The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-27

Ter entered hurriedly, and with traces
of we'll disciplined agitation on his
episcopal countenance. Mr.. Prince had
grown gray in the ducal Service; but,
beyond slight fatherliness of manner,
he did not presume on the fact towards
the orphan scion of the great house.
1T really don't know, Miss, if l
ought to disturb you so late on such a
matter,' he said. 'Two men have
called to see his grace, and, failing
him, insisted on my ascertainlng If you
would receive them.'
fairs, and am just going up to bed,,'
Sybil replied, wondering at the usually
correct retainer's excitement. ".Be-
sides, Prince, insist is rather curious
word to use here,'' she added with a
trace of asperity.
"I should not have ventured to re-
peat such an Objectionable phrase, Miss
authority,' the butler FASTENED to put
himself right. 81 ought to have men
toned that they are Scotland Yard de-
tectives, which, accounts for my being
bit furried.'
Sybil promptly sat down again and
babe Prince show the visitors in. She
had no desire to pry into her cousin s
police officers imply any such intention.
But at that moment her preconceived
notion that the duke was the center Of
mystery took definite shape, and she
was above all things loyal to the house.
She decided that in her Cousins inter
est it would be wiser to see these men,
and, if possible, forearm herself with
a knowledge of their designs.
But when Prince returned it was to
usher in not two men, but only one--a
cadaverous, middle-aged person in the
garb of a clergyman, who waited OBJ
sequiously near the door while his card
was presented by the butler.
"I found when I got back into the
hall that he d sent the other man away
of them to intrude upon you' explained
Prince in an undertone.
Sybil nodded but the furtive glances
of the clerically dressed visitor caused
her to call Prince back as he was re-
firing.
~ trust you didn't leave them alone
in the hall9" she whispered.
ooh dear no Miss; William the sec
ond footman was on duty in the hal
uttered in a slightly injured tone;
Prince having taken a dignified de
parture, Sybil beckoned forward the in
diyidual whom his card proclaimed tc
be inspector Chantrey, Criminal In
vestigation Department. He advanced
with stumbling walk and with depre
eating gestures in keeping with his dis
that all his nervousness was not simu
! lated. It struck her that he was list
J ening intently as he threaded his wa.
2 thru the priceless Lous Seize garnltur'
} of the white drawingroom.
He stood before her at last, for al
the world like a halffamished wolf il
, the presence Of very wide-awake an'
L. I. 4l,4 l. 4 ~ 0oc+ ~
tention of being devoured. He spok
: urriedly-almost perfunctorily, as tn
he set no great store by his question
: or the answers to them; and all tn
3 time that listening attitude was notice
r able.
: II called in the hope of finding hi
t grace at home" he began, with a halt
: note of Interrogation.
4 "Well, the butler will have told y,o
f that he is not at home,' said Syb!
a sharply. Hill
e reliable, and thought I had better Sc
g one of the family. Might I ask if tn
e duke is expected here tonight9"
e emo, he ism t.. What do you wan
e him for9' snapped Sybil.
y The aplomb Of the question seemed
o take the inquisitor back. He glance
; curiously at the girl in the high-backe
|
l. little face, but quickly dropping h
e shifty eyes to the carelessly crosse
IS shoes.
J. He began to chem" and cha
o 'The fact of the matter is, we hay
II had a communication from the count
g police at Prior's Tarrant, in respect {
r, an assault on one Of the servants in tt
&c park yesterday. The local people thin
s. the attack may have been intended f
" the duke, and they have wired us
le make inquiries.
10 The reason alleged for his Wis
st sounded plausible, and in some degr.
might account for the hunted look 81
n had surprised in the duke s eyes. Y
< she was not altogether satisfied.
d. was conceivable that the police shou
le want to question the duke, but the e
10 cuse for intruding on her at such {
h hour hardly seemed adequate.
20 81 am still at loss to see how
ID can be of service to you in a matt
8, of which I know nothing she sal
of not attempting to keep the suspicit
t. out of her voice.