Page:Lynch Williams--The stolen story and other newspaper stories.djvu/301

 so in an apologetic tone; and so Billy went on: "My good man, you're quite right. Pray do not admit anyone—not even me, but did he not tell you I was expected?"

The servant said he would inquire. "What name, sir?"

"My name? Don't you know me? If not it would hardly do to tell you my name. If he's in tell him H. P. is here from the West—or tell his daughter."

"Very good, sir; come into the reception-room, please."

When Woods put on his English accent and arrogant manner, it always went straight to English servants' hearts. He was the first reporter to get farther than the doorstep.

In a few minutes a young girl appeared at the portières. She had a great deal of brown hair and her hands were pretty. Billy did not notice the hands until afterward, but he had already taken in a great many more things than most persons would in fifteen minutes. Among them, that this young woman was romantic and emotional, and that she had been holding in tears and