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ney, and got mixed up with the turf, and most questionable transactions connected with horse-dealing-buying, selling, and breeding. I was to make a fortune! Never was there such an utter fool. If a man told me he was honest I believed him; if he said I was a rogue I knocked him down. Things got to such a pass with me at last, that if I would save my honour and my life I must cut the connection and fly. I was in terror of arrest a coward. The web had been wound round me, and my hands were tied. I could make no stand. Hinch was too clever and cunning. I was simply an utter dupe, inflated with pride, and--” He paused, momentarily over

come.

"The man without it," said the major, interpolating by way of comfort, "isn't usually up to much."

"That depends. If few of us have the gift to see ourselves as others see us, still fewer have the far rarer gift to see ourselves as we really are. We can always deceive others; but we are poor tacticians if we can't deceive ourselves. At all events I was a proficient in the art, with the result that I got so involved in difficulties, and mixed up with questionable and shady transactions, as to leave but two courses open: I had to elect between being a criminal or a pauper. I had been living at high pressure which could not last; but when I found out the ruffians I had to deal with, it was too late to avoid the dire consequences. For weeks I have been trying to evade arrest under that confounded warrant

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"Which went up the chimney a few minutes ago," said the major, rubbing his hands with glee, and with a feeling of thorough satisfaction. "You may breathe freely now -that's some sort of consolation. A

good fellow does not always necessarily go to the wall, though I will allow that he is heavily handicapped often by craft. The thoroughly astute rogue, Scottowe, who knows how to steer his way, will often venture perilously near to what you and I would consider danger."

"That's the devil of it!" interjected Hugh; "and so it was with Hinch. On one occasion when he was arrested, he stood treat to the policeman handsomely, and then took his arm going along the street; so that a sporting young baronet (still one of his principal dupes), who met him and stopped to talk to him, went away with the impression that Hinch was hunting up a big fraud on his own account. It was a case of the looker-on, who is commonly supposed to see most of the game, seeing actually none of it, and being completely hoodwinked."

"That's just it. And notoriously the safest house to go for if you mean to burgle is the house next door to the police. But did you never suspect this fellow?"

me not

Yes, when too late, and it dawned upon me that a course which he suggested in a certain transaction seemed to straight. He laughed, and met my objections by the remark that I could not expect to pick a pocket successfully with kid gloves on. It was never my intention to pick pockets at all, gloved or ungloved; but I was in the toils, and things came to such a pass at last that there was absolutely nothing left for it but abject flight. He is now engaged in a gigantic swindle, in the light of which all his previous efforts in the same direction are trivial. It involves, as part of the programme, the getting up of racecourses in what he calls 'maiden localities,' where the inhabitants are not sophisticated - Westerly

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being one. He is really a genius in his way. A bogus company has been formed, backed up by great names too: the ingenuity with which he baits his hooks and angles for these big fish is only less wonderful than the cleverness with which he plays and lands them.”

"By Jove! yes-sure enough, now you mention it, we have all got circulars and pamphlets; everybody in the place has. There is quite a commotion, and a lot of our fellows would have gone in for shares only that we suddenly got the route. One of the newspapers has been writing up the whole thing, on the ground that it will be of the greatest possible benefit to the town."

"Yes. He has subsidised it. I know all about it. That was one of the proceedings I objected to. I have done all I can do at the eleventh hour to counteract the mischief, though I have had to set about it in a way I don't like— anonymously. I have written to the manager of the bank warning him

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"What? to Pipperly-Harman & Co.'s bank? I am glad of that. I should not like the bank to suffer. Not that I have any stake in it, but I am interested in—in fact, intimate with the principal partner. But, in any case, even if you had not fired the shot, there is likely to be a terrific row got up. The pious people, represented by the other newspaper, are in arms. There is to be a deputation to the Bishop, and things will be made hot for Hinch-take my word.

"I am well out of it at all events. I am now a common soldier, and it only remains for me to do my duty as a soldier should. All the satisfaction I shall have will be in being near you. You will never have the smallest cause to be ashamed of

having known me in better times, though I serve only in the ranks; and the secret shall remain a secret between us."

"Stuff, man! You must not talk to me like that: it is not kind. I don't measure my friendship by what a man has on his back. I am only a soldier myself, and I am proud of the cloth, be it fine or coarse. Even it you had not been an old and dear friend in the past, take my word for it, that I never know differences of rank when the facings are ours-except of course where the rules of the service demand it."

