The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-04-02

Sulte-Mr II. .. heaCcnan-dS IL lHdl
put getting into it quite out of the
question. Some underling, presume. ;"
There is the unoccupied room be-
tween. That is not accounted for. But
1t shall be. / will find out who is in
there" Rupert rose as he spoke,
pricked by the craving for action of a
man accustomed to quick decision. He
heard his aunt brusquely repelling
Millicent's proposal of the police, as
he left the room. Indeed, she called
him back to exact promise that he
would not make Arches disappear
ance public. I'VE want to find him.
was her grim addendum; land we
can't have the police and the news
papers hindering u.s."
In the Office he found external
courtesy and a rather perfunctory
sympathy, based on a suppressed, but
perfectly visible conviction that the
boy had stolen out for glimpse of the
city, and would be back shortly.
The manager had no objection to
telling Col. Winter, whom he knew
slightly, that the occupant of the next
room was a New England lady of the
highest responsibility, Mrs. Winthrop
Wigglesworth. If the young fellow
didn't turn up for dinner, he should
be glad to ask Mrs. Wigglesworth to
let Mrs. Winter examine her room;
but he rather thought they would be
seeing young Winter before then-oh,
his hat? They usually carried caps
in their pockets; and as to coats
boys never thought of their coats.
The managers cheeriness did not es-
pecially uplift the colonel. He warmed
it over dutifully, however, for his wom-
ankind's benefit Miss Smith had gone
out; why, he was not told, and did not
venture to ask. Mrs. Melville kept
making cautious signals to him behind
his aunt's back otherwise she was
preserving the mien of sympathetic
solemnity which she was used to show
at funerals and first visits of con-
dolence and congratulation to divorced
friends. Mrs. Winter, as usual, wore
an inscrutable composure. She was
still firmly opposed to calling in the
aid of the police.
Did she object to his making a few
inquiries among the hotel bellboys, the
elevator boy and the people in the res
taurant or in the office?
Not at ALL if he would be cautious.
So he sailed out, and in the midst
of his fruitless inquisition, Millicent
appeared.
Forcing civil smile, he awaited her
pleasure. 60 on, don't mind me-
said she, mournfully; you will feel
better to have done everything in
your power"
"But shall not discover anything?
81 fear not. Has it not occurred to
you that he has been kidnapped"
Hmm" said the colonel.
"And did you notice how perturbed
Miss Smith seemed? She was quite
pale; her agitation was quite notice
able"
"She is tremendously fond of
Archie"
"Oh-she knows more than she will
say"
"Oh, what rot" sputtered the colo
mel; then he begged her pardon.
Wait" he counseled, and his mans
resistance to appearances had its eff
feet. as masculine immobility always
has. on the feminine effervescence
before him. wait" was his word, "at
least until we give the boy chance to
turn up; II he has slipped by us, he
is taking little pasear on his own ac-
count: lads do get restless sometimes
If they are held. too steadily in the
leash, especially-if you will excuse
me-by. well, by ladies'"
'If he has frightened us out of our
wits-well. | don't know what oughtnt
to be done to him!"
"Oh. we'll, let us wait and hear his
story" repeated the soldier.
But the last streaks of red faded out
of the west; a chill fog smoked up
from the darkening hills, and Archie
had not come. At eight, Mrs. Winter
ordered dinner to be served In their
rooms. Mrs. Smith had not returned.
The colonel attempted a military
cheerfulness, which his aunt told him
bluntly, later in the evening, reminded
her of a physicians manner in critical
cases where the patients mind must
be kept absolutely quiet.
But she ate more than he at dinner;
although her own record was not a
very good one. Millicent avowed that
she was too worried to eat, but she
was tempted by the strawberries and
carp, and wondered were the Cali
fornia fowls really so poor; and gave
the sample the benefit Of impartial and
fair examination, in the end making
very fair meal.
1t is not to be supposed that Winter
had been idle; before dinner he had
put a guard in the hall and had seen
Haley, who reported that his wife
and child had gone to kinswoman In
Santa Barbara.
Sure the woman has a fine house