Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-25

IiiTSt uecllHeu Iurtnef paffey unleSS lie
We're taken into the visitors confidence;
and. as Joe had not the remotest liz
tention OF so doing, there seemed moth
Ing for ii but to return to London, as
wise as he anne But this he could by
no means bring himself to do. Failing
Stephen, he would see Sir Derek, and
this he intimatcd TO Mr.. Hirst.
''Impossible.,' was the latter's instant
verdict. ''Sir Derek never sees visit
ors. Any communication you may
have for him must be made In writing.
You can find your way out. Good-day
10 you"
ooh, very well.... .good-day," re,
sponded Joe, withdrawing in high
dudgeon. mo doubt 1 shall be able to
see Mr.. Deane, without travelling upon
any more fools errands.'
Norris found his way, easily enough,
TO the great hall, whence he could dis
Germ his fly awaiting him outside. Then
an idea struck him, and he once more
summoned the footman.
'See here, my man." he said, author
~itatiyely, Tin the absence of Mr.. Ste
phen Deane, | must see his uncle. Sir
Derek." At the same time he did not
scruple to slip "A sovereign into the
mans hand.
II daresn't do Ii. not without Nj.
Hirst's leave, sir" replied the man,
cycling the coin wistfully. It'd be as
much as my place is worth"
NONSENSE retorted Joe. This Mr..
| Hirst is as much a servant as you are
yourself, and has no right whatever to
deny a visitor access 10 his master.
Do you conduct me TO Sir Derek's pres
cnce. I'll be answerable for the re-
suit
The footman hesitated, doubtless
Weighing the sovereign in his hand
against a possible quarrel with Hirst.
IN tell you what I'll do. sir" he
| added. .'rH show you where his room
is, IL thatH do"
..All right assented Joe. Lead on,
and look sharp
Onward they went, through a bewild-
| ering succession of corridors and up
numerous flights of stairs, until they
| reached a suite of rooms situated In
| the oldest and remotest portion of the
extensive building.
There y'are." said the footman, indi-
eating a door with a jerk of his thumb,
| tlNdt , TIT OIu suuiic Siltlu ooi
the bed rooms Off Ii. There's a short
cut down them narrow stairs to the
| shrubbery. and through 1t to the ave-
nue. where your trap Is. Ii | was you.
I'd just knock and walk in, and say
what you've got TO say afore Hirst
cones alongr.' With which scraps OF
| information and advice he beat a hasty
retreat.
Joe knocked, as hidden. and, receiy-
ing no response, boldly entered the
r, ON. Everything from the Queen
Anne furniture TO the dogs" in the
open fireplace and the quaint old win
dow frames, savored of antiquity; and,
quite Ia harmony with its surround
ings, was the figure Of the patriarch,
seated in n %capaclous arm chair before
the fire. He was fully dressed and
quite In modern costume, save for the
%portentious collar and crayat of many
folds affected by bucks half a century
ago.
Joe coughed loudly several times, and
presently succeeded In attracting the
old barone.'s attention.
sWho are you? What do you wantT'
he demanded. angrily, as though he
grudged wasting breath Jpn the words.
In very respectful, carefully-chosen
language Joe explained that he was
merely a lawyers managing clerk, In
trusted with a very important mission,
and that, having been denied access 10
| Sir Derek by Hlrst, he had ventured To
intrude upon his own responsibility.
"Confound Hirst!" was Sir Derek's
comment. what have you to tell me,
ehy'
Thus authorized to speak, Joe went
on to state his Cor, rather, Alice's) case,
as clearly and forcibly as he could;
| but nor until he described the denoue-
ment in the Brixton lodging house did
the cid man evlnce any interest In the
| recital.
"Eh? What's thatg' he exclaimed.
"a mock marriage nowadays? Rub
bish. don't believe a word OF It,"
II pledge you my word, SIR" protest
cd Joe, with convincing earnestness,
.that | have verified the truth of my
unfortunate clients story in every par
%ticular, and am quite prepared to place
the proofs before you. There is. l re-
greet to say, no room for doubt that
your nephew has inflicted an irrepara-
bic wrong upon an innocent girl"
"pshawr' CALCULATED Sir Derek. white
with anger. IF what you allege Is
true, he has done far worse, sir. He
has brought disgrace upon the name
he bears. For aught / can see. 1t may
land him in the dock at the Gid Bal
ley.'
1T most certainly would" assented
Joe, instantly seizing the cue. were
criminal proceedings instituted for con-
spiracy. And he might not get Off as
easily as his brother did the other day
Iii you will pardon the allusion to II,
Sir Derek,"
what allusion? What about his
brother What the deuce are you talk
ing aboutT' demanded Sir Derek. catch
ing his visitor by the arm In his agita-
ton.
Joe Norris stared at him In blank
amazement. Then the astounding fact
| gradually came home TO him that this
aged recluse had been kept in complete
ignorance of the sensational incidents
known to all newspaper readers as the
Deanshurst tragedy. Why? He had
but scant time to think the matter out,
but it seemed to him that Hirst must
OF necessity have had reasons for his
nwp for supproQsiny tho rpaI faofs. mil