The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-27


My dear Head. what do you mean?'
Pray explain yourself"
L am uneasy" I continued. very
uneasy. ] am also i'm a peculiar posi-
ton, and cannot disclose the reason of
my fears. You are pleased with the
match which Geraldine is about to
make. Now, have reasons for doubt
ing the Duke of Friedeek, reasons
which 1 cannot at present disclose, but
i am bound-yes, bound, De Brett, in
your girls interests-to warn you as
to your dealings with him.
De Brett looked at me through his
gold-rimmed specacles with a blank eX-
preston OF amazement.
IF 1t were any other man who spoke
TO me in this strain" he said at last.
Il believe / should show him the door.
Are You aware. Head. that this is a
most serious allegation? You must give
mo your reasons for what you say"
Il cannot. do SO at the present mo-
ment. | can only repeat that they eX-
list. and that they are grave All
ask of YOU is 10 use double caution TO
find out all you can about the mans
antecedents--'
De Brett interrupted me, rising hast
lily from his seat.
IN cur, dealings one with the other"
he said, this is the first time in which
you have shown bad taste. l shall see
the duke this afternoon, and shall be
bound TO acquaint him, in his and my
own interests, with your communica-
ton
Il hope you won't do so. Remember,
nv warning is given in confidence
1T is not fair to give man such e
warning, and then to give him no rea-
son for it." retorted the banker.
II will give you my reasons.
'Whon?''
con Thursday night. VIII you re-
gard ny confidence as sacred until
them
You have disturbed me considerably.
but L Will do so. l should be sorry 10
alarm Geraldine unnecessarily. / am
quite certain you are mistaken. You
never saw the duke Until you met him
at my house"
That is true. but 1 cannot say any
thlng further now. / will explain my
reasons fully on Thursday night"
De Brett rose from his seat He
BABE me good bye. but not with his
customary friendliness. I went away,
to pass the intervening hours between
thea and Thursday in much anxiety
After grave thought l resolved. if /
discovered nothing fresh with regard TO
F'riedeck to acquaint De Brett with
v hat l knew Of Mime Ko1uchy. If Ger
aldine married the duke, she should at
least do so with her fathers ewes
opened. / little guessed however,
when L made these plans. what ciroun1-
stances were about TO bring forth.
On the following Thursday morning l
aWoke from disturbed sleep. to find
Lordon eneveloped in one of the thick
est fogS that had been known for some
years. The limit of my vision scarcely
extended beyond the area ratings
round which the soot-laden mist chung
| III a breathless calm.
In the course of the morning | re-
ceived telegram from De Brett.
Meet me at the bank not later than
a quarter past f." were The few words
which it contained.
Soon after 3 o'clock l started for my
destination, avoiding Jmnibuses and
preferring TO walk the greater part 0f
the way. / arrived at st. Marks Court
at the time named, and was just ap-
preaching the bank when two men
knocked violently against me i'm the
thick fog. One Of them apOlOgiZed
but before 1 could make any reply van
iShed into the surrounding gloom. I had
csught a glimpse of his features. how
ever. II was the Duke of Friedeck
Across the narrow court at the oppo-
site side from the bank. saw a stream
of light from an open door making q
blurred CLEAN in the surrounding dark
ness. ] crested the court to see what
I this indicated. l then discovered that
the light came from an old-fashioncd
eating house. something in the STYLE of
/ the celebrated Cock" in Fleet street.
AS i stood in the shadow. the two men
who had knocked against me entered
The eating hOuse.
| 1 returned now to the bank As soon
as / arrived the manager came up to
me.
! Mr.. De Brett was called out about
half an hour ago he said. but he has
asked you to wait for him here. Mr.
! Head. He expects TO be back not late
than half-past e."
/ I seated myself accordingly a clerk
\ brought me the Times, and 1 drew up
my chair in front of a bright fire. Now
and then someone made desultory
remark about the fog, which was
thsckening i'm intensity each moment.
The time few by: the bank had, OF
course, closed at O'Clock; but the
clerks were busy finishing accounts
and putting the place in order for the
night. The different tills were emptied
OF their eotents to the great vault
where the different safes were kept
| The hands Of the clock over the man
telpiecc pointed to a quarter TO :, when
the sound of wheels was heard dis
Itinctfy outside, and the next moment
saw a splendidly equipped brough-
am and pair draw Up outside the bank
A fOotmon dismcunted and handed The
cemmissiOnaire a note. This was
brought into the Office. 1T was for me,
a clerk gave it To- me. / glanced at the
writing, and saw that the letter was
from De Brett. / tore open the enveI-
ope and read as follows: Dear Head
IL have been unexpectedly detained al
Lynn's bank in Broad street, so have
sent the brougham for you. Will YOU
come on at once and pick me up al
Lynn's? Please ask Derbyshire. tho
manager, for the keys Of the small
safe. He viii give them to you after
he has locked IN the strong room
Yours, Harry De Brett
] turned to the manager. He was
an elderly man, with grizzled hair and
an anxious expression of face.
MIR. De Brett wants me to bring him
the keys of the small safe / said.
saw the man raise his brows in sur
prise.
THAT Is an unusual request he an
swered: but, of course, ii must be as
! A9r Ia A rsrr1n fba1