The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-04-29
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lake me u IL dJ OlCet ne Sdlu.
1T is through the servants quar-
ters," Mr.. Remington answered
This way, II you please"
The two men hurried away. Dowr
corridors, through a large room
which was full Of servants, who start
ed up in surprise and alarm as they
passed. through three great kitchens
where men cooks in white caps and
aprons were moving about. down an
other stone corridor to a massive iron
plated door, which led into the small
high-walled court yard at the back Of
the house.
81 shall want you, Remington
Grant said, trying the dOor and find
ing it securely locked. Il cant leave
you here. Whom can you depend
upon"
Amy n Of the servants, | should
think" the house steward answered
But in a case like this it is as well
sieur Coppin, the chef, wouldn't mind
perhaps if | explained the Importance
of it,"
Fetch him at once" Grant broke
In.
In a minute Remington reappeared
with a portly gentleman with a curl
ing black moustaChe and beard, dress
ed in a black tail coat.
In rapid French Grant explained
the situation to him. You will par
don me-, m'sieu," he said, realizing to
the full the importance Of such an
artist as Coppin in a great London
house like this was. You will par
don me if | ask you this service. But
something has gone very wrong,
something very strange has happened,
and | dare not trust a servant. Might
| ask you, m'sieu, to sit at the en-
trance of this passage yourself, and
see that no one goes in or out of the
door,"
For a moment, during Grants ex-
PLANTATION. the chef had a slightly Of
Tended air. Then, when he realized
that the little duke had actually dis.
appeared, and that, at the moment, he
could not be found, his face changed
its expression.
But certainly, m'sieu," he an
swered. What you ask is a service
which | am glad and proud to per.
form. | myself, |, Coppin, will act as
concierge until a thorough search has
been made of the mansion"
Grant bowed, smiling within him
self at the humor OF the situation. and
then, followed by Remington. he hur-
ried back through the kitchens into
the servants hall. All the men and
women there were broken up into
groups and looking towards the pass
age through which Grant and the
house steward emerged.
Tell them all to go into the hall at
once" the young man said.
Remington gave the order, and with
a buzz and murmur of wonder, like
the noise made by a disturbed hive of
bees, the people followed them.
In the great hall the duchess was
standing, talking rapidly to her aunt.
The tears were beginning to fall over
the beautiful face, the eyes we're
growing wide with pain and terror.
Something of Miss Decies' composure
seemed to have departed also, and she
was patting her niece alphabetically
on the shoulder.
The butler stood grasping the han
die Of the outer hall door, the footmen
dotted the place, trying to look as If
they were occupied-signally falling,
and casting uneasy glances towards
their mistress, which changed into ap-
prehension as all the servants of the
great house came pouring into the
hall.
Grant ran up three or four of the
stairs and leaned against the marble
balustrade.
Now. look here" he said, "the duke
is not in his rooms Nobody knows
where the duke is, We must send
search parties all over the house. Mr..
Remington, will you kindly make up
parties of two, of the servants Won
can trust, and send them everywherep
I will take two men myself; you will
kindly take two men; and duchess,
Miss Decies-you will come With us,
won't you? We will look for Fitzroy
where you think best"
The duchess walked through the
crowd to the bottom steps Of the
stairs.
Eyes. yes" she answered, In a voice
absolutely unlike her own, the fright
ened tears g~listening on her cheeks
like pearls in the brilliant light of the
electric lamps which hung from the
marble roof. Yes, yes; let's be do
ing something quickly. I can't bear
this waiting. Come, where shall we
GO first?"
Remington beckoned to two of the
men. you will go with Mr.. Grant"
he said.
ITO begin with" the duchess said,
"Oh, to begin with, Of course, we
ought to go back to the nurseries"
She trembled like a leaf as she
spoke.
First" Miss Decies replied, at
would be well to look into every room
which opens directly upon the gallery.
The boy might have scrambled out
of bed to find his nurse, and, as she
was not there, he might have wan
dered out into the corridor. He may
even be hiding for fun; he might be