The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-08-11

Mr.. Courtenay Pile alighted from
the train at the small station at Lit
Teton 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
inns, awaiting his orders. He had
wired for it because his visit was UNI
expected by those who might have
seen that he had a more comfortable
reception. 1t was mild February
day, with 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. arr an hour, SIR" re-
piled Simon, without blinking an eye
There's more go in that there old
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
hat was half gallop and half trot.
They be gittin' on, sir, up to the
Manor" said the driver, inclined for
/ little friendly talk. Every day
he walls gifts little bit 'igher, so
% speak, It'll look tip-top when it's
lone. " Is {: ~. n; issessss7i<~
as it approved in these parts,
hen?" inquired Mr.. Pile with some
interest.
ooh, yes, sir; they says there won't
,e anything to touch the new 'ouse
n this part O. the country"
That's good, Simon. and as it
should be-" remarked Mr. Pile, and
;elapsed into silence as they began to
ascend the road to the downs, which
Tipped again to the sheltered valley
IN which the new Manor house of
March was being erected for an abb
;entee.
They reached it under thirty min
ates, and long before they turned in
at the avenue gates the red pile of
the masonry was visible between the
spaces of the leafess 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. l
want to get back to Littleton in time
for the three-ten."
Right, sir"
The trap stopped. Mr.. Pile
alighted. and at once cut across the
park in slanting direction towards
the house. Once only he stopped to
read it through. 1t was almost I'M,
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 at
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
mo nths before by one of the most dis
astrous fires Of the century, all the
signs of big undertaking being car
ried merrily through te~its legitimate
finish, met his eye. Cranes were at
work to assist the bricklayers, great
piles of dry mortar and stacks of
bricks covered the short sward, 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 n the gable wall
caught sight of Mr.. Pile approaching,
and Immediately began to descend to
the ground. He was a big, slow man,
with a somewhat inscrutable face,
careless of his dress, but never SLOW
emily; 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 Wakelyn
waited for his superior to speak fur
Their.
II came on account of the some
what unusual letter / received from
you yesterday. Wakelyn. started to
answer it this morning, but found it
difficult; where can we TALK"
I'm the little Office; it is empty at
the present moment answered
WAkelyn imperturbably, and they
turned together to the small wnodan