The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-26
What name shall 1 say,

ceive you, sir. What name shall 1 say,
sir?"
"You know ny name well enough,
William Bladon- Tell her that Mr.
Hayter requests her immediate presence
in this room"
"Cert'nly, sir, cert'nly. I'll see if her
leddyship will receive you"
He bowed low and left the room.
Hayter quite understood the insolence
of the mans excessive courtesy, but the
moment was too grave to resent the
superciliousness of mental He would
settle accounts with Bladon, when Lady
Arlington was restored to his guardian.
ship.
But he has little time for meditation,
for the door opens and Bladon re-
appears.
Her leddyship declines to see thee,
sir"
"Whatr'
"But, my lord will be with thee in a
crack"
Lord What lord?' Hayter cried.
losing for moment his splendid self
command in his surprise
But before Bladon could reply there
trooped into the room George Arundel,
MIR. and Mrs. IIardcastle, Harry and
Kate Evesham, and Mrs. Horner.
REALLY, ladies and gentlemen" Mr..
Hayter declared. rising, 81 had no idea
that Mrs. Horner was entertaining COM
pany; but l will only intrude long
enough to beg our worthy hostess to
conduct me into the presence of Lady
Arlington"
'My mother declines to see you,"
George said, confronting him with so
stern an expression that Harry was con-
strained to whisper in his ear that
Hayter's gray hairs protected him from
violence.
Really, my good fellow, as l have
not the slightest desire to make your
mothers acquaintance, you will pardon
me if | say your remark borders on an
impertinence, Hayter declared with
superb superciliousness.
"You are speaking to Lady Arlington's
son, SIR" Mr.. Hardcastle interrupted
fiercely.
"And you, sir?" Hayter asked in
suave tones, what role do you play in
this little comedy?"
But even he blanched, as Hardcastle,
ignoring his insolencc, said in a quiet,
business-lilSe way:
Harry, guard the door-Bladon, take
your place at the window-the village
constable will soon be here"
Then, turning to his wife, he added
in stage whisper:
'Do you recognize him, Esther, as the
man, who, under the guise of a photog-
rapher, entered your house in New
York, the night after Ambrose Airing
ton was murdered, and stole his pa
pers?"
81 do
Was it by design that at this critical
moment Harry Evesham left the room
without even closing the door behind
him? If so, the ruse succeeded admira-
bly,; for no sooner did Hayter see the
chance of escape, than he made dash
for liberty.
81 hated to let the villain escape so
easily" Harry said that evening when
he and Hardcastle were smoking their
cigars.
But we could not help it, Harry"
was the sage reply. There was not
single crime with which we could charge
him; and if there were, it would have
been at the cost of the reputation of
Wanda's mother"
True, sir"
"Why, Harry" continued Mr.. Hard
castle, waxing warm on the subject,
IF that fellows conscience had not
failed him when alluded to Ambrose
murder, he might have set
us at defiance and given us world of
trouble
"And you think we have seen the last
of him?"
Think! I'm certain. He is running
he believes with the halter round his |
neck and he will not stay till he has pu. |
the sea between him and England"
NO doubt he has made preparations !
for such an emergency"
"0f course he has, having handled the |
revenues of this fine property so many
years But 'pon nv word | thought /