The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-07-08
CHAPTER VIII-(continued.

sion. Although we have never beer
friends, you must not imagine that my
present action is dictated by any un
kind feelings toward you. It simply
e that | could not bring myself,
for several reasons, to die In a railway
station waiting room; and there are
other reasons, which you are doubt.
less by now we'll acquainted with, why
] could hardly, at the present time,
quarter myself for this last moment or
two upon any of my regular friends.
Il do not, moreover, belong to one
of those institutions known as ladies'
clubs, nor do / approve of them. I
have, therefore, taken the great lib
erty of arriving here while you were
OUT being let in by your valet, who, of
course, knows me-. You will remem-
Der that | and my niece have been to
tea with you on two occasions. My
motives for suicide you can, doubtless,
make a guess at. | will not enlarge
upon them here. Believe me, lear Mr..
Grant, yours very faithfully,
-"Augusta Decies."
Grant passed the letter to Marriott.
He read it. Then together they look.
ed at the grim, cynical death mask
before them.
"She must have chuckled as she
wrote that letter." Grant whispered.
She was a terrible woman. There are
dark secrets in her life. She has out
witted us all. She has done her work
her foul work in kidnapping the
duke. She has destroyed all traces
by which we can find him, while,
silent and hooking to the last, she has
gone beyond the reach of all mortal
hands, or all human laws"
They stood there in absolute silence
once more.
Both started like frightened hares.
The key was being put into the latch
OF the front door.
Then they heard the door open and
some one enter, whistling to himself.
II was the valet, who doubtless inn
agined himself alone in the fat.
Michael called him.
The noise ceased at once, and the
man hurried into the room.
Il beg your pardon, sir" he said. 81
thought" And then he stopped.
The horror in the chair confronted
him.
what is the explanation of this"
Grant said. "You see, Miss Decies is
here. She has killed herself"
II was some minutes before the
mar could speak. His eyes seemed
bursting out of his head, his teeth
clicked like c~astanets. When at last
he found words his voice was a whine
OF dismay.
II was just leaving the fiat, sir; in
fact, l had already closed the door,
about an hour and q half ago-when
Miss Decies came UP from the landing.
Of'course, | knew her, sir, for the aunt
of the duchess-the aunt of her grace
the Duchess of London.
miss Decies said that she wished
to write a note upon an important
matter, and then she would wait ten
minutes on the chance of your coming
back. | provided the lady with the
necessary requisites, sir, and then she
insisted upon my going out.
Il can manage very well by myself,
Parker she said, sir. Though even
then | should not have gone, sir, had
she not been almost peremptory about
1T"
He stopped. The story was simple
enough. No blame attached to him.
We'll, you see what has happened,
Parker! What dreadful thing has
happened" Grant said. go down at
once. tell the porter to come up; then
telephone to the nearest police station
and to the nearest DOCTOR"
The man hurried away.
Grant turned quickly to Basil. still
holding the paper.
"What are we to do?" he said, point
ing to 1t. "a terrible responsibility
rests On us. The scandal is enough
already that affects the house of our
friend. Should we not destroy this?"
II think not" the sailor answered.
''The mischief is done already. 1t is
almost impossible that these happen
ings can be kept from the press. The
suicide can have but n meaning-it
is the direct consequence of the disap-
pearance of the duke. Keep it to pro-
tect yourself"
YAmd the duchess?" Grant whisper
ed, while the look of pain n terror
~deepened upon his face.
"She must know, and know at once,p
Marriott replied. but she a bear
1t. This is the first time / have seen
the duchess, Grant. You know her
well, but / know a plucky woman
when I see her once. and she will even
bear this additional blow for her sons
sake"
Grants face lightened a little with
pleasure.
'sOh," he said, there is no n like
her in the worldi There win never be
any one like her in the world again.