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

'Nstn III hhio uot ONEt~tiNlt SDtGth. "a
Hirst declined further parley unless he
were taken into the visitors confidence
and. as Joe had not the remotest i'm.
tentlon OF so doing. there seemed moth
Ing for 1t but to return TO London, as
wise as he came. But this he could by
no means bring himself to do. Failing
Stephen, he would see Sir Derek, and
this he intimated 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
to you"
'Oh, very well. 49,. good-day," re
sponded Joe, Withdrawing in high
dudgeon. "No doubt | shall be able to
see Nj. 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.
~itatively, lin the absence of Mr.. Ste.
phen Deane, / must see his uncle, Sir
Derek." At the same time he did not
scruplc to slip a sovereign into the
mans hand.
II daresD't do 1t. not without MI
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 cces to 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 n possible quarrel with Hirst.
"I1l tell you what I'll do, sir" he
added. "Ill show you where his room
is, If that'n do"
',All right assented Joe. Lead on,
and look sharp"
onward they went, through a bewild-
ering succession of corridors and I'M
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,
that's the old squire's sittin' room:
the bed rooms off 1t. There's a short
cut down them narrow stairs to the
shrubbery, and through 1t to the ave
nue. where your trap Is. LIZ l was you,
I'd just knock and walk in, and say
what you've got to say afore Hirst
cones along!' With which scraps Of
Information and advice he beat a hasty
retreat.
Joe knocked. as hidden, and, receiv-
ing no response. boldly entered the
re om. 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 In harmony with its surround
ings. was the figure of the patriarch,
seated in 4 capacious arm chair before
the fire. He was fully dressed and
quite in modern costume. save for the
portentious collar and cravat of many
folds affected by bucks half a century
ago.
ice coughed loudly several times. and
presently succeeded In attracting the
old barcnet's attention.
"Who are you? What do you wantg'
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 TO
Sir Derek by Hirst. he had ventured to
intrude upon his own responsibility,
"ConfOund Hirst." was Sir Derek's
comment. what have you to tell me,
eh?'
Thus authorized to speak, Joe went
on to state his Tor, rather, Alice's) case,
as clearly and forcibly as he could;
but not until he described the den0ue-
ment In the Brixton lodging house did
the lid man evince any interest In the
recital.
Eth: What's thatg' he exclaimed.
"A mock marriage nowadays? Rub
bish. l don't believe a word Of It,"
II pledge you my word, sir" protest
cd Joe, with convincing earnestness,
.that l have verified the truth Of my
unfortunate clients story in every par
t%icular, 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"
"Pshaw" calculated Sir Derek, white
with anger. IF what you allege is
true, lie has done far worse, sir. He
has brought disgrace upon the name
he bears. For aught ! can see. II may
land him in the dock mt the Old Bal
leyr.'
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
If you will pardon the allusion to II,
Sir Derek."
what allusion? What about his
brother? What the deuce are you talk
ing abouty" demanded Sir Derek, catch
ing his visitor by the arm in his agita.
ton.
Joe Norris stared at him I'm blank
aipazement. Then the astounding fact
gradually came home 10 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 II seemed to him thar Hirst must
OF necessity have had reasons for his