The national forum., 1910-07-23


tleton March, his handsome face
wearing a somewhat troubled express
sion.
He passed through the booking
Office and found an open trap of the
type usually to be hired at village
fms, awaiting his orders. He had
wired for it because his visit was un-
expected by those who might have
seen that he had more comfortable
reception. 1t was mild February
day, with a suggestion of spring in
the gentle air, soft clouds chasing
one another across the dappled sky.
The roads were soft and muddy, and
Mr. Pile looked critically at the some
what sorry old crock between the
shafts of the village fly and ruefully
shook his head
How much for the lot, Simon
and how long before we get hauled
up to March Manor?"
Matter O. 'arf an hour, sir" re-
piled Simon, without blinking an eye
Il uGlS ulOlS EO lu Ihop eoChS WIN
crock than you think"
Mr. Pile swung himself UP beside
The driver, drew the emaciated rug
gingerly over his well-cut' trousers,
and the old crock, laying his ears
we'll back, set off in a weird amble
that was half gallop and half trot.
"They be gittin' on, sir, up to the
Manor" said the driver, inclined for
a little friendly talk. Every day
the walls gifts little bit 'igher, so
to speak. It'll look tip-top when it's
done"
"Is it approved in these parts,
them" inquired Mr.. Pile with some
interest.
ooh, yes, sir; they says there won't
be anything to touch the new 'ouse
in this part O. the country"
'That's good, Simon. and as it
should be-. remarked Mr. Pile, and
relapsed into silence as they began to
ascend the road TO the downs, which
dipped again to the sheltered valley
In which the new Manor house OF
March was being erected for an abb
sentee.
They reached it under thirty min
utes, and long before they turned in
at the avenue gates the red pile OF
the masonry was visible between the
spaces of the lealess trees.
! "You can let me down here, Simon
and go round by the back way TO the
stables" said Mr.. Pile when they
were we'll within the gates; "and
require you to wait there for me.
want to get back to Littleton in time
for the three-ten"
Fright, sir"
The trap stopped. Mr.. Pile
alighted, and at once cut across the
park in a slanting direction towards
the house. Once only he stopped tc
draw letter from his pocket and
read it through 1t was almost un'
necessary, because he had already
made himself master of the contents
which had angered him greatly.
"Confounded cheek on Wakelyn's
part - confounded!" he repeated
drawing out the word with emphasis
"but he's a clinking good servant
and we can't afford to dismiss him al
this point. 1t would create suspicion
which is what we must avoid"
When he reached the new building
which was being erected on the site
of the old one, consumed a few
months before by one of the most dis
astrous fires of the century, all the
signs of big undertaking being car
ried merrily through to its Legitimate
finish, met his eye. Cranes were al
work to assist the bricklayers, great
piles Of dry mortar and stacks oi
bricks covered the short sword, seem
ing to destroy for a moment the fine
old turf in the immediate vicinity;
the air was filled with the din of la
Dor being heartily pursued.
A man high up on the gable wal
caught sight of Mr.. Pile approaching
and Immediately began to descend tc
the ground. He was big, slow man
with somewhat inscrutable face
careless OF his dress, but never SLOW
enly; a. man whose expression and
whole bearing suggested both power
and determination. A brief greet
ing, rather curt on Piles part, passed
between the two men, and Wakelyr
waited for his superior to speak fur
ther.
II came on account OF the some
what unusual letter / received from
you yesterday, Wakelyn. I started tt
answer it this morning, but found \
| difficult; where can we talk?"
"In the little Office it is empty a
the present moment" answered
! Wakelyn imperturbably, and they
turned together to the small woodeI
shanty that had been erected for thu
transaction of business which re
quired attention on the spot. 1t wa'
4 quite comfortable within and warmed
by small stove which sent out
bright glow. Pile closed the door
lid his face hardened as he looked
straight at Wakelyn
"You exceeded your privilege,
think, this time, Wakelyn I've stood
we've all stood, good deal from you
but this Is tho, limit. What have yol
to say for YOURSELF"
Nothing more than I put in IN!
letter, sir. / can't stop here and seq
the work through or the presen