This was said out of sheer goodness of heart, honestly and with a warm grasp of the hand; and was capped by the comforting assurance that there was luck in store, which—amid the varied chances of war-might mean distinction and promotion from the ranks. Any way,” he went on, banteringly, "I won't be selfish, old chap; we'll go at least halves in the danger whenever we can. You mustn't monopolise. Isn't that fair?"

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"Quite."

"But how did you join? You forgot to tell me that. How did you get into the D.D.'s regimentals?"

"Well, fortunately, simply enough. I came across another schoolfellow, and one from whom I never expected a good turnthat wretched Danby. He wanted to desert, and I was anxious to join, so we exchanged."

"Is Danby gone? Well, I really am better pleased than I can say. You have done the regiment a doubly good turn. He gave no end of trouble; and if he had not given us the slip, the chief would finally have had to drum him out. He was the most hopeless drunkard I ever met;

and if there is one fad more than another to which the chief is bound hand and foot, it is the temperance fad. By my faith, Scottowe, we may reconcile all our night's rowdyism and our duty with a good conscience, since her Majesty has made such a good exchange. Of course, I know that, according to the rules of the service, I should not be sitting here, hobnobbing it with one of my rank-and-file. We must keep very dark, and be outwardly strangers after this interview, if we don't want to be court-martialled and all the rest of it. But seriously, though-how about drill? Is there not danger of discovery for you?"

"Not the faintest. I have thoroughly mastered it in the Volunteers." "Good!

never do. You have too much of the genuine stuff in you to cave in altogether at the last moment,-to-to-in fact-don't you know -be knocked down by a blow that that may never be struck. There are two sides of the picture. You have, as you yourself say, escaped disgrace, and that disgrace perhaps would have killed your wife. You will probably come home with a reputation big enough to give her the wildest joy and pride. Look here, Hugh! It's really unkind. You mustn't-you really mustn't give way like that." And, in genuine alarm, he laid hands on the stalwart man, who was showing serious signs of collapse. down again for a moment or two, and tell me all about it. Of course she has friends to look

"Sit

That is the chief after her and take care of her."

danger well surmounted."
Scottowe rose to go.
"Ah,
Tynte!" he said; "it is surmounted
-so far as I am myself selfishly
concerned ; but "
"-and his voice
faltered "there is a heavy trouble
at my heart. I have not told you
all, nor the worst."

The major held his breath in

suspense.

"I leave a young wife behind me, who may become a mother. She may die-or both. I-Imyself may get a bullet or a sabre through me-may be killed-may never return to set eyes on either mother or child. How it will end I know not!"

He turned away and rested his head in agony against the doorjamb. There was a certainty that the strong brave man was sobbing like a woman!

"Good God!" said the poor puzzled major, with genuine sympathy in his tone.

There was "C a pause. 'Why, Scottowe," he said, "this will

"She has none," said Scottowe mournfully, pulling himself together with a manifest effort. "But-but-relatives, mother and sisters?"

"No."

tried again :

"The major tried "Father?"

"No. She is fatherless also." This was awkward. Tynte was bewildered; but, afraid of letting things slide, he made a last shot, in his wild despair: "Ah, well, a brother-a somebody,-she must have somebody."

"Yes, a brother; but I know nothing about him. She married without his consent, or even knowledge, and married an adventurer and a pauper, who has had to fly and leave her, in the hour of her need, in order to escape arrest. She will appeal to her brother under terribly unfavourable circumstances."

The major felt this fully, but yet, in the kindness of his heart, he said, "Pooh! pooh! stuff! My

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dear fellow, he can't be an utter brute, surely?"

"Why can't he?" asked the disconsolate Hugh, whose experience had made him acquainted with more than one.

"Oh, because he can't-it's it's-why, of course, utterly impossible. But, tell me, what have you done with her? Where is she?"

parted. There was no margin left for further parley.

But what a task had Tynte voluntarily undertaken! How many are there in the world who have succeeded in finding a friend for themselves, much less for strangers; and how many have lived and died without that nearest and best of all relatives? I use the word advisedly, because

"She is here," was the laconic the closest of kinsmen, after all,

reply.

