Show I I T THE KING NG versus WAR GRAVE I By B y J J. J S. S S FLETCHER Published Copyright January 1924 1924 by Se Second Alfred ond printing A. A Knopf February Inc 1924 I I Continued from yesterday esterday I Then Mr Lucien dl Spada Spada be good enough I I dont don't know whether you OU are the new hou house houe e steward or some Bome new- new sort of ot butler Im I'm sure but butas butas butas as you have brought a message you you ou ouan qan an take tak a message message message-be be good goodenough good goodenough goodenough enough to tell Lady Wargrave that Sir Au Austin Un and Mr CorI Cornelius Cornellus Cor- Cor nellus nelius trustees under the 1 I will viii of her late husband have called i upon her and desire to see her dud nd Sir bir Robert Wargrave at once The other men men carefully observant observant observant vant see a curious gleam flash Into the italians Italians eyes eyes as Mr rudely insults him But the white teeth still smile under the black mustache I 1 shall not ot take your message message if he says quietly You will vilI not sir s By what right tIght do you OU deny Lady Wargrave to me and my demands Mr 11 By a proper right I am en engaged engaged engaged en- en to bo be married narrIed to Lady War War- grave In fact I am Just about to tobe tobe tobe be married to her The rhe clergyman ho ho gives a sidelong glance at the window window ls is on his way to perform the ceremony It is all aU en regie regle my dear l Mr r. r Lady Wargrave Wargrave War War- grave will not see you until she is the di Spada pada After that that that-at at her hel husbands husband's s discretion My dis disCretion Air Mr M r. r rooks looks at Sir Austin and at Sir Ir Benjamin He turns from them to the Italian Hallan And Instead In in- in instead instead stead of bursting oui out into Invective he suddenly becomes v very ry quiet in manner II Now then Mr dl di Spada let me be plain he says My and I are going to see Lady Wargrave Wargrave Wargrave War War- grave at once At once sir No Then Ihen let me tell you ou that there will be no marriage I have al already already at- at ready stopped that For a second Di rh Spada's face be becomes becomes becomes be- be comes livid He looks as if It he lie meant to spring and Sir Austin who has seen service grips his hib walking cane But the next instant the smile reasserts itself Di Spada laughs impossible It Itis is I tell you all strictly en regie reglo I have your our ArChbishop ArCh Arcu- bishop of Canterbury's h license ense in m my pocket The clergyman has halo see seep seen t t he will be here any minute You cannot stop atop this Lad Lady W WAI Wargrave grave is her own mistress and independent or of you The cl clergyman will not be here Mr di Spada I 1 have stopped him Ah I that makes you start Now fetch letch Lady Wargrave and Sir RODert ROb ROb- ert and Wargrave-and Wargrave and at once Di Spada is alarmed now His Hise e eyes s' s begin to shift from one face to another Why do you ou wish to to see tile trie child he asks abruptly In ord r that he may be seen by Sir Benjamin Broadstairs answers vers Mr ry We W wish to have an eminent i t rr- rr oil r his Health t fd ANO- ANO He He HeIs is i's Is' Is being attended by y my brother who is in the house and is isan isan an eminent doctor says Di Spada sulkily hAnd And the child is quite well Mr waves his hand hanC wont won't be long now and well we'll herald the event far enough ahead that chapter you ou wont won't miss a single Dear Dear Miss Blair Biair I live alone an arid and l have much spare time to fill as I like so at present I Iam Iam Iam am making handbags beaded and otherwise Would you care to help me I would appreciate an any assistance you could give dive me Also I have three lovely little kittens in m need of homes I cant can't take care of them any longer so will you please tell your readers about them Call at Jeremy street SLEEPY SALLY SALL V I am sure the children will be de delighted delighted delighted de- de lighted to hear that there are some more pets available v and u u tens will soon soon have hav homes Thank you for letting us know about them As for your our suggestions about the bags It bags it would be impossible for me to assist you In the m manner in which you suggested but if it you will take your work work- over to Mrs Bennett at t the e Womans Woman's exchange In the Community Market building building building build build- ing on Third South I 1 believe that could ma make e every satisfactory arrangements with her to handle your work on a commission basis Christmas is not so very far tar in m th the future as far tar as thinking about things to make and give so I should think it it would be a good idea for or you ou to make malte e some definite plans and find a market for your work May I help some other