The Red Cloud chief., 1884-01-04

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CHAPTER 1H.-CoNrINuEp.
"Oh, if Idly Elizabeth is in the
question" began. Mr.. Starkie, benev-
olcntly; and thenthey went out Of the
Office again, after which Philip heard
steps along a p: ssage, and presently q
single person eftered Mr.. Days office,
and called his name. "a little impa-
ticntlv.
Where IS ae;' murmurcd Mr..
Starkie. finding his call unanswered,
and sounding aigong in the nope OF
conJuring up sorie reply.
fhiilp rose from his seat, and went
INTO the Office. Mr. Starkie stood
there. an opcn Letter in his hand.
want Mr.. pay" he said.
Mr.. bav5has rhe, sir. He had an
appointment, ano he said. as there was
a%"tiiing much doing this morning, he
had better 20"
Why must he chpose just to-day to
have an appointnent:?" muttered Mr..
Starkie. in vcsatio9.s
Can | he o any use?" asked
Philip. thinking of the time which still
hung useless ON hi hands.
You are not IN Day. SIR" was
the curt reply; to which obvious truth
Philip murmurei below his breath:
No. ! wish L were;'' and then
added aloul: .B,t1 know were he
lives. and could 'sahd fetch him, if
Won like"
AT this Alr. Starks booked more at
+%antively at Philip. md his eyes rested
thoughtfully upon The young mans
face.
Your wish to obige makes you for
get that. as MI. Dig has an engage
ment. it would probably be lost time to
go after him. he remarked. L think,
perhaps. YOU MAY SCI ne my purpose as
well As Mr.. Day, or a well as any one
but MIR. Day. At any rate / am going
10 try ven Come with me-" Y
Phil followed his Aief to his private
room. ard there Nj. stasSie read over
again the letter he hell Ia his hand.
lyon will o ment;oa your errand
of to-day to any If yorr fellow clerks"
he remarked
Certainly not replied Philip,
steadily meeting he piereing eyes which
Were fixed upon hM- y
We are making a Inc. of railway in
China, IN a rather mi o>the-way dis
trict. Y is the por lit was chiefly
through the BRITISH onpIat Y that
we undertook the job, nd we intrusted
the management Of it to BSwell. dare
SAY you remember Bywdls he was only
here a week or two lef$re he went
out?"
Yes. | remember hin. 1 never
spoke TO him. though, o. tad any &C
q~uaintance with him.
He had to be invea6 with very
considerable powers, hAvng English
and Irish navyies under iiH, as well as
natives: and the absolute 5pmmand OF
large suns of money. N4is was an
important lost for him. Is you may
Judge.
Certainly. sir
We'll, | need not go ino particulars;
but TO come 10 the point, have strong
reasons for wishing TO lean something
about Bywell. He lad the best of ref
with him from kBlake and
Robinson. He had been wtflt them for
a year. and the reason gwen for his
leaving was that they hal 10 reduce
their staff of servants, whi.hs as they
haye>failcd since, seems liksH enough.
But ! must know more ahsr4 him. il
possible: though Mr.. Grey 8 tnot sus-
picious: hut then" in = tons ef impa-
thence. she never will be Suspicious, or
anything reasonable, until h: Is safely
married to Lady Elizabeth F-e5ton."
Philip smiled Involuntary, Ind bent
his head TO hide his smile u Starkie
went on:
mir. Blake, one of the p,H hers of
the firm Bywell was with, liNeS out at
Edgeton now. in a smaliway. fancy.
You a 90 and see himL n nd out
all YOU can. If possible you n st dis
v where he came from-th6 origi-
nal people who recommended him to
Blake. and what sort of chafa0 Ter he
was. And AT the same time, yoV must
not let the cat out of the bag. o you
understand"
Perfectly. Do you want n to 60
this moment??"
Yes. AS soon as ever yOQ can You
must see what a mess we shalt in if
we get wrong with these peop1 who
are so ticklish to deal with. V 5 to
have the affair settled as soon IS pssi-
bler said MIR. Starkie. who bked
vexed and harassed. "NNhy co you
asks? =.
eff if were after five O'Clock II"
began Philip.
AFTER five? A loss of hours Alb
surd.'' said he. testify. Whist st d PIN
der you from going now
II ought TO meet my sister-aS ng
sirl who has never been here N h.( 6fe
tefore-at half-past four. that's ~ l
would not have mentionedlt = ed
Philip. apologetical'y, 'but lean ZIP
it
In truth. he liked the idea Of the *
pedition. md was vexed to Think of
missinr it. an at the same rme s
prised 10 find himself contidins suel
tails TO the august chief of the estahi
Llcnt.
Il would DO anything to ohhge q,