Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-07-07
CHAPTER Jii!.

CHATTER tii!.
One morning In the early fall, 4
few weeks after the return of Stennis
from abroad, Roger IIews called at
his OOrns bearing a letter OF intro
ductiOn from l~Ioraiio p~assayant. It
ran:
My Dear Mr. Stcnnis: This will com
mend to ypur consideration Mr.. Roger
IIrwg, who prefers to do lbs own explain
ms as to IT," object OF his waiting upon
you. / am requested to say, however,
ana 1t give N" great pleasure to do SO
that Mr.. Il'Ws has upon more than one
occasion acquitted himself i~ntclligcntly
aud faithfully IN matters Of moment en-
trusted to INN by this firm. and / be-
lieve him to merit the utmost confidence.
Most truly yours.
IiOltATIO pASSAVANT.
what can | do for you, Mr.. iiews?'
inquired StcnniS genially, dragging =
chair forward.
Il understand that your secretary
il about to leave you, Mr.. Stcnnis. and
] venture to make application for the
post. 1t occurred to me that "A per
sOnxl call would be more satisfactory
all around. ! hope I'm not too late?"
"On the contrary, you are the first
In the field. How did you know that
there was to be a ~vacanCy?"
Prom Mr.. PassaVant"
Il see" said Willrid. 1T war
through him that MIR Jocelyn came
to me three years ago, if he sends me
A. good a man this time. | shall not
complain"
lIcws bowed. In dress and deport.
ment-thc former severely business.
like, the latter quiet and sedate-he
seemed outvardly all that could be
desired.
Stennis turned to the letter OF rec.
concentration, slightly at IA loss what
to say next. This man was evidently
some gears older than himself, and
no doubt cmincntly respectable.
Despite his experience of the re-
speCt and Difference everywhere elic!-
ted by his wealth and social standing,
Stcnnis had never quite gotten over
@ slight feeling Oi embarrassment and
49, H'tiIhb WV
those Of his fclluwmcn who inight
in any sense be considered as dc.
pcndents. An acute observer would
have said hat this hang dog trait was
convincing proof that he had not been
born 20 the purple. Your titled Eng.
lishman, for instance, has no compunc.
lion or hesitation In ordering his scrv.
ants around; they are to him, and al.
ways have been, simply SO much fur
niture,
Il suppose / ought TO ask you some
questions, Mr.. licws." said Stennis,
with a whimsical but engaging little
smile, but for the life OF me ! don't
know where to begin"
Il am entirely at your service" muir,
INJURED the irreproachablc llews, who
was on his good behavior,
"Well-er-what experience have
you had? | presume that's u fair in
quiry?" said Winfrid tentatively.
"Oh. certainly. Mr.. Stennis To be
frank with you. ! have never occupied
exactly the position Of a private sec
rotary, but ] have been employed al
various times In a confidential ca
pacity by several men Of affairs, and
the firm OF Carboy, rassavant 4
Cozine has also used me in some deli
cate matters. may say without hest
tation that ] am thoroughly familiar
with the duties OF such a place"
Wilfrld nodded. MIR. Passavan-
~transacts all my weighticr business
you know: you would look after IN,
private correspondence. keep III,
posted as to social engagements, &,
through the begging letters-there',
q devil OF a lot of them. | can assur,
you-purchase supplies, and pay III,
bills
Il understand. said ljcws conf
IDENTITY