""Damn it!" exclaimed the bewildered major. The answer hit him hard. It seemed to stagger him, and to momentarily knock the power of conversation out of him; but with the rapidity of mental vision which comes suddenly to duller men, he pictured this poor heart-broken creature clinging to Scottowe by-and-by, as the troops marched past. This he must prevent, for everybody's sake. He put his hand to his forehead, moved it slowly over his head, and bringing it down to the nape of his neck, kept it there momentarily as though it helped him to think.

A bugle-call in the square without brought home the conviction that there was not an instant to be lost. The clouds broke suddenly from the major's brain.

"I see my way, Hugh," he said; "it is all right. Here! write write at once-give me her address. Never mind asking questions. I am a man of my word. Your wife shall have the best friend that ever woman had. Are you satisfied, old chap?"

Scottowe grasped the extended hand and wrung it, after having done as he was ordered.

"It is all right now," said the major; "give me the paper. That's it. Have no misgiving. Good-bye."

He put Scottowe out, by what looked like main force, and so they

is a true friend. When Cowper's servant approached him once to ask for a day's leave, the great man turned in his chair to inquire for what he sought it.

"To see a friend."
"A friend!" rejoined his master;

"Give me my hat and stick, I'll see him too-the first I ever saw.'

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I am not in a position to say whether the poet really did accompany his servant or not. If he did, it must have been rough on the latter; and I am quite certain that neither the man nor his friend would have appreciated the company of that extremely staid and pious versifier. But this is by the way.

Everything seemed to be against the major's success in the vicarious task he had assumed; but he did not appear to feel oppressed or troubled on the contrary, he sat down in the best of spirits, and, there and then wrote a long and carefully considered letter, which he read through, punctuated, sealed up, and put into his pocket-book, before betaking himself to his tub -in which we'll leave him for sundry reasons. He splashes about a great deal, and makes a tremendous noise suggestive of several cataracts, intermingled with the wild grooming of half-a-dozen warhorses, the neighing of the steeds, and the peculiar lip noise of the ostler, all combined.

THE GROWING UNPOPULARITY OF MILITARY SERVICE.-II,

SINCE the appearance of the writer's first article on this subject in last February's number of the Magazine,1 the usual annual comedy on the subject of army recruiting has been duly played out in Parliament.

On the 20th February last Mr Hanbury, on the motion for going into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, opened an interesting discussion upon the question of recruiting for the army. He duly marshalled his figures and his facts, which were significant enough, and he succeeded in making out a very serious indictment against the War Office.

He

was supported in his contentions and statements by many of the military members of the House, some of whom, like Sir E. Hamley, spoke with great weight and authority; men who were perfectly conversant with their subject, and who were well aware of its importance to the interests of the Empire, and of the danger and significance of the present state of affairs. When the War Minister rose to answer these criticisms, it need hardly be said that official optimism was the key-note of his reply. He begged the House not to be led away by the pessimist criticisms of the honourable members who had just spoken. There was really no ground for any serious and exaggerated alarm. He was assured by the InspectorGeneral of Recruiting that evidence existed on all sides to prove that the popularity of the army was not on the wane. He dwelt at some length upon the increased comforts and advantages the sol

diers nowadays enjoyed, especially in the way of improved quarters, cook-houses, barrack furniture, and accommodation generally. He was in hopes (sanguine man that he is!) that all these measures would tend to make the service more attractive to recruits. Doubtless there were some weak points in our system here and there, and some awkward figures and facts to be faced, but he was doing his best to remedy the deficiencies which revealed themselves. Finally, by way of throwing a bone to the malcontents who are dissatisfied with the present state of affairs, he announced his intention of having recourse to that well-known device which so often serves as an excuse for doing nothing-viz., the appointment of a committee to inquire into the whole subject. Upon this the mover of the amendment withdrew it, and the House of Commons was only too pleased to get rid till next year of an awkward and disagreeable subject, of which, despite its importance, not one-tenth of its members knows, or cares to know, anything, and in which they do not regard it as incumbent upon them to take any interest at all. "Populus vult decipi, decipiatur." And so, alas! as usual, the annual comedy ended.

It need hardly be pointed out that all such arguments and statements as those expressed by the War Minister on the occasion just referred to, are wholly irrelevant to the real point at issue. Year by year we require a certain quota of recruits, and year by year the establishment of the army is

1 See 'Maga,' February 1891.

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