Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-17
6be
Holiday
Case

CHAPTER X.

lcluuluGu lOl q luOluCitl
speechless under the shock.
Then lie swung around toward me.
"Come here, Lester" he said hoarse-
ly. II needed you once before, and
need you now. This. touches me so
closely l can't think consecutively.
You will help, won't you?"
There was an appeal in his face
which showed his sudden weakness
an appeal there was no resisting, even
had l not myself been deeply interest
ed in the case.
GLADLY" answered from the
depths of my heart, seeing how over
wrought he was. "I'll help to the very
limit of my power, Mr.. Royce"
He sank back into his chair again
and breathed long sigh.
81 knew you would" he said. Get
the story from Thompson, will you?"
brought chair 2nd sat down by
the old butler.
you have been in Mr.. Holidays
family a great many years, haven't
you, Mr.. Thompson?" asked to give
him opportunity to compose himself.
yes, a great many years, sir-near-
ly forty, should say"
Before Miss Holidays birth, thenY'
"Oh, yes, sir; long before. Just be-
fore his marriage Mr.. Holiday bought
the Fifth avenue house he lived in ever
since, and was employed then, sir,
rs an underservant."
"Mr. Holiday and his wife were
very happy together, weren't they7"
questioned.
Every happy; yes, sir. They were
just like lovers, sir, until her death
They seemed just made for each other
SIR" and the trite old saying gathered
new dignity as he uttered 1t.
Ipaused a moment to consider This
certainly, seemed to discredit the theo
ry that Holiday had ever had liaison
with any other woman, and yet what
other theory was tenable?
''There was nothing to mar their hap.
piness that you know of? OF course
added, you understand, Thompson
that I'm not asking these questions
from idle curiosity, but to get to the
bottom of this mystery if possible"
II understand, SIR" he nodded. "No
there was nothing to mar their happi-
ness-eScept one thing"
.'And what was that?"
"Why, they had no children, sir, for
fifteen years and more. After Miss
Frances came, of course that was all
changed"
.'She was born abroadW
Eyes, sir; in France. / don't Just
know the town."
But you know the date of her
birth?"
"Oh, yes, sir-thc 10th of June, 1876.
We always celebrated it,"
"Mr. Holiday was with his wife at
the timer"
Eyes, sir. He and his wife had been
abroad nearly a year. His health had
broken down, and the doctor made hin,
take long vacation. He came home
few months later, but Mrs. Holla-
day stayed OH. She didn't get strong
again. some way. She stayed nearly
four years, and lie went over every
few months to spend week with her
and at last she came home to die
bringing her child with her. That was
the first time any of us ever saw Miss
Frances"
MIR. Holiday thought great dea
of her:'
You may we'll say so, sir. She tool
his wife's place." said the old mar
simply.
land she thought Il great deal Of
him?"
More than that, sir She fairly wor
SHIPPED him. She was always at the
door to meet him; always dined Will
him; they almost always spent theil
evenings together. She didn't care muci
for society. I've often heard her tel
him that she'd much rather Just stay
at home with him. 1t was lie wht
rather insisted on her going out, fol
he was proud of her, as he'd a RICH
to be-"
YES" said, for all this fitted il
exactly with what had always heart
about the family. ",rhere We're LII
other relatives, were tllereT'
None at all, sir. Both Mr.. Holla
day and his wife We're only children
lhelf parents, OF COURSE nave pecl
DEAD fof years.
NOR any intimate frlends|
None I'd call intimate, sir. Mis-
Frances had some school friends, bu
she was s-well-reserved, Sir"
YES" nodded again. And now,
! added. tell NE, as fully as you car
what has happened within the las
three weeks"
wei. SIR" he began slowly, "afte
hef fathers death she seemed quit
: distracted iof awhiie-Mahaerea aDou
the mousse SAT III Inc library OF ever
lngs. ate scarcely anything, Then MI
Royce got to coz ing 10 the house, an
she frightened up. ana wc all hope
She'd soon lie all right again. Then sll
seemed to get worse of sudden an
sent us all away to get Belair read.
got the place in order, sir, and tell
graphed her that we were ready. Sll
answered that shed come in fe1
days. Ten days ago the rest Of til
cnp.Hyn TO <,nyl nd lnpl yn1 fo., Ia