The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-29

MIR. ETHEREDGE FOUND HIS
GRACE PACING THE LIBRARY
trouble. and they'll hang your instru-
ments to pacify the rabble's clamor
for Justice
Are you quite mad?'
"I'm<not only sane, your grace; I'm
shrewd. And, if l may presume to
advise your grace
That would, indeed, be a presump-
ton, you impudent rogue?' The
Dukes voice rose SHARPLY. a heavy
frown rumped his brow. You forget
yourself. 1 think"
II beg your graces pardon But
he went on. none the ess. Your
grace, perhaps, is not aware of the
extent of the panic in the City over
this pestience. The cry everywhere
is that it is visitation provoked by
the sins of the Court. That's what
the canting Nonconformist preachers
have put about. And If this thing
that your grace contempates
Listen, Bates. II we are i'll served
on the one hand by the pestilence,
we are very we'll served on the other.
To carry Miss Farquharson off while
she is playing at the theater would
be to have a hue-and-cry set up at
once that might lead to discovery and
unpleasant consequences. But the
Lord Mayor has ordered the closing
of all theaters on Saturday. and 1t
is on Saturday after the theater, there
fore, that this thing must be done.
when Miss Farquharson will no.
longer be missed and her disappear
ance give rise to no excitement-par-
ticularly at a time when this very fear
of the plague is giving people enough
to think about
And afterwards. your grace?"
Afterwards"
when the lady makes complaint"
Buckingham smiled in his knowl-
edge of the world. DO ladies ever
make complaints of this kind-after-
wards? Besides, who will believe her
tale that she went to this house of
mine against her will? She is an ac-
tress. remember; not g princess. And
l still command some measure of au-
thority in this country"
But Bates solemnly shook his head.
II doubt If your grace commands
enough to save my neck should there
be trouble, and trouble there will be.
Be sure of that, your grace. There's
too many malcontents abroad, spying
the opportunity to make it,
Amusement and scorn were blent on
| Buckingham countenance. His fin
gers drummed the table what time he
reflected. Then he determined TO cut
the game short by playing trumps.
How long have you been in my
service, Bates?"
Five years this month, your
grace"
But you think the time has come
when you may pick and choose the
things in which you will serve me
still. Bates, I think you have been
in my service too long"
Your gracer'
II may be mistaken. But 7 shall
require proof before believing it,
Fortunately for you, it lies within
1 advise you to do So
He looked at Bates coldly, and
Bates looked back ct him in dread
your grace. Bates cried on a note
Of appeal, there is no service I will
not perform to prove my devotion.
Command me to do anything, your
grace-anything. But not not
this"
81 am touched, Bates. by your
protestations." His grace. was coldly
supercilious. Unfortunately, this is
the only service 1 desire of you at the
moment.
Bates was reduced to despair.
ST can't, your gracei I can'tr he
cried. 1T is a hanging matter, as
your grace well knows"
Then there is no more to be said"
Inwardly Buckingham was very
angry. Outwardly he remained iciiy
cold You have leave to go, Bates.
and / shall not further require your
fservices. If you will apply to Mr..
Grove he will pay you what moneys
may be due to you 3"
| A wave Of the white jeweIed hand
dismissed the crestfallen little scoun-
drel. The Dukes trump card had
failed to win him the game, and he
knew not where to find another agent
| for the enterprise which now OBJ
sessed him.
Mr.. Etheredge, coming later that
day to visit him, found his grace still
/ in a bedgown, pacing the handsome
library. restless as a .aged beast.
Mr.. F,theredge. who well knew the
attraction that held the Duke fast in
Town. and who had, himself, just
completed his preparations for de-
parture. came to make the last of
several recent attempts 10 recall his