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HOUSE overlooks the Hud
son where it begins to widen
in^o the broad reach of the
Tappan Zee. One room is set
aside for my personal use,
and in it I may work or idle without
interruption by servants, visitors or
members of my family. IT is my room.
Brown is exempt from the exactions
of this rule. One might as well at
tempt to exclude the air as to dream of
barring Brown when he feels in the
mood to talk. If I really desired to
avoid the visitations of Brown I should
agree with his innumerable arguments.
He would construe this as an insult,
hence I oppose him, and we are great
friends.
My room is on the lower floor and
fronts to the northwest in a sweeping
quarter-circle broken by five windows,
beneath an*d between which are book
cases. Beyond is the river, gleaming
in the sun or black in the gloom of
night. Brown and I are fond of this
room.
We were discussing the probable out
come of the Busso-Japanese war. It
lacked a quarter of an hour of mid
night, I should say. Brown had made
a Ionff argument, the purport of which
was that
thfe
war would result the
a Siberia republicin Hi
iroject was so attractive that I dis
to oppose him, but it was my
duty.
"My dear Brown," I began, "do you
not overlook the fact that in all history
it has been shown that"
I heard a noise in the hall, one which
sounded like the soft tread of feet.
The doorbell had rang several moments
before.
"Is it possible/' I muttered, "that
the servants know no better than to
admit visitors at this hour"and to this
roomf
I arose and stepped a pace forward,
irritated beyond measure. The por
tieres parted and three figures silently
entered. For an inBtant I was startled,
and then I realized that I was the vic
tim of a practical joke. I recalled that
it was the evening of Hamlin's mas
uerade party. Hamlin's wife goes in
things of this kind. Brown and I
had been' invited, and since we had
not attended the masquerade it had
come to us. This was the thought
which dawned upon me as the three
figures entered the room.
Two of them were tall more than
six feet in height, and I did not recog
nize them, tho I instantly identified the
characters they were representing. The
third was a man of medium neight,
muscular frame, light blue eyes and
very erect in person*. Despite his tie
wig, cocked hat and red cloak I was
OHAPTEE m.Continued.
Yet could this be hethis personifi
cation of aged helplessness lying among
the cushions of an invalid chair, who, in
a thin, piping treble, requested his visi
tor to come closer? Beaumanoir had pic
tured all sorts of ideals of the master
in crime, but Mr. Clinton Ziegler in tho
flesh resembled none of them. A snowy
beard covered the lower half of his
face, drooping over his chest, but the
puffy cheeks were visible, and their full
purple hue betokened some cutaneous af
fection. The eyes were shaded by blue
glasses.
You are the person sent by Jevons
from New York?" he began in his par
rot-like tones. "Good! What is your
name? For the moment I have forgot
ten it, and I cannot lay my hand on the
cablegram relating to you."
Encouraged by the feeble senility of
one whom he expected to find a tower of
strengtha grim, inscrutabl being with
an inscrutable manner-J-the
V: ?J Saturday Everifng, ^'MSi
sure he was Baldwin, the village drug
gist.
His companions looked as if the por
traits of Washington and Jefferson had
stepped from their frames. They were
garbed in the civilian drees of a century
and a quarter ago. The coat worn by
Jefferson was of French cut and trim
mings, awd it fitted him abominably.
I glanced at his angular features, noted
his ruddy complexion, sandy hair, light
hazel eyes, bony but strong frame, and
marveled at tho skill of his costumer.
Equally startling was the counterfeit
of Washington. The massive head witB"
its grayish-brown hair, the calm blue
eves, the slightly receding forehead,
the stern and melancholy mouth, the
erect military figure, the imposing pres
ence and the whole attitude of the man
inspired me with awe, and checked the
words I was about to utter.
As they stood for a moment inside
the portieres, they looked about the
room without appearing to notice Brown
or myself. I happened to glance at
Brown and saw a look of amazed hor
ror otf his face. I was tempted to laugh
at him. but did not.
I think it was about here," said
"Washington," slowly and in a most
natural tone, pointing with his right
hand towards the center of the room.
"From the best of my recollection I
should say that this was the approxi
mate location of my headquarters on
that occasion."
"Dr. Baldwin," I interrupted
our village druggist is Wot a doctor, but
he likes to be called one, and we all
humor him, "Dr. Baldwin, kindly
introduce me to your friends, George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson."
The three of them turned and regard
ed me curiously. They looked at me and
then at Brown, who had staggered to
his feet, and then they looked each at
the other.
I fear that we are intruding," said
"Jefferson," his homely face softening
in a more genial smile. "We had not
noted that anyone was here."
"Any friends of Dr. Baldwin's
are welcome here at any time," I said,
with simulated heartiness. Fray make
yourselves at home, gentlemen. Doc
tor, how are youf"
"You are mistaken, my dear sir,"
said the smaller gentleman, in a melo
dious voice. I am not Doctor Bald
win I amor perhaps it might be more
?roper to sayI was Samuel Adams,
'ou have recognized my companions
it is not to be expected that I would
be as well known."
