accompanying words calculated to restore their complacent equability.

'I came here to demand by what right you propose to sell my property without my consent. And if you don't choose to answer me, an injunction shall, before many hours are passed.'

The two gentlemen again exchanged glances, in which no particle of fun or humour was visible. Something was wrong evidently. So Mr. Dynevor, after a brief pause, said in a grave tone-

'We don't at all understand. Mr. Mort. We have been told by the heirs that you have no rights whatever; that you had simply planted yourself on the old woman; but that when she went you went too, as far as they or their interests were concerned.'

Israel laughed, actually laughed, before beginning to rummage his capacious pockets, from which he drew a paper, one he now always carried about with him, as needing on occasion to be shown to possible future partners.

It was simply a copy of his deed of partnership. This he placed before the two gentlemen, who, laying their heads together, began at once hurriedly to read it.

Israel quite enjoyed the spectacle their faces presented, lengthening and darkening every instant, not because they cared who were, or who were not, the true owners, but to see they had been so played with; and had, in consequence, made such asses of themselves before an acute, strong fellow like Israel Mort.

A half-stammered apology was offered and accepted; and so far Israel was victor. The two gentlemen undertook at once to modify the advertisement, acknowledging his third share. And Israel undertook to let them see the original agreement, a mere form,' they added, for satisfaction.

But his victory was to be dashed with a serious reverse. Messrs. Johnes and Dynevor showed him--and it was his turn then to be surprised and to look a little blank-a passage in the will of Mr. Jehoshaphat, in which he had anticipated that Mr. Griffith Williams might wish to dis

pose of the mine; and had absolutely forbidden it, without the consent of his wife, should she be living, or of her heirs after her death; his object being the better to guard the charge upon the mine in her favour of three thousand a year, which she was to enjoy and have the power to bequeath. It would seem from this, Mr. Jehoshaphat, who was never remarkable for consistency, still desired to keep the mine in the family; whether in cynic enjoyment of its dubious value, or from the desire that they should do what he had declined doing, put their shoulders to the wheel as capitalists, and drag its notorious ill-fame out of the mud, who shall say?

So you see, Mr. Mort, nobody but Mrs. Jehoshaphat's heirs can sell the mine as a whole,' remarked Mr. Johnes, after a decent pause.

'And does that prove that they can, if I resist?' shrewdly asked Israel. Remember I became proprietor with her consent, when the mine was purchased with her consent, from Mr. Griffith Williams. So again I ask can the heirs sell without me?'

"We think so, and should fight if our view was legally obstructed.'

And so ruin the property for both sides?'

'Well, that does happen at times!' said Mr. Johnes, with a smile, to which his partner assented by a loud laugh.

'We may as well tell you that the late Mrs. Jehoshaphat has left a very large property indeed, inherited of course from her husband; that the heirs are thus able to spend money freely; and that they have taken a particular dislike to you-why we don't pretend to say; but it's as well you should see how the matter stands.'

Some conversation now took place on the prospects of the sale, which the solicitors thought looked gloomy. Even before seeing him they had not expected a very good price, but now if they were to offer only two-thirds of the property, they doubted if they should have a decent bid. Was he willing to let the whole be sold, and take his third in money from the proceeds, and then arrange afterwards as he could with the buyer?

No; Israel was not willing. He knew that mine, and he knew no other. It was his lawful wife, and he had no notion of divorce.

6

Seeing no more was to be got out of them, Israel went away, saying to himself, That game won't do for me, nohow, and so I must bide the worst, and see what the auction brings forth.'

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE DAY OF SALE.

Nor for many years could the oldest frequenters of the sale room of Mr. Lewis Williams at Leath remember an occasion that excited so much interest, or brought together so large an assemblage of spectators, and possible buyers, as the putting up to auction of the mine of Cwm Aber.

