The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-06-18

He "a therefore rather SURPRISED
that his hosts manner, perfectly
courteous and thoroughly polite, was
not that OF welcoming a guest, al
though the girl was obviously known
to him.
What is it, p~lease?" said Michael
Grant.
Il have been discharged from my
situation, Mr.. Grant" the girl replied,
and Basil Marriott noted, with a
quickening interest, that her voice
and intonation were those of a lady
well, you must Reuse me for say
ing It," Grant answered, "but think
the duchess was quite right in send
ing you away. II you had not left
the nursery when o did, probably
the duke would still be safe and
sound"
Marriott started. Nursery" What
did this mean? Was this girl, then,
one of the little dukes attendants?
This girl-who was SO obviously a
lady, so obviously graceful and at
tractive! Then he realized suddenly
that it might indeed be SO in the case
Of the duke Of London.
The girl blanched and grew paler as
Grant answered her.
THAT is possible, Mr.. Grant" she
said, "but It is not what | came to
speak to you about when asked TO
see you"
For the first time, something in the
manne and voice seemed to strike
the athlete. He had known her as
nurse to the duke, although
he had hardly ever spoken to her in
his life before. He suddenly realized
that this was no ordinary servant.
Wont you sit down, please, Miss
He hesitated.
my name is Hobson," she an
swered, taking a chair, with quiet SELF
possession.
"And now, why have you come to
me, Miss Hobson?" Grant asked.
This gentleman, Capt. Marriott
he inclined his head towards Basil,
who bowed to the girl-"and myself
we're just on the point of going to the
duchess, when
He did not conclude his sentence.
az I'm glad, them" the girl answered,
that | have seen you frst'-turning
o Basil-"to regard what I say as in
he very strictest confidence?"
TN so far as it does not go against
interests of the duchess, for pre-
ume that you have come to speak to
ne OF the dukes disappearance,
hink | ian safely give that promise,
9th for Capt. Marriott and myself"
aid Grant, in answer.
II have. nothing very definite 70 tell
ou," she said, but q series OF small
appenings and one especial occur
ence seem to point to a cumulative
act, and I have my suspicious as to
rho is at the bottom OF the whole ar
air. These suspicious will sound In
redible to you, Mr.. Grant; but, new
rtheless, I hold them with q con-
inced mind, and IL I do no o than
/ least put you upon the alert In a
ertain direction. I shall have accorn-
lished very much. For my W part,
nv only wish is TO have this dreadful
nystery solved. For my own dismiss
al I am, Of course, sorry, but 1t will
lot ruin me, as 1t might have done
we're / an ordinary servant, whose life
must be passed in the service OF en-
such as the duchess.
my father Is a country rector with
means, and both myself and my
lister. by earning u W livings. axe
to assist him TO send the
oun9er children 70 good anhnnla Nv
Iituation with the duchess was well
laid. which was an important thing to
So, you see, I am not altogether
iomeless MOI without resources. All
his / mention, not because | wish TO
my private affairs upon you,
,ut simply to assure you that my OBJ
iect in coming here this afternoon Is
disinterested. and l feel, In q
iense, that I ought to make every pos
sible effort that | can In the matter.
/ undoubtedly contributed to
Fhat seems so like a tragedy by be-
ng absent from the nursery for half
IN hour. at a time when was In
sharge..
Hef voice faltered las she said this,
md tears came into her dark eyes,
whilst one of her little hands clenched