The Delta independent., 1910-07-08

to verify certain facts connected with
your late uncle's early life"
THE devil you were!" exclaimed
Stennis, looking at Hews with accrued
interest Then, after a moments re-
Election, he continued:
Il don't see why that should mako
any difference. do you?"
''Not at ALL" was the reply. Il
should serve you none the less faith
fully, Mr.. Stennis."
All right" assented the latter. I'll
let your hear from me one way or the
other, Mr.. Hews."
Hews bowed, and had his hand ON
the doorknob when Wilfrid said:
'By the way. 1t just occurs to me:
Mr.. Jocelyn is leaving because he In
going to get married. l hate these
changes, anyway. Pardon me-but
have you-er-er-any similar inten-
tions, Mr.. Hews? It's none Of my
business. perhaps?"
For an instant the astute Roger half
suspected some hidden or covert
meaning in this sudden question; but
. glance at Wilfrid's quite tranquil
countenance quickly dispelled the
idea. 1t was merely a chance shot.
With grave smile he answered:
Not the slightest"
AS he descended in the elevator hO
reflected that Stennis was not likely
to hear any tell-tale contradictions OF
this statement from Eunice Trevecca.
and even a better man than Roger
Hews could have justified the mislead-
ing answer by appealing to the reply
made by Sir Philip Francis when
asked point-blank II he had penned
certain notorious letters: IF l had.
you know, should certainly say had
not!"
A variety of motives impelled the
schemer to take this plunge into the
enemy's country.
First and foremost was the feeling
that by being on the spot he would be
able to keep in touch with the prop
erty he had almost come to regard as
his own.
Then, too, he fancied that the coy-
eted position would enable him to de-
tect any signs of renewed tenderness
between Wilfrid and Eunice; while
equally, Of course, II Stennis were con-
templating any other union matri-
monial he would know of that.
In fact, by this move. should II
prove successful. his position would
be like that of q man in the center
Of seesaw plank: he could depress
or elevate either end at will.
Roger Hews was one Of those men
to whom power. or the knowledge Of
power, is inexpressibly sweet. TIE
assurance that he held his unsuspeet-
ing adversary in the hollow of hts
hand, that II he chose he could at any
time oust him from his high estate IN
half a dozen words, was to him meat
and drink.
In less than a week he received q
note from Stennis definitely enRaxinS
him. and requesting that he begin his
new duties forthwith. So Roger Hews
took up his residence at THE Albany"
and speedily became adept in his
work, as well as possessed Of most OF
his employers little secrets.
The winter came and went without
bringing much change in the outward
relations of the chief personages Of
this tale. The walls of the new man
sion on Riverside were steadily rising,
and the envious heart Of Roger Hewa
was made sick at the thought Of the
enormous sums that were being Law.
ished thereon.
"Confould him!" he growled in his
Gizzard . dozen times day. HE lit
tie thinks whose money is being
squandered! I'll give him little
more rope. and then"
For Hews had come to hate Wilfrid
with . blind, unreasoning hatred
which. in . less cold-blooded man
would have endangered by precipi
fancy his ultimate plans and plots
Strange to say, the unconscious VIII
fr1d rather liked his taciturn and me
thodical secretary.