The Irish standard., 1908-12-12

and his white teeth cleaned in kind
of merry good-nature pleasant to see.
But it was the other man who held
the colonel's eye. This man was
double the young mans age. or near
that; he was shorter, although still Of
fair stature, and slim Of build. His
face was oval in contour and deli
cate Of feature. Although he wore no
glasses. his brow had the far quicker |
of a near-sighted man. There was a
mole on his cheek bone and another
just below his ear. Both we're small,
rather than large, and in no sense
disfiguring; but the colonel noted
them absently. being in the habit of
photographing a man in q glance. The
face had beauty, distinction even, yet
about it hung some association, sinis-
ter as poison label.
"Now. where" said the colonel to
himself, where have seen that
MANI" Almost instantly the clew
came to him. by Jove, it's the broth
err" he exclaimed. Three years ago,
and he had almost forgotten; but here
was Cary Mercer-the name came to
him after q little groping-here he
was again; but who was the pleasant
youngster with him? And what we're
they discussing with so little apparent
and so much real earnestness?
One of the colonel's physical gifts
was an extraordinary acuteness of
hearing. It passed the mark Of a fac
ulty and became a marvel Part Of
this uncanny power was really due,
not to hearing alone, but to an alliance
with another sense. because Winter
had learned the lip language in his
youth; he heard with his eyes as we'll
as his ears. This combination had
made an unintentional and embar-
raised eavesdropper out of an honest
gentleman a number of times. To set
of such evil tricks 1t had saved his
life once on the plains and had res.
cued his whole command another time
in the Philippines. While he studied
the two faces a sentence from the
younger man gripped his attention.
It was: II don't mind the risk, but
hate taking such an old woman's
money"
"She has a heap" answered the
other man carelessly; besides" He
added something with averted head
and in too low a voice to reach the lis
tener unassisted. But it was convinc-
ing. evidently, since the young mans
face grew both grave and stern. He
nodded, muttering: "Oh, under
stand; wasn't backing water; I know
we have lost the right to be squeam-
ish. But say. old chap, how long
since Mrs. Winter has seen you?
Would she recognize you?"
The colonel, who had been about to
abandon his espionage as unbecoming
a soldier and a gentleman, slowed
away all his scruples at the mention
Of the name. He pricked up his ears
and sharpened his eye, but was careful
lest they should catch his glance. The
next sentence, owing to the speakers
position, was inaudible and invisible;
but he clearly caught the young mans
response:
you're sure they'll be on this
train?"
And he saw the interlocutor's head
nod.
1.-THE boys with them?"
An inaudible reply. but another nod.
"And you're sure of Miss Smith?"-
This time the others profile was to.
ward the listener who beard the reply:
"Plumb sure. wish l were as sure
Of some other things. Have we settled
everything? It is better not to be seen
together"
Yes, I think you've put me wise on
the main points. By the way, what is
the penalty for kidnaping?"
again an averted head and hiatus,
followed by the younger mans spark
ling smile and exclamation: wow!
Riskier than football-and even more
fun!" Something further he added,
but his arms hid his mouth as he
thrust them into his greatcoat, prepar-
ing to move away. He went alone;
and the other, after a moments
gloomy meditation, gathered up coat
ana bag and followed. During that
moment Of arrested decision, however,
his features had dropped into sinister
lines which the colonel remembered.
Dangerous customer. or 1 miss my
guess" unused the soldier. who knew
the passions of men. II wonderLkhey
couldn't mean my Aunt Rebesca?
She's old; she has millions of money
but she's not on this train, And there's
no Miss Smith in our deck. I'm SO
used to plotting go OF on fake hikes!
Probably I'm getting old and dotty.
Mercer, poor fellow, may have his
brain turned and be an anarchist or a
bomb-thrower or . dirty kidnaper for
revenge; but that boys q decent chap;
I've licked too many second lieuten.
ants into shape not to know something
of youngsters"
He pushed the idea away: or, rather,
his own problems pushed 1t out Of his
mind, which went back to his ward
and his single living brother. Mel.
vile had no children. only his wife's
daughters. who were both married.