He said this rather sadly, but with
a pride which showed itself in a tight
ening of the lines of his fine mouth. I
saw that he was Wot Baldwin. They
bowed slightly and started to pass thru
you," Ziegler croaked, in evident en
joyment of his perplexity. "It was my
agent who, by securing the good offices
or a steward, had you placed next Miss
Sherman at the saloon table on the St.
Paul, with the result that he was able
to report to me this morning from
Southampton by telegraph that you had
made use of your opportunity."
I see," was all the duke could
feebly repeat.
"You have been invited to call on
the Shermans in London? You know
where they are staying, 140 Grosvenor
Gardens?"
"Yes," said Beaumanoir.
"Good! Then your grace will go on
as you have begun. Gain the girl's con
fidence, and that of her motherthe lat
ter
willwbe
easy under
foresight in smoothing the way for brothers, the fathers respectively of
SHADES OF
THF DT TTC DFPTTYRS
theeauspices our ne dignityan som here agaif
at 12 o'clock on Saturday morning,
three days hence. I may then have fur
ther instructions for you.''
And Mr. Clinton Ziegler waved a
white, well-formed hand in dismissal.
3r
duke was
confirmed in his intention to preserve
the secret of his rank.
"My name is Charles Hanbury," he
answered, boldly.
But an awakening, instant and com
plete, was in store for him. The words
were hardly out of his mouth when Mr.
Ziegler coughed a signal. and three
masked men rushed upon him fror4 an
adjoining bedroom, pinioning his arms
and stifling his sudden cry or alarm.
"What shall we do with him, Bir?"
asked one of the men.
"Chloroform him first then you must
dispose of him at your leisure." came
the monotonous piping treble from the
invalid chair.
One of the assailants made immediate
preparations for obeying the behest, but
just as he was about to saturate a hand
kerchief, Ziegler laughed shrilly:
"Let him alone, boys. He lied to
me, and I wanted to give him a lesson
that's all."
The men, at a sign from their chief,
retired into the bedroom.
"Now, perhaps you will recognize
that I am not to be played with, your
grace," squeaked Mr. Ziegler. "Also
that my ears are as long as my arms.
I have known for some days that the
gentleman whom my friend Jevons was
able to procure has had a sudden change
in his fortunes, and I congratulate my
self upon it. It doubles your value to
us, all the more since your early call
upon me after landing shows that vou
mean to abide by your bargain. But
there must be no more pe'tty reserva
tions and concealments like that. If
vou try them on, rest assured that they
will be detected and dealt with."
The duke straightened his rumpled
collar and looked as he felt, a beaten
man. The mass of infirmity in the
wheel-chair held, without doubt, a power
with which he could not cope. *v
face of it the notion that a man could
be violently made away with in a
crowded London hotel might seem melo
dramatic and improbable, but the ex
perience of the last few minutes had
shown him how readily it could be done
by a chief as well served as Ziegler
appeared to be. And if he was at the
man's mercy in a crowded hostelry like
the Cecil, where would he be safe? Yes,
if he was to en-joy his dukedom, he
would have to go thru with his task.
"Well, give me my instructions.
What am I to do?" he said, stiffly.
"You have made a very good begin
ning already,'' replied Ziegler, watching
him narrowlv thru the tinted glasses.
A gentleman, acting on behalf of the
United States government, will shortly
bring to this country the three million
pounds' worth of treasury bonds which
we mean to have. It will be your task
to relieve him of the paper, substituting
bonds of your own make, which will be
deposited at the Bank of England as
security against a shipment of gold."
I see," the duke murmured, me
chanically. "But," he added, with
more animation, "how have I made a
beginning already?"
"By making yqurself agreeable to
Miss Leonie Sherman. It is her father,
Senator Sherman, who is bringing the
real bonds," was the answer, which
struck a chill to the duke's heart and
kept him speechless with amazement.
This old scoundrel seemed to know
everything, to have arranged every
thing, irrespective of time and space.
"You ought to be grateful for my
CHAPTER IV.
The Lady in the Landau.
Beaumanoir passed into the corridor
with unsteady steps, dazed by the enor
mity of his entanglement. He had been
caught so easily, yet he was held so
firmly. His first impulse was to rush
off to Scotland Yard, expose the white
bearded wirepuller in the invalid
chair and claim protection. But that
course would entail confession of his
engagement as a criminal instrument,
to the everlasting disgrace of the great
family of which ne was now the head.
The alternatives were foul treachery to
the girl of his heart or almost certain
death at the hands of Ziegler's disci
plined ruffians.
He had reached the top of the broad
staircase when a step, almost inaudible
on the thick pile carpet, sounded be
hind him and a hand fell on his shoul
der.
"Charley, old boy! Or is it 'vour
grace,' I should be calling you? What
the dickens are you doing here?" said
the young man who had overtaken him.
Beaumanoir's harrassed brows cleared
as he met Alec Forsyth's honest gaze
and he felt the grip of his honest hand.
Theirways had lam apart for the last
few years, but a very real friendship,
begun in the Eton playing fields, had
survived separation. Of all his ac
quaintances, Alec had been the only one
to go down to Liverpool twelve months
before to bid scapegrace Charles Han
bury farewell.
I had a call to make, before going
to Pattisons' in Lincoln Inn," said
the duke. And then with quick appre
hension he added, pointing to the door
he had just left: "Have you come
from there? Have you business with
Ziegler, too?"
