The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER vi. (contlnued.)

he had half a doubt whether it had
been a hallucination synchronizlng
with the blow, when something's
quite inexplicable something-warned
him not to do so. He could not ac-
count for the sensation, he could not
account for his resolve. 1t was there,
nevertheless, and gripped him with
the strength Of an obsession.
NO" he said, slowly, Il cannot
think of anything else at all"
We'll, all | can say" answered the
doctor, "is that you had better be very
careful In the future, and it might be
as well If you we're to go to Scotland
Yard and tell them what happened.
II they car to send a man up here
| will give him my version, though |
have no doubt the policeman who
helped me TO get you here has already
reported the fact"
"Oh, well; | suppose II will be all
right" Marriott answered, feeling
that he was giving a somewhat made
quate and vague reply. Then he rose.
We'll, doctor" he said, Il feel pretty
Mt now. Do o think | can get back
TO my chambers?"
Yes, l think you will be all right
the doctor replied. But take care of
yourself for the rest of the day"
ut awfully good of you to have done
me so WELL" Basil said. And now,
what do | owe the hospital?'
my dear sir the doctor answered."
"you owe the hospital nothing at all,
but If you like to give q donation TO
the funds 1 shall be pleased to hand
1t TO the secretary"
when I am dressed and have my
things" Marriott answered, II expect
| shall be able to find a flyer, and, |
say, doctor, won't you come and have
some dinner with me tonight at my
club?"
II shall be very pleased" the doc,
tor answered.
And within twenty minutes Marriott
was seated in a hanson, bowling
along to his rooms in Jermyn Street.
When he arrived he found the land
lord and the valet, who attended to
the two floors, somewhat alarmed
about his absence. When they saw
him In his soiled evening clothes,
wearing an opera hat and a light
black coat, they looked at him more
strangely still.
He explained the matter in a few
sentences and then went into his sit
ting room, lay down upon the sofa
and fell into a deep sleep.
At 5 o'clock, as he had instructed
the valet, he was awakened. II shall
be dining out tonight he said when
the man entered. Put out some 9TH
er evening Clothes"
very well, sir" the man answered.
OF have brought you a cup of tea, if
dent. And here, sir, are the evening
papers"
Marriott slipped his tea, wondering
why fate had interfered so strangely
with his leave. Why was it, indeed,
that a young and successful naval Of
ficer who had come to London, after
a long cruise, to taste the dear de-
lights of the society to which he be-
l~onged-to "be in things" again
should suddenly have been the victim
of a ~purposeless assault? And why
was II, above all-why was II that his
brain was still full of a vision of a
black swinging thing, a thing like a
coffin thing sharply outlined
against the moonlight-that 1t should
still remain the predominant vision of
his memory?
Well, ii is no use worrying about 1t,
he thought to himself. l suppose I
am so rocky that what, after all, could
only have been an illusion keeps re-
curing to me.
He stretched out his hand and took
up the Pail Mall Gazette He glanced
nj the leader; he cast a somewhat un-
~appreciative eye upon the smartness
of the Occasional Notes." and then
turned over two pages TO find the
--latest kilograms
All! Here was something really in
teresting. The P. M. c. did not use
thick. heavy type unless something
big happened. What was 1t? Good
heavens! Here was a sensation in
deedi
The little duke OF London-the rich
est child in the world, a Prince only
second to royalty itself-had utterly
disappeared from the great house in
Piccadilly.
He recalled the whole of the Incl
dents of the afternoon Of the day be-
fore; how he had stood with his
father, the admiral, on the steps of
the Cocoa Tree club and seer the ra-
dlant young duchess driving away
from Marlborough house with the
child, who had been at the birthday
party given by the prince and prin-
cess Of Wales to the child friends of
their wi children.
He still heard in his ears the cry
of the crowd, 'Hurrah for the little
duke!" He still saw the beautiful
young woman who bowed to his faith
ler. and saw the tiny hand of the lit
tie boy waving to Sir Hercules. Then
he remembered all the admiral had
told him about the duchess. The ro-
mantle history flashed out clear upon
his brain. What IN extraordinary CO
Incidence the whole thing aad baen!
why, even while his father was tell
tns him Of what society said about the