Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-11-04

even hear, for his thoughts had taken
a trip Of record quickness across the
sea and were already in London chas-
ing a mystery. But If the valet had
stopped to think an answer would
have been unnecessary. The keys
fitted the portmanteaus, and there were
the big initials and the small coronets
which distinguished Lord Loveland's
property from the vulgar trunks OF the
common herd.
Had Foxham gone mad? For the
moment Loveland could think Of no
other explanation. The portmanteau
was filled with discarded garments,
many Of which Loveland had given to
Foxham at parting. Other things were
there, too, which Val dimly remem-
bered having actually seen on the per-
son of Foxham, and it was from the
touch Of these contaminated remnants
that he recoiled in disgust.
"Open the other pOrtmanteau." he
directed, flushed now and anxious
eyed.
The hotel servant obeyed. Another
neat square Of brown velvet was
whisked away, and piles of shirts were
revealed, but save for deceitful top
layer they were not Loveland's shirts.
They might have been bought ready
made in the Edgemere road-probably
had been-by FoXham. There was un-
derclothing Also but not the pale pink,
blue and heliotrope silk variety affect
ed by Foxham's master.
"Now the hatbox," LOveland went
on, almost sure that he was talking in
his sleep.
There were hats in the hatbOx-FOx-
hams hats, perhaps, certainly not Lord
Loveland's. And In the boot box,
which came next, were boots which
even Foxham would have found 1T diff
fcult to give away.
Only the custom house officials good
nature and haste and LOveland's COM
plete absence Of mind on the dock had
delayed discovery until this moment,
but now that the secret was out there
seemed nothing to do If not to rage
helplessly.
Loveland spluttered a few colorful
words, but was still too bewildered by
the catastrophe to become volcanic.
The eruption would follow later.
what shall do with the things,
sir? the valet wanted to know.
do with them?' repeated Loveland.
exasperated by the creatures calm
ness. "Pitch 'em into the fire, get rid
of them anyhow, out Of my sight, and
be quick about it. I've been robbed by
my own man."
No wonder Foxham had not asked
for wages In arrears. No wonder he
suddenly developed a defunct grand
father with an eccentric will. From
the moment he heard Of the proposed
trip to America he must have been
quietly planning this coup, a coup
worth making for the sake Of the
brand new wardrobe, to say nothing of
the jewelry. And, hot with rage, Love
land ran over in his mind the contents
Of that missing jewel box, the pearl
studs which Lady Kitty Manning had
given him on his last birthday, each
one of. the three worth ESQ II 1t was
worth a shilling. How he wished he
had sold the things, as he had been
tempted to do and would have done if
they had not been the gift Of a pretty
woman! The diamond and enamel
sleeve links, too, and the sapphire but
tons-a hundred pounds more in Fox
hams pocket; then the cravat pins in
two long rows on white velvet back
ground. Loveland could see them as
he had seen them last-a cherished COL
lection representing not only so many
golden sovereigns, but so many queens
Of beauty, the charming glvers.
fro BE CONTINUED