The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-12-03

By U THORNE.
CHAPTER Continued.

CHAPTER xxil-Continued.
The Royal carriage with it's outrid
srs and positions had just gone W
he Row. Sir Hercules, as he passed
'eceived a bow and answering smile
% his own salutation from the august
oerson who sat beside the dusky mon
arch from the East. He cantered on,
out his heart beat rapidly, wondering
what was going to happen.
He knew something was going to
happen, and he half guessed at its
nature.
Not for many years had the we'll
snown old society man experienced
such a thrill as when he saw his sol.
and Michael Grant come as uncon.
:ernedly into the club as if all London
we're not busy with their names as
implicated in a mystery-and perhaps
scandal-unparallele In experience.
And nOw-and now-and now-what
was going to happen?
As he was walking his horse slow
~ along, little Tom Davidson cantered
upon his park hack-little Tom David
son who knew everybody and every.
thing, and was always primed with
the latest tit-bit of news.
"Halloa, Admiral!" the little, clean
shaven fellow said cheerfully, "shak.
ing up your liver? What? Did yo,.
see the dusky potentate go by? Looks
very Ill and worn, doesn't he? There's
= good deal of unrest in Persia, I'm
told. Heard 1t from a man who has
Just come back from Teheran, and
knows what's going on. Any day the
poor old Shah may be blown Up
diamond aigrette and all-when he
gets back. Regular mortality among
royalties lately, too. l suppose you
saw in this afternoons paper that the
Princess of Neutrality-suspicious. is
dead? Beautiful woman, by Cad! she
was. I remember her years ago when
they said Alberto London was going
4 mar from the German Embassy,
whom l saw at Whites just now, told
that the Princess suddenly went
raving mad three or four days ago
without any cause. Her paroxysms
were frightful, 81 they say. There's
more behind 1t than meets the eye,
I make no doubt. Any Jews been
heard, by the way, about the Duchess
Of London and the little Duke? Peo-
pie are saying all sorts of queer things
and they are mixing up her name with
Michael Grants, the athletic fellow,
you know? Grant has been missing
from London for days, and nobody
knows where he is-and, Of course, he
awfully sweet on the Duchess"
Sir Hercules Marriott was not par
ticularly fond Of little Tom Davidson,
and he rather enjoyed the mex few
seconds.
quite wrong. my dear Tom" he
said; "as your information generally
IL. by Jove! Michael Grants in town;
l have Just had a long talk with him;
in fact, he will be in the Park in a
minute, for the old Duke Of Perth has
asked him and my son to drive with
him. There they are! Afternoon,
Toni" and the ancient dandy cantered
on towards the old-fashioned ducal
carriage, which was approaching with
the four men.
He turned his horse as the carriage
came UP to him and cantered along
by the side, talking to Sir Anthony
HELLER, whose face wore a curiously
preoccupied and anxious expression.
The sun beat down upon the brill
liant crowd of equipages. The roads
were lined with s%ightseers, who point
ed out this or that notability as they
went by.
Suddenly the men in the. carriage
and Sir Hercules also heard a curious
noise Of cheering coming from the
neighborhood Of Hyde Park Corner.
It grew louder and louder, and both
the Duke and Sir Anthony turned
round and looked behind them.
Then. suddenly, an astonishing thing
A pair-horse victoria, driv-
On at q rapid rate, came up the ride.
Upon the box we're two men in the
livery of peach-colour and
purple which the servants of the
Dukes OF London always wore.
IN the victoria, radiantly lovely, her
violet eyes alight with happiness, her
glorious hair shining In the sun, the
glory OF health upon her cheeks, sat
the Duchess of London herself!
And by her side, in a sailor suit,
the little Duke.
The Park had. perhaps. known
euch = sensation before.
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