The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-06-18


| Marriott, as she went up to Michael
| Grant.
He was therefore rather surprised
that his hosts manner, perfectly
courteous and thoroughly polite, was
not that of welcoming guest. al
though the girl was obviously known
to him.
what is it, please?" said Michael
Grant.
Il have been discharged from my
situation, Mr.. Grant," the girl replied,
and Basil Marriott noted, with
quickening interest, that her voice
and intonation were those of a lady.
well, you must excuse me for say
ing it," Grant answered, "but I think
the duchess was quite right in send
ing you away. II you had not left
the nursery when you did, probably
the duke would still be safe and
sound"
Marriott started. Nursery" What
did this mean? Was this girl, then,
one of the little dukes attendants?
This girl-who was so obviously a
lady, SO obviously graceful and at
tractive! Then he realized suddenly
that it might indeed be so in the case
OF the duke of London.
The girl blanched and grew paler as
Grant answered her.
THAT is possible, Mr.. Grant" she
said. "but 1t is not what came to
speak to you about when asked to
see YOU"
For the first time, something in the
manner and voice seemed to strike
| the athlete He had known her as
second nurse to the duke, although
he had hardly ever spoken to her in
| his life before. He suddenly realized
! that this was no ordinary servant.
Wont you sit down, please, Miss
-" He hesitated.
| ''My name Is Hobson," she an
swered, taking a chair. with quiet self
possession.
"And now, why have you come to
me, Miss Hobson?" Grant asked.
This gentleman, Capt. Marriott
he inclined his head towards Basil,
who bowed to the girl-'and myself
were just on the point Of going to the
duchess, when"
He did not conclude his sentence.
II am glad, then." the girl answered,
that I have seen you first"-turning
to Basil-"to regard what say as in
the very strictest confdence?
I'm so far as it does not go against
the interests of the duchess, for pre-
sumo that you have come to speak to
me OF the dukes disappearance. l
think can safely give that promise,
both for Capt Marriott and myself"
said Grant, in answer.
y have nothing very definite 70 tell
you," she said, but . series OF small
happenings and one especial occur
renee seem to point to cumulative
fact, and I have my suspicions a. to
who 10 at the bottom of the whole A.
fair. These suspicious will sound in
credible to you, Mr.. Grant; but. new
ertheless. hold them with . con-
vinced mind. and II I do no more than
1t least put you upon the alert In q
certain direction, I shall have accom-
plished very much. For my own part.
my only wish 10 to have this dreadful
mystery solved. For my own dismis.
sal am. Of course. sorry, but 1t will
! not ruin me, a. It might have done
| were an ordinary servant. whose life
must b passed in the service Of en-
ployeFS such ~ the duchess.
my father II country rector with
small means, and both myself and my
sister, BY earning our own livings. are
enabled to assist him to send the
younger children to good schools. My
situation with the duchess was we'll
paid. which was IN important thing to
me. So, you SEE, am not altogether
homeless nor without resources. All
intrude my private affairs upon you.
but simply to assure you that my OBJ
ject in coming here this afternoon Is
quite disinterested, and I feel, in q
sense. that ought to make every pos
sible effort that can in the matter.
because I undoubtedly contributed to
| what seems 90 ,iko tragedy by be-
ing absent from the nursery for half
an hour. at . time when was In
charge"
Hei voice faltered 40 she said this.
| and tears came into her dark eyes,
| whilst one Of her little hands clenched
itself upon her knee.
Capt. Marriott thought he had never
seen any one so winningly forlorA "a
this girl. He wanted to go up to her
and pat her on the shoulder, to tell
her It was Ill right, that she need
not worry.
Grant bowed in answer to her
speech. "And now" he said. tell me
to whom your suspicious point?"
The girl hesitated for q moment:
opened her lips to speak. closed them
again, looked round the room, and.
with . half-frightensd cir. gathered
herself together. and spoke two
words:
mise Decies!"
Grant started violently. and then
The color mounted to his cheeks.
Miss Decies!" he said: "you must