The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-31

she added. with a trace OF eagerness
quite foreign to her usual manner.
"Ianet Smith has reused him up; and
what do you suppose she has doneY
But really, you are the cause
"I?" queried the colonel.
"Just you. Archie, Janet argued, is
the kind Of nature that must have
some one to be devoted to-"
And has he taken fancy TO her?
Or to you?"
Aunt Rebecca's eyes dulled a little
and her delicate Hips we're twisted by
smile which had more wistfulness
than humnr in e. I'm not a lovahle
person; anyhow. he does not love cas-
lily. We are on terms of the highest
respect, even admiration. but we
haven't got so far as friendship, far
less comradeship Janet is different
But don't mean Janet; she has grown
ahsurdly fond Of him; and think
he's fond of her; but what she did was
to make him fond OF you. You, Gen.
Rupert Winter, why, that boy could
pass an examination on yonr exploits
and not miss a question. Janet and he
have sUap-book with every printed
word about you, do believe. Ana
she has been amazingly shrewd We
didn't know how to get the youngster
back TO his sports while he was out
Of school; and, in fact, an old woman
like me is rather bewildered by such
a young creature. anyhow; but Janet
rode with him; you are q remarkable
rider; I helped there, because re-
membered some anecdotes about you
at West Point"
But. my dear aunt"
Don't interrupt me. BERTHE. it's a
distinctly American habit And we
read In the papers that you had
learned that Japanese trick lighting
-jiu. jitsu--and were a wonder"
Pm not, assure you; that beast Of
a newspaper man"
Never mind. If you are not won
1 der, youll have to be; you can take
lessons in Los Angeles; there are
/ quantities OF Japs there. Why, even
/ IN Chicago Ianet picked up one, and
we imported him. and Archie took
! lessons, and practices every day
/ There's book in my bag. in the rack
there. a very interesting book; Janet
/ and | have both read Il so we could
/ talk to Archie You would better skim
II over a little if you really aren't an
expert, enough so you can talk jiu
/ jitsu, anyhow; we can't be destroying
Archie's ideals until he gets a better
appetite"
"Well, upon my word" breathed the
colonel. DO you expect me TO be q
fake hero? / never took more than
two lessons in my life That reporter
interviewed my teacher. who was
killed in the Japanese war, by the
way; he went to the army after my
second lesson. lie didn't know any
English beyond yes and II you
please and he used them both OF
the reporter, who let his own fancy
go up like a balloon. Well, where Il
the book?"
lie found 1t easily; and with {
couple of volumes Of another kidney
over which he grinned.
"The Hound of the BasKervllles anl
the Leavonworth Casel I've reat
them, too" he said; they're great
And do you still like detective stories
You would have made q grand sleuti
yourself, Aunt Becky" Again he hat
half mind 10 speak of the occurrence
az the station; again he checked th'
Impulse II remember he added
that you used to hold strenuous opin
ions"
you mean my thinking that th'
reason crimes escape discovery is no
that criminals are so bright, hut tha
detectives in general are so particular
ly stupid? oh, yes. think that still
So does Sir Conan Doyle. And ! hayl
often wished could measure my owl
wits, once, with a really fine crimna
intellect II would be worth the risk.
God forbid" said the colonel
hastily.
There came a tap at the door
"Millicentl" groaned Aunt Rebeces
II know the creaking of her stays
No. don't stay. Bertie; go aud &c
Janet and a rescue bridge party a
quick as you ean"
The original and only Aunt Rebe'
ca" thought the colonel at the dooI
smiling But, somehow. the handsom
Old dame never had seemed 50 nearl
humsR 10 him before.