The state herald., 1913-07-25

30 INTO the public treasury, where they
will be strictly accounted for. But II
marry Lorenzo"
Which is impossible"
"Then the money goes into the fam
lily. of course. as my dot. Or-or, If
/ should die-in that case Stephen
inherits the money. And there is no
doubt but that Stephen needs money"
Aleck pondered for several minutes,
while grave shadows threatened his
face, But presently his smiling. un-
quenchable good temper came to the
surface. and he gleefully tucked Me-
lanie's hand under his arm.
AS l said before, you need hus-
band very badly"
oh, don't know" she laughed.
The result of Alexis moment of
grave thought came few days later,
with the arrival Of two quietly-dressed
men. He told Melanie that one man
was her chauffeur for the white ma
chine, and the other was an extra hand
he had engaged for the return trip
on the Sea Gull The chauffeur how
ever. for one reason or another. rare
ly took the wheel, and could have
been seen walking at distance be-
hind Melanie whenever she stirred
abroad. The extra hand for the Sea
Gull did Just the same as the chauf-
feur.
From the day of the arrival of the
manager, Mr.. Hands rather mysteri-
Gus but friendly temper underwent a
change for the worse. He not only
continued silent. which might easily
be counted virtue, but he became al.
most sulky, which could only be called
crime. There was no bantering
with Sallie In the kitchen. scarcely a
friendly smile for Agatha herself. Mr..
Hand was markedly out of sorts
On the morning following Mr..
Straker's request that Hand should re-
pair the car. the manager found him
| tinkering in the carriage shed near
the church. The car was lacked up on
a horse-block, while one wheel lay
near the road. Mr.. Hand was as grimy
and oily as the law allows. working
over the machinery with sort OF
vicious earnestness. Mr.. Straker hov
cred around for few moments. then
addressed Hand In that tone OF
pseudo-geniality that marks certain
type of politician.
Look here. colonel, I understand
you were in the employ OF that French
anarchist"
| 1t was an unlucky moment for at
tack, though Mr.. Straker did not al
once perceive 1t. Hand carefully wip
ed the oil from a neat ring OF metal
slid down on his back under the car
and screwed on n nut. AS Mr.. Strak
er hands In pockets and feet wild,
apart. watched the mechanician. ther,
came through the silence and tn,
sweet air the sound OF thrushes call
ing from the wood beyond. Mr.. Strak
er craned his head to look out at tn,
church, then at the low stone wall
as IL he expected to see the songster,
performing on stage before a row o
footlights He turned back to Mr
Hand.
That's right. is IT. You worked 10
the slippery Mounseer!"
"Uh-m," Hand grumbled. with
screw In his mouth. Something lik'
that"
.What'd you dor
1--WE found where she was wrenche,
in the turnover. Got to have new
pin for this on wheel before she goel
much farther"
IAN right, I'll order one by TELEGRAPH
today. what'd you do. asked"
Hand wriggled himself out from un
der the car and got on his feet. II,
thrust his grimy hands deep into hi
pockets, stood for moment con
templative and belliserent. as II un
decided whether to explode or not
and then silently walked away.
As Mr.. Straker watched his figur'
moving slowly toward the kitchen. HI
started a long low whistle. expressly,
OF suspicion and doubt. Midway, how
ever, he changed to lively tun,
whose title was 1--WE got him on th,
run'-a classic Just then spreading VI
and down Broadway. He took few
turns about the car. looked at the gear
ing with a knoying air. and then wen
into the houseN
II he had been n small boy. hi
mother would have punished him 70
stamping through the halls: being I
grown man and n visitor. he may b.
described as walking with firm. Dol,
tread. Finally he was able to rur
down Agatha. who was conferrinl
with Sallic In the library.
sailic shifted In scorn OF Mr.. strak
or. whom she disliked far worse thar
Mr.. Hand: nevertheless. ms she lcf
the room she twisted up her ginghan
apron and tucked II Into It's band In /,
vague attempt at company manners
Mr.. strakcr lost no time In attacking
Agatha.
what d'you know about that chauf
fgurnursc and general roustabou
that's taking care OF your young gen
tieman upstnirsr" he inquired biuntiy
Innocent OF subtlety mn Mr.. strnkel