Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-26
Richard
 the BraZen
Copyright. 1906. by r1offat. Yard (, Company.

MT. van Qer Awe perceived that ms
 inamorata was profoundly agitated,
 but why he could not imagine There fore he paced solemnly up and down the hall, looking more like a funeral director than ever. Richard sat on the front porch, smoking one cigarette aft. CT another furiously, when Mir. Corri- gan came out and accosted him.
 Hello, your lordshp! What is your British opinion on hornets nests in general?'
 "The inmates thereof come at you endwise and all at once." observed the young man grimly. "In my humble opinion things are going to wake up presently"
 'Right" laughed the merry little i lawyer with what Richard could not but feel was i'll timed merriment "My esteemed brother-in-law is fairly boil ing He's on his way out here now with two policemen. I'm glad you're not mixed up in this particular phase of the comedy, Dicky, boy. You have somewhat of load to carry as it is"
 "Um" grunted Richard, staring ab- sently at the gravel path.
 Mir. Corrigan eyed him suspiciously and started away. Richard was about to ask permission to accompany him. intending again to lay bare his heart to his counsel, but at that instant his attention was arrested in an entirely different direction.
 Woolsey Bills was coming toward him from the direction of the railroad station.
 CHAPTER xxx.
 "HE adventurer allowed Mir. Cor rigan to walk away without offering any further remark,
 then waited patiently for his servant to reach the porch.
 Good mornin', your lordship," said Bills, with look of guileless inno- cence which made the Texan long to throttle him on the spot.
 Richard regarded him earnestly, | striving to read the secrets of his soul, but came to the conclusion that the | servant had no soul, inasmuch as the face before him was as placid as that 1 of a slumbering babe.
 Bills" he said in his sternest tone, "come upstairs. There is a matter which we must settle now-at once"
 Contrary to his expectations, the servant did not finch, but followed him meekly to the upper floor. Once inside the room, the Texan locked the door and turned on his companion savagely.
 "Now, my man, just give an account of yourself and be quick about it."
 Richard had flung himself into the morris chair, while the valet stood be- fore him, nervously shifting his feet and picking at the brim of his hat.
 "M' lord''- Richard cut him short
 Drop that This is no time for in- fernal nonsense! WellT'
 Yes, sir. Thank you, sir" Bills be- gan again, though the task to which he had evidently nerved himself was proving larger than he at first sup posed. MT. Williams, sir, I done wrong. I know that. An I come back to tell you all about it. sir, an awsk your pardon. sir. if you'll be so good"
 Leave the trimmings out and get down to facts"' snapped Richard, with unconcealed impatience. You sneak ed off last night without permission. Why"
 oonfaccaI hn xrainf xx-ifh a sudden squirt of courage-"because I forgot, sir, and drank your brandy up again. Mir. Williams, sir. Honest. sir. 1 was afeerd you'd shoot me, an'-an' I went away to New York, intendin' to never come back again. left w'ilst you was 'avin' the play, sir" How did you get to New York at that time of night? There are no trains at that hour" i, "Eo, sir. I know they ain't. 1-I got on freight train, sir The Texan looked at him keenly, , then nodded permission for the bal ance of the fishy story. >When I got to New York, sir" the valet continued, 'I realized wot ass was, Mir. Williams, sir. an l confesscs 1t now, sir. without no 'Ope of coverin' up the fack.' Bills" said Richard calmly. "it , comes 10 me that this is the first gOs- pei truth you have spoken. I have hopes of you yet. Go on." Yes. sir: thaslk you, sir. As was n in | fin, s4f+ cfr ! without much money an no character an no immejit prOspeck of a place. . Says I to meself. Bills says I. you're , a blOOmin' ass. You left gentleman wot was only iOkin' bout shootin' you an wot wouldn't 'urt a air of your cad for anythink. Go back to him. Bills says I. an tell i'm 'ow 1t 'ap- pened. Els a kindly disposed gentle man with a sweet. forgivin' nature an won't old 1t as'n you that you was . afeared Of 'is terrible pistol. Mir VII Hams. sir" " "H'm." sniffed Richard What was your other reason for coming back:'' The servant shifted uneasily. turned his hat round and round in his nerv. ous hands and apparently decided ts keep back nothing. Yes. sir he began again: "I 'ad s another reason fanCicd if I come ( lrark your Ior'lship-er-I mean MT. WillShip-IHo. beg pariOn-Mr- VII Hams. sir-that y0u would pay me vol you promised me. w-ieh is better than I StaFvin' tO death in NOO York without [ 10 chararter. meanln. ne nffenss an. (