The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-02-07
whether The Nest was still supplied
with the old-fashioned light or had the
newer illumination installed.
CHAPTER Xxx.
At The Nest.

At The Nest.
While May Wilson was sitting in
the pretty drawing room at The Nest
waiting for Miss Barton, who. the
servant said, had gone into the
grounds, a knock came at the drawing
room door, and man with small
bag was shown in by maid.
"Oh, l beg pardon" said the girl;
81 didn't know there was any one
here
ITS all right" said the man. 81 can
come back and test the lights here
presently. I'll go on with some of the
other rooms. I'll take the hall first
The maid and the man from the
electric light company retired, and
May, left alone, went to the French
windows, which were open, and looked
out at the sylvan surroundings of the
beautiful home which Sir Mark Bret
tingham had prepared for his BRIDE
AS she stood there Claire came
across the lawn with the servant who
had been to inform her of the visitors
| arrival.
There was nothing of the actress
about Claire as she came smiling to-
ward May. She was dressed in a
| simple white frock and Dolly Warden
straw hat tied under her chin with
light pink ribbons.
May thought she had never seen
Claire look so pretty.
Claire greeted her warmly. I'm so
glad you've come, DEAR" she said, land
you've come just in time. want to
Introduce you to Sir Mark
'Is he here?" said May.
Eyes; quite unexpectedly. He
wasn't going to stay moment. Fancy,
l wasn't expecting him in the least. I
was out in the grounds in my favorite
seat under the trees, when 1 saw his
motor come dashing along. He'd come
to tell me that he's going to Paris to-
night and will be away for couple of
days. It's the Grand Prix tomorrow,
you know-the big French race. His
friend, Sir John Forester, Is over
there, and wrote asking him to come.
They've got racing partnership, you
know, and l suppose there's a good
thing on as they call it,"
1t was all Greek to May, but she
listened with an assumed air of inter-
est.
Claire had spoken loudly, in her
usual bright theatrical way, and a man
| who was standing on chair in the
hall, apparently engaged in a scientific
examination of the electric light, heard
every word.
1--we wasted time," he thought to
himself. There's no planned meeting
with anybody. Miss Wilson has come
to see Claire Barton and nobody else"
But the maid was waiting for him,
to accompany him into other rooms
like a careful servant into whose mind
has been instilled the danger of leav.
ing strange men" alone with portable
property-and Inspector Millett had,
therefore, to make pretence of com.
pleting his round of inspection.
The servant led the way upstairs to
the rooms on the floor above. and he
| followed her.
II want you to see Sir Mark" con.
tinued Claire, "and you came just as
he was going-Id said good bye to
him. But asked him to stay a mo.
ment while ran in and saw you first
I'll go and fetch him now"
Claire was turning to go back into
! the grounds when a servant entered
Miss Norah Cassidy's maid had called
with message from her mistress.
and wanted to see Miss Barton partic.
ularly. She would not detain her a
| moment.
"Show her into the library" said
Claire. ''I'll see her"
Il sha'n't be minute" she laughed,
turning to May, "and then we will 20
and find Sir Mark together"
May, left alone, turned to look at
the multitude of pretty knick-knacks
with which Claire had adorned her
drawing room.
Ito Be continued.)