The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-03-28

man, what do you want with me-"
that he managed to pull himself to-
gether, and then he only said,
"You haiu't Sir Clement, surely2"
81 am Sir Clement, and you, l
think, are Jim Glendinning. l re-
member you when l was a boy"
"That's it, sir. We were pals
once, weren't we?n and the mans
face frightened; "but times is
changed since then, you and me are
both changed. Lord, Sir Clement,
how you be a tremblin'."
81 have been out in the wet and
have got a chill, | am afraid"
"And blessed wet it has been too.
| was comm along by that there
lake when it began. Dismal haunt
that there of a wet day, l was glad
when | got a bit of shelter in my
gals cottage. You don't mind my
makiu' so bold as to take a short cut
across by the lake, do you, Sir Glenn
ent? You see, | was walkin' from
Linktree. l didn't want to come
from Coleshil, the Coleshlll folks IS
such gossips."
"My men have orders not to al
low any loiters about. So you might
get into some trouble with them. l
don't see how l can make an excep-
ton in your favor. My advice to
you, my man, is to keep away FROM
these parts as much as possible"
Sir Clement ''screwed his courage
to the sticking point" and spoke out
hravely. BY contradicting that law
less Jim Glendinning a little he ex-
pected he could find out more quickly
how much he knew and to discover
the worst was better than the dire
suspense under which he was labor
ing.
"Old pals amt old pals nova
days" murmured Glendinning, inso-
lently. ''Should have thought now
as you would have welcomed me diff
ferent like, knowing my girl, too, as
well as you do, and me in trouble
about her as anu"
"How in trouble about her?n
"Well, Sir Clement, she aint at the
x,tta,., ,l,', rlr,lolllll
What nonsense, Glendinning, she
was there yesterday Tor Lady Ger
trude saw her.
Sir Clement was growing quite
bold now he found his visitor bent
on quite a counter subject to that
which he had expected.
"Well, if she was there yestel day,
Sir Clement, she amt there to-day,
the place is empty and all locked up
except the kitchen window, which
was wide open, and there's a letter
for an unhappy father to read" and
he managed to force up a thorough
good sob as if his grief was really
genuine.
He handed the letter from Hamp-
stead to Sir Clement who read it
through carefully; he conld not look
more ashen pale than he did before.
This man then did know some
thing, if o of the last terrible bust
ness at all events the former one,
which vas nearly as bad.
He must, however, make another
vigorous effort to save himself.
Would he have strength for many
more such?
"Why have you brought this letter
to me?' he asked in a dead level
tone.
"Well, you see, Sir Clement, /
must go to e to know what ]
had best do. You or Sir Miles, | did
not know which-only you was
nearer and you're a magistrate, too,
" 1 AhOuShb L u Ildht 6O DOlu dS 10
trouble YOU with a few inquiries as
TO what a wretched parent has to do
under such circumstances. YOU al
ways was a good sort when you was
a boy, not so preaching and prim as
Sir Miles, though haven't nothing
to say agin him neither, only | have
come to you, and | know you'll help
me.",
This harangue which Clement did
not attempt to shorten, gave him
time 20 think, and with consideration
he saw a way out of this present diff
Guilty. Either G~lendinning knew
nothing at all or he was a consum-
mate actor, time would prove the
truth at all events, he would accept
the belief that he knew nothing and
act upon it.
"My good man, l do not see that
you want any help. You have
jumped at a conclusion like many
another has done before you. Are
you not aware that your daughter is
starting a home at the cottage for
old people and young children. The
infant referred to in this letter is one
of her nurslipgs. She told Lady
Gertrude about it yesterday. She
has probably gone to bring it home.
She is also going to receive an old
nurse of Lady Gertrude's in a few
days"
Jim Glendinning looked at Sir
Clement very straight in the face
while he was making his statement,
and then he laughed.
klrlot1, a. L., - NIy- - |