The Mena weekly star., 1909-04-08

Nevertheless, Rupert Winters first
 conscious sensation was not depres- sion, only little jingle Of interest and excitement, such as stings pleasantly one who rises to prospect of con nict in which he has the confidence of his own strength. By Jove!" he wondered. whatever makes me feel so kiddish?'
 His first impulse was to peep through his curtains into the car. It wore its early morning aspect of muf. fed berths and stuffy curtains, among which Miss Smiths trig, carefully fin ished presence in a fresh white shirt waist, attended by the pleasant whiffs of cologne water. gave the beholder a certain refreshing surprise. One hand (white and firm and beautifully cared for) held a wicker bottle, source of the pleasant whiffs; her sleek black braids were coile6 about her comedy head and the hair grew very prettily \ in a blunted roint on ;ke creamy nape of her neck It was really dark brown hair, but it looked black against the whiteness of her skin. She had very capable-looking shoulders, the colonel noted, and flat back; perhaps she wasn't pretty, but in a long while he shad not seen more attractive looking woman. She made him think of Bonne Celine rose, somehow. He could hear her talking to some one be- t,o fafn sdoleful means emerge from Archie? Could a Winter boy be whimpering about the jar of the train in that fashion? Immediately he was aware Ethat the sufferer was Randall, for Miss Smith spoke: Bring the tea. and lie down again, I'll attend to. Mrs. Winter. E Don't you worryi"
 Getting solid with Randall" com smented the colonel. (Which is she Skind-hearted, or an accomplished viii klainess? Well, it's interesting, any show"
 A By the time he had made his toilet kthe train was stacking speed ready to &halt in Council Bluffs, and all his sus- 8pieions rushed on deck again at the Ssight of Miss Smith and Archie walk Ring outside.
 d He joined them, and he had to admit Sthat Miss Smith looked as pleased as fArchie at his appearance. Nor did
 she send single furtive glance. slant Eng or backward, while they walked stl the crisp. clean air. Once the train ahad started and Miss Smith was in the .trawing room, breakfasting with Mrs. ENinter and Archie, he politely attend sed Mrs. Millicent through the morning
 aneal in the dining-car. It was so sEood a meal that he naturally, al Enough illogically, thought better of Bliss smiths prospects of innocence; shnd cheerily he sought Haley. He Bound him in the smoking compart- spQent of the observation car, having
 HOT companions no less personages sthan the magnate and a distinguished Booking New Englander, who, Rupert Winter made no doubt, was Harvard Professor of rank and renown among <his learned kind. He knew the ear kmarks of the species. The New Eng
 Sanders pencil was flying over little 1mproyised pad of telegraph blanks, &while he listened with absorbed inter Hest to Haley's rich Irish tones. There Nwas a little sidewise lunge of Haley's smouth, faint twinkle of Haley's frank Aand simple eyes which the colonel ap- zDraised at very nearly their real value. #in knnsr kaf fr, I,rtC h. A f1aa ari- 1can nature to perceive wide-open ear
 @nd not put something worth hearing Unto 1t. Besides, his sharp ears had Brought him a key to the discourse, Hsorrowful remark of the sergeant's as Rhe entered: Yes, sor. thim wather Brochures Is terrible!"
 He glanced suspiciously from one of sHaleys audience to the other. The Enewspaper cartoonist had pictured on &all kinds of bodies of preying crea- fiuros, whether of the earth or air. the &high brows, the round head, the deli Ecate features, the thin cheeks, tho 8slraight line of the mouth, and the Fmild, inexpensive eyes of the man be- Fore him. He had been extolled as a E1arsighted benefactor of the world. Sand execrated picturesquely as the
 king of pirates who would scuttle the Business of his country without
 pualm.
 Winter, amid his own qUestionings
 hnd problems, could not help
 fcrutiny of man whose power was
 greater than that of medieval kings.
 lie sat consuming a cigarette, more between his fingers than his lips; and lslancing under dropping eyelids from
 Auestioner to narrator. At the coloneis
 entrance he looked up. as did Haley,
 Nho rose to his feet with an uncon-
 kcious salute. I'd be glad to spake
 Nld youse a miHnit, If I might, gen
 tral,' said Haley. about where l put ssour dress-shute case, sor."
 # The colonel, of course, did not ex-
 pect any remarks about a suitcase sNhen he got Haley by himself at the Observation end of the car; but what
 he did get was of sufficient import to
 priye out of his mind curt lecture
 hoout blackening the reputation of the