Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-24

saw that the smart victoria had turned
iGeD that road also.
"Confound him, he must be watching
me-" he thought, irritably, "and YET
what should he want to watch me fort
Oh, hang 1t, I'll 60 home!"
Without a moments hesitation he
turned his steps toward Apsley Housl
and made his way out at the big gates,
where he hailed cab and gave the man
the address Of his hotel, and forgot
about the white-haired old gentleman
in the smart victoria.
But the Victoria was there, neverths-
less, following Immediately behind tho
modest cab; and when David got out
and went into the Grand Hotel, Lord
Aylmer called to the footman:
Charles, l want you to take mes.
sage Barker, stop"
Barker pulled up the horses beside
the broad pavement and Charles got
down to hear his lords orders.
go into the Grand and find out thai
gentleman's name-don't mention
mine"
Yes, m lord" said Charles.
Now, Charles happened to be an in
genious youth who was not troubled
with any nice Bcruples about his hon
or, and believed that the easiest way
was invariably the best way. He
therefore, secure in the halo which his
smart white and crimson livery was
enough TO cast around him, went into
the hotel and addressed himself to the
stately house porter of the establish
ment.
Il say, porter" said he, my master,
the Dock OF Middlesex, wants to know
the name Of gentleman just come in
came in a 'ansom-tall, fairish chap,
looks like a country gentleman"
"D'year mean that one?" asked the
house porter, taking Charles to a glass
door leading to the reading room and
pointing out David.
Yes, that's the one," Charles an.
swered.
"Oh, yes; that's Mr.. David Steven.
son, Of Holroyd," said the house Dor.
ter.
And where's Holroyd?"
"A mile or two from Harwich," an.
swered the other. "At least, heard
him say SO last night. His post-town
is Harwich."
All! yes--thanks. The Dock fancied
he knoo him, but fancy he was mis-.
took. Good day to you, porter"
"Good-day to you, my fine cock
pheasant" returned the big house por-
ter, contemptuously; but Charles had
already reached the door and was 60
ing back, serene in the power of his
own impudence, to impart the informa-
ton which he had gathered to his mas
ter.
The gentleman's name is Steven
son, my lord" he said. "Mr. David
Stevenson, Of Holroyd, Harwich."
All, yes" and then the old savage
pulled out his notebook and iotted
the name down without comment.
How did you find out?"
L said my master, tire Dock OF Mid
dlesex, wished to know, as he fancied
ne knoo the gentleman" Charles an
swered, promptly.
Lord Aylmer burst out laughing.
"Ah! very clever-clever. Home"
Yes, m lord" said Charles.
Lord Aylmer laughed more than once
on the way home; he was so intensely
amused at the inventive genius dis
played by Charles, whom he had not
before credited with much sharpness
Of that kind. He was a man who new
er took the trouble to make subterfu-
ges to his servants; If he wanted a bit
OF information, he simply told one of
them to get it, without caring what
means were taken or giving any rea-
son for wanting it. For instance. he
would never say, GO and find out
who that gentleman is" and add as
ninety-nine people out of a hundred
would do, II think l know him"-no,
he never troubled to do that; 1t was
simply after the manner Of the CEN
turion, GO and find out who that TSP"