Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-02
CHAPTER XIII.
Whose Feet Were shod with Silence


Get out your revolver" ordered tn
colonel; look sharp! there may b
some one here"
But there was not sign of life re
vealed by the search. Meanwhile
Winter was examining the body. Hi
first thought was that keatcham hat
tried to escape and had been strucl
down in his flight. kito would no
scruple at such a deed; nor for tina
matter, Mercer. But why leave tn
man thus? Why not dispose of tn,
body-unless, indeed, the assassin
had been interrupted. Anyhow, wha
a horrible mess this murder woult
make Of the affair! and how was he tt
keep the women out of it! All a
once. in the examination which he hat
been making (while dozen gruesom'
possibilities tumbled over one anothe
in his mind) he stopped; he put hi:
ear to the mans heart
Isn't he dead?" asked Tracy, under
his breath.
mo, he is not dead, but I'm afraic
he'll never find it out" returned the
colonel, struggling his shoulders
However, any brandy handy? Ant
get me some water"
Il know where there is some brandy
Ill get 1t; there is some water il
the fountain right-Cary!"
What's the matter?' demanded
Cary Mercer in one of the arcade door
ways Of the patio. What's happened
The devil! Who did this?' He strobe
up to the kneeling soldier.
You are in position to know
much better than 1" said the colonel
dryly. 1--WE came this moment; we
found this"
Cary, did you do it?"-the young
man laid his hand on Cary's shoulder;
his face was ashy but his voice rang
full and clear. If you did, am sure
you had reason; but want to know:
we're partners in this thing to the
finish"
Thank you. boy" said Cary, gem
tly: that's good to hear. But didn't
hurt him, Endv. Why should l? We'd
got what we wanted"
"Who did," asked the colonel.
II didn't and Kito didn't. He went
away to see his only brother who is
sick. He hasn't got back. l don't
know who did it; but whoever stabbed
him must have done it without warn
ing him; for didn't hear a sound. l
was in the library"
Hes breathing a little, think"
the young man, who was
sopping the gray mask of a face while
trickled brandy drop by drop
INTO the sage;ing mouth, "and--look!
has tried to rob him; that's
\ money belt!"
The waistcoat was open and Winter
could see, beneath, money belt with
outtoned pockets, which had been torn
apart with such haste that one of the
buttons had been wrenched off.
"They seem to have been after
said he; "see! the belt is full
If bills; there's only one pocket
empty"
Perhaps he was interrupted" ex-
planned Mercer. Push the brandy,
colonel, he's moving his eyellds, subj"
We've got to do something to that
lole in him, first" said the colonel.
rs there any Doctor"
II daren't send for one"
"Tony Arnold might know one we
.ould trust" suggested Tracy. Il can
get him over the long distance"
I'VE want somebody now, this min
lte," declared the colonel.
There's Janet Smith," said Mercer,
my sister-in-law; she's Mrs. Winters
she used to be a trained
Nurse and a mighty good one; she
could be trusted"
Could she? And how the terms of
IFS distrust had changed! He had
ought against an answer in the af-
lrmative this morning; now his heart
vas begging for it; he was cold with
ear lest she wasn't this conspirator's
Send for them BOTH" said he, with
10 sign of emotion.
'I'll call up Aunt Rebecca,' said
dercer. isn't he reviying? No? Best
lot move him till we get the wound
ressed, don't you reckon, colonel?"
But the colonel was already making
rough tourniquet out of his handker-
hief and a pencil to stanch the bleed
ag. The others obeyed his curt di-
and it was not until the still
man was disposed in a
1ore comfortable posture on the cush-
ons which Tracy brought, that Win
or sent the latter to the telephone;
nd then he addressed Mercer. He
ook a sealed package from an inner
ocket and tehdered 1t, saying: you
now who sent it, Whatever happens,
cure a southern gentleman, and l.
,ok to you to see that she-they are
ept out of this nasty mess-abso-
ltely"
"Of course" returned Mercer, with
trace of irritation; what do you
axe me LOT NOV, udoA DoIISA
all Janet?"
But If this were to be discovered"
"She wouldn't have done anything
ne is only nursing q wounded man
HON she doesn't know, at my re-
lest."
Every WE'LL" acquiesced the colonel,
18th long sigh as he turned away.
He sat down, cross-legged, like q
urk, on rhe flags beside the wounded
ian. Mercer was standing little
ay of. 1t was to be observed that
9 had not touched Keatcham, nor
ven approached him close enough to