The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-07-09

vfduals use the machinery Of law and
procedures to their own provate ends,
as Is possible In some countries. In
this case, however. the interests In
volved we're SO vast, and the people
who had to do with the affair were so
highly placed. that the inquest had
been held that very morning. The
true facts were thoroughly well
known, but they were not given to
the world. The jury was discreet-a
breath had blown upon the dingy
Westminster mortuary from an exalt-
ed quarter. Sir Anthony HELLER was
not president Of the local government
board for nothing.
AS Basil sat at his meal, and the
short-jacketed walters staggered up
and down the gangway with the
courses, he heard all around him con-
versation on what was the absorbing
topic of the day.
The well dressed, flrst-class passen.
gers, as they lunched, had no other
topic Of talk. "The little duke this"
THE little duke that"-"They say
the duchess has gone out Of her
mind"-"Michael Grant, the great ath-
lete, Is mixed up in it somehow, I
hear"-"The Daily Wire says that it
is now generally known that the old
aunt was seized with mania, and
threw the little duke into the Thames.
They are going to drag the river"
And so on-and so on-and SO on.
Capt. Marriott heard all this with a
grim smile.
He was in a singularly cheerful
frame of mind; 1t was true that he
was mixed up with terrible tragedy.
yet he had entered it as an outsider
not from concern with any of the per-
sonalities, to whom it meant much.
1t was therefore a sporting interest
that he took in it all, and-well, he
was going to interview Daisy Hobson.
He lay back in his seat and recalled
the memory of the tall and gracious
girl.
Why was 1t that the touch Of her
hand had sent his blood pushing and
rushing through him?
him nearer and nearer to the little vii.
lage where he should find her, his spir-
it's were Distinguishing. his whole be-
ing was quickening with sense OF
expectation, or was it a sense of long.
ing.
He descended from the train at
Chelmsford, and, after some Inquiries
in the station, was told that the vii.
lage Of Trink was six miles away, in
the pleasant corn county of Essex.
He had already advised Miss Hob
son of his coming by telegram, and
had received an answering wire to
saw that she would await his arrival
Accordingly he engaged a carriage
from the local news and set out for
the village.
It was a perfect day. The corn was
not yet ripe, but tall and strong, and
rustled sweetly in the summer air
Far up in the sky larks were pouring
out their little joyous hearts In per-
feet ecstasy of song. The trees were
in full green Of summer. The sky was
like a hard, hollow turquoise. Sweet
scents came from the flowers in the
cottage gardens, and all the summer
world was fair and well.
AS he lay back in the landau the
young sailor felt almost as If he were
driving home. His father, Sir Her
cules, had no country house. Years
ago, on the death of Lady Marriott,
Sir Hercules had disposed Of his place
near Bath and lived entirely In Lon
don, like the old society campaigner
that he was. alternating between Hom'
burg and the Riviera at the right
seasons, and always q guest In Scot
land for the shooting.
So Basil for many years had never
known q home. His advancement In
the navy had been singularly rapid
owing to his influential connections
and also to the fact Of his personal
achievement. But "home" had meant
for him either the spacious cabin OF
the cruiser he commanded, temporary
chambers in London, rooms at an no
tel. or 4 welcome In the houses OF his
friends.
ITO ee continued.)