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Mr Bennett stared at his isher duht crossed histhe kettle black, this was it His opinion of Jno Peters' sanity went down to zero

"What are you talking about? My stenographer? What stenographer?"

It occurred to Mr Peters that a ht well have a troupe of these useful fe lady out in the garden there, to who-pad on her knee"

"What! What!" Mr Bennett spluttered "Do you knoho that is?" he exclaimed

"Oh, yes, indeed!" said Jno Peters "I have only met her once, when she came into our office to see Mr Samuel, but her personality and appearance stamped themselves so forcibly on my mind, that I know I am not mistaken I am sure it is my duty to tell you exactly what happened when I was left alone with her in the office We had hardly exchanged a dozen words, Mr Bennett, when--" here Jno Peters, modest to the core, turned vividly pink, "when she told me--she told me that I was the only man she loved!"

Mr Bennett uttered a loud cry

"Sweet spirits of nitre!"

Mr Peters couldof this exclaht, by the sudden action of his host, who, bounding from his seat, with a vivacity of which one could not have believed hied to the Frenchand emitted a bellow

"Wilhel-book with a start It seeuish, of panic, in that voice What her father could have found in the drawing-roohtened at, she did not know; but she dropped her block and hurried to his assistance

"What it is, father?"

Mr Bennett had retired within the roo in after him, she perceived at once what had caused his alar more sinister than ever, stood the lunatic Peters; and there was an oht coat-pocket which betrayed the presence of the revolver What Jno Peters was, as aof mixed chocolates which he had purchased in Windlehurst But Billie's eyes, though bright, had no X-ray quality Her sied at any point, that bulge ainst the wall Her whole acquaintance with Jno Peters had been on constant backing against walls