The Tupelo journal., 1909-05-21
ulovze1zxow OCzHNE HzANET
rS1L - A1ZH2E or
H.NEZI THE EANofUe M0UR,
COPYRIGHT. iSoz--6osB5-rreRRiLL CO.

such up hill work for him in the school
| was his fathers trade. No doubt he
did get nasty ticks at first; and he's
revengful. He hasn't got on in society
outside, either-this he lays to his not
being a university nan You see his
father lost some of his money and put
him to work instead of in college. He
was willing enough at the time
| think he wanted to get married-but
afterward, when he was getting a good
salary and piling UP money on his tips,
he began to think that he had lost
more than he had %bargained for. Al
together, he's soured. Now, what he
wants is to make a laundering big
strike and to pull out Of Wall street,
buy what he calls "a seat on the
James and set up for o southern gen.
tleman. He's trying to marry a south
ern girl, they say. who is kin to the
Carriers and the Byrds and the Lees
and the Carys-why, o know her,
she's Mrs. Winters secretary"
"Does-does she care for him." The
colonel suddenly felt his mouth
parched; he was savagely conscious OF
his mounting color. What a f1endish
trick of fate! he mad lever dreamed
of this! Well. whether she cared for
him or not, the man was a brute; he
shouldn't get her. That was one GER
tainty in the %colorel's mind.
"Why Cary VOWS she doesn't, that
it was only a gislish bit of nonsense
up in Virginia, that time he was pros
pecting. yoa know. But I oon't feel so
safe. She's too nice for such a cur.
But you know what women are; the
incest of them seem to be awfully
queer about men. There's no betting
on them"
I'm afraid not" remarked the colo
mel, lightly. But he put his fingers in
side his collar and loosened it, as if
he felt choked.
Because he had a dozen questions
quarreling for precedence in his head,
he asked not one. He only inquired
regarding the situation; discovering
that both Mercer and Tracy were
equally in the dark with himself as to
Atkins plans, Atkins store of infor-
nation, Atkins resources. How he
could have waylaid Tracy and the boy
without knowing whence they came
was puzZling; it was quite as puzzling,
however, assuming that he did know
their whereabouts, to decide why he
was so keen to interrogate the boy. In
fact, it was, as Tracy said. too much
like Prof. Santa Annals description
of a German definition of metaphysics,
A blind man hunting in a dark room
for a black cat that isn't there"
I'm any event, you would better keep
away from me-" was the coloneps sum
ming u. of the situation; Il don't want
to be inhospitable, but the sooner you
are off, and out of the hotel, the safer
for your speculation"
Friends will please accept the in
timation," said Tracy, good-humoredly.
Every we'll, it's % for me. I'm hoping
you'll see your way clear to run over
} as soon as the old man has surren-
dered: I'm going to invite him to make
us a proper visit, then, and see the
country. I'm always for letting the
conquered keep their side-arms."
He went away smiling his flashing
smile, and turned it up at the hotel as
walked out: the colonel made no sign
of recognition from the window
whence he observed him. Instead, he
drew back quickly, frowning; it might
! be a mere accident that only a hands
breadth of space from the young
TTo~-o.1 rro n donnnr 1ttlc
shape in evening clothes, a man still
I young, with a round black head; II
! 80. it was an accident not to the colo
nel's liking.
| Damn you!" whispered Rupert
| Winter very softly. What is your lit
) tie game"
l At once he descended, having tele
I phoned Haley to meet him at the
! court. When he entered and sent his
l glance rapidly among the little tables
l by this time filled with diners, he ex
~perienced a disagreeable surprise. i
D did not come from the sight of Sergt
Haley in his Sunday civilian clothes
stolidly reading the Call; it came from
a vision of Atkins standing, bowling
animatedly talking with Janet Smith
v Instead Of approaching Haley, Win
|, ter fell back and scrubbed a few word:
! on a page of his notebook, while
. safely shielded by a great palm. TIT
note he dispatched to Haley, who
|, promptly joined him. While the.
+ stood, talking on apparently indiffer
ent subjects, Miss Smith passed them
Whether because he was become sus
t picious or because she had come upol
him suddenly, she colored slightly. Blu
S she smiled as she saluted him ant
k spoke in her usual tranquil tone. "Yo'
e are going to dine with us, aren't you
/ colonel?" said she. Il think dinner !
e just about to be served"
y The colonel would be with them di
r rectly.
Haley's eyes followed her: he ha,
Y returned her nod and inquiry for hi
wife and little Nora with a militar,
e salute and the assurance that the.
e were both wonderfully well an
pleased with the country.
Sure, amt it remarkable the wa,
n that lady do keep names in her mind?
k cried he. AN don't she walk foin,
6 and straight? Olive been always towl'
e thin southern ladies had the gran
s way wild EN-; OF see now It's thrue.
The unusual richness Of Haley
n brogue was a sure sign of feeling. TIL
9 colonel only looked grim. After b
$ had taken Haley to q safe nook for hi
confidence, a nooE where there wer
q neither ears nor eyes to be feared, b