Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-02-17

done anything which would debar me
from passing my word Of honor as a
gentleman; nor any one else from
taking 1t. give you my word of honor
that have meant and | do mean no
slightest harm to Archie Winter; and
that, while / do not know where he is
at this speaking, / believe you will
find him safe under your aunt's pro-
lection when you get back to the
Palace"
Call up the Palace hotel, Mr.. Bird
sail, was the colonel's reply. "Mr.
Mercer, do not distrust that you are
speaking exactly, but you know your
Shakespeare; and there are promises
which keep their word to the ear but
break it to the sense"
Il don't wonder at your mistake;
but you are mistaken, sub"
Birdsall was phlegmatically ringing
up Mrs. Winter, having the usual ex-
perience of the rash person who in
trudes his paltry needs on the COM
plex workings of a great hotel system.
haven't the book here, but you know,
Palace hotel Well, give me Informa-
tion, then-Busy? Well, give me an
other Information, then-yes, | want
the Palace hotel-P-a-l-a-c-e- yes,
Palace hotel; yes, certainly. Yes?
Mrs. Archibald Winter. Yes-line
busy? Well, hold on until it is olsen
gagged. Say, Miss Furber, that you?
This is Birdsall & Gwen. Yes. Give
me Mrs. Winter, will you, 337? This
Mrs. Winter? OH When will she be
back? Is Mrs Melville Winter in?
Well Miss Smith in? She's gone, too?
has Master Archibald got back, yet,
to the hotel? Hasn't? Thank you
eh?' in answer to the colonels inter-
ruption. What say, colenel?"
Tell her to call up this numbeE"
the colonel read it out of the tele-
phone book-.'when Master Archie
does get back, will you? | am afraid,
Mr.. Mercer, that you will have to al
low us to trespass on your hospitality
for little longer"
He suspected that Mercer was an
noyed, although he answered lightly
enough: "As you please, Col. Winter.
l am sure you will hear very soon.
Now, there is another matter, your
machine; l understand you left It out
side. viii you ring for Kito, colonel?
Under the circumstances you may pre-
fer to do your own ringing. will ask
him to attend to the car"
The colonel made, proper acknowl-
edgment3. He was thinking that had
Mercer cared to confkcate the motor
he would have done it without ring
ing; on the other hand, did he desire
some special intercourse wit. his re-
tainer, wherein, under their very
noses, he could issue his orders-well,
possibly they might get Whit of the
secret themselves were he allowed to
try. At present the game ,baff1ed him.
Therefore he nodded to Birdsall's
puckered face behind MERGERS shoul-
der Aud he rang the bell
The Jap answered it with suspicious
alacrity.
"kito," said Mercer, will you attend
to Gen. Winters car? Bring it up to
the court.
Absolutely harmless, to all appear
Rnces, but Birdsall from his safe posi-
'tion behind master and man, looked
shrewd suspicion at the soldier.
Shall youi man in the hall go with
him?' asked Mercer.
The colonel shook his head NO"
he said, quietly, I'VE have other men
outside if he needs help. Call Skid,
please" But when Birdsall attempted
to get central there was no response.
The colonel merely shrugged his
shoulders, although Birdsall frowned
with vexation. What a pity!" said
Winter, softly. Now, the fellows will
come when the time is up; we can't
call them off,"
Mercer smiled family. There are
two more telephones in the house" he
observed. you can call off your dogs
easily any time you wish. Also you
can hear from the Palace. Will you
come upstairs with me? l assure you
l have not the least intention to harm
you or the honest sergeant"
You take the first trick, Mercev."
said the colonel q supposed the bell
was your signal to have the wires cut.
But about going; no, think we will
stay here. There is door out on the
court which, if you will open-thauk
you. A charming prospect! Excuse
me if send Haley out there; and may
| go nlyself?"
ANTICIPATING the answer, he stepped
under the low mission Intel into
tairy-like Californian court or patio
of pepper trees and palms and moss
grown fountain. There was the usual
colonnade with stone seat running
round the wall. Mercer, smiling, mo-
toned to one of them. Il wish could
convince. you, colonel, that you are
in no need or that piaytitins il il yyeur
band, and that you are going to dine
with your boy-isn't he fine rel
low"
The colonel did not note either his
admission that he had seen Archie,
nor. a c,I:Ss.-Sls. warming Of his tone; ne