Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-01

Is no place for an innocent kid ever
to take the safest-lookng walk Wha
sort Of police system have you, any
how"
The manager shook his head. I'm
not Dragging about it: nor about the
| Chinese quarter, either confess I've
| felt particularly uncomfortable, my
| self. the last day Well--if you'll ex
cuse the advice--least said. you know.
The colonel nodded He proiferet
his cigar-case; the manager compli
mented it's contents, as he selected q
cigar: and both gentlemen bowed.
: wandering. homesick Frenchman who
viewed their parting. felt refreshed
as by breath from his own land OF
admirable manners. Meanwhile. the
colonel was fuming within: Con
found his insjnuating curiosity! but
reckon | headed him off And who
would have thought" he wondered for
lornly. that | could be going to dine
with the boy safe and sound and be
feeling so like whipped hound!"
But none of this showed during the
dinner at which Mliicent was in high
good humor. having obtained informa-
tion about most astounding bargains
in the Chinese quarter from Mrs. Wig
ellsworth Her good humor extended
even to Miss Smith, who received it
without enthusiasm albeit courteous
ly; and who readily consented to be
o.,f ~ "A inc t1,y
on the distressed Orientals, whose diff
ficulties with the customs had reduced
them to the necessity of sales at any
cost. Aunt Rehecca listened with an
absent smile, while Archie laughed at
every feeblest joke Of his uncle in a
boyish interest SO little like his for
mer apathy that often Miss Smiths
eyes frightened and half timidly
sought the uncle's, as IL calling his at
tention to the change Only a few
hours back, his would have bright
ened gratefully in answer: now he
avoided her slances. Yet somehow,
Ia heart felt heavier vT2cr ~
ceased. For his part, he was thankful
to have his aunt request his company
in a little promenade around the
"loggia. as she termed it, overlooking
the great court.
She took him aside to tell him her
afternoon experience, and to ask his
opinion of the enigmatical appearance
of Atkins. He was strongly tempted,
in return, to question her frankly
about Miss Smith to tell her of seeing
the latter with Atkins only that even
ing. He knew that it was the sensible
thing to debut he simply could not
do 1t. To frame his supicions past or
present of the woman he loved; to dis
cuss the chances of her affection for a
man loathsomely unworthy of her;
worse, to balance the possibilities of
her turning betrayer in her turn and
tress and her kinsman for this fellows
sake-no, it was beyond him. He had
intended to discuss his aunts part in
the waylaying Of Keatcham, with calm
ness and with the Difference due her,
but unsparingly; he meant to show
her the legal if not moral obliquity of
her course. to point out to her the pit
falls besetting it, to warn her how
hideous might be the consequences of
a misstep. Somehow, however, his
miserable new anxiety about Miss
Smith had disturbed all his calcula-
lions and upset his wits; and he could
not rally any of the poignant phrases
which he had prepared ALI he was
able to say was something about the
rashness of the business; it was like
the Filipinos with their bows and ar
rows fighting machine-guns.
Cor David with his ridiculous little
sling going against Goliath" added
she. very we'll put, BERTHE; only the
good advice comes too late; the ques-
ton now is, how to get out with a
whole skin. Surprising as it may be,
expect to-with your help"
"Honored, I'm sure" growled BERTHE.
There is one thing l meant to ask
you'll haven't, but | shall now. In
stead of making it impossible for me
to sleep tonight, as you virtuously in
tended in order to clear your con-
science before you tried to pull me out
Of the trap I've set for myself, suppose
you do me favor, right now"
''You put it so we'll, you make me
ashamed of my moral sense, Aunt
Becky; what is 1T you want?"
ooh, nothing unbefitting a soldier
and gentleman, dear boy; just this:
Cary has to have some money.
meant to give it to Stoves, but you
hustled him off in such a rush that l
didn't get at him. You know where he
is, don't you? You haven't sent him
straight back?"
Il can find him, I reckon"
Then I'll give you the money, at
once"
How weak thing is man! Here
was an eminently cool-headed, rea-
sonable man of affairs who knew that
paws which had escaped from the fire
lnsinged had no excuse to venture
sack for other peoples chestnuts; he
had expressed himself clearly to this
effect to young Tracy; now, behold
him as unable to resist the temptation
If a conflict and the chance to battle
Atkins as if he were hot-headed boy
n plain shoulder-straps!
"Tll do better for you, Aunt Rebec-
"a" said he. "I'll not only take Fire
ess tho money, I'll go with him to the
house. l can make sneak from here;
md Atkins is safely downstairs at
his moment He may be shadowing
7iraless: if he is, perhaps I can throw