San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-16

f, imagine that the Justices will be-
lieve you when you come to tell
them that"
"Seeing that my name Is Randall
Holes, and that a vindictive govern
ment would be glad of any pretext
to stretch the neck of my fathers
son, l do not. That is why / de-
scribe my state as desperate. I am
man moving in the shadow of the
gallows."
Ssh! Shw the Duke reproved him
gently. you must not express
yourself In such terms, Colonel. Your
very tone savors of disloyalty. And
you are unreasonable. If you were
really loyal, there was a clear duty
which you would not have neglected.
When first this proposal was made
to you, whatever your friendship for
Tucker, you should have gone
straight to the Justices and laid in
formation Of this plot"
"Your grace advises something
that in my own case you would not
have performed. But even had 1
acted so, how should I have COM
PEELED, belief? 1 know no details of
this plot. I was not in a position to
prove anything. 1t would have been
my bare word against fuckers, and
my name alone would have discredit-
ed me. Ny action might have been
regarded as an impudent attempt to
earn the favor of the powers in be-
ing. 1t might even, in some tortu-
GUS legal manner, have been con-
strued against me. Therefore held
my peace"
"Your assurance Is enough for
me-" said his grace amiably. "And
God knows / perceive your difficulty,
and how you have been brought into
your present danger. Our first care
must be to deliver you from this. You
must do at last what should have
been done long since. You must 60
before the Justices, and frankly state
the case as you have stated it to me-"
"But your grace yourself has just
said they will not believe me-"
His grace paused in his pacing, and
smiled a little slyly.
"They will not believe your I'M
supported word. But If some person
of eminence and authority were to
answer for your good faith, they
would hardly dare to doubt; the mat
ter would be at an end, and there
would be no further question Of any
impeachment.
HOLES stared, suddenly hopeful, and
yet not daring to yield entirely to his
hope:
"You grace does not mean that you
- that you would do this for me?''
His grace's smile grew broader,
kindlier. "But, of course, my friend.
If ! am to employ you, as 1 hope I
shall, so much would be a necessary
preliminary"
"Your gracew HOLES bounded to his
feet. "How to thank youT"
His grace waved him back again to
his chair. Il will show you presently,
my friend. There are certain condi-
tions 1 must impose. There is a GER
tain task / shall require of you"
Your grace should know that you
have but to name it."
Have you ever heard Of Sylvia
Farquharson"
Surprised, it was a moment before
the colonel answered him.
Sylvia Farquharson he echoed,
musing. 'I've heard the name. Oh
l have it. That was the lady in the
sedan chair your grace rescued yon-
der in Paul's Yard on the day we met
Aye, aye. / heard her named at the
time. A baggage of a play actress
from the Dukes House, l think. But
what has she to do with u.s."
Something, 1 think-unless the
stars are wrong. And the stars never
go wrong. They stand immutable and
true in false and tickle world. 1t
is written in them-as l have already
told-that we were to meet again, you
and l. and be jointly concerned in a
fateful matter with one other. That
other, my friend, is this same Sylvia
Farquharson."
He rose, casting off all reserve at
last, and his pleasant voice was
thickened by the stress of his emo
tions.
"You behold in me a man exerting
vast power for good and i'll. There
are in life few things, however great,
that l desire without being able COM
mand them. Sylvia Farquharson is
one Of these things. That is where j
require your help"