The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-01
MADE OR MARRIED.
BY JESSIE FoTHERGrrI.
AuShor OF "One Of Three" Prob alton" "Ths
Weufelds," Etc
CHAPTER IIT.-CoNrrxvrp.

CHAPTER IIT.-CoNTrNuEp.
On, If Lady Elizabeth is in the
question" began Mr.. Starkie, benev-
olently; and then they went out OF the
once again, after which Philip heard
steps along passage, and presently IL
single person entered Mr.. Days office,
and called his name, q little impa-
tiently.
Where is heP'' murmured Mr..
Starkie, finding his call unanswered,
and sounding q gong in the nope of
conluring up some reply.
fhllip rose from his seat, and went
Into the office. Mr.. Starkie stood
there, an open letter in his hand.
6 | want Mr.. Day." he said.
Mr. Day has gone, sir He had an
appointment, and he said, as there was
nothing much doing this morning, he
had better 60"
Why must he choose Just to-day to
have an appointments" muttered MIR.
Starkie, in veXation.
g Can | be of any usep'' asked
Philip, thinking of the time which still
hung useless on his hands.
g You are not Mr.. Day, SIR" was
the curt reply; to which obvious truth
Philip murmured below his breath:
No, | wish L were;' and then
added aloud: +" But 1 know were he
lives, and could go and fetch him, if
you like"
At this MIR. Starkie looked more at
tentively at Philip, and his eyes rested
thoughtfully upon the young mans
face.
Your wish to oblige makes you for
get that, as Mr.. Day has an engage
ment, it would probably be lost time to
go after him." he remarked. /" think,
kperhaps, you may serve my purpose as
swell as Mr.. Day, or as well as any one
but Mr. Day. At any rate am going
to try you Come with me-"
Philip followed his chief to his private
room and there Mr.. StarSie read over
again the letter he held in his hand
"You will not mention your errand
of to-day to any of your fellow clerks, y"
he remarked
Certainly not" replied Philip,
steadily meeting the piercing eyes which
were fixed upon him.
"We are making line of railway in
China, IN a rather ont-of-t he-way dis
trict. y is the port. 1t was chiefly
through the British Consul at y that
I'VE undertook the job, and we intrusted
the management of it to Bywell. dare
say you remember Bywell-he was only
here a week or two before he went
outp"
"Yes, l remember him. l never
spoke to him, though, or had any ac-
quaintance with him"
"He had to be invested with very
considerable powers, having English
and Irish navvies under him, as well as
natives; and the absolute command Of
large sums of money. This was an
important post for him, as you may
Judge"
Certainly, sir"
swell, need not 90 into particulars;
but to come to the point, l have strong
reasons for wishing to learn something
about Bywell. He had the best of ref
erences with him from Blake and
/. yRobinson. He had been with them fol
a year, and the reason given for his
leaving was that they had to reduce
their staff of servants, which, as they
have failed since, seems likely enough.
But | must know more about him, il
possible; though Mr.. Grey is not sus-
picious: but them" in q tone OF impa-
tience she never will be suspicious, OF
anything reasonable, until he is safely
married to Lady Elizabeth Preston.
Philip smiled involuntarily, and bent
his head to hide his smile. Mr., Starkie
went on:
"Mr. Blake, one of the partners OF
the firm Bywell was with, lives out al
Edgeton now, in small way, fancy.
You can go and see him, and find out
all you can. If possible you must dis
cover where he came from-the origi-
nal people who recommended him to
Blake, and what sort of character he
was. And at the same time, you must
not let the cat out of the bag. Do you
understand"
Perfectly. Do you want me to &C
ts9is momentp"
.'Yes, as soon as ever you can, 1ot
must see what a mess we shall be in L
we get wrong with these people who
are so ticklish to deal with want tt
have the affair settled as soon as. posi-
ble," said Mr.. Starkie. who looked
vexed and harassed. "Why do yot
askp'