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".CHAPTER II.

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CHAPTER II. What is noble F To inherit W-ealth, estate, and proud degree ? There must he some higher merit, Higher yet than these for me! Something greater far must enter Into life's majestic span, Fitted to create and centre True nobility in man." C, SWAIN. BRAHAM, the jeweller, collector of coins, and maker of medals, was an old man of the Jewish persuasion to make money had been his passion, his one great pleasure in life, and occasionally he was not over scrupulous by what means he increased his riches. It was often hinted that the old Jew would bargain with receivers of stolen goods, and that the smeltmg-pot was always kept heated to convert precious metals into shapeless masses where thera was any danger of his getting into trouble. Detectives had tried in vain, however, to bring home to him any complicity with the frequent robberies which were occurring in the neighbourhood. As he became older the worst phases of his character deepened and darkened. He impatiently endured rivalry in making his collections, and prided himself in possessing such rare specimens of ancient and inediveval art that none other could obtain. Upon these he plsced such an extraordinary value as appeared fabulous. He would sit for hours and gloat over his treasures. There were people, however, who rememberei Braham young and handsome; he was even then ardent in business, but he met honour- able men, and was accounted honourable himself; as his cupidity increased, his actions became less and less legitimate, until his character changed, and his fea. tures also, for his countenance now forcibly disclosed the nature of his mind—it was cold, forbidding, and mercenary. > Poor Harrison had been repeatedly informed ot the early habits of his master, and old customers would recount even kind and generous actions performed by him. As he walked from the doctor's room after the interview we have recorded in a previous chapter, he tried to picture to himself old Braham a good and honourable man; and for an hour he strolled up and down the streets meditating, until the church clocks striking twelve reminded him that it was time to seek rest. When he reached his humble cot he still meditated, and he recalled the events of the past years before he could fall into sleep. Then his mind reverted to himself, and he recalled that day, when, a vagabond in the streets, he picked out of the mud a splendid something, he knew not what, and found himself suddenly in the clutch, con. fronted by the glaring eyes of what might have been a tiger-but it proved to be a man. This man accused him of theft. Ragamuffin as he was, he justified himself, and pleaded innocence of crime, and was forthwith adopted into the service of the jeweller. What peculiar fitness was discovered in him at that instant for such a vocation he could not comprehend. How strangely this old man's aspect had changed since Ross Harrison came thus into his service How rapidly it had changed. Ross could have counted the steps by which the enthusiast had passed over into the dominion of monomaniacs. But let the reader be informed Braham had one child-a daughter. She was the child of his old age- beautiful, simple-hearted, pure. She had grown up under her father's eyes. His treasures were all under one roof. Below was the shop, the safe, the vault. Above the home, in which was his daughter. She was left in his hands an infant, motherless at three years of age. He bad done all that a cruafcy old parent could be 6xpected to do. But nature bad done more. Nature unfolded a character of such rare gentleness, tenderness, grace, as man or woman could not fail to love. Old Braham loved her well. But then he was a mal: who had more than one idea. He had two. His treasures and his daughter. If he must choose among his possessions, he would wrestle with every adversary of man in her behalf. But then he had her; felt secure; and having her, he merely fell back on her as some men fall back on the thought of God-in ex- tremity. The first year of Harrison's employment in Braham's servioe, the house took fire one night, and was burned to the ground. >■ Having secured his precious stock of coins, medals, Jewels, and tools, Braham stood by unconcerned- his household gooes might perish, for his idols were safe, and he was insured. Not so thought his daughter. He supposed her safe in the house of a friend-instead of this, however, she was flitting through the rooms, lading herself with relics, even when dangers threatened her on all sides. Like a fairy she was rushing hither and thither in the midst of flames. At length she was visible to the eye of Ross Harri- son. He saw her on the uppermost step of the burn- ing stair, and ran to her rescue. He brought her down from death, and he felt from that moment that she was his for life. From her unconscious hand he took the g»m.ancireled shekel she had