"Ziegler? Who's Ziegler?" asked
Forsyth, looking puzzled by his sudden
confusion. "No, I haven't been to
those rooms, but to the suite beyond.
A duty call on a certain Mrs. Talmage
Eglinton, but, thank goodness, she
wasn't at home. Now, about yourself,
Charley. Fortune smiles again, eh?"
"It's only a sickly grin at present."
Beaumanoir replied, deiectedly. "See
here: Alec I've got my bag on a cab
outside. I landed at Southampton too
early for lunch. Come and talk to me
while I get a snack before going to the
lawyers.''
A few minutes later they were seated
in a Strand restaurant, and the young
Scotsman heard all about his friend's
struggles with the demon of poverty
in New York, but never a word of the
trouble that was brooding. In his turn,
Forsyth was able to fill in the blanks
of the family solicitor's cablegram, and
enlightened Beaumanoir as to the man
ner of his succession 4to
the portieres. Fear held me in a spell,
but a dread of being made the butt of
a joke impelled me to action.
^'Stop where you are!" I cried, dash
ing in front of them and clasping the
heavy draperies. "Who are you, and
how came you here? My name is Smith,
this is my house and no one can enter
unbidden and leave without my con-
sent!"
"Your statement of the rights of a
householder is lex non scripta," smiled
Jefferson, as the three of them stood
quietly in front of me, "but it is not
in your power to detain us. Pardon
us a moment, Mr. Smith."
They walked to the far end of the
room and conferred for fully a minute
in whispers. I had studied them in
tently at close range, and observed that
they displayed none of the self-con
sciousness of those who are dressed to
act a part. They were not masked and
I could detect no evidence that paste,
rouge or similiar expedients had been
employed to change the ordinary expres
sions of their faces. Save for their
quaint garb and old-fashioned dignity
they were normal in every way.
I was so absorbed in my study of
them that I had forgotten Brown. I
heard a sound in his direction and
turned to see him fall in his chair, a
picture of abject fright. The three
came towards me.
"The hour is late, Mr. Smith," began
Jefferson, "and with your permission
we will return tomorrow evening at 10
o'clock and make an explanation of this
of this inadvertence. Say nothing of
this incident, -else this promise is re
scinded. Goodnight, gentlemen."
The hands of my Strassburg clock
were trembling on the zenith of its dial,
and as he finished, its gong was sound
ing the strokes of midnight.
"You will make your explanations
and apologies tonight!" I exclaimed,
pressing an electric button and listening
with relief to an insistent ring in a far
part of the house. I stand on my
rights, and if you be gentlemen you
will
I looked into vacant air as the clock
sounded its last stroke. They did not
fade from view they were blotted out
as is the light from the interior of a
camera when the shutter snaps from
touching the instantaneous clutch. I
saw them distinctly as I see the paper
in front of methe next instant I was
looking at the wall beyond where they
had stood. Brown dropped in a dead
faint.
How long I stood there looking at the
space once occupied by The Three I do
not know. My hand remained in its
threatening poise, and I felt the wild
beatings of my heart. I heard a step in
the hall. It came nearer and nearer.
**S IV JLmm I iy J/lKiit/
George and Charles Hanbury, having
predeceased him, there had been no
near relatives to follow the late head
of the house to his last resting place.
"Let me see, my cousin George had
a sister, Sybil, who used to live with my
uncle," Beaumanoir mused aloud. I
wonder what has become of her."
I believe she is still at your town
house in Piccadilly," replied Forsyth
with a constraint which the other did
not notice in his self-absorption. But
the next moment it struck Beaumanoir
as odd that the information should have
been so readily forthcoming, for he
had been unaware that his friend knew
his relatives.
"You have made Sybil Hanbury's
acquaintance, then?" he asked.
Yes, since your departure for Amer-
ica," was the reply. I had the pleas
ure of meeting her first at my uncle's
in Grosvenor GardensGeneral Sad
grove's, you know. I dare say you re
member him?"
Oh, yes I remember the general
wella shrewd old party with eyes
like gimlets," said Beaumanoir. "But
what's this about Grosvenor Gardens?"
he added quickly. The Sadgroves used
to live in Bruton street."
"Quite so but they moved to 140
Grosvenor Gardens, last Christmas."
140! exclaimed the duke. Why,
that's where the Sherman's are going
to stay. Some friends of minewho
came over in the same ship," he went
on to explain rather lamely.
Forsytn shot an amused glance at his
old crony. "Yes, I know that Uncle
Jem was expecting some Americans to
put up with him, and he has been ravinp?
about the charms of the young lady of
the party for the last fortnight. You
are excited, Charley. Your manner has
struck mo as strange since we met at
the hotel. Is it permitted to inquire
if my uncle is entertaining unawares
a future duchess?"
To the young Scotsman's surprise, the
duke shewed signs for a moment of
taking the light-spoken banter amiss.
Beaumanoir flushed and muttered some
thing inarticulate, but pulled himself
together and diverted their talk into
a iresh channel, clumsily enough.
"Don't gas"about me, old chap," he
said. Tell me of yourself. Is the world
using you better than formerly?"
