Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-06-17

He was therefore rather surprised
courteous and thoroughly polite, was
not that of welcoming q guest, al
though the girl was obviously known
to him.
What Is it, please?" said Michael
Grant.
II have been discharged from my
situation, Mr. Grant" the girl replied,
and Basil Marriott noted, with a
quickening interest, that her voice
and information were those of lady.
well, you must excuse me for say
ing It," Grant answered, "but think
the duchess was quite right in send
ing you away. If you had not left
the nursery when you 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, l"but 1t is not what I came to
speak to you about when l asked to
see you"
For the first time, something in the
manner and voice seemed to strike
the athlete He had known her as
second 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
won't you sit down, please, Miss
-" He hesitated.
s"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
were just on the point Of going to the
QuCn66S, Wnen-"
He did not conclude his sentence.
II am glad, them" the girl answered,
that | have seen you irst'-turnlng
to Basil-"to regard what say as in
the very strictesta confidence?"
SIN so far as it does not go against
the interests Of the duchess, for I pre-
sumo that you have come to speak to
me Of the dukes disappearance, I
think can safely give that promise,
both for Capt Marriott and myself"
said Grant, in answer.
Il have nothing very definite To tell
you," she said, but series of small
happenings and one especial occur
renee seem to point to cumulative
fact, and l have my suspicious as to
who is at the bottom OF the whole af-
fair. These suspicious will sound in
credible to you, Mr.. Grant; but, new
ertheless, I hold them with q con-
WINGED mind, and II LIDO no more than
at least put you upon the alert In a
certain direction, shall have accom-
plished very much. For my own part,
my only wish is to have this dreadful
mystery solved. For my own dismis-
sal am, OF, course, sorry, but it will
not ruin me. as! At might have done
we're an ordinary servant, whose life
must be passed in the service OF en-
ployers such as the duchess. q
My father Is a country rector with
small means, and both myself and my
sister, by earning our own livings, are
enabled to-.assist him to send the
younger children to good schools. My
Situation with thes duchess was we'll
paid, which was an important thing to
me. So, you see, am not altogether
homeless nor without resources. All
this 4 mention, not because I wish to
intrude my private affairs upon you,
but simply to, assure you that my OBJ
ject in coming here this afternoon is
quite disinterested, and feel in a
sense, that i ought to make every pos
sible effort that can in the matter.
because undoubtedly contributed to
what seems SO like a tragedy by be-
Ing absent from the nursery for half
ans hour. at a time when was In
charge i y
Hef voice faltered assshe said this,
and tears came into hersadark eyes,
whilst one of her little hands clenched
itself upon her. Knee. ss,s.
Capt. Marriott thought he had never
seen any one SO winningly forlorn n
this girl. He wanted to 60 up to her
and pat her on the shoulder, to tell
her It was albright. that she need
not worry. WI gsst
Grant bowed in answer to her
speech, And now, z he said, tell me
to whom your suspicious point?"
The girl hesitated for a. moment;
opened her lips to speak, closed them
again, looked round the room, and,
with q half-frightened air.. gathered
herself together. and spoke two
words:
Miss Decies!' "A NJ
Grant started violently, and then
the color mounted to his cheeks.
afiss Daeies: Z. he said you must
BE- mad. Miss tHobsonl Miss Decies.
the aunt Of the duchess! Miss Decies!
Oh, you must DO mad I" he repeated
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