San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30

She said, / think, that you were alb
sent at the time, but would be back
in a day or two, and that you should
have the letter at once on your re-
turn"
"a month ago, do you say? But it
is two months and more since left
the Paul's Head!
"What do you tell me? All, wait.
My messenger shall speak for him
self on this" And he strobe away to
the bell-rope.
But HOLES checked him.
"Nay, nay" he cried with a wry
smile. "There's not the need.
think I understand. Your messenger
wouldf, no doubt, announce whence
he came, and Mrs. Quinn, fearing that
the news might be to my advantage,
acted so as to prevent his making
further seach for me-"
"What's this?" The Dukes heavy
face empurpled. do you charge her
with suppressing a communication
from an office of state? By Heaven,
il she's still alive I'll have her goaled
for it."
"Let be-" said HOLES, seizing him
by the arm. "Devil take the woman
Tell me of the letter. Yell never
mean that you had found employ
ment for me, after all?'
You seem incredulous, Randall?
Did you doubt my zeal for you?"
"Oh, not your zeal. But the pos
sibility of your helping one who was
in my case"
"Aye, aye. But as to that, why
Buckingham improved it when he
stood for your loyalty before the JUS
tees. heard of that. And when
the chance came, the chance of this
Bombay command that already 1 had
earlier intended for you :"
"The Bombay commando HOLES
began to wonder did he dream. But
l thought that it had been required
by Buckingham for friend of his
own"
"Sir Henry Stanhope, yes. So it
had, and Stanhope sailed for the In
dies with the commission. But it
seems that when he did so he already
carried the seeds of the plague within
him. For he died of it on the voyage.
/ wrote to you at once asking you to
seek me here, and 1 waited fort
night to hear from you. As you
made no sign, l concluded that either
you were stricken with the plague, or
no longer desired the office. and / pro-
ceeded to appoint another gentle
man of promise"
HOLES folded the pinions of his
soaring hopes and let himself fall
back into his dependency. He ut
tered groan.
"But that's not the end" Abe
marie checked him. ''No sooner had
l appointed this than he, too, fell sick
Of the plague, and died week ago.
il yo're not afraid that the plague is
bound up with this commission, it's
at your disposal, and it shall be made
out to you at once"
HOLES was gasping for breath.
You you mean that that
| am to have the command, after all "
1t was incredible. He dared not be-
lieve it.
"That is what I have said. The
commission is -. :" Albermarle
broke off suddenly, and fell back be-
fore him. What ails you. man?
You're white. as a ghost. Ye're not
ill.," And he lugged out handker-
chief that flung a reek of myrrh and
ginger on the air. leaving HOLES no
single doubt of the thing his grace
was fearing. The humor of it took
HOLES sharply, and his laugh rang
out further to startle the Duke.
There's no need for electuaries
against me-" he assured his grace. 81
am certified in health and carry no
infection. / left Bunhill Fields this
morning"
what" Albermarle was astound-
ed. "D'ye mean we've had the
plague?"
THAT is the whole reason of my
being here. / am n safe man now,
And 1 came in answer to your procla-
nation asking for safe men,"
Albermarle continued to stare at
him in deepening amazement.
$50 that is what brought you?" he
said at last, when full understanding
came to him.
But for that / certainly should
never have come"
Maybe, maybe" said his grace
briskly. ..'But what matters now i:
! that you are here, and that ;com