glads, it rejoices the soul; recollecting it after One well-nigh explodes; but I say there are seasons for laughter, And, like other great men, I am not at my best in the morning When just out of bed.

So it was that last week, when the pitiless glare of Apollo Was toasting the lawn till it looked like a segment of mat, When I came to my breakfast at length from a lingering wallow In a bath that professed to be cold--as I moodily sat And observed how the heat on the pavements was momently doubling, And hated the coffee for looking so brown and so bubbling, And hated my paper, which seemed to expect me to follow A prize-fight (my hat!)--

When I heard a great noise as though heaven was breaking asunder, And "Thanks be to glory," said I, "for this merciful dole; The rain! the beneficent rain! Will it lighten, I wonder? I need not pack up, after all, for my cruise to the Pole;" And my spirits revived and my appetite seemed to awaken, And I said so to Jane as she brought in the kidneys and bacon; I was vexed when she answered me pertly, "Why, that isn't thunder; We're taking in coal!"

I say there _are_ limits. The girl may be decent and sunny, Industrious, sober and what not; I don't care a bit; But she hasn't a right on a day such as that to be funny, With the glass at 120, confound her, the chit! I refuse to submit to the whimsical wheeze of a servant Just because Araminta's away and the weather is fervent, So I said to her, "Wench, do you fancy you're taking my money For work or for wit?

"What are parlourmaids coming to now with their insolent banter? Command those uproarious ruffians to hop it, to _trek_ And fetch me a siphon or two and the whisky decanter; Your notions of humour have left me exhausted and weak; Take the breakfast away; disappointment has vanquished my hunger, And afterwards go out at once to the nearest fishmonger And order two cart-loads of icebergs. Obey me _instanter_, Or leave in a week."

EVOE.

* * * * *

"Although weighing over 13 tons, Glendinning declares that an aircraft built from his designs could sail round the world without the slightest danger of calamity."--_Glasgow Herald._

Subject for Silly Season--Should Stout Men Boast?

* * * * *

RUBBING IT IN.

[_The following article appears to have been intended for a popular Halfpenny Daily, but as it has been sent to us we feel entitled to print it._]

TERRIFIC STRUGGLE.

MR. LOWLY DEFEATS MR. GORMAN CRAWL.

HOW I DID IT. BY FERDINAND LOWLY.

Mr. Gorman Crawl's efforts to avoid defeat in his match with me in the semi-finals of the Dartmoor and West Dorset Championship was, I think, the finest exhibition of Lawn Tennis that has been seen for many a long day, and I congratulate those who were so fortunate as to witness the game. In the second set particularly, Mr. Crawl's play exhibited a consistent accuracy combined with activity of resource and hard hitting which, so far as I am aware, has rarely been equalled in the history of the pastime. He frequently returned drives down the side lines and cross volleys which I have always regarded as untakable, putting me in the position of having to repeat those strokes several times before I could make the ace. Even in the third set, Mr. Crawl certainly did not lose heart, as many might have done; in fact he gained vigour to such an extent that his play in the last games became not merely impetuous, but frenzied. Had I not possessed an iron nerve, Mr. Gorman Crawl might have snatched a game or two; and I feel sorry for my opponent when I recall that he only made five points in the set, one of which was due to a net cord stroke, and another to my accidentally treading on a ball. The final scores, as set forth in the "Stop Press" columns of one of the evening papers, were as follows:--

"Crawl beat Lowly ... 6--0. 6--0. 6--0,"

and if the reader reverses the statement he will know the correct result. Mr. Gorman Crawl, after an exhibition which stultifies previous conceptions of what is possible in the way of offensive and defensive tactics, and which refutes once and for all the leading contentions in Mr. Wail's monumental work on the game, was beaten by me in three love sets.

The game opened by my serving a double fault. I then found that I was using my Thursday's racket instead of Tuesday's. After a brief recess, during which, as I am informed, Mr. Gorman Crawl took in his belt one hole, the game proceeded. I served to my opponent's back hand, but, contrary to all rules laid down by Mr. Wail, he unexpectedly returned the ball to _my_ back hand. The result was that I failed to reach it. It then occurred to me that I ought to make sure I had no gravel in my shoes. I did this without leaving the court. When I had replaced my footwear and was preparing to serve again, I saw that Mr. Gorman Crawl was lying on the ground, apparently asleep. He started up, however, on the score being called a second time, and the game proceeded.