Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-03-29

shadow nerceptiblc, but It was gone SO
quickly 1t would have taken a shrewd eye
to have detected 1t.
II have the honor, sir. to be Sir john
llarcourt, Of Harcourt Hall, America,
formerly Of England, sir, ut your SER
vice"
You had an elder brother!"
Two, Sir. They We're twins and there
was, for a long time, u question as to
which was heir to the estate and title,
but at the age of 10, Hugh settled the
question himself in favor of his brother
Robert; very magnanimous in him, but
quite in keeping with the peculiar char
acteristics of the family"
The officer, after a glance about the
room, remarked:
II would like to form your acqnaint-
ance, Sir John. 1t might be to the mu-
tual advantage of both, but not here;
TINS is no place for us to talk"
Sir John bowed, smiled sweetly and
quite agreed with the Colonel. But on
reaching his own apartment his counte-
nance underwent a great change. There
was Il look of terror on his face, the ex-
preston which the hunted may be sup
posed to wear, when run to earth.
ut will have to come,' he sighed. 81
will meet it,"
Two days later when old Dobbins came
to his apartment with the information
that Il British officer wished to see Sir
John. that worthy knew perfectly well
what was coming. Sir Jonn took ample
time to school his features, and assure
himself that he had perfect control over
them before lie admitted Col. Roland
Chester. He graciously received his Wis
itor. even condesccnding to offer him a
hand to shake, which the colonel, how
ever, did not seem to observe. When the
door was closed and the two men were
alone. the colonel said:
Sir John. ! have come TO ask you some
questions, and trust you will answer
Them
Sir John smiled swcetly and thought
that in all probability he would be able to
answer all he might ask.
You We're youngest of three sons?"
Yes, sir; the youngest of three; my
brothers were twins"
Sir Robert, being the oldest, inherited
the estate of his father and title of
knight first, and next of baronct."
you seem well posted i'll the history of
my family, colonel"
Your brothers died almost at the same
time, l an told?"
Not at the same time, my dear colonel;
brother Hugh and wife were drowned
in the bay the day before my brother,
Sir Robert, wife and child died from the
poison of IL cobra's bite, in their bunga-
low. near the city of Calcutta. Both
brothers were in the English army
"Of that am aware. Both were mar.
ried about the same time, We're they not,
Sir Joiln?'
Within a few days of each other" Sir
John answered.
Both had infant daughters?"
Sir john nodded. The colonel studied
the face of the man he was questioning,
closely, to see il there was any show of
his breaking down. But the features
were still placid, still %undaunted and I'm.
concerned.
'Thcsc children were about the same
age"
about Sir John answered. 81 cannot
be particular as TO hours in such mat
tiers. Both We're infants and so near of
the same age that ono could not readily
distinguish any difference in that regard"
Sir John. YOU say that your brother,
Sir Robert, his wife and child died from
the bite Of a cobray'
YES, colonel; the records at the post
will. i believe, %corroboratc me-"
"-And your brother, Hugh Harcourt, a
captain in the navy. was drowned in the
bay with his wifey'
"True, colonel, and a more unfortunate
and sad event never happened. Brother
Hugh and wife were drowned one day,
and Sir Robert, wife and child died from
the bite of the deadly cobra, next"
"Sir John, if your brother, Sir Robert,
had died before Captain Harcourt, who
would have inherited the estate in Eng
land?'
My brother, Hugh, certainly"
"Then, according to the laws of Eng
land, if your brother Robert had died
first, ever an hour, the estate would
have descended to your brother Hugh,
and he, dying, even though but an hour
later, the estate would have belonged to
his infant daughter
There was not the least sign of trepida-
ton on the face of the smiling baronet az
he answered:
Colonel, you have shown yourself we'll
versed in the laws of England. 1 am sure
you would be as great a success at law
as in the army
ION the other hand, Sir John, if it had
been your brother Hush's child that had
persisted with the boat that capsized, and
Sir Roberts child that escaped the CO.
BRAS bite, it would have been the legal
heir to the Harcourt estate"
"Unquestionably."
ITO be c%ontinued.)
1t Was Typical of Hoyt.
In his nalmy. healthful DAVIS almost