A Damsel in Distress

general public betweenthe hours of two and four. It was a tradition of long standing, thisperiodical lowering of

took his position as one of the hereditaryaristocracy of Great Britain extremely seriously--heartily dislikedit in practice. More than once he had been obliged to exit hastilyby a further door in order to keep from being d

ixed with the sweet. No one wasbetter aware than himself that the nobility of his manner,excellent as a means of impressing the mob, worked against him whenit came to a question of tips. Again and again had he been harrowedby the spectacle of tourists, huddled together like sheep, debatingamong themselves in nervous whispers as to whether they could offerthis personage anything so contemptible as half a c

his stained corduroys and pottered about hisbeloved garden; and when, as happened on an average once a quarter,some visitor, strayed from the main herd, came upon him as heworked and mistook him for one of the ga

going any further I would like to callyour attention to Sir Peter Lely's portrait of--" It was his customto begin his Thursday lectures with this remark, bu

rom the group, a trim vision inblue. She wore a dust-coat and a m

ential gear or whatever it was. He'scoming to pick me up when he's through. But, on the level, George,how do you get this way? You sneak out of town and leave the showflat, and nobody has a notion where you are. Why, we were thinkingof advertising for you, or going to the police or something. Forall anybody knew, you mi

quite. I've a cottage down the road. I wanted a few days inthe country so I rented it.""But what made you cho

smile. "I'msorry. Come along, George. Get in the game." She nodded cheerfullyto the butler. "All righ

rtrait of thefifth countess. Said by experts to be in his best manner."There was an almost soundless murmur from the m

long, anyway.""How's the show going?""It's a riot. They think it will run two years in London. As faras I can make it out you don't call it a success in London unlessyou can take your grandchildren to see the thousandth night.""That's splendid. And how is everybody? All right?""Fine. That fellow Gray is still hanging round Babe. It beats mewhat she sees in him. Anybody but an infant could see th

t Lord LeonardForth, eldest son of 'Is Grace the Dook of Lochlane, 'urled 'imselfout of this window in order to avoid compromising the beautifulCountess of Marshmoreton, with oom 'e is related to 'ave 'ad aninnocent romance. Surprised at an advanced hour by 'is lordshipthe earl in 'er lady

t's exactly what I meanabout this country. It

to the deservingvillagers.""We will now," said Keggs, herding the mob with a gesture, "proceedto the Amber Drawing-R

an undertone, "if weside-step the Amber Dra

ound."George followed her pointing finger. Just below them a sturd

ary things about the Gobelin Tapestry, came totheir ears like the roll of distant drums. They wandered

htened himself. He was a nice-looking man of middleage, with the kind ey

e stopp

in my eight hours in arose-garden." She looked about her. "And this," she said withapproval, "is just what a rose-garden ought to be.""Are you fond of roses--missy?""You b

any Ayrshires?"The man in corduroys seemed to have come to the conclusion thatBillie was the only thing on earth

ran acrossthem. I suppose they do have them.""You want the right soil.""Clay and lots of rain.""You'r

of those sudden inspirations whichgreat generals get. He had visited the castle this afternoonwithout any settled plan other than a vague hope that he mightsomehow see Maud. He now perceived that there was no chance ofdoing this. Evidently, on

to inspect thelibrary. It was an easily accessible room, opening off the mainhail. He left Billie and her new fr

It was possible that he drank. He might forget or lose theprecious note. So, with a wary eye on the door, George hastilyscribbled it in dup

him my address, and he'spromised to send me a whole lot of roses. By the way, shake handswith Mr. Forsyth.

ive my love to everybody.""All right. Let her rip, Freddie. Good-bye.""Good-bye."The blue car gathered speed and

et. It'simportant. Here's a sovereign for your trouble."He hastened away. He noticed that gratification had turned theother n

ories are won by those who take no chances. He hadwandered perhaps a hundred yards from the rose-garden when heencountered a small boy in the

earn half a crow

lue of messenge

ling held h

that it reaches her at once."George walked off w

aced it in hispocket. Then he hurried away, a look