The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-02

SSAASAAb
about opening charity bazaars,
blessing all the Boy Scouts and
that sort Of thing, ! shall have to
write a book. Then I shall have
no more secrets. By-the-by, that
reminds me, may I ask Mrs.
Howard to have room prepared
for man who is bringing me
down a letter and some papers?
1t is just an odd job of surveying
I did for the Government while
l was in Africa and they seem to
be rather in a hurry to report upon
it. He will be here l expect to-
night or tomorrow"
"Of course" his mother acqui-
eSced. He can have one Of the
bachelor suites, then he will have
his own sitting room. Will ne join
the house party? There will be
only one or two Of uS-the Dean
and his wife, and Bemrose and
Margaret Bemrose. Stephen and
Alice are already here"
"He would rather shut himself
up, expect"
Lady Matresser rose to her feet
with sigh. Her maid was stand
ing inouiringly by the portiere.
NOT ONE SECOND
would your ladyship prefer
that I came a little later?" the
young woman suggested.
mot one second later" her mis-
tress replied. glancing at the clock.
"You must attend me at once, Hor.
tense. This is my son who Is Just
back from abroad. He is always
the severeSt critic Of my appear.
ance so we must take care to
satisfy him tonight"
The girl curtsied very slightly.
II shall do my best to satisfy
monsieur" she said. With ma
dame as subject it should not be
difficult"
Matresser nodded politely. He
was tapping a cigarette against his
case but he continued to look
across to where the girl was stand.
ing holding the curtain back for
her mistress. Her eyes dropped
respectfully. Her manner was q
perfect mixture Of respect for the
master of the house and interest
in his arrival. Matresser lit his
cigarette and offered his mother
his arm.
What a disobedient old dear
you are!" he whispered in her
ear as Hortense fell behind. did
I not beg of you-no foreign
Servants?"
She INDUCED in slight grimace.
But a personal maid. my dear
Ronald she demonstrated. Eng
liSh girls are never a success.
Don't terrify me-" she continued,
you may find worse to come"
His tone was once more light
and cheerful.
$50 lone as you have not an
Italian chauffeur and half dozen
Russian gardeners" he murmured.
CdAK len Al
Matresser threw himself into q
battered easy chair before the fire
in the gunroom, lit a cigarette and
reflected for a moment. A few
yards away from him was Hum
phreys, the head keeper. standing
with hat in hand. 1t was obvious
from a certain air of tension and
from the mans solemn demeapor
that the story which he had just
finished concerned matters more
serious than the mere arrangement
of the days sport.
This seems a queer sort OF
business, Humphreys" his mas
ter observed. "Sit down while I
ask you a few questions"
The man established himself on
the extreme edge of a cane chair.
dropped his hat into position by
his side and mumbled half to him
self while awaiting his masters
interrogation.
"Such a thing has never hap
pened before in my recollection.
IT'S a pity that we did leave off
the barbed wire from the gates.
It's the wire that does more than
anything else in the world to keep
out trespaSserS."
was there any vehicle left ly.
ing about?" MatresSer asked.
None as I did see, Milford"
Not even a bicycle?"
Not of any sort, Milford. 1t
seemed to me from a casual
glance around like as though he
were trying to reach the Great
House by a short cut across the
turnips by the side of Farmer
Reynolds covert. A Vexing thing
for him to do for we put nine to
a dozen coveys of birds In before
shutdown and there they would
have rested for sure"
EYES WERE OPEN
was he conscious when you
found him?"
His eyes were open and he
mumbled summat," the keeper
acknowledged. but what 1t was I
couldna' rightly say. Anyway, we
put him in the game cart and
took him along to the doctors.
There he be now for all know"
Sure he was not a poacher?"
MatreSSer asked.
(TO Be COntinuedl
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