picked up from the floor of her fatbo*'a closet on her way to the stair. And again old Braham sna.tohed from Ross that trea- sure which had years bef or & formed the connecting1 link between him and his master. This time anger appeared in the place of fear on young Harrison's face. He began to feel a wrong, as if he had been robbed. But Braham was Naomi's father. Not long after the fire, a gentleman came into Braham's new shop. ■ Braham was there alone. But in a solitary room adjoining, Ross sat polishing medals. It was simply impassible that he should avoid hear. iag the conversation that passed between his master and the stranger. This gentleman it seemed, was in search of a rare com ne had ioSt. The particularity of his description left no aoubt in the mind of Ross that this was the very com with whiah, as it were, he had bought his present p spenty. For he was now no longer a vagrant-he growing into manhood, into a know- ledge ef business, into respectability. He had never u once seen the coin Braham robbed him ox appropriation was nothing but a robbery Coiild Qot hay0 described it with any exactneas Butea-l* Wd -t described he knew his master urald report thereof to the stranger.. He was therefore ennous to know whether Braham ^ould produce the missing treasure. This, thought the young man, he would certainly do, ° Of course, the reader thinks so too. Not he. The old man was full of interest — of concern. He could appreciate such a loss certainly He might be relied on if search could recover the coin, he had a system of detection that was nearly perfect. It should be brought to bear on this case. If the shekel were within a hundred miles, it would, doubt. less, oome into his hands. He was full of hope, so he took the gentleman's card, and the interview closed with encouraging, courteous words, and great promise^ of reward. He professed not to know that he was a nr. neighbour, bat Boas Harrison knew it well, and so Q"i his master. Instantly on departure, Mr. Braham turned the key in its lock, ana walked into the closet that had been occupied by RO.e Harrison. NoRoss was there. I here was anxious uncertainty visible upon the old v ew's countenan ce. He looked about him suspiciously, ^easily; then he ran to t^, door of the atair that led ^to the cellar, listened, woxdered# Had he pursued aw investigations down the ^aira and through the *•1 would still have been unsuccessful search. OM™^a become of Ross ? He had taken himself of the closet and hidden himself „ huildinsr far Cny' 80Cretfc8 datge%3 for a man to and he had his way to make. resides, he loved Naomi Braham. hi r. beauty and gentleness had positively enchanted Vrh*5 *aot' was deeply in love. Was it her father 'stood dishonoured before the young lover'a eyes fro himself away from the discovery of the truth' Partnership in the evil—from other degradation J^h might have fallen upon both their heads. in fl ° i!as k°Boura,ble enough to seek safety from shame ^ish t ke trembled as he ran. He did not or f *ac.s the danger in broad daylight, and stand Th ¥ heart should determine. l°ve ° -R wouhl have been, if for honour against W COulc* he choose P Love has oome to be ^„QOI?'?lon "word. We use it to express the heart w WorshIp and adoration of which Harrison's keartwno0 fVan(^ a^oration of which Harrison's rags fiHK Can For him who had lived amongst 11 i a., manner of abomination, to live near to Naomi Braham, to work under the same roof that sheltered her, was an exaltation that in his early life he never dreamed of. And so he ran away from an investigation that, oae way or another, must have proved fatal. For her sake, the idol of his heart, he would sacrifice anything. What was Ross to do when he came out of hIS hiding-place ? i i. He had the consciousness, for many a day, that his master suspected him—watched him. He felt that his foot was in a trap, that his hand was in a vice, and that a millstone hung about his neck. At length he gained self-possession, and so well did he bear himself through scrutiny, that the suspicion of the old man's mind ceased to indicate itself in any way. It finally ceased to exist. « n These things Ross Harrison had to thmk of during his midnight reflections. On his finger gleamed the serpent-crested carbuncle. Here he stood now, pledged to restore. He felt him. self to be under a suspicion. Iu was to him a curious state of things. If he betrayed his master, he sacrI. ficed all hopes of happiness, for he would assuredly lose that which was dearer to him than life, whilst conscience told him that, it he withheld his knowledge from Dr. David he was a culpable wretch.

.CHAPTER III.

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IA RAMBLERS JOTTINGS.

WHOLESALE MURDER. I

MURDER IN TIPPERARY.

THE MURDER OF A CHILD IN LEICES-TERSHIRE.

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S REPORT…

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A MISERLY THIEF.

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