The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-01
CHAPT v.
Blind Clews.


~But this is preposterous, cried
Mrs. Melville. you must have seen
him had he come out Of the room; you
were directly in front OF the doors all
the time
II was" admitted the colonel; can
can the boy be hiding to scare us?
He spoke to Miss Smith. She had
grown pale: he did not know that his
own color had turned. Millicent stared
from one to the other.
Show Ridiculous" she exclaimed;
~of course not; but he must be some
where; let me look!'
Look as they might through all the
staring empty rooms, there was no
vestige of the boy. He was as clean
vanished as II he had fallen out OF
the closed and locked windows. The
colonel examined them all; had there
been one open, he would have peered
outside. frightened as he had never
been when death was at his elbow.
But Il certainly wasn't possible TO
jump through a window, and not only
shut, but lock IL after one.
Under every bed, in every closet. he
,prowled: he was searching still when
Mrs. Winter returned. By this time
Mrs. Melville was agitated, and, natur'
ally. irritated as we'll 81 think 1t Is
unpardonable in Archie TO sneak out
In this fashion" she complained.
Il suppose the boy wanted to see
the town a Bit" observed Aunt Re
berca, placidly. Rupert, come In and
sit down; he will be back in a mo
ment; smoke a cigar. n your nerves
need calming" 400
Rupert felt as II he were a boy OF
ten, called back to common sense out
of imaginary horrors OF the dark.
But, II he wanted to go out, why
did he leave his hat and coat behind
him." asked Miss Smith.
HE may be only exploring the
hotel. said Mrs. Winter Don't be
so restless, BERTHE; sit down"
The coloners eye was furtively pho
tographing every article OF furniture
in the room; II fingered longest on
Mrs. Winters wardrobe trunk, which
was standing in her room. Randall
had been dispatched for a hot-watei
bottle in lieu of one which had sprung
a leak on the train; so the TRUNK
stood, its door ajar.
Maybe he is doing the Genevrs
stunt there's that what you are
thinking" she jeered We'll, go ant
look
Light as her tone was, she was moi
unaffected by the contagion OF anx
iety about her; after a moment while
Rupert was looking at the wardrob'
trunk, and even profanely explorinl
the swathed gowns held in rigid safety
by bands of rubber. she moved abou
the rooms herself.
There isn't room FOL a mouse II
that box" growled the colonel.
"Of course not" said his aunt
1anguidly, sinking into the easies
chair; but your mind is easier. Archie
will come back for dinner; don
worry"
"How could he get by me?" retorte'
-she colonel.
Perhaps he went into the neigh
boring rooms" Miss Smith suggested
shall go out and rap on the doc
of the next room on the left?" On thu
right the last room OF the party wa
a corner room.
why. you might" acquiesced Aun
Rebecca; but Mrs. Melville cut tn
ends OF her words.
pray let me go. Aunt Rebecca,
she begged, suiting the action TO tn
words, and was out OF the door almos
ahead of her sentence.
The others waited; they were 81
lent; little fiecks of color raddle'
Mrs. Winters cheeks. They coul'
hear Millicent's knock reyerberatine
There was no answer Telephone u
the adjacent ROOM" proposed tn
colonel.
sI1l telephone" said Mrs. Winter
and rang up the number OF the mex
room. There was no response; bu
when she called the number OF IN
room adjoining. she seemed TO get al
answer, for she announced her name
'~Have you seen young ladg" she cor
,tinued. after an apology fof disturoin
them. ''He belongs 10 our party. ma
he BY chance got into your room? an
.fs he there?" In a second she pu
Aoun the racsiyer with q helghtene