The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-04-23
CHAPTER Vlll.-Continued.


rushed into the house.
CHAPTER Vlll.-Continued
Il am not often mistaken in people,
vas the colonels rather oblique an
swer, "and | think you are gentle
man who might kill me if you had
chance, but would not break his word
to me. If you will promise to play
lair with us, do no harm to my nephew,
take this letter and bring me an an
sWer-if you find any one-on your
word of honor as Japanese soldier
and gentleman, you may go; we will
rot signal the police. Is it bar
gain?"
The Jap gravely assented, still in
the language of the east, Saving his
face" by the declaration of the abb
sence of his principals. And he went
off as gracefully and courteously as If
only the highest civilities had passed
between them.
Wont he try some skin game on
ps?" the detective questioned; but
Winter only motioned toward the tele-
phone desk. Listen at it, he said,
you can tell if the wires are cut;
aud he knows your men are outside
hiding, somewhere; he doesn't know
how many. You see, we have the
advantage of them there; to be safe
saey don't dare to let many people
into their secret. We can have
whole gang. We haven't many, but
.1aay may think we have
Birdsall, who had lifted the receiver
to his ear. laid it down with an APP
peased nod Immediately he proceeded
to satisfy his professional conscience
bv a search in every nook and Granny
Of the apartment. But no result APP
reared important enough TO justify
the production of his red morocco
notebook and his fountain-pen He
had paused in disgust when the colo
mel sat up suddenly. erect in his chair;
his keener ears had caught some
sound which made him dart to all the
windows in succession. He called
Haley (whom he had posted outside to
guard the door and dispatched him
across the hall to reconnoiter. 81 am
sure il was the sound Of Wheels he
explained, but Haley will be too late;
We are on the wrong side of the
house"
As he spoke the buzz Of an electric
bell Jared their ears. Somebody is
coming in the front door hazarded
Birdsall.
Evidently" returned the colonel,
dryly. How can our absent friends get
in otherwise-at least how can they
let us understand they have come in?
| think we are going to have the pleas
uye of an interview with the elusive
Nj Mercer"
They waited The colonel motioned
BirdsaH TO a seat by the table, within
breathing distance of the telephone.
He himself futtered the loose journals
and magazines. his ironic smile creas'
ing his cheek Our Japanese friend
reads the newspapers he remarked
Here are to-day's papers; yes, Elk
aminer and Chronicle. mfolded and
smoked over. Cigar, too, not cigarette
for here is a stump-decidedly our
cherry-blossom friends are getting civ
ilzed!"
oh. there is somebody in here al
right" grunted Birdsall. Say, colo
rel. you are sure Mrs. Winter has had
no answer to her ad.? No kind oi
notice about sending money!
Il haven't seen her for few hours
hut | saw Mrs Melville Winter; she
was positive no word had come. She
thought my aunt was more worried
than she would admit, and Miss Smith
looked pale, although she seemed
hopeful"
she didn't really want to give me
the letter. | thought" said the detect
i've. The colonel gave him no repl!
save a black look. A silence fell. 4
tr,otfall outside broke it. firm. in NJ
wise stealthy football. Birdsall slippe'
his hand inside his coat The colone
rose and bowed gravely to Cary Mer
GER
on his part, Mercer was not in thu
last Hurried; he looked at the tive
mon not with the arrogant suspicion
,rhich had stung Winter on the train
tut with the melancholy courtesy o