The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28


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Guilty In recognize
ing the features Of
the speakers. One of them. indeed. she
knew perfectly we'll: for william, the Sec
ond footman. was by way Of being an ad-
mirer of hers, q state Of things forced
upon him against his better judgment.
"A very pretty gal is Parker" he had
declared. 'Parker's got style; and
there's times when she might pass for
quite the tor. But she's uppish. and
nobody in the servants 'alrs good enough
for her A nice gal. but not the sort to
make man 'appy and comfortable"
So It came about that Parker, the Hon.
Nora vandeleur's maid, spent very little
OF her spare time with the rest of the
servants. There was a legend extant
that her father had once been a colonel
in the army. Before the end Of her first
month she found herself left severely
alone.
Usually Parker spent an hour or so
after the family had gone in to dinner
rambling about the grounds. At that
time the law was somewhat relaxed. and
the housekeeper forgot to frown. Parker
found this by far the pieasantest hour
Of the day. This evening she felt spe-
cially free from trouble. 1t was balmy
August evening, the hour close upon =.
and the light was just beginning to fade.
Those two male voices in the shrubbery
seemed to boom against the still air.
Parker had almost blundered upon the
speakers before she saw them. That q
listener was near neither Of them dreamt
for a moment. Peeping through the
acacias. Parker could see the others quite
plainly.
One was william. OF that fact there
could be no doubt. His companion was
before under circumstances which did not
rebound to the credit of the stranger.
William" said the latter earnestly. us
1t good enoughT'
''Joseph." William replied as solemnly.
1T is. It's gold plate. my lad: pres
another to the late earl. Ambassador
or some such tricks. he was, and it's all
in safe as you could rip open, easy as
could crack a walnut"
Parker stood perfectly still. II seemed
to her that on the present occasion caves
dropping was quite compatible with good
breeding. Besides. had she not seen the
gold plate on the dining room table q
dozen times?
"Of course, I shall want pal. BILL"
Joseph remarked. AAiafesis is'
.sWhyr' william asked uneasiiy.
Haven't explained to you the very
place where the safe Is? Haven't prom
ised to dose the butler? I'm not going
to take any risks beyond leaving q door
open for you.'
you always were q coward, William
you're right there" the second foot
man agreed with perfect candor. II never
had the pluck Of q mouse. Amt got the
nerve for It somehow. But you can't deny
that I've put deal of business in your
AIrs Ill
swag You must get rid of 1t and send me
my share. Then can chuck this crib and
move on, on the hunt for another plant of
the same kind"
"AM right" Baxter growled. "what night
IS It to be?"
"wednesday. Nobody dining here 'cept
the house party and as they're all on ear
ly the next day on the razzle-dazzle, they'll
sure to be In bed by II. I heard the cap
tain say 30 tonight"
"The captain! Do yo1 mean to say as he's
heref''
Certainly do. Joseph. Do you know
him?"
Joseph Baxter ground out something lurid
between his teeth. 1t seemed to the watch
er that his face was diabolical in the fad
ing light.
Don't II" he Kissed IT shouldn't have
been nearly killed all over an innocent lot
of welshing at Sandown three years ago,
but for Capt. Vandeleur. And about twelve
months ago there was pretty girl / met
at Esther She took out her purse to give
me bob, and II was full Of guilds. 'Tisn't
my fault Why did she go tempting pore
chap down on his luck in that way? And
II there was bit of a struggle, they'd no
call to go and put IL in the 'ditenent as
Highway robbery with Whence. And who
should come up agen and give me a cow
ardly blow when wasn't expecting 1t, but
the captain. And they gave me nine
months hard for that"
William noted the beauty Of his friends
law with glance of sympathy.
''pn pay him out" he said.
I'm going to; I'm going to have my
revenge If I swing for 1t. I'll put knife
into him first chance, sure as my names
Joe Baxter"
Parker crept quietly away. She had
learnt all she required and more. For the
rest Of the evening she remained unseen by
the other servants 1t was past II before
she found her way to Nora vandeleur's
room.
.well, my dear" Nora said, cheerfully.
"well. Nora" Parker replied. IT have
had an adventure tonight"
Miss Vandeleur's aristocratic features
relaxed I'm a smile The earl of Malcombe's
handsome daughter appeared to be remark
ably free with her servants.
"You saw Rupert Gaunt with Mary
Cresswel in the conservatory. then? You
have noticed how shamefully they are
flirting together?'
II saw him kiss her last night" Parker
said. calmly.
And you are not furious about it?
Your features are placid I am certain
that your pulse is beating normally. How
glad I am, Dorothy"
well. I'm rather glad myself now I
admit that my life the last month has
not been all bed of roses, but at any
rate my eyes have been opened. Rupert
Gaunt is not likely to pay off his mort
cages with my money"
And Mary hasn't got single penny!"
MARY Is a very pretty girl. She is
quite innocent in this matter. and / am
very sorry for her." Parker said judicial
~. II was foolish enough to think that
Rupert loved me, and you ALWAYS pro-