The great wealth of Mr. Jehoshaphat was only just beginning to be known, his wife's illnesses and oddities having concurred to delay administration to the will. This was one source of the public interest. Another was the critical position of Israel Mort, between the dead partner and the living partners, which led to frequent comment and speculation. A remark made by one person to another as the crowd was gathering, and which speedily was repeated throughout the room as a good thing, fairly illustrated the general feeling

6

Oh, depend on it, Mort's got somebody, as rich and as foolish as Mrs. Jehoshaphat, to buy; and we shall see him emerge before long, most likely, as owner of half the estate, with a lien on the remainder.'

But there was yet another attractive feature of the sale--the possible appearance in the room of Mr. Griffith Williams. Nay, who can tell, people asked, with a smile, but he would be the buyer, out of pure love for Israel, and so shake hands, and be friends once more?

This was but gossip, but the gossip reached Israel

Mort, and affected him more deeply than he would like to have been conscious of.

That was just the one and only thing that he could see in the distance, of the nature of a calamity, likely to enhance his present dangers and troubles.

And Mr. Griffith Williams was the very first person he set eyes on when he entered the auctioneer's rooms, and who saw him enter; and, Israel fancied, with a half smile, that was immediately repressed.

The gossips had only done justice to Israel's aims and energy. He had not idled away the interim betwixt the appearance of the advertisement and the day of sale. After many refusals from neighbouring coal-owners whom he knew personally, and after employing numerous agents, whom he stimulated by the promise of a large bonus in the event of success, he found at last a mining agent, who had received a commission from a client, a Mr. Colman, to enquire into the state and property of the mine, with a view to investment.

Could he see Mr. Colman? It was feared not, but he had said he should be at the auction.

Israel knew Mr. Colman to be a man of ample capital and estimable character, and that he was a busy man, far too busy to think of managing Cwm Aber himself.

So he sat down at once where he was, wrote for some hours, and then handed to the agent a paper which he said would tell Mr. Colman all he wanted to know, and the accuracy of which he guaranteed.

And with that Israel Mort was obliged to be content, hardly knowing whether he was dealing with a friend or foe.

But on the very morning of the sale a note had reached Israel from Mr. Colman authorising him to bid on his, Mr. Colman's, responsibility, ten thousand pounds for the two-thirds share held by the heirs, and another ten thousand for the charge on the mine.

but

He proposed also to be there himself in time to bid, gave Israel power in case of accidental hindrances. Thus armed Israel entered the auction room and took

up a position where he could be sure to see every glance of the auctioneer, and be able to make him in return see or hear any sign or sound he might make.

The critical question for him was whether or no Mr. Colman would get the mine for ten thousand pounds, a miserable and utterly inadequate price, or whether anybody would drive the price up beyond that sum.

What if by any possibility Griffith Williams had got to know of this arrangement? Would it not stimulate him, if he were at all open to buy, to venture a figure beyond the ten thousand, believing that someone else would also advance on this, and so free him while shutting out Israel and his supporter? Or even if the mine were knocked down to the Squire, he might still be content, knowing as he did it was worth so much more than it was likely to fetch.

But Israel Mort had in any case one great consolation: the higher the sum obtained, the larger would be the estimated value of his third share.

The auctioneer, who was fond of his own eloquence, described in glowing characters the value of the mine, and its almost illimitable capabilities, which he illustrated by figures and statistics that startled Israel, who seemed to recognise in them a sort of reflection of his own statement to Griffith Williams, during their former negotiations.

But he was reassured, as he remembered that if Griffith Williams had helped the heirs to make the best of the property by furnishing such particulars it must be quite clear that he could not intend himself to buy.

The auctioneer proposed to begin with sixty thousand pounds, but finding no one tempted to speak, then descended by bold steps of ten thousand each till he had got only one ten thousand left behind to work by.

A voice in a far-off corner now called out

· Five thousand!'

Israel craned his neck round and rose on tiptoes to discover the bidder, and recognised the voice as that of an agent, one employed by him, but who had failed. So Israel