The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-01-03
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.


Ardsley and I'm looking for lady"
That's very unlikely story. Col
Inns, help the gentleman down." and
the reporter obeyed instructions with
80 much zeal that the noble gentle
man fell prone, and was assisted to
his feet with a fine mockery of help
fulness.
Il tell you I'm looking for lady
whose horse ran away with her. I'm
the duke of Ballywinkle and brother
in-law to Mr. Ardmore. I'll have you
sent to Jail If you stop me here"
Come along, duke. and we'll see
what you look like" said Cooke. lead
ing the way to the bungalow veranda.
Within Ardmore was lighting lamps.
| There was a long room finished in
black oak, with a fireplace at one
end. and a table in the center. The
floors were covered with handsome
rugs and the walls we're hung with
photographs and etchings. Ardmore
sat on the back of leather settee in
a pose assumed at the moment of the
dukes entrance. 1t was a pose OF en-
tire nonchalance. and Ardmore's cap,
perched on the back of his head. and
his brown hair rumpled boyishly
added to the general effect of comfort
and ease.
The duke blinked for a moment II
the lamplight, then he roared out joy
ously:
"Ardy, old mani" and advanced to
ward his brother-in-law with out
stretched hand.
Keep him of; he's undrYh'cdl!
quite mad" said Ardmore. staring
coldly, and bending his riding-crol
across his knees. Collins. pleas
ride on after the lady and bring he
back this way"
Cooke had seated the prisoner ratt
er rudely in a chair. and the nobl
duke. having lost the power of 'speec
in amazement and fright, rubbed hi
eyes and then fastened them IL
credulously on Ardmore; but Their
was no question about it, he had bee
seized with violence; he had bee
repudiated by his own brother-in-la'
the useless, stupid Tommy Ardmor'
. who, at best. had only child's min
l for pirate stories and who was indub
tably the most negligible of negligibl
figures in the drama of life as tn
duke knew 1t.
Cooke" began Ardmore, address
, ing his lieutenant gravely from b
perch on the settee, what is II
charge against this person."
\ He says he's duke" CRIME
+ Cooke. taking his cue from Ardmore
manner. And he says he's visitir
1 at Ardsley.
That" said Ardmore with decisio
SIS creditable only to the gentleman
romantic imagination. His face
| anything but dukely, and there's n
streak across it which points clear
| to the recent sharp blow of a weapon
and no one would ever strike duk
It's utterly incredible" and Ardmo
lifted his brows and leaned back wi
his arms at length and his han
clasping the riding-crop, as he &C
templated with supreme satisfacti
the tell-tale red line across the duke
cheek.
For Gods sake. Ardy-" howl
the duke.
Ardmore drew from his pocb
Jobnston's American Politics" wi
an air of greatest seriousness.
Cooke" he said. half to himself
he turned the pages. do you RENE
Der lust what the constitution sa
about dukes? Oh, yes; here we al
Now. Mr.. Duke of Ballywinkle, list
to what it says here in Section 3
the Constitution of the United Stat
which reads exactly as follows in t
hook: No title of nobility shall
granted by the United States: And
person holding any office of profit
trust under them, shall, without
consent of the congress, accept of
present. emolunient, office. or title,
any kind whatever, from any XII
prince. or foreign state And it s.
in Section 10 that No state shall gr
any title of nobility Now, Mr.. Ba
;rLla a. is nerfectly clear that