way 1 Dear Miss Blair Can you give me the address of Adolphe the motion picture picture pic pic- ture actor ANOTHER FAN Mr 11 l may be re reached ched at 1911 Carmen avenue avenue- Los Angeles Cal Dear Miss Blair I have a green crepe de do chine dress that spots wherever water touches touche it Do you think dipping the whole dress into water would stop it MRS MC I In all likelihood It would Be sure euro sure that the wl water ter Is no warmer than tepid so that there will b be b not the slightest chance of or the fabric fading Crepe de de chine washes beautifully and retains all its orIgInal original origl nal sheen and luster if you do not do-not not press It until it ft is practically dry and then use the Iron on the wrong side of the goods If It you do not wish to Immerse the whole dress you could sponge It carefully ca That should take take out all the spots and prevent more coming Dear Betty Blair When and where was Clarence Darrow the famous famous' lawyer born Where is his home now and Is he married MARION Clare Clarence de Darrow was born at Kinsman Ohio Yes he ime Is married His His home is In Chicago Didn't you see my my answer to this a week or so ago aO Dear Miss Blair Its It's the pronunciation of the word Vallejo Im I'm wanting Can you give it to me ne DICK Val in Spanish Dick but the Americans call It You will fetch tetch Lady Wargrave and Sir Robert at once he says Jays At once sir DI Dl Spada hesitates considers turns on his heel goes First round to us Ul mutters Mr bury Sir Benjamin Broadstairs 81 speaks eaks In In his blandest tones I think you may Just as well ell send f for r the two young men now he observes They may be useful And tell And tell the chauffeur to be quick So Mr opens a window and sends tho the motorcar flying back to the village CHAPTER XIV The License and the Warrant Once more the two trustees and and the famous Harley street physician have ve whether they like it or not to resign themselves to waiting They wait walt indeed so long for tor the appearance of Lady Wargrave and her son that the motorcar returns bringing with It Herbert and Graye who enter looking as men look who expect to find Ind themselves plunged Into the midst of ot a scene Nobody says much to them but presently draws them both aside We Ve were only Just In time to stop something he whispers Lady Wargrave and this man Di Dl Spada were just about to be marrIed married mar mar- ried ned by archbishops archbishop's license The vicar was on his way to perform the ceremony Herbert gives Graye Grae a quick look Graye Grae tightens the muscles of or his face and affects Indifference Then says Herbert HeIbert In my opinion Lady Wargrave is being coerced You ar are sure ure the marriage Is not taking place elsewhere Mr starts at the mere notion of ot such uch a a. thing surely thing surely the vicar will not disobey Injunction tion And yet they have now been waiting more thore than thana a quarter of ot an hour and andI andI andI and and- I really think you ought to In Insist Insist insist in- in on on knowing kno what is going forward for lor- ward says Sir Austin who is growing restive As trustees trustees trustees trus trus- tees we are not to be kept waiting In this this this- i But then the door opens It I opens to admit the elderly nurse whom Graye had found bending over o baronet on the night which saw him risk his own life She has the child wl with h her In her arms arm'S she looks from one doctor doctor to to the other with frightened ned alarmed glances But she is otherwise alone and Mr st steps ps towards her Jn tn advance of the medical men nien Where is lour jour our mistress he demands de de- de- de mands The woman stares at himI himI him I dont don't know where Lady Wargrave Wargrave War War- grave is sir she answers ans I I 1 I haven't seen seen her since morning Who Vho told you to bring this child here then demands Mr Spits Spits- b bury Y i Mr di Spa Spada sl sir Mr A r. r Mr turned To t to his hisco co- co t ee v v i 1 It 0 1 Come Coma with i me me Sir Austin he says We Ve must find Lady Wargrave Wargrave War- War grave at on once once e. e While we are gone will you medical gentlemen examine tha the child and question th the nurse Sir Benjamin Broadstairs and the two young doctors gather around the infant who Is fortunately unconscious unconscious unconscious un un- un- un conscious of all the trouble and excitement his feeble existence is causing the solicitor and Sir Austin Austin Austin Aus Aus- tin Wrexham hurry out Into the hall ball This must be taken hold of ot In a firm fashion declares Mr Ir j bury We Ve must Insist insist we we must assert assert we we must be adamant That there Is foul loul play or at any rate underhand work going on I 1 am certain Now look at these fellows fellows fel id- lows The persons