Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-08

It's not Mr.. Dobson hisself. my lord.
But a young gentleman from l4is Office
Then tell the young gentleman from
the office that ] haven't time to bothgy
about him.
Shall I see him, SIR" asked Lux.
ready TO go.
Certainly not" retorted the irascible
old man. stay where You are You
have got Miss Harris to entertain
THE young gentleman, resumed
Parker. with respectful insistence, said
he wouldn't keep your lordship five min
utes. He said he'd brought some papers
for Your lordship's signature.
The Tower farm lease. Uncle Rad
remarked Luke.
II think, Mr. Luke" assented the but
Ter. that the young gentleman did mea-
ton the word lease"
why has that COMPOUNDED WarrcA
taken himself off just when | want himv"
was Lord Radclyffes gruff comment a.
he rose from the table.
Let me go, SIR, insisted Luke.
NO. hang il, boy. You can't sign my
name-not yet, anyway. I am not yet a
helpless imbecile. Show the Young man
into the library. Parker. I can't think
why Dobson is always in such CON
founded hurry about leases-send!ng a
fool OF clerk up at most inconvenictH
hours.
Still mutterng half audibly. he walked
to the library door. which Parker held
open for him. and even this he did not
do without surreptitiously taking hold OF
Luke's hand and giving il a friendly
squeeze. For moment Ii seemed as IL
Luke would follow him, despite contrary
orders. He paused, undecided, standing
in the middle Of the room. Louisa's kind
gray eyes following his slightest move
ment.
Jim solidly pulled the cigar box toward
him, and Edie, with chin resting in both
hands, looked sulky and generally out uf
sorts.
Parker-siIent and correct of mien-..ad
closed the library door behind his mas
ter, and now with noiseless tread he
crossed the dining room and opened the
other door-the one that gave on the hall
Louisa instinctively turned her eyes from
Luke and saw-standing In the middle Of
the hall-a young man in jacket suit and
overcoat. who had looked up, with palpi-
tating eagerness expressed in his face the
moment he caught sight of Parker
1t was the same man who had lifted
his hat to Luke and to herself In Batter
sea Park this very morning. Luke saw
him. too. and apparently also recognized
HIM.
That's why he bowed to US, Luke-in
the park-you remember" she said. as
soon as the door had once more closed on
Parker and the visitor.
Funny that you didn't know him."
she continued, since Luke had made no
comment.
II didn't" he remarked. CURLY.
Didn't WHAT"
II did not and do not know this man."
Not Mr.. Dobson's clerk"
Luke did not answer but went out into
the hall. Parker was standing beside
the library door, which he had just closed,
having introduced the visitor into his
lordship's presence.
Parker said Luke. abruptly. what
made you tell his lordship that that young
gentleman came from Mr.. Dobson?"
The question had come so suddenly that
Parker-pompous, dignified Parker-was
thrown off his balance and the reply,
which took some time in coming, sounded
unconvincing.
"The young gentleman" he said. slow
ly, told me. Mr.. Luke. that he came
from Mr.. Dobson."
mo. Parker asserted Luke, unhesi-
tatingly, ''he did nothing of the sort. In
wanted to see his lordship and got you to
help him concoct some lie whereby he
could get what he wanted
\ grayish hue spread over Parker's pink
and fiabby countenance
Lord help me. Mr.. Luke" he muir
INJURED. tonelessly, how did you know
guessed. Now 1 know"
II didn't thak l was doing no harm
mo harm by introducing into his lord
ships presence strangers who might lie
malefactors?"
Already Luke, at Parker's first admis-
sion, had gone quickly to the library door.
Here he paused, with his hand on the
latch, uncertain If he should enter The
house was an old one. well built and
stout; from within came the even sound
of voice speaking quite quietly. but no
isolated word could be distinguished.
Parker was f1oundering in quagmire OF
confused explanations.
HMalefactor, Mr.. Luke." he argued
that young man was no malefactor. He
spoke ever SO nicely. And he had plenty
of money about him. l didn't see 1 was
doing no arm. He wanted to see his
lordship and asked me to help him to
tt
And" queried Luke impatiently. paid
you to help him, eh?''
Il thought" replied the man. lof. lily ig-
noring the suggestion. that tax ng in
one of Mr.. Dobson's cards that was lying
in the tray could do no harm. | thought
it cou dn't do no harm. The young gen.
tleman said his lordShip would be very
grateful to me when he found out what
I'd done
And how grateful was the young gen
tleman to you. Parker"
ITO the tune Of five-pound note. Mr..
Luke.
Then as you lave plenty Of money IL
hand, you can pack up your things AMI
get out OF this house before I've time "
tell his lordship.
Mr.. Luke
Don't argue. DO as 1 tell YOU"
Il must take my notice from his lord
ship said Parker, yainly trying TO re
cover his dignity.
Very well. You can wait until his
lordship has been told.
Mr. Luke
Best not wait to see his lordshp
Parker. Take my word for it
Very well. Mr.. Luke
There IVES d tone Of finality in Luke
voice which apparently Parker did not
dare to combat. The man looked con
fused and troubled. What had seemed
to him merely venial sin-the taking OF
bride for IA trivial service-now sud
denly assumed giant proportions-a crime
almost punishable by stern dismissal
from Mr.. Luke.
He went without venturing on further
protest and Luke, left standing alone In
the hall, once more put his hand on the
knob of the library door. This time he
tried to turn it. But the door had been
locked from the inside
fTo be continued tomorrow