The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-04-01
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coerRIoHE 1907 e0eeS-<HERelzL Co.

constrained attitude of military erect
ness, of which he was conscious. him.
self; and at which he smiled forlornly
recalling the same pose In Haley when
ever the sergeant was disconnected.
but, first" pursued his aunt, who
was that red-headed bellboy with whom
you exchanged signals in the haIl?"
The colonel suppressed whistle
Aunt Becky, you're wonder! Did
you notice? And he simply shut the
palm of his hand, Why, it's this way:
| was convinced that Archie must be
on the premises; ne couldn't get of.
SO | telephoned a detective that I
know here, private agency, not the
police, to send me sure man To
watch. He Is made up as a bellboy
with the hotel managers consent. OF
course); either |, or Milicent, or that
boy has kept an eye on the Keatcham
doors and the next room ever since I
found Archie was gone. No one has
gone out with our seeing him. II any
suspicious person goes out, we have 1t
arranged to detain him long enough
'Ni Ah' w s>NI - 6OCh iOOhs CdU ttU
You exactly who left the ROOM"
1T is you who are the wonder. Der
tie said Aunt Rebecca, little weari-
ly. but smiling. who has gone out?"
at seven Mr.. keatcham's secretary
went down to the Office and ordered
dinner, very carefully. l didn't see
him, but my sleuth did. He had the
Il ~ ~ - A. II
am party pointed out to him; he saw
them. They had one visitor, young
Arnold. the Arnold's son"
The one who has all the grange
groves and railways? Yes, knew his
| father"
That one; he only came few mo-
ments since. Mr.. Keatcham and his
secretary dined together, and Keatch-
ans own man waited on them; but
| the waiter for this floor brought mp the
| dishes. At nine the dishes were
brought out and my man helped
Keatcham's valet to pile them little
farther down the corridor in the hall"
These items the colonel was reading
out of his little red book.
You have put all that down. De
you think 1t means anythingT
II have put everything down. On<
can't weed until there Is a crop Of In
formation, you know"
True" murmured Aunt Rebecca
nodding her head. thoughtfully. We'll
did anything else happen?"
THE secretary posted lot Of let
tiers in the shute. They are all smo
king now. Yes" he was on his feet
and at the door in almost singh mo
ton. There had been just the slight
est tattoo on the panel. When the
door was opened the colonel could
hear the rattle Of the elevator. He
was too late to catch 1t, but he could
see the inmates. Three gentlemen
stood In the car. One was Keatcham.
the other two had their backs to Win
ter One seemed to be supporting
Keatcham. who looked pale. He saw
glance in which was something like
poignant appeal what, 1t was too brief
for the receiver to decide, for In the
space Of an eye blink shoulder Of the
other man interviewed, and simultane-
ously the elevator car began to sink.
There was need to decide instantly
who should follow. who stay ON guard.
Rupert babe the boy go down by the
stairs, while, with kind Of bulldog
instinct, he chung to the rooms. The
lad was to fetch the manager and the
keys OF the Keatcham suite.
Meanwhile Rupert paced back and
forth before the closed doors, whence
there penetrated the rustic OF packing
and a murmur of voices. Presently
Keatcham's valet opened the farther
door. He spoke to some one inside.
Yes, SIR" he said the porter
bought to be ere now"
The porter was there; at least he
was coming down the corridor which
led to the elevator. trundling his truck
before him. He entered the rooms
and busted himself about the luggage.
CTO BE CONTINUED)