Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-03-22

The butler closed the door behind
him. Sir John was holding On to the
back of his high chair in rather a con-
strained way-almost as if he were suf-
fering pain. They looked at each other
again, and there was resemblance in
the very manner of raising the eyelid-
There was a stronger resemblance in
the grim, waiting silence which neither
of them would break.
At last jock spoke, approaching the
fire and looking into it.
"You must excuse my taking you by
surprise ut this-unusual hour" He
turned, saw the lamp. the book and the
eyeglasses, more especially the eye
glasses, which seemed to break the
train of his thoughts. Il only landed
at Liverpool this afternoon" he went
on, with hopeless politeness. Il did
not trouble you with a telegram, know,
ing that you object to them"
The old man bowed gravely.
Il am always glad to see you," he
said suavely. "Will you not sit DOWN.
And they had begun wrong.
IL suppose you have dined," said Sil
John when they were seated. cor may
l offer you something"
Thanks, dined on the way up, in
twilit refreShment room, With one
waiter and number of attendant
black. beetles"
Things were going worse and worse
Sir John smiled, and he was still
smiling when the man brought IN COT
fee.
YES" he said conversationally, "for
speed combined with discomfort l sup
pose we can hold up heads against any
country. Seeing that you are dressed.
l supposed that you had dined In
town."
mo. l drove straight to my rooms
and kept the cab while l dressed"
What an important matter this dress
ing-seemed to be! And there were fif-
teen months behind Fifteen months
which had aged one Of them and So
bered the other.
Jack was sitting forward in his chair
with his immaculate dress shoes on
the fender, his knees apart, his ell,
bows resting on them, his eyes still
fixed on the fire. Sir John looked
keenly at him beneath his frowning,
lashless lids. He saw the few gray
hairs over Jacks ears, the suggested
wrinkles, the drawn lines about his
mouth.
"You have been ILL.," he said.
Joseph's letter was locked away in
the top drawer of his writing table.
Eyes, l had rather Tad time. Sc
rious illness. My man nursed Inc
through 1t, however, with marked sue
cess, and the Gordons, with whom |
was staying, were very kind"
Il had the pleasure of meeting Miss
Gordon" =.
Jacks face was steady, suavely i'm
penetrable.
Sir John moved little and set his
empty cup upon the table.
"a charming girl" he added.
"Yes."
"You are fortunate in that man OF
yours" Sir John said; "a first class
man."
Eyes. He saved my life"
Sir John blinked, and for the first
time his fingers went to his mouth, as
if his lips had suddenly got beyond his
control.
'If l may suggest il" he said rather
indistinctly, II think it would be well
if we signified our appreciation OF his
devotion in some substantial way. We
might well do something between u.s."
He paused and threw back his shout
derS.
II should like to give him some sub
stantial token of my gratitude"
Sir John was nothing if not just.
THANK you," answered Jack quietly.
He turned his head little and glanced
not at his father, but in his direction.
"He will appreciate it, know"
81 should like to see him tomorrow"
Jack WINGED, as If he had made a
mistake.
'He is not in England" he explained.
81 left him behind me in Africa. He
has gone back to the simiacine pla-
teau."
The old mans face dropped rather
piteously.
81 am sorry" he said, with one OF
the sudden relapses into old age that
Lady Cantourne dreaded. II may not
have a chance of seeing him to thank
him personally. A good servant Is so
rare nowadays. These modern demo
Gratis seem to think that it Is nobler
thing to be a bad servant than a good
one. AS if we were not all servants!
He was thirsting for details. There
were thousand questions in his heart,
but not one on his lips.
"Will you have the kindness to re-
member my DESIRE" he went on suave-
ly, when you are settling up with your
man"
Thank YOU" replied Jack. 81 am
much obliged to you"
"And in the meantime, as you are
without a servant you may as well
make use of mine. One Of my men
Henry-whO Is too stupid to get into
mischief-a great recommendation, by
the way-understands his business. !
will ring and have him sent over to
your rooms at once
He did so, and they sat in silence
until the butler had come and gone.
1--WE have been very successful with
the simiacine, our scheme" said Jack
suddenly. / have brought home con-
valued Mt 600"