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

They are both In town" the duchess
continued. "Sir Anthony Heller
he's president Of the local government
board, and he will probably be at the
house Of commons now. And then the
old duke Of Perth. I know he's in
London because / saw him yesterday.
He Is at Perth house in Cadogan
square. Send two men at once to
ring them"
Il will. at once. duchess" Grant a
swered. Keep up-do your best. I
know there must be some simple ex-
PLANTATION for al this. think 1t would
be better, too, II we were to telephone
I've can telephone. can't we, from
here?'
"Oh, yes," the duchess replied.
There are telephones in the house
somewhere"
Very we'll, then. we will telephone
Il once to Scotland Yard. where the
detectives and people whose business
It is to and out these things are, duch-
sss. We will telephone and ask them
TO send up some Of their best men in
stantly. ! win 80 and give the or
ders."
He ran out into the hall, now crowd
Cd with servants and buzzing like 4
hive.
Remington hurried up to him, and
he gave the house steward the neces-
safy orders, returning to the blue
drawing room within 4 minute.
Have you arranged. Michael!" the
duchess asked.
Yes, it's all right" he answered.
In . very few minutes l expect they
will be here"
She gave up q sigh Of relief, sitting
pale, but composed. upon an ottoman
covered In blue linen, against which
background her black dress, her white
arms and shoulders. her imperial hair
with stts diamond star, her face, like
q drooping lily, showed az a concrete
mantfe9tation Of pain and beauty.
Mss pecies was standing by the
are place. n long, lean, mittened
arm resting upon the low Jacobean
1 Well" the old lady said, in q voice
which ~trsmblsd,e there 10 nothing
more to be done until Sir Anthony.
the duke Of Perth, and the detectives
arrive" ss
Fer voice wal so tremulous and full
of anxlety that Grant experienced 4
sense sof selt-reproach.
So. then. he had misjudged this
hard old lady-thought her incapable
IT + cling, dried up. harsh, callous. Il
seemed that she. was nothing. of the
sert, and he was sorry he had so mis-
AIKEN her in the past.
Miss Decies," he said, you have
ceen splendid: you have been quite
splendid! How tired you must be!
Don't you think that II you were to
have q glass Of wine or something it
would help you to bear up in this cri.
sis? And the duchess, oughtnt b
TO have something?"
The duchess made q negative move
nent with her hand.
NO, no." she answered; II can
take nothing. But you. Aunt Augusta.
you must. Let me ssnd for some
thing"
Miss Decies shook her head. my
dear" she answered, Il don't want
anything ut all: one has ! nervous
store to draw upon. But / think I
win 80 70 my ooms for . few min.
utes 70 compose myself. That will be
better for me. Directly anybody ar
Hves, Beatrice, please send a man up
to let me know and I will come down
q once. a few minutes. though. by
myself would help me to gather nv
self together, my poor child"
with that the old lady caught up
her train and glided out Of the room,
and. despite the alteration in her
voice and features, her back was Is
straight 40 ever, and she walked like
= princess.
Grant held open the door for her.
and closed II quietly when she had
gOnes faaat SQa .3la SaHq i aE
What . dear old lady she is, OUCH
ess!" he said; s"and I have been ali
the time thinking unkind things of
her! Heaven forgive me-"
s#.Oh.a Aunt Augusta % all right 1t
heart" the duchess answered, with
out enthusiasm. # seemed to him.
And then. diminishing the subject. she
rose from the couch.
Horribly pale q she Wa. trem-
bling and utterly upset, she vet
walked into the center OF the beautiful
little room and raised one hand.
.Michael." she said. and the words
sAtne nom her jerkily. one by one. =
t they wore an effort to pronounce
"kicbael, 4, has happened ct last"
sl61tl' A. said. what do You
neinf. a sl
Never nind.' she answered. some.
No. ft6sflbIS ~ happened. Not very
At66mdfSsstnan n hour 90. Michael.
roa sworo foa1ty 70 ne, didn't you ~
- asznjf aropDSd IL iii side. he
o~eEsos1no caeHs1iS hands md thrsJv,
1nak ~ hood.
neknu dsayss - aid. = svore i.
nleAe0s eledlyI sWUrs mr.
- replied, - oold, hurried
M~ehnleAenvatoD eyi1mex h. now come.