accepted.

Soon the engagement of Phillis was whispered around and although only a rumor it spread like wild-fire. It even extended to the little hut on the Noyo and Dolly's eyes were filled with tears. Many a day and night her little fists rubbed her wet blue eyes and she sobbed like her heart would break.

Carlton called less frequently at the hut. He found Miss Phillis exceedingly charming and felt that she would grace any man's home, yet, with all her polish, she lacked something; he did not feel the same toward her as he had toward Dolly. Mr. Dorsey lavished many presents upon him and the Dorsey twelvecylinder car was always at his disposal. He could plainly see that the Dorseys expected him to join the family tree. A blind man could see that and Carlton was not blind.

In a shady path bordering Pudding Creek one Sunday afternoon, Phillis and Carlton were strolling beneath the redwoods north of the county bridge. Phillis spied a stately redwood. She made her way to a log beneath it and sat down. Carlton sat down beside her. She nestled close.

"Do you know what the girls are saying, Carlton?" she began.

"Why, -a-no," he stammered, though in his heart he suspected.

Her head now rested upon his shoulder. "They say we're engaged-say you'll have me, Carlton," she urged, "and let's have it over with."

He choked: "I, I-love-you very much."

"It's a go then, isn't it, Carlton, dear," she said embracing him.

"Yu-y-e-s," he stuttered. He tried to put his arms around her but it was an awkard attempt.

"Kiss me, honey," she cooed.

Carlton did as he was bade. A lump caught in his throat. He did not mind kissing her or making love to her but the idea of marrying her stunned him. A picture of Dolly stood before his eyes. He left like a sneak, her betrayer. Mechanically he arose and they walked to the Dorsey home. Phillis beamed with happiness. She was too intoxicated with

victory to notice his awkwardness.

"Now kiss me," she said as they reached the gate. "Kiss me and come back tonight. I am so happy. I can't tell you how happy you have made me."

Carlton involuntarily obeyed her command. Some of the Fort Bragg belles lingered at a respectful distance to see it through and the engagement report was confirmed.

Thursday evening he picked up the Fort Bragg Chronicle. On the front page in broad faced type he read: ENGAGEMENT

OF CARLTON DARROW TO PHILLIS DORSEY He threw the paper on the floor and crushed it with his heel. He was angry. "Damn!" he cried.

He felt like fainting; he caught hold of a chair and held himself on his feet. Before him fluttered a vision of a girl with yellow locks and tender blue eyes; the picture of Dolly. Madly, he rushed out of the hotel. He arrived at the fisherman's hut all out of breath. Heavily, he knocked upon the door. Dolly opened it. Tears stood in her swollen eyes. He caught her in his strong arms and kissed her.

"Don't touch me! Go 'way!" she cried. "Go to your rich man's daughter! Go to Phillis!"

"Don't you love me?"

"Yes, but you don't love me."

"But I'm going to marry you," he said, taking her in his arms.

"Really-will you?" she asked pathetic

ally.

"The sooner the better," he answered. "And give up that rich girl?" "Yes."

"Forever?"

"Yes."

The stars beamed in the heavens and the river reflected her smile.

The next morning at seven a knock awakened him.

"Yes, sir," Carlton replied, opening the door a few inches. He took the telegram. "Any charges?"

"No."

"All right."

Nervously he ripped open the yellow envelope. It read:

"Nome, Alaska, Sept. 10, 1910.-Carlton Darrow, Fort Bragg, Calif.: Struck it rich in your old prospect hole-runs 150 to 200 to the ton.-Dad Darrow."

Hastily he dressed. Eight o'clock found him at the fisherman's hut. He had a kiss for Dolly ready on his lips. He lead her out on the sand. Together they walked to the rock where she had found him cast up by the sea. He encircled her waist with his arm and held her close. "When shall the wedding be?" he asked.

"Today," she answered. "Are you sure you don't love the rich girl? I am only

a poor girl."

"You are rich," he smiled. "I am rich." He planted a kiss on her ruby lips; her cheeks bloomed like roses red; her yellow hair floated in the breeze.

He handed her the telegram. "Read this," he said.

She read the writing on the yellow paper.

"Carlton," she breathed, "I'm SO happy."

The sun pierced the black clouds and smiled upon a shimmering ocean. "Look," she said, pointing at the white capped waves, "the silver sea."

A

CHAPTER SEVEN.

FTER leaving the Pole the ship was headed towards Siberia.

