The Washington times., 1901-09-01

leg Just at the last minute. We had
worked for near a month on a daringly
planned scheme to relieve Lord Tallport
| of his plate. and just when all was ready
I'm blest if the sheriff didn't walk in and
collar the whole blooming lot just to pay
a few of his lordship's beastiy debts.
Well" says /, we're broke
Just bit, Bill jack" says Bob. He
| always called me Bill Jack, COS L was
christered William John.
/ hands him the paper. and for a few
minutes the rest was silence. Then sud-
denly he says: Listen to this
wANTED-A man to wait at table and assist
butler. Only those with good references need
apply. Sandilands Hall, Egham.
The very thing says he. Il used to
know something of Sandilands Hall,
when old John Enrol was the boss of 1t,
but the old chap died about six months
ago. and / don't know who lives there
now. But If the Enrol family still lives
there the plate is worth a small fortune.
What you've got to do is to go to Egham.
get this job as waiter. icarn all you can
and send the news to me-" -
Good enough" l says. "And what
about my references?"
Love you, III write you half a dozen,
no two in the same handwriting"
Well. after a long talk 1 parted with
Bob, and after dosing myself up set
out for Egham.
Acting on Bob's instructions made my
way to the side entrance of Sandilands
Hall and asked for the butler. Twenty
minutes later 1 was seated in the private
sanctum of the head butler, whose name
was Bloxam, and that worthy gentleman
WAS busiIy perusing my beautiful testi-
mouials.
Your testimonials look all right" says
he, and l like the look of you, 50 III
just see Miss Curzon and get her opinion.
She's the lady of the hall until Mr.. Ru-
pert comes home. Adopted daughter Of
the late John Errol, Esq. Help yourself
out of this while go and see her."
He pushed the decanter of port and a
glass toward me and left me to my own
sweet thoughts
Mr.. Bloxam returned in few minutes
with the message that he was to take me
to Miss Curzon at once.
Pretty? / should think she was. A per-
feet peach, dainty as a fairy, with voice
like silver bell
"And so this is the man." says she.
what did you say his name WASP"
Higgins. miss 1 answers. William
John Higgins; very much at your SER
vice" M
She put me through a rare rough-and-
tumble of questions. but was pretty well
rrtmed and scraped through rather neat
ly.
You may come q month on trial." she
says at last.
.Thenk you. MISS" answers, and I
backs out with Bloxam.
We went back to Bloxam's den. and he,
being a soeiable old chap, produced a
fresh bottle of port and cigars just tn
celebrate, as he put It. Then l thought
would do little pumping.
Much companyshere?' / asks.
Company, Bless you, the place is a
sinecure There's nobody but Miss Cur
zon. But things will change when Mr..
Rupert comes home. Quite a romance 1t
Is. Let's see-it's about eight years ago
since Mr. Rupert Quarreled with his
father. and. strange to say, it was all
about Miss Curzon. She was the daugh-
ter of the curate then. and Mr.. Rupert
wanted to marry her, but old Squire En-
rol would have none of it and packed
him off to foreign parts. Mr.. Rupert
swore that he would not return until his
father gave his consent.
For three years we had occasional
news of him, and then came the silence
which had lasted five years. When
Squire Enrol could learn no news of Mr..
Rupert he grew remorseful. and when
Miss Curzon's father died he adopted her
and brought her to live here until Rupert
should turn up to claim her.
But this Mr.. Rupert may be dead"
yc haf ho 10 live
that is why you are engaged. She keeps
UP the full staff Of servants so as to have
everything ready when he returns"
Soon after this interesting conversation
took my departure, ostensibly to get my
traps. but really to report progress to
Beautiful Bob.
He was hugely delighted with my sue
cess, and listened attentively to all the
news 1 had gathered.
$50 now" concluded, Just give me a
week, and 1 will arrange that everyone
shall mysteriously fall asleep and we can
loot the place at our leisure
mo. Bill Jack. I'm going to make this
something special, SO you must leave it to
me-"
why, what's the game II it amt loot?"
1T is loot Bill Jack, but not a Jenny
and dark-lantern job. We are going to
pull enough this journey to last a life
time. Now, listen. First, 1 want pho
tograph of Rupert Enrol, If it is to be
had
"I'l see If can manage that 1 says.
'"rhen / must have a flyer to pay my
fare to Southampton and back. l suppose
L must do a little sleight-of-hand in
crowd to get that
"And then"
You go back to Sandiiands Hall Today
is Wednesday. On Saturday Miss Nelly
Curzon will receive wire from South
ampton to say that Rupert Enrol has ar
rived"
"wen?''
"A few hours later he will arrive. All
the servants will assemble to greet the
young master. William John Higgins
among them Your business Is this: Don't
attempt any private conversation with
Rupert Errol until he asks you for in
formation. and a week after Rupert Err
rol disappears from Sandilands Hall
Beautiful Bob will be awaiting you here
with your share of fortune
''You-you can never do it" l gasped-
Pooh. there is not much risk You
know my skill in DISCUSSES, and Rupert
E.rroI, Just come from abroad. win be
sure to have a beard. and know we are
pretty much of height"
But Miss Curzon?''
She will never suspect: she was only |
seventeen when Enrol went away, and |
eight wears makes some difference in a I
man: besides. have got to know enough |
Of her young days to convince her that |
am her beloved Rupert"
That night l went to my new situation |
at Egham and by the first post in the |
nnrninr a photograph of Rupert Enrol |