thus disparagingly alluded to are a man who is obviously obviously ob l a butler and two youths who are re Just as obviously footmen who whore are re hanging about In the hall with appearances and looks which signify as s pl plainly as possible that they are very well aware that something unusual un unusual un- un usual l has occurred is occurring orIs oris or orIs Is about to occur Mr 11 knows none or of they them them they are all aU new servants brought down from town with Lady Wargrave and her I guests To the butler Mr Ir j bury sh sharp rp and authoritative In I manner addresses himself noting his man as a sleek smooth shifty shifty- eyed creature to whom he at once takes an instinctive dislike Where here is Js her lad ladyship de demands mands mantIs Mr The sleek and smooth one coughs deprecatingly Im sure I 1 couldn't say where her ladyship is at this precise moment sir he e says She might be in her boudoir sir Her ladyship often often often oft oft- en sits there of or an afternoon sIr with her fancy work I dont don't want want want-to to know where her ladyship might be bet be snaps out Mr Ir I want wart to know where she Is Is You must mus find her at once Lat t-at once and tell her Sir Austin Wrexham and Mr wish to see her The sleek and smooth one turns languidly to one of or his satellites See if you can f find my lady Waters Wa Wa- he says f. f I S Send nd them both both and and go yourself yourself yourself your your- self says Mr 11 bury And be be quick The sleek and smooth person pays no atte attention tion to this He nods at Waters who moves away He him him- self gazes abstractedly at a bust of Minerva which ornaments the capital of a green marble column Waters Water's fellow satellite gazes out of or doors at the sun-flecked sun lawn Did you ou hear me meT says Mr with rising wrath I said aid RId Send the other man too and go yourself Do you OU hear man 1 The sleek and smooth one pulls himself up In solemn fashion He lIe looks Mr up and down lI I beg your pardon sir I did and do hear you you I also respectfully beg to observe sir that you OU have hae no right to give the orders I 1 am amnot amnot amnot not your servant sir I am butler and house steward to Lady Wargrave Wargrave War War- grave and you have no right t to or order order order or- or orI I der me sir I Confound you do you know know- who we we are demands Mr 11 stamping his foot fool Do you you you-do ou do you 1 N Not t In In In- Inthe the least sir nd your names answers the sleek one in a tone which Implies t that e is high above such matters Then Ill I'll pretty soon tell you ou vociferates the Irate solicitor This gentleman is Sir Austin Wrexham and I am AIr Mr 11 Cornelius and we are trustees under the will of or the late lats Sir Robert Wargrave and guardian guardians of ot the present Sir Robert Robert Robert Rob- Rob i ert whose house this is And now you sir obey my orders at once or or it will be the worse for tor i iou you ou But the smooth and sleek one Isas Is Is' Isas I as cool as ever and Imperturbable I as ever evel Excuse me sir but I shall do no no such thing he answers quite un unmoved unmoved unmoved un- un unI I moved by the angry solicitors solicitor's I threats which are accompanied by shakings and wagging of ot an admonitory ad- ad monitory forefinger I 1 know my place sir and it Is not to take or orders or- or ders You will excuse me sir You You you b begins gins Mr bury h half beside himself with an an- ger Til Ill But the the- smooth person turns on his heel Since you thre threaten ten me sir I Ishall Ishall Ishall shall retire And retire he he does down th the hall hail ho holding his head in the air all and walking as If Ir he were on velvet while Sir Austin ustIn and his look at each other In mighty surprise surprise sur sur- sur- sur prise a at his Insolence But Bur then then- something happens t at they do not expect expect- something expect something that gives a new turn t to events For the remaining sa satellite elUte having watched the sleek and smooth person carefully out of sight light sidles up to the solicitor with an evident desire to speak He even so far forgets his powdered head and his silk stockings as to smile smile indeed Indeed he almost winks all bluff sir he whis whIs- pers per It was Mr Ir di dl Spada's or or- ders Her lIer ladyship Isn't In the house Not In the house exclaims Mr No sir Went off from the garden garden garden gar gar- den entrance with Mr dl di Spada In Ina Ina ina a motor ten minutes since sir sa says s 's the satellite Went Vent down to toward towards towards to- to wards ward the village Strikes me rue theres there's something up sir that's not quite right struck right struck me so for tor the thelast thelast thelast last week sir and Im I'm going to lea leave ve Continued tomorrow |