The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-09-19
Had Ne foreign valet DO You know,

Had he a foreign valet, do you know,
Marion?
Not when he left London. Simmons
was with him then; but he may have left;
he was always threatening to leave, and
then, of course, it is most probable that
Francis would engage a foreigner"
Something must be done at once. You
cannot go yourself, Marionthat ID quite
out OF the question-neither can very
well. Perhaps Alfred Clayton is in
town; he was coming up, know. | will
telegraph to him. Stay, am not sure
where he would be. will 90 up to Lon
don myself at once"
And Sir Clayton rang the bell and or
dered the carriage.
But feel that ought to so myself,
Sir Clayton; the letter said he wished
to see me-
My dear, do not think of it; the jour
ney would kill you. To cross the channel
in this cold weather and with these tenn
pestuous winds, would be nothing short
OF Madness"
Sir Clayton dressed hurriedly for his
journey, jumped into the carriage and
drove off to the station, leaving Wini-
fred to explain matters to his wife. He
just caught the up train by a minute; the
| horses had accomplished the FIVE miles in
/ exactly twenty-five minues. Sir Clayton
| had told the coachman that it was mat
ter Of life and death, and the old man,
| sorely against his will, had driven his
| favorites the whole distance at the top OF
their speed. Sir Clayton reached London
and drove off to the hotel where he knew
| Alfred Clayton always stayed when he
was in town. By. good fortune he had
just arrived there, and was at the door
ready to depart again when Sir Clayton
drove up. The story was briefly told and
the two men looked doubtfully at each
/ other.
"Of course l will go at once" Mr..
Clayton said; "but cholera in one of those
foreign holes Is nasty business. | will
get a time table and see how soon ] can
go off. must get you to photograph down
to Mrs. Grant at Brighton-I promised to
dine and sleep at her house tonight"
II think" said Sir Clayton, that while
you are making preparations, will drive
round to the house in Piccadilly and see
if there is any further news"
On arriving there he found another
letter. with foreign postmark and open
ed it at once. 1t was written by the doe
tor in good French, and informed Mrs.
Clayton delicately that her husband had
just breathed his last. ,-
''This is a sad business" said Sir Clay
ton, returning to the hotel; "you must lose
no time in getting there. l fear he will
be buried long before you reach the place,
and there will be no chance Of bringing
the body to England. Or course, if"
"Of course-of coursew exclaimed Al
fred Clayton, hastily, and grasping the
baronet's hand he hurried off. He was
the next heir to all that splendid prop.
erty, but for the time he felt no exulta-
ton at the thought of stepping into the
shoes of the man who lay dead and alone
in G. foreign country. On reaching the
village he found that Sir Clayton's sur
mise was correct, and that the rich man
had been inferred some days before with
little ceremony The obsequlous land
lord and Lupin, the valet of the dead
man, were voluble in their information.
| From Lupin he learned that Mr.. Clayton
had engaged him i'll Paris six weeks pre-
viousIy, having parted in a quarrel with
his English servant
At first Mrs. Clayton was shocked and
stunned at the unexpectedness of the
blow. She had disliked her husband, but
it seemed so horrible for him to have died
in that terrible way, so far from home
and without a single friend. Her first
resolution was to leave EndOn Vale, and
she sent an urgent message to her aunt
to Join her. This time Lady Marion made
no delay in answering the summons.
Lady Grace begged Fee to remain.
"You are very kind" she answered. II
can scarcely thank you enough for your
long hospitality, but l would rather go.
Under the circumstances, could but mar
the cheerfulness that ought to reign here
during the preparations for such happy
event as dear Winifred's marriage; and
until I can realize my new position I
would rather go away quietly to some
fresh place. If you invite me later, |
shall be very glad to come to you again."
CTo be continued)