The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-21

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CHAPTER vuI
Hunt had been uneasy In hts mind
Al the evening; he had pottered
about between the front door and the
buffers pantry. unable TO settle to
anything since the moment when. on
his nay hack from the village 20
which he had been sen, TO dispatch
Rcrie's telegram. be had seen his
young master racing along the dark
road toward Aipertcn.
Tho small car had psnsed him IKE
.. flash. and been swallowed MP In
Z 4s darkness with a lov-toned. warn
~ hoot
HUNT was generally glad TO d,vest
iSclf cf his violating livery and
. tracks for bed. but tonight he
most unusually wideawakel
vice he went down 90 the stable
Enquire II Mr.. Roric had come
nme. and both times he had found
NE under-groom siurnbcrtng in the
yempty stall. which had been cleared
cut to accommodate Roderick's car.
Late most nights now. thst e Ia. .
the lad grumbled when Blunt woke
him up with an ungcntie hand 20 ask
his question. -Brings the car back
knoc-dcep IN mud. that he does.
Blocmin' awful Job TO clean. Give
ma 'orscs. every time
Rfunt cuffed his ears with dignity.
The under groom had large ears. and
-
cutting. but he hated Blunt. and he
lodged behind ladder which led 10
= loft above. and rcvcnged himself
b. grimactng.
Blunt returned to the house The
big clock In the hail was Ginning
midnight: the other servants had
long since gone to rcd: from the
top OF the stairs the grim portrait
Of Rorie's father stared down with
hard eyes on the empty ball.
Blunt felt an unusual sense OF
eeriness. He stirred the srnolder~
hg fire into blaze. and went into the
diningroosn 10 peer thru the curtains
tnso the darkness.
w. low the leaves were off the trees
onc could see quite n long way down
the road toward the village. but
there was no sign OF the big head
nxhts OF Rorfe's car. and Blunt had
turned away with a resigned shrur
Of his pompous shoulders, when a
sharp knock resounded thru the
silence.
Blunt started Midnight visitors
were unusual. and Mr.. Rorie had his
1atchkey.
Blunt FASTENED to the front door.
and opened Il a cautious inch.
who's there he demanded.
Without exactiF knowing why. his
thoughts flew &c the hunchback who
had prowied about the house all day;
but Il was the VOLS Of young Br1tcn
that answered him
It's only me. Blunt let me In
M. Rcrie-
4 Blunt flung the door widr. and
Roris staggered into the han
4 He vns - white ~ death. and
1herU vas . tragic hook Of stbck IN
HIS eyes. his clothes were bespAtfered
wfkh mud-hs had lost his hat
n -oA. Mr.. RoriA has chsrs ban IN
accident. Grf Whore b ne carr
Carr RnE1e echoed the word Va
unity. - n he had newer heard II
1af0rA He dropped heavily into .
~ xksx1r ~ the han fire. hitting
- head fan forward into his handA
III Blunt asked no more questions
he hurried Off for brandy. To his
gny OF thinking. brandy was an IN
lAiling cure for everything. n was
me only medicine IN which he him
eli ever INDUCED. He stood By anx-
IDusly while Rorie guiped II down
Are you much hurt. Mr.. Ror1ey-
~ asked; then. ~ he took the empty
.eiass from Roric's shaking hand.
would you IKE to have the doctor.
Mr.. Rorief-
Doctor Rorfe nfsds . variant e.
sfort to pun himself together; he
!orced a laugh Don't be an ass.
Blunt. I'm not III There's nothing
the matter. I'm only bit-knocked
upr
But ne car. Mr.. Rorte, You went
out In the car. SIR
-Ch--oh. yes Rofe rose 10 his
feet uncertainty; but when Blunt
would have steadied him he pushed
him angrfiy away. Il left the car
ever 1t Alperton- I walked home
A