The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-08
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER Xxx.

offering any further remark
then waited patiently for his
servant to reach the porch.
"Good mornin', your lordship," said
Bills, with a look Of guileless limo.
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
of slumbering babe.
Bills he said in his sternest tone,
"come upstairs. There is 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.
Nov, 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.
an Lord Richard cut him short.
drop that! This is no time for In
fernal nonsense! WellY'
Eyes, 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. "Mr. Williams. sir, l done
wrong. | know that. An l 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 factsr' snapped Richard, with
unconcealed impotence. "You sneak
ed off last night without permission.
Why|
Because" confessed the valet, with
q sudden squirt of courage-"because l
forgot, sir, and drank your brandy up
again, Mr.. Williams, sir. Honest, sir,
/ was afeerd you'd shoot me, an'-an'
1 went away to New York, intendin' to
never come back again. l left whist
you was 'aYin' the play, sir"
"How did you get to New York at
that time of night? There are no
trains at that hour"
mo, sir. know they amt II
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, II realized wot q
bloomin' ass l was, Mr.. williams, sir,
an l confesses it now, sir, Without no
'ope of coyerin' up the fack."
Bills" said Richard calmly. "it
comes to me that this is the first Cos
pei truth you have spoken. l have
hopes of you yet Go on"
YVES, r;sthank you, sir. AS was
n-sayin', tbfre was in a big city. sir.
without much money an no character
an no immejit prospeck of a place.
Says to meself, Bills says l, you're
a bloomin' ass. You left gentleman
wot was only jokin' bout shootin' you
an wot wouldn't 'uft a air of your
'ead for anythink. Go back to him.
Bills says l, AN tell i'm 'ow it 'ap-
pened. 'E's kindly disposed gentle
man with sweet, forgivin' nature an
won't old 1t agin you that you was
afeared of is terrible pistol, Mr.. VIII
Hams, SIR"
"H'mw shifted Richard. "What was
your other reason for coming back?''
The servant shifted uneasily, turned
his hat round and round in his nerv-
Gus hands and apparently decided to
keep back nothing.
Eyes, SIR" he began again; IL 'ad
another reason. l fancied if l come
back your lordship-er-I mean Mr.
Willship-no. beg pardon-Mr. vii.
liams, sir-that you would pay me wot
you promised me, witch is better than
starvin' to death in Moo York without
no character. meanin' no offense an
awskin' you not to be angrier than you
can 'elp. / slep' restless, Mr.. Williams,
sir. Then come back. That's ALL"
as itT' asked Richard dryly.
Eyes, SIR" answered the valet. with
profound solemnity, "as Gawd is look
In at US both, me a-standin' an you
a-sittin' down, m lord"
The Texan arose and took several re.
Elective turns up and down the room.
Then he paused and stood with his
hands in his pockets and his legs
apart.
"Bills," he said. "Tm going to pay
you q compliment. Without an excep-
ton you're the biggest liar between
New York anG San Antonio. It's q
long stretch. my friend. and I'm not a
fatterer."
Bills stared at him sadly reproach-
fully, but made no answer. Richard
continues:
"Of course l didn't see you when
you left-that is. with my own eyes
and didn't see you when you got off
the train awhile ago. but just the same
I have a chain of evidence which |
trust will refresh your memory. When
employed you. you came to me with
the following recommendations Dis
charge him ut once. He's thief. The
last time 1t was e. Cd. and my jeweled
cigar cutter. His friend. Mr.. DIpke
Of Scotland Yard. is also inouiring for