The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-10-26
Q TALBOT MUNDY-WkU SERVICE

The great gate changed behind
him. He walked to the guesthouse.
Mrs. Harding was no longer recum-
bent on pillows on the chaise Tongue.
She seemed even to have partially
recovered from her lameness. She
was seated bolt upright on one of
her trunks, on the garden path, in
front of the veranda door.
There's no understanding you
English" she remarked. ''Why don't
you use your title?"
81 haven't one"
"But your brother is an Earl, isn't
he? So you're an Honorable, aren't
your"
"That is not what you inferred at
our last interview"
"Well, l didn't know who you are.
How could I? have letter for you,
from Lynn. But the envelope was
addressed to me. have thought
it over, and l suppose she must
have put it into the wrong enve-
lope by mistake, because I have re-
ceived no answer to my letter to
her. Here it is"
Norwood stepped on to the veran-
da to read it by the light from the
window.
Dear Captain Norwood,
ST am feeling ashamed and so
sorry that hardly know what to
write. Won't you please call as
soon as you can and let me explain.
mentioned, without thinking, some
thing that occurred this morning.
To my horror, have now learned
that what l said has been repeated,
and that the result may bel can't
write it! Please, Captain Norwood,
please believe that what I said was
merely thoughtless; and that what
I have heard about you / refuse to
believe. 1 know you are an hon.
orable man. Please help me to undo
my very bad mistake. I will be
waiting for you at the palace Won't
you call as soon as possible?
Lynn Harding"
Norwood returned to Mrs. Hard
ing. How long have you had this?"
Don't try any of that hoity-toity
"I'm a Harding, I'll have you under
stand! sent messenger for you
because"
Norwood was gone before she
could answer. He dashed into the
house, seized the phone and gave
the Residency number. Then he
lowered his voice:
''That you, sir? Norwood speak
ing from the guesthouse. Can you
come to the palace? Yes, ]
know you told me to keep away.
But I'm a ghost. I'm supposed to be
dead You say you'd heard it
already? My God, they were quick!
g. No, no, I wasn't hurt. The
point is this, sir: they are betting
even money in the bazaar that the
Maharajah won't outlive the night.
l suspect poison F.. What's that?
Well, for one thing, / know
for fact that Mrs. Harding has
been given poisoned toast to make
her vomit Well, sir, obviously
to keep her away from the niece
-. Yes, yes, I have that letter.
I've just read it If I'm not
too late, and don't think I am, I'm
going in to upset someone's apple
cart.
He hung up, thought for couple
of seconds and then returned to
Aunty Harding.
Thanks" he said. "Good night.
I'm in hurry"
"Stop! Come back. Captain Nor
wood, I didn't send for you to use
my telephone! Here are my trunks,
and I can't get anyone to wait on
me. / can't get away and I can't
go back in! paid contractor in
advance, and he hasn't turned up.
Please do something"
Were you running out on Lynn"
Norwood asked her.
Captain Norwood, how dare you
say that"
'Were your"
mo, was not! I was bluffing."
"Uh-huh. Shall I tell her you
were bluffing?"
Don't you dare! If you know
where she is, you bring her here"