The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
THE PAUPER
PARK LANE

place where an accident might happen
TO you I know nothing about Servia,
ana besides
weir
The mystery about old Sam Statham
always haunts me- I don't somehow like
that man.
You only met him once. and he was
very courteous to you. Besides, he is my
master. We're II not for him. should
most probably be going about London
/ penniless.''
u know. know" she said Have you
been to his house in Park Lane lately2"
Il was there this morning. but only for
! five minutes. He gave me some instruc-
tions about a call I had 70 make IN the
city.
Il wish you could leave him and get
some other work as secretary. I don't
/ like him. He isn't what he pretencs TO
/ be; I'm sure he isn't"
He pretends 10 be nothing" laughed
/ her brother. ~Old Sam is a millionaire.
and m!llionaires need no pretense. He
could buy up this show twice over, and
/ then leave million for the death duties.
You've taken a prejudice against him.
a woman's pre1udice-which often is
not very far wrong"
81 know that you women see much fur
! ther than we men do. but IN this. Marion,
you are quite wrong Old Sam il eocen-
trio and mean. but at heart he's not at
all bad old fellow"
We'll. 1 tell you frankly. I don't half
like your going to Servia under his
auspices"
Charlie Rolfe laughed aloud.
My dear Marion. OF what are you ap-
prehensive7" he asked II 60 IN a very
responsible position. as his confidential
secretary, 70 inquire into certain matters
in his interests. II carry out my mis-
sion successfully, I shall get a rise OF
salary"
Granted. But you know what you've
told me about the queer stories afioat re-
garding Samuel Statham and his house
In Park Lane.
I've never believed them. although
they are OF course, curious. Yet you
must remember that every man OF great
wealth has mysterious stories put about
by his enemies. Every man and every
woman has enemies. Who has not?"
But you've admitted yourself that
you've never been in more than one room
in the mansion" she said, looking him
straight in the face.
That's true But It doesn't prove any
thing. does it?' he asked. And Marion
saw that he was nervous and agitated.
quite unlike his usual self Perhaps.
however. It was on account OF her appre-
tensions, she thought
She had only seen Samuel Statharn. the
well-known millionaire On one occasion
She had called at the Offices in Old Broad
street one afternoon 70 see her brother
VINO Was his confidential secretary. when
the old fellow had entered. a short.
round-shouldered. gray-bearded old man.
rather shabbily dressed. who, looking at
her bluntlv asked VINO she was and what
she wanted there
One Of his eccentrIciues was that he
hated women. and Marion knew that
In faltering tone she replied that she
was sister Of mis- secretary. whereupon
his manner instantly changed He be-
came the acme OF politeness, asked her
into his private room. offered her a glass
OF pOrt-whlch, OF course, she refused
and chatted 20 her most affably till her
brothers return.
Why she had taken such q violent dis
Ike TO the old man she herself could not
tell. Possibly II was his sudden change
OF manner. and that his pleasant suavity
wes feigned And this. combined with
the extraordinary rUmors regarding his
past. and the mystery OF his great man
sion in Park Lane, had caused her %
fAN" MN Win plllcE uTeJQQlce.
Several customers were waiting 70 be
served and Marion saw Mr.. Warmers
eye upon her
Well Charlie" she said, perhaps I'll
get down 10 Charing Cross 70 see you of.
You go 10 Paris first. I suppose?"
Yes I take the Orient Express from
there. by way OF Vienna and Budapest to
Belgrade. But" he added. don't come
and see me of, there's a good girl"
Why? I've been before. when you've
gone 10 the continent
Yes. know he answered. inpatient
ly' 'but-well. II makes me feel as il I
sha'n't come back Don't come. VIII
your
Marion smiled. His anxiety that she
should not come struck her as distinctly
curious.
He was not himself. or that she was
convinced. To her. ever since her fathers
death, he had been a good friend and for
year prior 70 her engagement at Cum
nlngton's he had divided his salary with
her No girl ever had a better brother
than ne had been. yet OF late she had no.
uced complete change IN his manner.
lie was 10 longer frank with her, as he
used to be, and he seemed ysten to hide
from her facts which. with her woman's
Keen intelligence. she afterward discov-
cred
Miss Rolfe," exclaimed Mr.. Warner.
emerging from his office. 'Disengaged7r
And he pointed 70 q pair Of somewhat
obese ladies' who were examining a cos
tune displayed on a stand
We'll. good-by, Charlie" she said, shak-
ing his hand Il must go. We're very
busy this afternoon. Perhaps I shall see
you at Charing Cross. II not-then take
care OF Yourself dpnr Good-h,-
And she turned and left him TO attend
20 the two ladies, while he, with a nod
across TO Mr.. Warner. strobe out Of the
shop
1 hope TO goodness Marion doesn't
come. he muttered 10 himself Women
are so Internally inquisitive. And Il she
does go 10 Charing Cross. shes sure to
suspect something."