"What a sad history Siberia has," said Rebecca. "For centuries my ancestors suffered persecution at the hands of the despots that ruled that unhappy country. The cruelties practiced upon the poor Russian peasants and Jews were beyond all reason. Today we see the result of the world suffering for its sins. To my mind the epidemic was nothing more than a punishment meted out to the world for its wickedness."

Not a sign of a survivor being seen while passing over Siberia, the ship was headed over the mountains into Tibet. The country that only within a hundred years had opened her gates to strangers. Even in these days many strange customs were observed by the people of this land of mystery.

"I wonder if we will find any survivors here?" asked Jack as the ship was lowering to land near a huge Buddist monastery.

In exploring the monastery they found where the monks had died at their praying wheels, which were equipped with electric motors.

"Just as I thought," exclaimed Villa. "these people prayed too fast."

The great Buddist University was visited, and a number of valuable manuscripts secured, but apparently no one in the country had escaped the epidemic.

After leaving Tibet they flew over the mountains into India and China. They visited many temples and places of in terest in both these countries, but found no signs of life.

"I presume," said Black, "the people of these countries married so young that

they hadn't the stamina to withstand the ravages of Speedomania. I'm in hopes we will find some survivors in Japan, the Japanese were a sturdy race and there is a possibility some of them escaped."

The ship was then headed towards Tokyo; and as they approached the city, Jack noticed a woman on the veranda of a house watching them. The ship was lowered and she rushed to meet them, but true to the Oriental custom, she did not offer to kiss Daisy or Rebecca.

"Isn't she a beautiful woman," thought Black.

The young woman told them her name was Wistiria, and that the plague had carried off the Japanese very rapidly.

When Daisy told her of their mission she readily fell in with the plan and consented to join them; she blushed very prettily when told she must marry Black immediately, and finally she murmured her consent. The result was the wedding was solemnized in Tokyo's largest cathedral. The marriage was recorded, then the other members of the party threw cherry blossoms at the bride and groom.

There were now three families aboard the ship, and they all agreed that if three more families could be secured they could return to Boston with a splendid nucleus for the formation of a co-operative commonwealth. The area of the Japanese Empire not being very great, the airship covered it in a short space of time, but Wistiria was the only survivor of the plague.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

The party visits the East Indies, Australia and the Cannibal Islands.

"Now," said Jack, "we'll sail over the open sea to Siam, Java and the islands

that compose what was once known as the 'East Indies.' The islands were at one time the home of a very savage race, and the forests were full of wild beasts, huge snakes and all sorts of creeping things. After the country came into possession of the Dutch, the people were civilized, then exploited; and I presume through the effects of Speedomania the people of these islands cease to exist. The scene of one of Kipling's famous short stories, "The Ourang-Outang' took place on one of these islands.'

"Do you believe in the Darwinian theory, Jack?" asked Black.

"I certainly do," replied Jack. "I can look back through the ages and see myself jumping from tree to tree-Daisy and me." Then Jack looked at her and smiled.

"Yes, Jack," she smilingly replied. "We did nothing but play all through the long sun-shiny day." At this retort the entire party laughed heartily.

Siam and the islands in that part of the world were thoroughly explored, but the effects of the plague had been such that none of the inhabitants of that section had escaped.

"Now that we are in this locality, why not make a pilgrimage to Mecca?" asked Villa.

"Oh, do," they all cried. Consequently the ship was headed for Arabia. They completely circled Arabia before visiting Mecca.

"It's wonderful when we think of the millions of people that made this pilgrimage. How fiercely the fires of religious enthusiasm must have burned in the breasts of those devotees who put out their eyes with red hot stones after gazing upon Mecca-it's terrible to think of it."

"Now that I've seen, I don't think much of it," said Villa.

"Let's take a sail over Persia," suggested Wistiria.

"Persia it is then," said Jack, and the ship was headed in that direction.

"I have always been anxious to visit Persia," said Rebecca. "I wanted to see the famous Ghetto, where for fifteen hundred years the Jews were imprisoned. How I love the story of the beautiful

Queen Esther, who risked her life to save the Chosen People."

Some very beautiful specimens of Persian rugs were secured, but not a sign of a single survivor was seen in the whole Persian Empire.

"Now," said Daisy, "we must sail over to Jerusalem."

