The Tupelo journal., 1909-03-12

double the young mans age, or near
fair stature, and slim of build. His
face was oval in contour and deli
cate of feature. Although he wore no
| glasses, his brow had the far pucker
of a near-sighted a There was a
mole on his cheek bone and another
just below his ear. Both were small,
rather than large, and in no sense
disfiguring; but the colonel noted
them ~absently, being in the habit of
photographing a man in a glance. The
face had beauty, distinction even, yet
about it hung some association, SIMS
ter as a poison label. 3
Nov, where" said the colonel to
himself, where have l seen that
man." Almost instantly the clew
came to him. "By Jove, it's the broth
err" he exclaimed. Three years ago,
and he had almost forgotten; but here
was Cary Mercer-the name came to
him after a little groping-here he
was again; but who was the pleasant
youngster with him? And what were
they discussing with so little apparent
and so much real earnestness?
One of the colonel's physical gifts
! was an extraordinary a%cuteness Of
hearing. 1t passed the mark of a fac
ulty and became a marvel. Part of
this uncanny power was really due,
not to hearing alone, but to an alliance
with another sense, because Winter
had learned the lip language in his
, youth; he heard with his eyes as well
as his ears. This combination had
made an unintentional and embar-
raised eavesdNpper out of an honest
| gentleman a number of times. To set
off such evil tricks 1t had saved his
life once on the plains and had res
cued his whole command another time
in the Philippines. While he studied
the two faces a sentence from the
younger man gripped his attention.
1t was: II don't mind the risk, but
l hate taking such an old woman's
money"
"She has a heap" answered the
other man carelessly; besides" He
added something with averted head
and in too low a voice to reach the lis
tener unassisted. But it was %convinc-
ing, evidently, since the young mans
face grew both grave and stern. He
nodded, muttering: ooh, | under
stand; l wasn't backing water; / know
we have lost the right to be squeam-
ish. But l say, old chap, how long
| since Mrs. Winter has seen you?
Would she recognize you?"
The colonel, who had been about to
abandon his espionage as u~nbecoming
a soldier and a gentleman, slowed
away all his scruples at the mention
of the name. He pricked up his ears
and %sharpened his eye, but was careful
les. they should catch lis glance. The
next sentence, owing to the speakers
position, was inaudible and invisible;
but he clearly caught the young mans
response:
You're sure they'll be or this
train?"
And he saw the interlocutor's head
nod.
THE boys with them?"
An ~inaudible reply, but another nod.
"And you're sure of Miss SMITH"
This time the others profile was to-
ward the listener who heard the reply:
Plumb sure. / wish ! were as sure
of some other things. Have we settled
everything? It is better not to be seen
together"
yes. / think you've put me wise on
the main points. BY the way. what is
the penalty for kidnaping?
Again an averted head and hiatus.
followed BY the younger mans spark
ling smile and exclamation: "Wowi
Riskier than football-and ever more
fun" Something further he added,
but his arms hid his mouth as he