The Irish standard., 1908-12-26

oH.WEZ
had not seen q more attractive looking
woman. She made him think of
Bonne Celine rose, somehow. He
could hear her talking to some one be-
hind the berth's curtains. Could those
doleful means emerge from Archie.
Could Winter boy be whimpering
about the jar OF the train In that
fashion? Immediately he was aware
that the sufferer was Randall, for Miss
Smith spoke: Bring the tea, and lie
down again, I'll attend to Mrs. Winter.
Don't you worry!"
Getting solid With Randall" COM
mented the colonel. (Which is she
kind-hearted, or an accomplished vii
lainess7 Well, it's interesting, any
how"
By the time hs had made his toilet
the train was stacking speed ready to
halt in Council Bluffs, and all his sus.
picions rushed ON deck again at the
sight of Miss Smith and Archie walk.
ing outside.
He Joined them, and he had to admit
that Miss Smith looked as pleased as
Archie at his appearance. Nor die
she send q single furtive glance, slant
ing O. backward, while they walked
in the crisp, clean air. Once the train
had started and Miss Smith was in the
drawing-room, breakfasting with Mrs.
Winter and Archie, he politely attend
ed Mrs. Millicent through the morning
meal In the dining-car. It was SO
good . meal that he naturally, al
though AlogicAlly, thought better Of
Misa Smiths prospects Of innocence;
and oheerily he sought Haley. He
found him in the smoking compart-
nent Of the observation car, having
for companions no less personaees
than the magnate and a distinguished
looking New Englander, who, Rupert
Winter made no doubt, was Harvard
professor Of rank and renown among
his learned kind. He knew the ear.
marks Of the species. The New Eng.
lander's pencil was flying over little
!. improvised pad of telegraph blanks,
while he listened with absorbed inter-
est to Haley's rich Irish tones. There
was little sidewise lunge of Haley's
mouth, faint twinkle Of Haley's frank
and simple eyes which the colonel ap-
praised at very nearly their real value.
He knew that 1t isn't in Irish-Ameri-
can nature to perceive . wide-open ear
and not put something worth hearing
into, It. Besides, his sharp ears had
brought him key to the discourse, a
sorrowfu1 remark Of the sergeant's as
he entered: eyes, sor, thin wather
torchures is terrible!"
? He glanced suspiciously from one Of
. Haley's audience to the other. The
newspaper cartoonist had pictured on
all kinds Of bodies Of preying crea-
lures. whether Of the earth or air, the
high brows, the round head, the deli
cate features. the thin cheeks, the
straight line Of the mouth, and tho
mild, inexpensive eyes Of the man be-
fore him. He had been extolled as a
far-sighted benefactor of the world,
and execrated picturesquely as the
king Of pirates who would scuttle the
business Of his country without q
Qualm.
Winter, amid his own questionings
and problems, could not help q
scrutiny Of man whose power was
greater than that of medieval kings.
He sat consuming cigarette, moro
between his fingers than his lips; and
glancing under dropping eyelids from
questioner to narrator. At the colonel's
entrance he looked up, as did Haley,
who rose to his feet with an uncon-
scious salute. '1'd be glad to spake
wild youse minnit, If I might, gen.
eral." said Haley. "about where I put
your dress.shute case, sor."
The colonel, of course, did not ex-
pect any remarks about a suitcase
when he got Haley by himself at the
observation end Of the car; but what
he did get was Of sufficient import to
drive out Of his mind q curt lecture
about blackening the reputation Of the
army with lies about the Philippines.
Haley had told him that he had seen
the man with the two moles on his
face Jump out of his own car at Coun-
Gil Bluffs. He had simply stood on the
platform, looking to right and left for
q moment; then he had swung him.
self back on the car. Haley had
watched him walk down the aisle and
enter the drawing-room.l He did not
come out; Haley had found out that
the drawing-room belonged to Edwin
8. Keatcham, "the big railroad man,
sor.''
1T doesn't seem likely that he would
be an accomplice Of kidnaper,' s.
mused the colonel. "The man might
have gone in there while he was out. "
"sure, he might, sor; twas mesilf
thinking that same; and wint be-
yant to the observation car, and there
the ould gintleman was smoking"
"And you stopped to tell yarns to
that other gentleman instead Of get
ting back and following"
"No, sor, I beg your pardon, sor; I