"That will be grand," they all cried. "I've always wanted to see the site of Solomon's Temple," said Jack, who was a member of the Masonic fraternity. "If I had my way, every man would have been a member of the Masonic order. It would have made them better men and better Christians. Next to the Christian church the Masonic fraternity is the greatest institution that ever existed. Its creed is as broad as humanity itself. I hope to revive the Masonic organization, make you men Masons, and the ladies members of the Eastern Star, I am a member of both organizations. We are now traveling towards Jerusalem, the city where Solomon built his great temple and where Free Masonry was born; from there we must journey to Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Savior; the Star in the East guided the shepherds to the manger where the Christ Child lay. The order of the Eastern Star takes this beautiful event for the basis of their organization. I hope we can journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem by night and possibly this same star may be our guide."

"I'll tell you, Jack," said Black, "why not convene a lodge of Masons in Jerusalem, initiate us three men into the mysteries of the craft, then at Bethlehem institute a Chapter of the Eastern Star, and as both male and females are eligible to membership in that organization, we can all become members."

"Good," cried Jack, "I'll be more than glad to do that.

"The Temple of Solomon," he continued, "stood where the Mosque of Omar now stands in Jerusalem."

Immediately upon their arrival in the "Holy City" the men entered the Mosque of Omar. Jack convened a lodge of Free Masons, and three degrees were conferred upon Villa and Black. Then an election of officers was held and Jack

was elected Grand Master of Masons of the World; Villa was chosen Grand Senior Warden, and Black Grand Junior Warden. The three fraternal brothers then joined their ladies and they searched the city for survivors, but none were to be found. After this they visited the tomb of Christ.

Rebecca wept as she said, "And at last the Jews accepted the Savior just one year before the great epidemic came; and in all probability I am the only survivor of the Jewish race." Then she laid her head on Villa's shoulder and cried it out.

After the stars came out that night the ship rose in the air, and as Jack headed the ship towards Bethlehem a brilliant star appeared just ahead of the ship.

"The Star of the East," they all cried at once. Jack fixed the course of the ship on this star and, strange to say, the ship landed near the birthplace of the Savior of men, which was marked by a huge inscribed granite shaft.

At the foot of this shaft they all knelt and prayed. Then a lodge of the Eastern Star was instituted and Daisy was elected Grand Matron, and Jack the Grand Patron. Although a diligent search was made, the indications were such that everyone must have perished.

"Now," said Black, "let's make a bee line for Australia."

"Agreed," answered Jack as he headed the nose of the ship in that direction.

The ship was lowered at Melbourne and they spent several days looking around this beautiful city. There, the same as everywhere they had visited, Speedomania had reaped a complete harvest. From Melbourne they covered the whole of the island, making numerous landings, but no survivors were found. After completing their search of Australia the ship was headed for Solomon Islands, up to the twenty-fifth century the home of a fierce cannibal race.

"Through education," said Jack, "the cannibals learned to abstain from eating human flesh; they also learned to wear clothes, use tobacco and drink rum. Rum and tobacco were the greatest cursos the world ever knew, and when prohibition

became a law all over the world, then the manufacture of these stimulants was stopped and the people were unable to obtain them. In my opinion, if the human race had not been so weakened by the use of rum and tobacco for centuries they would have been more physically able to stand the effects of Speedomania, and we would have found more survivors in the different parts of the world that we have visited."

"It is just as I expected," exclaimed Jack, after they had completed their search of these islands without finding any survivors.

CHAPTER NINE.

As

"We'll try South America next," said Jack, as he headed the ship towards Cape Horn. Stops were made at New Zealand, Tasmania and numerous other islands, but not a sign of life was to be seen. they neared the Cape they began discussing the history of the twentieth century South Pole expeditions, when such brave men as Shackleton and Scott sacrificed their lives for science.

"Think of the contrast between then and today," said Black. "Today we find the lives of the world's population sacrificed to satisfy a mad desire for speed; and a false conception of efficiency."

"That's the whole thing in a nut shell, Black," cried Villa enthusiastisally; then Rebecca smiled at him as she squeezed his hand.

"Let's swing towards the Pole, Jack, look that territory over, then head back to Cape Horn," suggested Black.

A

"Good idea," answered Jack as he headed for the South Pole. The South Pole region, like the North Pole had been transformed from a land of ice and snow to one of grassy plains and mountains. sharp lookout was kept for possible survivors of the epidemic all the way to the pole, but none were to be seen. The ship landed at the pole, and they inspected the granite shaft that marked the pole.

"The sufferings and hardships of the explorers who tried to reach this spot were even worse than those of the North Pole explorers," said Wistiria.

"Yes," replied Jack. "In addition to the intense cold, snow and ice, there were