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"Pratt is the one to whom you are to pay your first respects--he is master," warned Britt "Ask to see his collections--that always pleases hi you"

"You may do so"

Pratt ca a sack-suit and an old-fashioned turn-down collar He greeted Britt with a casual hand-shake, looking at Kate suspiciously "And who is this?" he asked, bluffly

"A friend of mine, a Mrs Rice, who desires to see your wonderful collection of slates and paintings"

Pratt softened a little "I'll be very glad to show them," he said, "but not now I'll have to ask you to excuse me just now I am in consultation with my directors"

"Certainly," said Britt, and, after Pratt went out, he added: "That oing to defy the scientific world in theoration since Cicero"

At this moment two ladies, in superb wraps, descended the stairway on their way to their carriages, and one of the as we've known Simeon Pratt--to be turned away like a tramp!"

"Oh, I don't blame her," said the other

"Some disappointed callers," said Britt

A moment later several other curious ones were ushered into the drawing-room Britt kept up a low-toned coirl You will be surprised to knobelief in these revelations"

It was a singular situation in which to find Simeon Pratt--major-domo to a crowd of idle curiosity-seekers--and when he returned, with an assuht--that of a poor, lonely, broken oldon in daily hope of co his heart with drea otten Kate's name, but he remembered her wish to see his treasures

"Come to my library," he said; "but first let "

The painting--or rather wash-drawing in black-and-white--hung over the grand-piano in the light of the s It was globular in forht and Darkness" One-half of the globe was darkly shaded, curiously fretted by the lighter half Above sat a snohite eagle Beneath, with prodigious wings outspread, and eyes glea like points of fire, hovered a mysterious bat

"Look closer," coht out, even in the darker half of the globe, a multitude of intertwined forhter heels, with faint stars in their hair All were singing The others, the denizens of the dark, were twisted and contorted in agony, and each was draith such certainty of prearrangement that the line which formed the arm of one outlined the head of another There were hundreds of theraving on a bank-note, and so packed with syht study it for days "Observe," said he, "the innumerable faces forlasses"