Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-25

"Oh, yes; and feeling rather better,
should say" returned Simpson,
cheerily
Caglionis eyelids futtered in their
peculiar fashion. A few moments he
stood gazing before him, as if forget
, full Of the other; then suppressing any
sign of emotion, asked, in as casual
voice as he could summon, one or two
other questions. If Sir Archibald was
home; where he had gone; when
would he return?
Simpson answered as best he might,
and was about to Wheel when the sec
retary's look chanced on the bundle,
and fingered tentatively.
You're bound for the village, now,
l suppose?" he said Simpson replied
affirmatively. Something of import
ance, when you take it yourself?" with
a nod at the parcel.
Not at all, SIR" returned the man
absently. Just a little cleaning and
fixing to be DONE"
"Oh?" observed Caglioni For Miss
| "oou, L presume.
Simpson, about to answer, hesitated;
perhaps Mr.. Bruce might not care to
have it known that he, a type or
masculine elegance and immaculate
neatness, was sending his dress-suit
| to be repaired, or even, If necessary,
| patched up" Most young men, less
fastidious, would have cast the Offend
| ing garments aside and promptly or
| dered new clothes. For Simpson had
seen that the cloth was actually burn
ed through in one or two minute
places: but he was frugal mortal,
himself, and approved of that virtue
| In others. The possession Of 1t had
lifted Bruce to a distinctive place In
the old fashioned servants estimation.
| Others of his set in over er-extravagant
| Manhattan town, were wasteful ana
prodigal to a degree positively sinful.
He unqualifiedly approved of Mr..
Woods latest guest: anyhow, 1t was
not his, Simpsons, business to pro-
claim Mr.. Bruce's little economies to
one who had on many occasions show
ed himself, in a subtle way. rather
too inquiring and inquisitive.
| So Simpson answered quietly, even
with a certain dignity he could on oc-
casions assume:
Il often take things down to the
village for Miss Wood, sir"
| AS he passed on. Caglionrs glance
suddenly changed; Simpson had shift
ed the bundle and the secretary's eyes
had caught sight of certain charac-
| ters on it. Chinese? He was not
quite sure; his brain seemed to move
sluggishly; he felt surprised; uncer-
| tain what to do. He did think of call
ing out after Simpson; to what end?
That persons figure blended, afar'
with the shadowy streaks in the path;
| became now a part OF the more un-
broken, darker tones farther on.
There, Caglioni could scarcely distin-
| guish the servants form; only that
which he carried under his arm, the
compact little bundle, continued to be
visible to the secretary's gaze. 1t,
lighter in hue than the garments
| Simpson wore yet remained plainly
apparent; Cagloni still saw it, though
the man, bearing 1t away, had merged
into the back ground. A last gleam,
and It, too, finally became lost to
sight; ceased to impress itself, like
something important, on his visual
organs.
| Caglioni drew himself up. "A little
cleaning and fixing!" His mind felt
slightly daZed. One thought predom-
mated: the need Of further enlighten-
| ment from Sir Archibald. He, the
secretary had got out Of touch with
events. Simpson had said Sir Arch
ibald would return shortly; should he,
| Caglioni, go back to the house and
wait there, or His thoughts pr
sistly reverted to Simpson. AS he yet
stood, hesitating what course to pur-
sue the sound of a motor down the
road decided him; Sir Archibald was
| returning. CagliOni started toward the
house.
The secretary met his employer near
| the front steps. AS that gentleman
| got out of the car, his heavy face
expressed none of the surprise he
must have felt at sight of the other.
Had Caglioni been less concerned, just
| then, at seeing once more Sir Archl-
bald, he would have noticed that Mr..
| Woods usually tranquil countenance
| anI that nall0r and
a certain cold apathy marked MS
| daughters appearance. But the Sec
retary's gaze was only for Sir Archi-
bald; the latter fingered, instead Of
| repairing at once to the house, and
Caglioni waited, also. Mr.. Wood,
however, followed his daughter, who
had descended quickly from the car.
and entered the house.
"Well?" Sir Archibald and the
secretary had stepped now aside.
"Why did you not get back?" HIS
/ tone veiled a quiet scOrn: Caglioni
knew his employer; all the latter cared
for was results, not excuses. Hence,
he cut short his story, though strange
Il lnNectlNeS ulu creep IIlto IT, Niiop
odd phrases which smacked of the
devilsh atmosphere Of some far
away. fan-tan place.
| so you let him get the better OF
you?" The other gave short, brutal
laugh. "He!-partly dsabled!"-
| Caglioni's face assumed a more
sickly hue Wait until I'm done with
him."
/ Sir Archibald made a gesture.
What happened next? Stick to your
story"
The continuation of Caglionfs mar
rative was commonplace enough. Re-
covering consciousness he had crept
back into the wooded park. Now that
Bruce was gone. the secretary dared
not let his own presence be known;
he realized he could not satisfactorily
account for how he himself happened
to he there when his proof OF the