"About the same/' Forsyth replied,
with a shrug. "They gave me a
twenty-pound rise last year, so my pay
as a third-grade clerk in the foreign
office is now the princely sum of 230
per annum. Not a brilliant pros-
Euffer
the title. The
late duke was traveling to Newmarket
in a racing "special," accompanied by
his nephew and heir, George Hanbury,
when they had both met their deaths
in a collision.
The double funeral had taken place
at Prior's Tarrant, the ancestral seat
of the dukes of Beaumanoir in Hert
fordshire, three days before, the ar
rangements having been made by the
solicitors, in the absence of the next
successor. The last duke havinsr been
childless widower, and both his
ect. When I am a worn-out old
of 60 I shall be able to retire on
a pension about equal to my present
pay."
''Then look here. Alec chuck the
fhe
iublic service and come to me," said
duke, eagerly. I '11 give you eight
hundred a year to begin with, and rises
up to two thousand and you can have
the dower-house at Prior's Tarrant to
live in. Call yourself private secretary,
bailiff, anything you pleaseonly come.
The fact iswell, I've been a bit
shaken byby what I've gone thru.
I want someone near me who's more
than a mere hireling."
It was Forsyth's turn to flush now,
but with pleasure at the offer made
to him. He accepted it in a few sim
ple words, and the duke rose and paid
his score.
"Come with me to Pattisons'," he
said. Then we '11 go to Piccadilly and
take possession.''
The business at the lawyers', which
consisted of little more than arranging
future meetings, was soon finished and
the duke and his new secretary took a
fresh cab to the West End. As they
bowled along, Beaumanoir inquired
further about his cousin Sybil, whom,
latterly to his estrangement from his
relations, he had never met. Forsyth
imparted the information that for the
last six months, since she "came out,"
she had virtually ruled the late duke's
household.
"But she can be little more than a
child," Beaumanoir protested. "Any
how, I can't keep a cousin of 18 on
as my housekeeper without setting Mrs.
Grundy's tongue wagging. The ques
tion arises what to do with her. Old
Pattison tells me she is well provided
for, but I don't like telling her to
clear out if it does not occur to her
to go. What sort is she. Alec?"
*p/1 j&5*
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.
Mr. Smith and His Friend Brown Are Visited by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams
By FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS, Author of "John Burt" and "The Kidnapped Millionaires"-Copyright, 1905, by McClnre, Phillips & Co.
With a yell I sprang to the far side of
the room, grasped a heavy walking
stick and rushed to the side of the
senseless Brown. Again those portieres
parted!
"Phwat is it, sor?"
It was Michael, my broad-shouldered
night-watchman, who had responded to
my ring. There was no doubt that he
was flesh and blood, and it was good to
see his honest face.
A bottle of brandy and some soda,
quick!" I ordered. "Mr. Brown has
suddenly been taken ill!
"In a minute, sor!" said my faithful
man. "And shall I send for the doc
tor, sor!"
"No, no I exclaimed, attempting
to arouse Brown, "just the brandy and
soda it's nothing serious."
Brown revived just as Michael again
entered the room. Our conversation
during the hours which followed is not
essential to my record of these strange
events. It is sufficient to state that in
consequence of it Brown was in my room
before 10 o'clock the ensuing evening.
Never in all its years did the old
clock receive more attention than on
that evening. I would say a few words
and look at the clock Brown would
replyand look at the clock. Slowly
the minute hand climbed the hill until
it looked a minute of the hour. There
had been no sound to break the silence.
Of a sudden we heard the muffled
tread of steps in the hallway. A hand
thrust the portieres aside, the tall fig
ure of Jefferson entered, and back of
him Washington and Adams. I do not
assert that i was not frightened, but
do hold that I comported myself fairly
well under the circumstances. I was
proud of Brown.
"Good evening, gentlemen!" saluted
Jefferson, the others advancing with
him to a yard or so from where we
stood. "You have kept your implied
agreement, and we have kept our ap
pointment."
I am glad to welcome you/' I said,
bowing and indicating chairs had ar
ranged for
thatu
purpose.
owe yo gentleme an apology
for our intrusion of last night,'' Wash
ington said, after an interval of si
lence. I liave been revisiting some
of the scenes of our operations prior to
the Yorktown campaign, and the spot
where we now are gathered was the
site of my tent on one occasion when I
held an important conference with Eo
chambeau."
"Indeed!" I exclaimed. "Then I
may fairly claim this house as one of
your headquarters?"
"We have visited several -hundred
houses for which the owners stoutly
make the same claim," observed Wash
ington, "and Mr. Adams hints that it
is possible that my restlessness con-
A
put to me." Forsyth replied, as tho to
himself. I had better make my con
fession first as last," he went on hur
riedly. "You are her nearest relative
now,! and the head of her family. Ever
since I first saw Sybil Hanbury the
dearest wish of my heart has been to
make her my wife, but without pros
pects of any kind I couldn't very well
ask her. There you have it, my noble
patron, in a nutshell,"
Beaumanoir patted his friend's knee
affectionately.
"My dear fellow, go in and win, so
far as I am concerned," he said.
