The Somerset reporter., 1909-07-08

congratulate you that you and your
sister need no longer submit to an
odious dictation."
He was about to say more, but at
that moment Daniel came down the
steps and walked across the grass to
the motor. AS he passed the group he
smiled genially and observed:
Looks to me as II 1t was going co
clear up cold"
Good afternoon, Mr.. Pike" answer
ed the earl and motioned the others to
leave.
Pike merely nodded his bead. and
Hawcastle came up to him.
.Tt is a pity that there should have
been any Misunderstanding in the mat
ter Of your wards betrothaL- he said.
and Pike smiled grimly.
"Oh, l wouldn't call 1t a misunder-
standing" he said. and the earl went
| on.
"It would Ill become a father to press
upon the subject of his sons merits"-
he began, but Pike cut him short.
81 won't talk with you about him."
he said II don't want to hurt your
feelings"
Hawcastle glared at him and was
about to reply when Mariana entered
with letter on tray. which he hand
ed to the lawyer. who regarded 1t curl
ousiy There was a growing menace In
the earl's attitude. and as his anger
grew his suavity grew with 1t.
There is another matter to which
want to call your attention" he went
on, and Pike answered him at once.
"I'll talk about anything else with
you." he replied and looked up to see
Ethel coming down the steps. She
came forward to the earl and said:
you wished me to come here?
"T wish to tell you that see light
breaking through the clouds. Have an
other talk with our friend here. and.
believe me, all will be we'll"
With bow he left the garden, and
Ethel stood staring after him. Pike
looked up quickly from the letter he
was reading and crossed over to her.
"rm glad you've come" he said.
"rve got something here l want to
read to you. When l got your letter at
home | wrote to Jim Cooley, our vice
consul in London, to look up those
Hawcastle folks and write me here
how they stand"
You did thatl' she cried in anger.
you had the audacity to pry into the
affairs Of the Earl Of Hawcastle!-
"Why. I'd "a done that If it'd been
the governor OF Indiana himself he
replied, with surprise. Besides, Jim
Cooley's home folks His office used
to be right next door to mine In Ko-
komo l haven't opened the letter yet,
but haven't much doubt but Jim II
have some statements in it that'll show
you I'm right about these people"
"How do you know that?' she de-
manded heatedly.
Because I've had experience enough
OF life
I'm KokomoT' she asked scornfully
"Yes, ma'am," he answered. There's
Just as many kinds of people In Ko-
komo as there Is in Pekin, and didn't
serve term in the Legislature without
learning to pick underhand men at
sight Now, that earl, let alone his
having a bad eye-his ways are too
much on the stripe Of T.. Cuthbert
Bentley's to suit me. T. Cuthbert was
a Chicago gentleman, with fur lined
overcoat, that opened up bank IN our
town, and when he caught the Cana
dian express three months later all he
left in Kokomo was the sign on the
front door. That was painted On. But.
there, here's the letter. Read It for
yourself"
He handed 1t to her and watched her
while she broke the seal and then be-
gan to read:
Dear Dan-The earidom of IfawcastIe is
one OF the Oldest in the kingdom. and the
ST Aubyns have distinguished themselves
In the forefront Of English battles from
Agincourt and Crecy to Sebastopol. The
present holder of the title came into II by
lccident. He was a younger sons younger
son and had spent some years In Russia
in business under another name Nothing
here in his English record Is seriously
against him. though everything he has is
mortgaged to the handle.
She finished with look Of triumph.
"What terrible Indictment she
said scornfully. $50 that was what
you counted on to convince me of my
mistake? l shall tell Lord Hawcas1e