The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-23
KISS D'ARC'S AUNT'S NEPHEW-p
copyright, 1903. by Robert Howard
Russell)

Miss D'ArC?"
MIR. Boyd?"
The girl in the tailormades and driv-
ing gloves smiled and bowed; the man
with the close beard-the on male
passenger who had alighted from the
train that was snOrting Impotence to
get away again-stOpped short. dropped
his vaiise, raised his hat, and smiled.
They shook hands and walked briskly
togsther towards the gate.
"WeIcome to Covington," she was
saying. Aunt quite intended to meet
you herself until the last moment.
Then the lawyer came about that Texas
hand. and-What do you want?'
Their progress had been debdrred by
the TWO persons to whom Mis- Dare
addressed her brusque enquiry. One Of
the TWO was in police UNIFORM, the
other IN plain clothes.
Excuse me, miss said the plain
siotnes man. Il have business with
this gentleman. It's a warrant for ex-
tradition of Elisha Mayhem"
The girl turned impatiently to her
companion. Mr.. Boyd, please tell the
nan all you know about Elisha May
hew and let's get away. People are
staring at US"
unfortunately 1 know nothing
about Elisha" He smiled g~enially
through his glasses at the laws ag nj.
% course. you don't" the detective
sneered. But unfortunately you'll
have to come along with me-"
"Oh. l am Elisha, am I?'
Though the man whose liberty was
threatened seemed inclined TO treat the
AFFAIR as a joke. Miss D'Arc's wrath
began 20 boil over. Your name is
keenan,. isn't it," she said to the uni
formed policeman.
He a1sented sheepishIy, fumbling
with n pair of linked bracelets. Yes.
Miss D'Arc. 1 know yOu-at the rid
hg school,"
And you know my aunt, Ms. Cen
sraI CrawfOrd2 Well, this is her ne
phev. AIT. Boyd. from a Francisco.
We were expecting him by this train.
That's his vaIise he's carrying; WIZ
don't you look ut it?"
The vaIise was ~oh!igingly tilted up
FOR inspection. IL bore the name, Els
worth G. Boyd. in plain black letters
OH one end.
The detective looked down at IL ard
then IN at the genial emile and the
eyeglasses. Here is the warrant, and
AerH is your description. 1t fits you,
don't it?"
VERY likely It do. But the warrant
Grst. please All! Elisha Mayhem,
alias Mackenzie Spence. You should
have mentioned Spence sooner. AS /
said before. l don't know this particu-
lar Elisha. but when you come to
Spence. why. I did make the acquaint-
ance OF a Mr.. Spence on that train
which. I see. is just beginning to pull
out Here, wait a minute" He caught
hold OF the detective, who had made an
impulsive movement as il to run and
satch the train. Il must trouble you
to look at this. 1 cant find my card
aase in any of my pockets, but just
look at this letter to make sure"
Instead of at once looking, az he was
asked. the piain-clOthes man turned to
the uniformed one and called, all in n
Breath, You catch that train before it
gets over the bridge" And the uni
formed man sprinted away as fast as
his heavy kit would allow him. Then
ut last the detective hastily examined
the envelope that was being offered 10
ain and saw that it was addressed to
Mr.. Ellsworth c.. Boyd, at which he
xroWled, I'll have to wire" and rush
. away to the telegraph office.
ID come along, now, Mr.. Boyd, my
mare will be getting hdgety." Miss
Dare seemed cross.
Il beg pardon, l am sure. Of course,
you find all this much less amusing
than I do" They were by this time
walking briskly out through the book
ing office. What 4 prodigiOus idiot
that detective must be! | wonder II
ke's quite lone with US"
"I hope So"
~Do you? Then so do L. Otherwise
l would rather have kept him for n lit
lie further conversation"
al thought you seemed strangely
Happy in your interview with the beast.
Here's my dog cart. You see 1 don
add to Kitty's burden and my expenses
by carrying any little buttons IN the
back seat. Providence always sends q
sasuaI niger to hold Kitty's bit.
Jump in. Mr.. ~Boyd-near side-Here.
major" n threw a dime TO the lit
tie black street arab who had been
doing hOstIcr duty for her.
TITS an uncOmmOnly pretty turnout,
buttons or no buttons. Say what they
IKE. the h~Orsehesh isn't half as gamey
looking out in California as this Ken
tuCky stock And I'm glad to find you
such a first rate whip"
Thanks" The young hostess dis
MISSED the compliment n laCOniC fash
ion. She was still thinking Tesentfully
Of the impudeuCe of that detective az
they bOwled along the streets of Cow
tuCtOn towards the southern suburbs.
VIVA made you say that-just now
about that foo detective? L suppose
you enjoy teasing. don't you?"
Perhaps But in this case l had n
nObleT motive. | wanted to give :
or Spence. or whatever his name may
be-a little moro time to make his es-
cane. IS IL IS, ! don't believe they'll
zef him"
She turned and opened her big grey
eyes wide. You mean 70 say you'd
help q thief to escape@"
81 would every time. So would you.
# you happened to take a n to
him"
She Strengthened her back on the
driving seat. I'm quite sure I could
rot take u fancy to a thief"
quite sure? You know a certain
poet says. Every woman is at heart
. rogue Besides. this Spence, whose
acquaintance 1 made on the smoker.
may not be a thief at all, but merely
= Eentlemanly homicide. entitled TO the
respect of every girl in Kentucky"
Ominous vertical lines were begin
ming 70 show on her brow through the
hin veil. Don't talk nonsense about