The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-05-07

matches which enc ssss. Withoue
thinking Of II. Alberto dug In the pen
knife and began to cut on the top, in
stead Of pulling the box open like .
drawer. by the little piece of tape at
the end. He had half finished. when
he looked down, remembering what
he wal doing. I wonder what it is?'
he said. and then suddenly he grew
quite white.
Michael. the box was full Of gum
powder and red pepper; and a match
had been SO arranged that IL the box
had been opened in the ordinary way,
by pulling out the inside part, 1t
would have rubbed against the piece
OF sandpaper and become ignited. AL
beric would probably have been killed,
At any rate, he would have been dis.
figured, blinded, and manned in the
face for life."
The duchess stopped, struggling
with her emotion.
Grant remained perfectly still, with
a grave, quiet face, listening intently,
but showing no indication of his
thoughts.
I'VE had people from Scotland
Yard" the duchess continued, with q
little sob, but utterly failed to trace
anything at all. The parcel had come
by post in the ordinary way; and
when they asked Alberto if he had any
, reason to suspect any particular per-
son or persons. il he had any active
enemies that he knew of, Alberto said,
No. l was in the room at the time,
n l was certain that he was not
speaking the truth.
When the men had gone Alberto
turned to me. put his arms round me,
n kissed me. She'll get me yet
ne said. You poor. dear girl! What
lave I brought you tor
"'She?' l answered. Whom do O
mean, Alberto? What is it? Tell me
all about it. II it is anything dread
full we can bear 1t better together,
surely we cam His manner changed
In a moment. l could see that he had
said more than he had meant to.
Did l say 'she"?' he asked, in a
~curiously embarrassed way. L did not
know what l was saying. OF course.
this Is very unnerving, Beatrice. For
get what I said
Alberto l answered. this comes
from the same hand which sent the
man to %bludgeon you in Paris He
sat down suddenly and covered his
face with his hands. Do not ever
speak to me about 1t again. he said.
1 can't tell you; l can say nothing
"Ihen, Michael, Fitzroy was born.
and Alberto was so bright and happy!
His moodiness seemed to go, and he
was quite a different man. The shad-
ow. whatever 1t was, seemed to have
passed away.
For W years nothing happened at
all. My husband seemed to have for
gotten the past. and I had forgotten
It Also. or, at least. it only required
to me very occasionally, as a sort of
unpleasant happening in the past. now
over and lone with for ever.
Then the end came. We were at
ascot Tor the Royal Hunt cup. Lord
Arlington had let US his house for the
week.
"One morning we were Just going to
drive on to the course, when one of
the servants said that . gentleman had
called to see Alberto on a very mar.
ticular business. I won't be a min.
ute,' Alberto said to me. I don't
kno who 1t is. but l suppose | had
better see him. He went into the
library, where the visitor had been
taken, and remained with him for
nearly an hour. l sent a message
once or twice, and he sent back a re-
ply by the footman that l was to drive
on and he would join me later.
I went on, as he said, with Bobby
Farquhar, who was staying with US.
AS you know. one ought to be in the
enclosure before the king comes. 7
hadn't been there for more than half
an hour, the royal party had inst
driven up, when l was sent for back
to Arlington house. Alberto was in a
sort OF fit; doctors had been sum.
moned, and they told me there was
very little hope for him. It was the
heart, they said; and one of them. Sir
William Larus, who happened to he
in Ascot at the time and whom thew
had sent for, asked me if Alberto had
received some sudden shock"
To Be Continued.
RULE OF THE SEA.