The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-08-15
CHAPTER NNNH.

dlsnlounteu at the Bayneham Arms.
Il am waiting for my lady" replied the
man: "she desired mt to do So"
Barbara Earle had said. At any cost.
we must keep the secret and Lord
Baynehnm remembered the words.
1T is all right" he replied. hastily:
/ you can go home. | am sorry you have
been kept waiting SO long. Lady Bayne-
ham will not return with You this even
ing"
The landlord. who had shared the coach
mans wonder. rc-entered the house. per
fectly satisfied. and Lord Bayneham fol
lowed the man. who had been for more
than thirty years a valued servant to his
family.
"Dick>on.' he said, laying one hand
upon the coachman's shoulder, tell me
ali thai has passed since Lady B~ayneham
left the house"
Nothing. my lord" replied the man:
"hcr ia'y>hip told me- on starting 70 drive
10 OulSton. and wait for her at the Bayne-
ham AIMS, and | have done so."
Where did YOU set her down:' asked
Lord Bayneham.
My lady stopped AZ the corner of Hill
street. replied Dickson; she went down
toward Old Cross. ana | drove on to the
hotel"
Did Lady Bayncham say anything
about returuing:" asked the earl.
no. said Dickson. Her ladyslip
never spoke to me after she entered the
carriage. She looked very i'll. my lord"
And YOU have no idea where she
Went: interrupted Lord Bayneham.
None. said the man. Il have been
waiting III much surprise, for her lady
ship has always been so punctual."
Dickson said Lord Bayneham. i
shall want one man to help me in what |
have To do. We have some reason to fear
that Lady B~ayneham is ills not quite
herself. She has left her home and gone.
no one knows where. Can you keep this
secret and help me to trace her."
Il can. my lord" said Dickson. quietly.
lie made no protcstations. but the young
earl understood the good faith and strong
reliance OF those words.
She went Town toward the Old Cross.
YOU say" continued Lord Bayneham;
that is the road to the station, can she
have gone there
He Went into the hotel to look at the
Railway Guide" which lay upon the
table. His wife left her home some few
minutes past TWO o'clock: at twenty min
utes past three there was a train for Lon
hon; at tour, the express for Scotland:
later on. the train for New Town. the
largest Junction Oh the line. Wis only
Resource was 10 20 10 the station and
make ali the inquiries possible.
How was Lady BayncAam dressed:'
he asked Dickson.
Il did NOT notice. thy lord" he replied.
Il remember nothing that her ladyship
Wore. except 4 thick waterproof cloak"
"Take the carriage home" said Lord
Bayncham. and mind. Dickson. | have
trusted you lou will he the only SER
ant in the house who knows the secret
Of You lady's flight; guard it as You
would Your life. Say what YOU like to the
rest II allay their suspicious. if they have
any: and stay-takc This note to Lady
Bayueham."
He wrote a few lines just TO say what
he had done-that he was now going 10
III" station, and if he found any trace of
lis wife he should follow ii up, therefore
they need not feel any uneasiness at his
absence. Dickson-ho told Lady Bayne-
ham-knew the truth. and in any emer-
gency they must trust To him. In the
meantime they must shield Hilda as best
they could. for he hoped To bring her back
with him.
Lord Bayneham WAS not long in reach
Ing the little station. where he was well
known. but he found ii difficult to ask
many questions without exciting curiosity
and wonder. Fortunately there was a
new porter who did not know his lordship.
and N this man the young earl addressed
himself.
Tho porter had been on the platform all
The afternoon and remembered the Lond.n
train. and thar four passengers left Uul-
ston }y it. but that only two went by the
Scotch express. There We're perhaps
twenty for the New Town train. bur
amoag> them he did not remember to
have seen a lady in q waterproof cloak.
"A dark Waterproof cloak. did YOU say.
sir" continued the porter. All. now /
remember something. Just before the
London train started. Il lady in Il long
dark coax sent me L. get her ticket. She
sal There al the lower end uf thc platform.
and >p"k" in p l"W voice a. though she
We're i'll. | did not soc her face clearly.
because j." Wore a veil. but | thought |
saw that she was very pale and had gold
en- hair. | bought n"r ticket and say her
get into Il iirst-rlaSS carriage for Lon
don"
The porter Looked ~astonishcd when Lord
Bayneham slipped Il sovereign into his
hand: and like n wise man hr saw that
There was somcthinC ia ii. and resolved TO
keen his thoughts TO himself.
Il am sory. too. if he is in trouble"
thought the man. for "A nicer or more
liberal gentleman | never did see"
The London express started in half an
hour. and the earl resolved 10 60 by it.
That one half hour. spent in pacing i'm
pHtieuily 10 and fro on the little plat
form. seemed Ike an age 10 him. There
were times when i" felt thar he must be
dreaming. l. could hot he possible thar