The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-26

not, sir? / have the very man
you want. sir? His name Is Fran
els, sir. He is Sir Henry Tregat-
tock's late butler. A most ex-
cellent servant, l believe"
why has he left?" | asked.
Mr.. Seagrave shrugged his
shoulders. IL should say he had
saved up some money. and was
tired of regular service. His ref
erence from Sir Henry is unim-
peachable."
Have you had 1t confirmed?
asked Maurice.
81 rang up Sir Henry himself"
WELL" | said, I'll engage him
for a fortnight at thirty shillings
a week"
Mr.. Seagrave beamed. 81 will
take the man round to your house
myself"
When we found ourselves out
| side on the pavement, Maurice
pleaded an engagement and we
parted.
Don't forget Thursday, II |
don't see you BEFORE" he drawl-
ed.
Il shan't forget" / said cheer
fully. I'm looking forward to
coming down to you"
| AS soon as Maurice had disap-
peared | took deep breath. Then
decided to celebrate by launch
ing at the Criterion.
Over an excellent grouse, IL
Illuminated by a bottle of Chab-
lis, / leisurely reviewed the sit
uation. was still alive; | had
ten thousand pounds in my peck
ct; and so far | had apparently
played my part without arousing
the faintest suspicion.
If | had only had some pal In
whom | could place absolute trust
l think | should have felt per-
fectly contented. Suddenly a
brilliant idea leaped into my
mind.
| Billy Logan, II he had not
fixed up his business with Max
wells, Billy was exactly the man
for my purpose.
| hastily ran through my peck
cts for the address he had given
me. ! found it securely tucked
away in the flap of my pocket
book "a Vauxhall Road.
After lunch ! INDUCED in a
shopping tour, spending sew
eral pounds for the mere fun OF
the thing. 1t was, therefore, late
in the afternoon when my taxi
driver stopped before a row of
depressed looking three-story
houses in Vauxhal Road.
=. Ere you are, sir" the driver
said, opening the door. Number
"a"
Mounting a dilipidated flight
of steps, / gave pull at the bell
1t was answered by. an elderly
woman.
SIS Mr.. Logan in?" I asked.
She shook her head. "He aim
bin back not since yesterday"
Can / come in and write hin
a letter."
II s'pose it's all right" she
said.
followed her into Billy's sane.
tum, cheaply furnished from
parlor. l found pencil and paper
and wrote:
: Dear Billy: If you haven't
fixed your business with
Maxwells, chuck 1t at once.
Come along and see me d.
rectly you get this. I'm stay
ing at asa Park Lane. It's
in the telephone book under
the name of Stuart North
cote, so If you like you can
ring me up first. If you do,
ask for MIR. NorthcOte, not
for me, and the same thing
If you come to the house.
In case I'm out, the servants
will have instructions to ask
you to wait, but you're not
to mention my name under
any circumstances. Just ask
i for Mr.. Northcote.
JACK BURTON.
In exchange for five shilling!
Billy's landlady promised to give
the letter to Mr.. Logan as soor
as he came In.
1t was well after dark when
mounted the steps of my house
| was just getting out my latch
key when a telegraph boy sud
denly rode up on a bicycle.
, He came up the steps, pulling
out a wire from his bag.
"Is that for me?" | asked
"Mr. Stuart Northcote?"
Eyes, sir"
I took it from him. and, tear
ing open the envelope. held III
the message to the light of the
street lamp. 1t consisted of sew
! en- words:
Get rid of your new butler
: Immediately.