Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-18

said that he had no single rooms with
baths disengaged at present. but that
there was a suite, consisting Of bedroom,
bath and parlor; just one suite. and that
probably would be gone In another
minute.
The hint of rivalry decided Loveland.
Very well. 1 will take it, he said.
Here's my card. II you wish to know to
whom you are letting your rooms" he
went on, haughtily, In response to a
sharp glance from shrewd. experienced
eyes. And the hotel clerk read aloud,
Marquis Of Loveland.''
At this every one who had not been
staring at the handsome. arrogant young
Englishman began to stare, and Love-
| land was not displeased.
my luggage Will be here soon. hope.
he said. showing several metal discs,
about which his ideas were rather vague.
The clerk answered civilly that the trunks
ought to arrive in half an hour or so. and
smart youth in livery was told on to
show Lord Loveland his rooms.
They were very luxurious rooms, almost
too luxurious. and Loveland experienced
faint qualm as 1t occurred to him that
he had neglected to ask the price But
they can't come to more than five or SIX
pounds day at the worst he thought
hopefully.
He had brought his suit case In the
cab, and as the letters of introduction
were in little portable writing desk con-
tained among the fittings. he got out the
packet to read over the addresses. All
the friends to whom Jim and Betty We're
commencing him lived in New York, and
Cadwallader Hunter had said that most
New Workers were at home in November
Ioveland was just deciding that the let
ters had better reach their destination
before night, when his baggage appeared
looking not much the worse for wear.
Now was the moment when the IN
estimable Foxham would be really missed.
On shipboard there had been little to I'M
pack: but the contents of the portmanteau
must have been rudely stirred on the
dock and ought Immediately to be res
cued by an expert. Loveland touched an
electric bell in his bedroom, demanded of
an UNEXPECTEDLY responsive telephone that
the hotel should produce a valet. and
criticised the product adversely when it
came.
Luncheon time was near and Val was
hungry. but he would not leave wardrobe
and jeWelry to the discretion OF strange
servant In mood swinging toward inn
patience he sat down on cushioned sofa
to watch the Wallets proceedings.
The larger of the two noble portman-
teauS was opened: the neat square OK gold
braided and coroneted brown velvet. with
which Foxham always covered the con-
tents Of each box. was removed, ana
pile of clothing was deftly excavated.
Loveland's face changed from attention
to surprise, then to bewilderment. BY
Jove!'' he exclaimed. those don't look
like my things" Then springing up
alertly, he began to toss over the pile as
the hotel valet deposited it upon the bed.
to toss it over as haymaker losses hay.
But in the midst. he drew back his hand
as If he had inadvertently touched pitch.
"Jove!" he stammered again.
Wrong luggage, SIR" ventured the
servant.
Loveland did not reply. He did not
even hear. for his thoughts had taken
trip of record quickness across the sea,
and were already in London, chasing a
mystery But II the valet had stopped to
think an answer would have been UNI
necessary. The keys fitted the portman-
teau and there were the big initials and
the small coronets which distinguished
Lord Lovelands property from the vulgar
trunks OF the common herd
Had Foxham gone mad? For the mo-
ment Loveland could think Of no other
explanation. The portmanteau was filled
with discarded garments. many OF which
Loveland had given TO Foxham at part
ing Other things We're there, too, which
Val dimly remembered having actually
seen on the person Of Foxham, and II was
from the touch of these contaminated
remnants that he recoiled I'm disgust.
open the other portmanteau." he d.
rected 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 q deceitful top layer, they
were not Loveland's shirts. They might
have been bought ready made in the Edg-
ware road: probably had been-by Fox
ham. There was underclothing also; but
not the pale pink. blue and heltotrope silk
variety affected by Foxham's master.
Now the hat box Loveland went on.
almost sure that he was talking In his !