"While I am above ground your pros
pects need stand in your way no longer.
But you haven't answered my question,
which I'll put in another way. How
is she likely to take my appearance
on the scene?"
"I'm afraid she's rather prejudiced.
Her brother George didn't love you
much, you know, and she is greatly
cut up by his loss," Forsyth replied,
with the dogged manner of the honest
man who has to say a disagreeable
thing. I don't think that you need
be under any apprehension about her
staying on at Beaumanoir house when
you show up. To be candid, I saw her
yesterday, and she Baid she should be
gin packing as soon as she was sure
that you hadn't been drowned on the
voyage home."
''Good girl!" ejaculated the duke.
"The unexpressed hope did her much
honor, only it'B a pity it didn't come
off. Now, Alec, if you'll Bee her first
she needn't see me at all if she doesn't
wish toand tell her from me that
she's not to hurry out of the house,
because I'm going to oscillate between
Prior's Tarrant and a hotel for the
present. I shall be immensely obliged
to you."
"But you said just now that you
were going to take possession."
I nave changed my mind. There
are reasons which I cannot explain to
you why my immediate neighborhood
is likely to be dangerous for the pres
ent. I should be sorry to subject my
fair cousin to any unpleasantness. Tho
not a word of this to her or anyone
else, please."
The cab was drawing up before the
ducal mansion, and Forsyth forbore to
put into words the astonishment which
he looked. As the two men were about
to asofend the steps to the entrance, a
landau, which was being driven slowly
by, drew to the curb, and a lady who,
besides the servants, was the sole occu
pant, called out:
"Surely-you're not going to cut me,
Mr. Forsytn. Too proud to know poor
little me, eh, now that you've taken to
calling on dukes?"
A murmur of annoyance escaped For
syth, but perforce he went to the car
riage and shook, the daintily-gloved
hand held out to him.
"How do you do, Mrs. Talmage
Eglinton?" he said, adding the reprov
ing^whisper, "That is the duke."
The ladv in the landau raised her
lorgnettes and calmly surveyed the
waiting nobleman.
"How very interesting! she purred,
adding aloud so that the subject of her
request could not fail to hear, "Why
don't you introduce him, instead of
keeping him standing there? We
Americans are death on dukes, you
know.''
At a gesture from Forsyth, who tried
to convey his disgust by a look, Beau
manoir limped forward, smiling. His
misfortunes had made him something of
a democrat, and he had always been
ready to see the comic side of things
till tragedy that morning had claimed
him for its own. In meeting the ad
vances of the agent Jevons in the Bow
ery saloon he had been largely influ
owing to his absence in India and more enced by the humor of the situation-
That's rather a stiff question to
of the scion of a ducal house consent
mg to "get a bit" by passing forged
bonds.
Mrs. Talmage Eglinton, a handsome
blonde with an elegant figure and a
childish Voice, received the duke with
effusion.
I stopped my carriage to ask Mr.
Forsyth to tea on Saturday," she prat
tled. I do hope your grace will come
too. I am staying at the Cecil, and
shall be delighted to see you."
The unblushing ^effrontery of the in
vitation failed to strike Beaumanoir in
his sudden horror at the associations
called up by it. This frivolous butter
fly of a woman occupied the next suite
gjiy^^
rf#fj
cerning headquarters may have been
the primary cause of the unfortunate
prolongation of the war."
"We found ten of them in White
Plains," laughed Jefferson. "Mr. Ad-
ams," he said, turning to the elder of
The Three, "will you explain to our
friends the purport of this visit."
The old patriot thought deeply before
making reply, his eyes fixed on the
pages of a book, the leaves of which he
idly turned.
"We cannot reveal the secrets of
our present existence," he slowly said,
shutting the book and looking at us.
"It was our intention to reveal our
selves, not to you, but to one Who holds
high official position, but perhaps it
is as well. We wish to tell you certain
things, and in return we wish you to
explain certain things to us. We have
no Claim on your hospitality, and you
need only say the word to rid yourself
of us for all time."
"Once again I assure you that you
are heartily welcome," I declared. "If
there is any way in which Mr. Brown
or I can be of service to you, please
command us."
fave
of rooms to those in which Ziegler was
Spinning his villainous webm which
that terrible old man had unfolded to
him the details of his treacherous task.
Strange, too, that he should be bidden
to the mild dissipation of an afternoon
tea-table in that hotel, of all others,
on the very day when he was due to go
there on business so different, for Sat
urday was the day appointed by Zeig
ler for his call for "further instruc
tions."
Conscious that the mocking eyes of
the lady in the landau were watching
him with a curious inquiry, he mas
tered his emotion, and at the same
time came to a decision on the vital is
sue before him. Probably he would
have arrived at the same one without
the incentive of avoiding an unpalat
able engagement, but Mrs. Talmage
Eglinton's invitation to tea was un
doubtedly the final influence in setting
him on the straight path.
I am very sorry," he replied, and
there was a new dignity in his tone,
"but I must ask you to excuse me. I
am going down tomorrow to
Prior's Tarrant, my place in Hertford
shire, and I shall not be in town on
Saturday.""
For the fraction of a second the re
buffed hostess seemed taken aback by
the refusal. She flushed slightly un
der her powder, and the taper fingers
twitched on the handle of her sunshade.
