Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-24

oeiFeo no answers. She knew nothing
whatever about his parentage or his
name, and had never attempted to find
Out. he was quite welcome to continue
calling himself John Dene, but it was
| right that he should know the one bare
TACT that she could tell him-and that
was all No one had ever inquired for
him or shown any interest in him. He
was plainly wait and stray.
The blow had been a very bitter one
TO the young man. Cold and Indifferent
as Mrs. Dene had always been to him,
ne mad nevertheless given her the warm
aReetIon of generous nature, pricing a
elcse relationship; while of Vincent he
nal always been very proud and fond.
New 1t appeared he had no claim on
either OF them. All that she had done
Tor him had been amply paid for in
hard cash; and as for Vincent, he had
long ago become aware that his pleasant
GmiabSlity covered nothing deeper. and
was indeed merely his ordinary manner
to any one who did not offend him.
John realized his own complete soil.
fairness with some sharp pangs which no
one was allowed to perceive. He told
the fact OF his namelessness to Lady Az
rlll and her aunt, Miss Challis, and then
with characteristic sell -repression he put
it entirely aside. 1t affected no one but
himself; it was therefore of little real
consequence, and meanwhile there was SO
much to be done for the estate. But it
had considerably shaken his old implicit
confidence in Mrs. Dene, and had set him
wondering as to what else she had hid
den.
There certainly was something strange
in her manner, and there was also her
extraordinary removal to the neighbor-
hood OF Avrill Towers Immediately after
the Viscount's death-a proceeding for
which she could give no adequate rea-
son. Vincent needed change, and would
write better in the country air, she
stated, and t&en permitted no inquiries.
She had always been an autocrat, and
neither young man had ever dared to
dispute her will. Why had she come Z?
Vincent himself said she was playing a
deep game, and Lady Avrill did not trust
her. What did it mean2
Johns thoughts ran persistently on
the woman who had stolen the papers
and on the following circumstance. Some
month or two before Lord AvrilP death
a lady had come to see him by appoint
ment-a lady who gave no name, only
said she was expected, and with whom
his lordship was closeted for three hours
or more. He himself had written to her
had posted the letter with his own
hand at a neighboring town whittier they
had driven-had watched for, read, and
destroyed her reply. John had been sent
on a commission which took him the
whole of one day, and when he returned
heard nothing of any visitor until Sim
mons-my lords valet--one day referred
in apparent carelessness to 'the strange
lady who came and stayed so long the
day you were away, Mr.. Dene." A mean
| ing look in the mans eyes had told John
that the remark had some motive. but
he had not questioned him, either then
OF since.
Should he do so now? Was it false
delicaey which kept him from seeming
to pry into the secrets of the dead, and
was he thereby endangering the interests
of the living? Which, put into plain
English, meant would it be wise for
Honor's sake to find out if possible who
the strange woman was?
That most potent argument settled
the question. Few were the deeds of
John Dene which were not done either
actually or remotely for her sake.
He reused himself from his reverie,
and, ringing the bell, asked if Simmons
would kindly come and speak to him.
The valet had been retained in the house
bold on some pretext or another, but
oddly enough appeared to consider his
duty lay in waiting on the secretary,
rrri%b - l,Gso,,l%
pfiat the young man coui1 persuade him
that in his position valet was a super
f3uity, even an anomaly, and that he
objected to be treated as if he were a
guest in the louise wncrs he was only a
salaried server. Simmons, nevertheless,
stolidly continued to keep a surrepti-
tious eye on Mr.. Dene's clothes and per-
sonal requirements, giving as an explana-
ton to the other servants that he must
keep his hand in. They grinned, con
Guiding he was referring to the Wis
countess future marriage, and willing
enough that the secretary-whom the
whole household liked-should profit by
Simmons far-sightedness.
"Ah, Simmons, close the door, will
your" said John Dene, standing up
straight with his back to the window.
Il wanted to ask you question. know
ing / can rely on your discretion"
"Thank you, sir" murmured the va
let, tim, well hammered man of 40.
THAT lady. Simmons, who came to
see Lord Avrill in the winter; have you
ever seen her SINGER
The man glanced up sharply, but spoke
in his usual correctly impassive tone:
"Oiten, sir. She is Mrs. Dene"
"Ah!"
Johns supiclons were confirmed There
was some mystery. She held some
knowledge, maybe some power, of which
he knew nothing.
A pause, while Simmons stood at at
tention, the respectful, discreetly silent
servsnt John cooked at him. He was
sure the man was honest and loyal, and
bad cared for his master with faithful
affection. Had he not the right to be
trusted?
'Can you tell me anything eIse?" he
asked simply,
"Then Simmons eyes met his in a
sudden flash Of eager, grateful eompre
htnsion.
mo my No, sir" he said quickly
Il wish I could -guesses-sir,