Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-16

the colonel and darted at him a single
glance In which was something Ike
poignant appeal; what. 1t was too brief
for the receiver to decide. for In the
space Of an eye blink shoulder of the
other man interviewed, and simultane-
ously the elevator car began 10 sink.
There was need to decide instantly
who should follow, who stay On guard.
Rupert babe the boy go down by the
stairs, while, with kind of bulldog
instinct, he chung to the rooms. The
lad was to fetch the manager and the
keys Of the Keatcham suite.
Meanwhile Rupert paced back and
forth before the closed DOORS whence
there penetrated the rustic OF packing
and murmur Of voices. Presently
Keatcham's valet opened the farther
door. He spoke to some one inside
Yes, sir" he said, "the porter
hought to be ere now"
The porter was there; at least he
was coming down the corridor which
led to the elevator, trundling his truck
before him. He entered the rooms
and busted himself about the luggage.
Doggedly the colonel stuck to his
guard until the valet and another man.
clean-shaven, fresh-faced young man
whom the watcher had never seen be-
fore, came out of the room. The valet
superintendent the taking of two
trunks, accepting tickets ard checks
from the porter with a thoroughly
Anglican suspicion and thoroughness
OF inspection, while the young man
stood tapping his immaculate trousers
leg with the stick of his admirably
slender umbrella.
ITS all right, Colvin." he broke in,
impatiently; three tickets TO Los An
geles, drawing room, one lower berth,
one section, checks for two trunks;
come ont"
Very methodlcally the man called
Colvin slowed away his green and red
slips, first in an envelope, then in his
pocket-book, finally buttonng an in
side pocket over all. He was the image
Of rather stupid, conscientious Eng
lish serving creature. Carefully he
counted out liberal, but not lavish tip
for the porter, and watched that func-
tionary depart. Last Of all. he locked
the door.
With extreme courtesy Vt manner
u, $hn
Pardon me-" said he. Il am Col.
Winter; my aunt. Mrs. Winter, has
the rooms near yours, and she finds
that she needs another room or two.
Are you leaving yours?"
These are Mr.. Keatchan's rooms,
not NINE" the young man responded,
politely. He is leaving them"
When you give up your Keys, would
you mind asking the clerk to send
them up to me?" pursued the colonel
Room 327."
Certainly" replied the young man.
cor would you like to look at them a
moment now"
"Why-if II wouldn't detain you"
hesitated Winter; he was hardly pre-.
pared for the offer OF admittance.
"Get the elevator and hold II a min
ute, Colvin." said the young man. and
he instantly fitted the key TO the door.
which he flung open.
Excuse me-" said he, as they stood
in the room, but aren't you the Col.
Winter who held that mountain pass
| to let the other fellows get off, after
your ammunition was exllausted?"
II seem to recall some such episode.
only 1t sounds rather gautiy the way
you put It,"
Il read about you in the papers; you
swan a river with Funston; did all
kinds of stunts"
"Or the newspaper reporter did. You
don't happen to know anything about
| the price Of these rooms, suppose? 2
! The young man did not know, but
he showed the colonel through all the
! rooms with vast civility. He seemed
quite Indifferent to the colonels in
terest in closets, baths and wardrobes;
he only wanted to talk about the
Philippines.
/ The colonel, who always SHE'D like
q melted horse from the 1lutter Of his
own laurels, grew red with discomfort
and ratified the door knobs.
There the suite ends" said the
| young man.
| "Oh, we don't want II all, only 4
room or two" Col. Winter demurred.
"Any one of these rooms would do.
! Well. l will not detain you. The ele'
vator boy will be tired, and Mr..
/ Keatcham will grow impatient"
Not at all; he will have gone. T.
I'm 30 very glad to have met you, Colo
nell"
/ In this manner, with mutual civil.
ties, they parted, the young man es-
corting the colonel to his own door,
!, which the latter was forced to enter
by the sheer demands of The situation.
/, But hardly had the doo- closed than
he popped out again. The young man
|