But without any appreciable pause she
answered gaily:
"That's most unkind of you. Well,
what must be must be. Goodbye, your
grace. Goodby. Mr. Forsyth I shall
expect you, anyhow. Drive on, Ben-
wett."
The carriage rolled away.
I am glad you snubbed her," For
syth exclaimed. "She has been made a
good deal of in certain circles during
the last month or two, and presumes a
lot on the strength of it."
"Did I snub her?" said the duke
carelessly. I am sure I didn't
mean to, for she deserves better things
of me. You'd hardly believe it,
AleCj but that little episode has jerked
me into deciding a crucial pointno
less than whether to be a maw or a cur.
At the same time it has put me quite
outside the pale as a resident under
the same roof as my cousin. On sec
ond thought, I will not go in at all, but
I shall be obliged if you will see her
and convey the message I gave you
that Beaumanoir House is at her dispo
sal till she can quite conveniently leave
it
"But what are you going to do your-
self?" said Forsyth in sheer bewilder
ment.
"First I shall go to Bo"nd street, to
gladden the hearts of some of my old
creditors: then by an evening train to
Prior's Tarrant," was the reply. "And,
Alec," proceeded the duke earnestly^
"if you can get leave from the foreign
office, pending retirement, and join me
there as soon as possible, you
Defective Page
May 13, 1905.
Can it be arranged that we may a ,vu. j.. A*.
meet here on specifielevenings,with the 'L^f^^A
will"place
me under a very deep obligation1
CHAPTER V.
Ziegler Begins to Move.
On the following Sunday morning the
Duke of Beaumanoir stood at one of the
windows of the long library at Prior's
Tarrant, idly beating a tattoo on the
glass. The June sunshine flooded the
bosky leafage of the glorious expanse
of park, and nearer still the parterres of
the old Dutch garden were ^gay with
summer bloom but the beauties of the
landscape were lost upon the watcher
at the window.
Nearly four and twenty hours had
elapsed since he had failed to keep his
appointment with Mr. Ziegler. and he
was wondering how and when that auto
crat of high-grade crime would signal
ize his displeasure at the mutiny. That
sooner or later an edict would issue
against him from the invalid chair in
the first-floor suite he had not the slight
est doubt. He frafew that he had to deal
with men playing a great game for a
great stake in deadly earnest.
The Dukes of Beaumanoir had never
been famous for their virtues, any more
than they had been cowards, and it was
rather a dawning sense of responsibility
%\xaa. fear, either for his reputation or
his person, that filled him with appre-
ferent estimate on your fame as one of
the founders of our constitution."
"But I say to you that I had nothing
whatever to do with it he declared,
rather impatiently. "Two years be
fore it was drafted I went to FraWce
as the representative of the continental
congress, and I did not return until
1789, two years after the constitution
had been adopted. By eliminating my
name in the next edition? of your book
you will contribute to its accuracy."
I was covered with confusion, and did
not know what to say. Samuel Adams
was scanning the opening pages of my
beloved book, and he looked up with a
quaint smile.
"You also mention John* Adams, Pat
rick Henry, John Hancock, Thomas
Paine and myself as among the found
ers of the constitution, he said.
"These men were not members of the
convention, and with a single excep
tion' opposed its indorsement by the peo
?ile. My observation convinces me that
he people of today have been kept in
dense ignorance Concerning the manner
in which their constitution was
formed.''
0
assurance that we shall not be dis- Section' of that document?" I ex-
assurance that we shall not be di
turbed?" asked Jefferson. "May we
consult such books and documents as'
you have or can readily obtain?"
I assured them that it would be a
pleasure to extend such privileges. It
was difficult to realize that my guests
were not normal in every way. They
had none of that shadowy illusoriness
with which artists depict such figures.
They seemed as substantial as Brown
and there is nothing ethereal about
Brown. I could see that The Three
wished to be considered as tangible
actualities, and that they were pleased
when they found us more at ease.
I was delighted when I noted that
Jefferson was glancing thru the pages
of the book on which my fame as an
author was established. It is entitled
"One Hundred Reasons Why the Con
stitution Deserves Immortality.''
"Are you the author of this trea
tise, Mr. Smith?" he asked.
I am," I proudly declared. "This
is the grandest nation in the world
because it was privileged to develop
under the grandest constitution ever
framed for he guidance of a people.
You, Mr. Jefferson, and others who
ave to us that priceless heritage, must
been inspired with the girt of
prophecy.''
Jefferson lifted his eyes and looked at
me with surprise.
I had nothing to do with founding
the constitution, my dear Mr. Smith,"
he interposed.
I respect your modesty, Mr. Jeffer
son, I returned, but we place a dif-
question the per-
claimed. "Our national greatness and
all of our blessings flow from it."
"Are you free from political, social
and industrial evils?" he asked.
"By no means," I admitted, "but
these originate in the greed of private
interests and the selfishness of individ
uals.
"In other words, you ascribe all of
your blessings to your constitution, and
all of your ills to those who take ad
vantage of its operation," observed
Jefferson, with a peculiar smile. "No
king_could expect higher loyalty."
