"Me, miss!" he exclaimed in horror. "It would be as much as my
place is worth; the colonel's that quick-tempered. Why, miss, just
because I tidied up his desk and put his papers to rights he flew
into a terrible passion."
"When was that?"
"Early this morning, miss; and he so upset Thomas, miss, that he
gave notice."
"Oh, that's too bad." Barbara liked the second man. "Perhaps father
will reconsider and persuade him to stay."
The butler looked unconvinced. "It was about the police dogs," he
confided to her. "Thomas told him that Miss Helen wanted them
brought back, and the colonel swore at him - 'twas more than Thomas
could stand and he ups and goes." Barbara halted half way to the
door. "Did Thomas get the dogs?"
"You wait and see, miss." Grimes was guilty of a most undignified
wink. "Thomas ain't forgiven himself for not being here Monday night,
miss; though it wouldn't a done him any good; he wouldn't a heard Mr.
Turnbull climbing in or his arrest, away upstairs in the servants'
quarters."
"Grimes," Barbara retracted her footsteps and placed her lips very
close to the old servant's ear.
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