Plentywood herald., 1936-04-16
CHAPTER I-Continued

ming broadly, and, seeing that grin.
the four servants smiled, too--paIn-
ly surprised at the masters good hu-
NOR.
This is Evans, SIR" the butler con-
tinued. "This Is Mrs. Mulligan. Cook,
sir And Annie Jeffers, the parlor
maid. If you don't mind, sir, I'll get
them set, and then I'll come upstairs
to report"
"Fine! said the Duke, calculating
that five minutes would get him into
his clothes. and out the front door.
He was climbing the steps again
when Willetts called.
Il never thought, sir. Your bed
isn't made. I'll get the linen out, and
have Annie up there right away.
You'll want a good fire In your room
to dry things out"
i've got a fire In the library" the
Duke replied. Don't hurry. I'm very
comfortable"
They did hurry. He had scarcely
got his trousers from under the mat
tress when Annie appeared, just as
he had seen her in the hall, and with
small load of immaculate sheets and
pillow cases.
"Mr. Evans is lighting the furnace"
she said. 1.-The house is that cold.
It's an oil-burner, Mr.. Willetts says.
l wonder you didn't think of 1t. But,
Of course, you're stranger here, too"
"A stranger What did she mean
by that? Where had be been, he
wondered? Evidently, not home, at
any rate. So that was why Willetts
hadn't known he wasn't Mr.. Ridder.
Was Willetts new? The girl was on
her knees at the hearth, and the
Duke ventured half question.
"Willetts isn't stranger?"
"Of course not" Annie replied. "Nor
Mr.. Evans. Just Mrs. Mullig. an and
me. We was taken on when Madam
and Mr.. Ridder expected to spend the
summer here, and we'd've been let
out, l guess, when they decided to go
to Germany, If it hadn't been for your
coming back"
Il picked just the right minute, did
MT ~ grinned the Duke.
"And "You sure did !" grinned the
parlor maid, spreading the linen over
the arms of two chairs.
1t was an amusing conversation, but
1t had been too long. Returning to
the library. trousers still in hand,
Barry Gilbert encountered the ubiqui-
tous Willetts. 'I'll take those, sir"
said the butler, taking them.
"Oh, never mind !"
"They'll need pressing"
"I'll need them"
They'll be ready for you in the
morning." Willetts said, with note
OF finality. did you bring any py-
jamas, sir?"
Any lie would do for now.
"Yes," answered the Duke, "but,
like an idiot, l checked my suitcase,
and God knows what happened to the
check! !"
"Ill get you pair Of your fathers" /"
Willetts volunteered. You're very
much Of a size" He was taking stock
of the new master. Look like your
father, If you don't mind my saying
so, sir. Same figure. Same kind of
face, only kinder, If you don't mind
my saying so, sir"
Tho n,.Iyn ,Ii1,st ,,,i,l xroo ofI
"a lucky break" only - how long
would it last? Mustn't everyday my
luck" thought the Duke. But the
real Mr.. Ridder wasn't coming until
tomorrow" Why make break for 1t
tonight? The storm was roaring, and
throwing buckets of water against the
windows.
The butler had gone into the bed
room, and returned with pair of
purple silk pyjamas.
Anything else. sir?'
mo, thanks"
"Tll be leaving you then. There's
a lot to do-getting the rooms ready
for cook and the maid. They've never
been here before. Don't know their
way about. Evans don't neither What
time breakfast, sir?"
"Oh, say eight o'clock"
Right, sir. Good night, sir" said
the butler, bowling himself out.
'Easy!" thought the Duke, standing
before the fire, with the purple pyja.
mas In his hand TOO easyl Too
damned easy There's catch in II
somewhere ~
Willetts implied that he had beer
with the family some time. Why had
he never seen the son? Or even q
picture Of him? Why was he so will
ing to accept stranger in the house
at his own word-practically without
question? Why did he take those
trousers? I'm trapped" mused the
Duke, "Or else"
Or else what?
"Or else he's no more a butler thar
/ am Mr.. Ridder. How do | know
what he is? There's lot of mighty
valuable junk In this house"
Il was with that thought In hi!