"Please explain to us, Mr. Smith,
the reasons for certain abuses which
have come to our notice," requested
Samuel Adams. "Your public prints
are filled with charges against your
government of your great cities
mittedly corrupt and inefficient. Cer
tain of your citizens become rich be
cause of their control over corruption.
Your senatorships are sold to those pri
vate interests who make the highest
bid. Are these offenses due to your
peculiar form of government?"
"They are not," I stoutly asserted.
"Such scandals do not arise in Great
Britain, France. Germany and other
countries where the people have a voice
in public affairs," returned Samuel
Adams. "Misrepresentation and cor
ruption are national vices peculiar to
this country. There is no question that
many of your state legislatures are
corrupt. Your citizens realize this and
resent ik but seem powerless to pro
vide and enforce remedies. You are
MYSTER STOR BY HEADOo N HILLgconcernineIgnoranc
(COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY A. WESSEL8 CO.)
only occurred to him since he came
down to the country that if Ziegler
killed him his death would mean ruin
to Alec Forsyth, who had thrown up a
sure position to serve him. The next
heir was an elderly cousin with a large
family to provide for, and he would
certainly not retain Forsyth in his em
ployment.
Then, again, Beaumanoir reflected
with a sigh, his new and sweet friend
ship with Leonie Shermana friendship
to which no blot on his escutcheon need
put limitswould be rudely
snapped. The King of Terrors would
take away what his saved honor had
restored, and perhaps it was the bit
terest drop in his cup to feel that he
might be giving his life to lose what
in another sense he would have given
his life to win. To ask Leonie to link
her fate to his, with that dark shadow
hanging over him, was out of the ques
tion.
Once he had taken up his pen to
denounce Ziegler to the police authori
ties anonymously, but he had despond
ingly laid, it down again. That crafty
Eractitioner
had doubtless safeguarded
imself against such an obvious course
by being prepared with an unimpeach
able record which it would be impos
sible to shake unless he came forward
and avowed complicity. There, again,
dishonor waited for him, and he had
already made his choice that a short
shrift was preferable to that.
The gloom of his mood was enhanced
by his intense loneliness in the huge
feudal monastery that now called him
master, for Forsyth had been unable
to join him. owing to difficulties in
obtaining release from his present du
ties*
Beaumanoir took out and read for
the fifth time a letter which had ar
rived that morning frdm his friend and
secretary:
"My Dear Duke (I mustn't me the
irreverent 'Charley' any more): I am
still having trouble with the F. O.
people about my departure, but I think
I may safely promise to get away to
you on Tuesday. In fact, I shall make
a point of doing so, even if I have to
leave the public service in disgrace,
for you must forgive my saying that
I am rather uneasy about you. The
other day you seemed like a man with
a millstone round his neck, and I take
it that one of the duties of a private
secretary is to remove millstones from
the person of his employer. I only
wish you would confide fully in me and
command me in any waybut that is,
of course, your affair.
I dined with my uncle, General
Sadgrove, last night, and had the pleas
ure of meeting Mrs. and Miss Sher
man there. The latter is indeed a
charming girl. She was rather shy in
talking about you, having heard from
my uncle that the Mr. Hanbury she
met on shipboard was probably the
duke of Beaumanoir on his way to en
ter into his kingdom. Mrs. Sherman
waxed enthusiastic on your 'old-world
courtesy,' and the general, who chaffs
the old lady, remarked that she had
been equally laudatory before she dis
covered your rank.
"They were all very kind and con
gratulatory on my announcing my en
gagement to Sybil, which, as I wrote
you yesterday, was ratified within ten
minutes of your leaving me at the
door of Beaumanoir house.
"You may be interested to hear
that I did not go to tea with Mrs. Tal
mage Eglinton today. Yours,
"Alec Forsyth."
The duke crushed the letter back into
his pocket, and came to a resolution.
"I'll run up to town tomorrow and
call on the Shermans," he said to him-
Vail V** IfUO UUOJluuuig, #*w 0U...VI wv AAAUA
self. "And now I'll do the proper
thing, and go to church. I'm not going
to crouch corners because of that
patriarchal old fiend at the Cecil."
The church at which generations of
Hanburys had worshiped was in the
center of Tarrant village, a mile from
the lodge gates, but there was a short
cut to it across the park. This was the
route taken by the duke, who first
crossed the greensward and then passed
out by a private wicket into the road
after traversing the belt of copse that
fringed the demesne.. The, villagers,
who had waited for his coming,' stand
ing bareheaded in the churchyard, were
I a little disappointed that he had not
driven up in full state. But the soli
tary gentleman limping up the path
atoned for the lack of coremony and
s
J*
elected and appointed officials. "The pline their betrayers, and that your cit
is ad- fzens must abide by laws thus corrupt-
blind if you cannot perceive that
wealth Wields a dominating influence
over legislation. This is true of no
other nation which pretends to exercise
self-government. Why is this so?"
"It is not the fault of the constitu-
tion," I declared. "These abuses should
be charged to unscrupulous individuals
and to public apathy."
