The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-01-19

was somewhat detained on Thurs
Gay morning, for my wife had grown
worse, but arranging for her comfort;
l FASTENED to the colonel's room, hop
ing to catch him there and rush With
him in carriage, which had ordered,
to the testing grounds. I knocked At
No. ITO, but no answer came, and after
several knocks I made my way quickly
to the Office.
Where is Col. Holden ," I asked the
clerk.
I'm his room. sir, 1 suppose" an
swered he.
"Then he must be asleep, for I have
knocked loudly and received no reply
Would you like me to go to his room
with you? Perhaps your wife is ill
and Col. Holden could be of service 10
you," he ventured, in surmise to ex-
plain my haste and excitement.
NO." said I, as we hurried up the
stairs, 1--WE had an official appointment
and have scarcely time to get to the
testing grounds now"
We reached the door and knocked
even louder than before. No answer
came, and the clerk turned the knob
of the door, which offered no resist
ance. But where was the colone;?
Gone, the model gun-bag and bag
gage, the inmate had departed. IcouId
not understand, but leaving the stupe-
fled clerk staring blankly, 1 rushed
down and jumped into the carriage
which was waiting.
WAR Office" said.
At the Office was admitted without
ceremony to the secretary's presence.
"Have the officers gone to the test
ing ground?" I asked, quite breath
lessly.
"You have just missed them," re-
piled the secretary, "but if you drive
rapidly you will overtake them.'
'Then you have heard no news of our
inventor?" I returned.
- "Only that he is to meet our officers
for the test trial.
II beg your pardon for my precipi-
tate visit, and will hurry as you sug-
gested. I fear there is some mystery,
for which hope you will not hold me
responsible"
I was gone before Herr Won Staed
could ask an explanation, and drove
madly to the testing grounds. I did
not overtake the officers, but found
them already giving their orders in
preparation for the trial.
HAS Col. Holden arrived?'' asked.
Immediately.
mo, we are waiting for him. But
what could detain him? We had wa
gered he would be ordering the gun
ners about before we could get here"
SWELL, gentlemen said, reluct-
antly, "you might proceed with the
trial. Col. Holden has left his hotel,
bag, baggage and gun"
by jove, that's like the mighty in
ventor," said young Lieut.. Stein.
"Kind of disappearing gun carriage,
eh, fellows?"
Hell come around later to claim the
DOODLE" said another officer, ''for he
has mighty plans for yachts and
castles on an American lake."
"Well. gentlemen" said 1, ''report
upon this trial as favorably as possible;
and I will try and find the colonel.
Au revoir," and I drove back to my
hotel. =.
The clerk stood at the door waiting
for me.
"A messenger from the railroad sta
ton brought this, sir, after you left -
swell, in the name of all that is
queer! The colonel is honest, if &C.
centric.''
The envelope contained check for
the hotel bill, with neither word nor
comment.
what messenger brought this?"
Zone of the regular porters, though
he must have been well fed. I could
get nothing out of him. Mum was the
word."
I went to the railroad station. The
booking agent knew the colonel by
sight, and remembered selling him a
ticket to Paris. I notified the war
office, and though the government de-
tectives were ordered to make an ex-
haustive search, our friend, the colonel,
has never appeared upon the scene,
even to claim the money.