Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-13

Z VI tuc SVIu Is uOL early III July.
He shut the book hastily and put it
back on the shelf. Scissors were
to his hand; with them he carefully
cut out from the manuscript the
whole account of Mr.. Cholderton' s
Visit to Heidelberg, dated it, marked
Fit with the page to which it belonged
lin the journal, and locked it away in
a drawer.
Good gracious mel" he muttered.
1.-THE thing is nothing more or less
thai. an imputatien on the legitimacy
of the son and heir!"
That same afternoon he went over
to the Imperium to vote at the cleo
ton of members. 1t struck him as one
of the small condolences of life that
among the candidates who faced the
ballot was Colonel Wilmot Edge,
r. e.
ANY relation. I wonder?' unused
Mr.. Neeld. as he dropped in an at.
firmative ball. But it may be added
since not even the secrets of club
ballots are to be held sacred that he
bestowed one of a different sort on a
certain Mr.. William liver, who was de-
scribed as contractor" AMI whose
name was familiar and conspicuous
on the boardings that screened new
buildings in London, and was conse.
quent!y Objectionable to Mr.. Neeld's
fastidious mind.
II don't often b!ackball," he remark
ed to Lord Southend as they were sit.
ing down to whist, but really don't
you think the lmperium should main.
tain-er--a certain level"
"Iver'S a devilish rich fellow and
not bad fellow, either" grunted my
lord.
CHAPTER II. 4
MIR. Choiderton's Imp. IS
Eyes, madam, an elegant and spa
cious residence. Filton park. The
photo? Here it is madam. And Motifs
is very eligible county-socia1ly
speaking. I've sent several families
to Motifs. That photo, madam? Hatch.
ley manor, in Sussex. Yes, good pc.
sition-a trifle now, perhaps-I have
heard complaints of-er-effiucium
from the river-Im anxious to give
you perfect satisfaction, madam.
want you to come back, madam, an
other SUMMER. Yes, Birdcup is real
ly palatial esidence-Hants, yes
a beautiful county. But between our
selves, madam, his lordship is little
hard to deal with. On the whole !
should prefer to recommend Winter.
hurst, near Maidstone, pleasant
town, Maidstone, and the clergy, I'm
informed, extremely active and sym
pathetic"
Its very ugly house." remarked
Nine. Zabriska, throwing away the
photograph of Winterhurst with a
gesture of decided refusal
Mr.. Sloyd stroked his sleek hair
and smiled depreciatingly.
with residences as with--er-la
dies, beauty is only skin Deep" said
he. "a thoroughly modern residence
madam-hot and cold-south as
pect-" He stopped suddenly, per
ceiving that the queer. dark little wo
man in the big chair was laughing al
him.
ooh, I know" she interrupted, hel
great black eyes still deriding him
II don't want big place" she ex
planned in English, with a foreign
touch about it. There's only mysel
and my uncle, Major Duplay Hell
be in directly, / expect, and we'v,
no more money than we want, Mr.
Sloyd."
This explanation of her position
had the effect Of making Sloyd's man
ner rather less florid and his Ian
guage less flowery.
| Among second-class but eminent
ly genteel residences" he began, g
could confidently recommend
where's this?" she interrupted
picking up another photograph an,
i rn 0p f.Hi yrYtt1 Iii,
Looking at the foot, she read alon:
Merton Lodge" property of tn
Right Honorable Baroness Tristram 0
Blent." She looked up sharply a
Sloyd.
"Ye-es, ye-es," said Sloyd, withou
much enthusiasm. "a very prett
neighborhood-a few miles from
Blentmouth-rising place, Blent
mouth. And it's a cheap house
He waited for her to speak again
but she had turned thoughtful as sh
sat lingering the photograph. Pres
emily she begun to smile and said
Find out about Merrion Lodge, TO
me, Mr.. Sloyd."
He began to gather up his picture
and papers.
/ is Baron Tristram alive?" sh
asked, suddenly.
Sloyd recovered his air of super
Iiority.
| Her ladyship is peerless in he
own right" he explained.
| She's not married, them"
"a widow, madame"
4 "And wasn't her husband Baro
Tristram?"
(. "Her husband would not have bee
lord-excuse me, madame, we sa
lord-Tristram of Blent Her son wi
succeed to the title, of course. TIL
family reside at Blent hall, only a fe,
hundred yards from Merton lodge.
| Il don't understand the family al
rangements,' remarked Madam Zs
briska, but daresay l shall learn
all If go. Good morning, Mr. Sloyd.
4 Sloyd was making his bow whe
the door opened and man came il
He was TALL erect and good looking
Both air and manner were youthful
although perhaps with trace of art
fee. He would pass for IS on a CO
sual glance but not longer one.
| my uncle, Major Duplay," said tn
little woman. This is Mr.. Sloyt
who's come about the house, uncle.
! Duplay greeted the house agen