"In other words, you think it better
patriotism to charge your neighbors
with dishonesty or indifference than to
hold your system of government in any
way responsible," observed Adams. f^
"Your state constitutions are mod- ^s^.
eled closely on the lines of the federal
constitution, are they not?" asked Jef
ferson. I answered in the affirmative,
and also admitted that the same was ^g
true of the municipal governments of
our larger cities.
And you do not deny that there are
states and cities at the mercy of cor- ~j
rupt private interests?"
It is useless to deny it," I admitted.
"Are the majority of the voters of
these states and cities dishonest?" Jef
ferson persisted. "Do they share in-ti
these plunderings, or are they the vie
tims of them?'
"Do the voters of any state or city
have the power to discharge or recall
representatives who have betrayed
them?" asked Samuel Adams, before
I could think of a reply to Jefferson's
question.
I know of none.''
Is there any methodby which the
people can repudiate a piece of legisla
tion known to be vicious or corrupt?"
asked Washington.
"Not to my knowledge," I hesitated.
"It appears then." summed up Jef
ferson, "^that by following the guid
ance of your national constitution con
ditions have developed under which
honest majorities are unable to prevent
the nomination and election? of dishon
est representatives that your people
are powerless to punish or even disci-
ly conceived, fostered and enacted,
ask you, Mr. Smith, do such wrongs ex-
ist?''
I must admit that they do," I said.
Brown keenly enjoyed my embarrass
ment.
Is it possible that with all your
progress int other directions, such is
your ideal of a perfect government?"
sternly asked Samuel Aaams. "Is a
blind devotion to a system which can.
be manipulated to Teward dishonesty
and punish virtue)is such devotion a
true test of patriotism?"
I was silent.
Note.In the following Instalment the Shades
criticize the present generation for their self
worship, als for their
I their form of government.
won their hearts by his friendly smile,
and a handshake to one or two of the
older inhabitants, whom he remembered
as a boy, clinched the matter. The
verdict went round that the new duke
would "do."
The service that morning was, it is to
be feared, more ducal than devotional.
From the white-robed choir, ranged
among the tombs of dead-and-gone Han
burys in the chancel, to the hard
breathing rustics on the back benches
every eye was turned and steadily kept
on the lonely figure in the family pew.
While grateful for the homage paid
him, the duke was not sorry when the
ordeal was over and he was free to
make his way homeward.
But he was not to get off so easily.
As he was about to let himself thru the
private gate into the park, intending to
go back, as he had come, thru the
copse, footsteps sounded behind him,
and Mr. Bristow. the vicar, overtook
him. They had already met on the pre
vious day.
"Your grace is alone still?" panted
the clergyman. "Ah, I thought your
secretary wouldn't find it so easy to
cast his shackles. I am commissioned
by Mrs. Bristow to sayI hope you
won't think us presuming-^-that we
shall be delighted if you will give U8
your company at our homely lunch."
A sudden impulse prompted Beau
manior to accept the invitation. He
had taken a liking for the hale, vig
orous old vicar, who had the archives
of his family by rote, and an hour or
two in his society would take him out
of himself. So he turned back and ac
companied his host to the vicarage,
where he made a good impression on
Mrs. Bristow by his cordial praise of
her training of the choir and by appre
ciation of her strawberries aim cream.
It was past four when he returned to
Prior's Tarrant, to be met in the en
trancehall by the butler with a face
eloquent of "something wrong."
''What is it, Manson?" he asked.
"Mr. Bristow sent a boy, did he not, to
say that I was lunching at the vicar-
age?"
"Yes, your grace. It isn't that,"
was the agitated reply. I have
report an outrage that's been1
comot
mitted on one of the underservants.
Jennings, the third gardener, was com
ing back from church thru the copse in
the park, when he was lassoed, your
grace, same as they do buffalo, I've
been told, in foreign parts. A rope
shot out of the bushes over his should
ers, and then a man ran* up as he was
struggling on the ground Trat let him
go, saying it was a joke. Jennings
hasn't got any enemies that he knows
of, and it was a wicked thing to do, be
cause he's a bit of a cripple and walks
lame. It's shook him a good deal."
I am not surprised at that," said
the duke. "Possibly it was otofly in
tended as a practical joke, but you had
better inform the constable in the vil
lage, and instruct' him to inquire into
the matter."
The butler retired, and the duke
smiled grimly.
"Ziegler has begun to put in some
of his fine work,'' he muttered. The
initial blunder of his agents in mistak
ing a servant's limp for minte won't
stop him long. I shall begin to like
the excitement soon, I expect."
(To be Continued Next Saturday.)
OUGHT TO APPEAL TO HIM.
Chicago Tribune. ^^j^
"I don't think I can spare the time to
read your play," said the theatrical man
ager. "We are loaded down with manu
scripts already."
"You'll like this one, all right," re
sponded the caller. "It's different from
anything you ever read."
"Any human interest in It?" mechani
cally asked the manager.
"Human interest? Say! That doesn't
begin to express it It's a drama of in
human interest. The villain is a loan
shark."
$
INTERESTED.
Chicago News. ?ttiL
"So the politician spent a week on the
old farm? Did he put in the time playing
poker?"
"No he spent every day out in ths
beautiful orchard."
"What on earth interested him in thft
orchard?"
"Why, the extensive grafting."
