The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-02-01

for some reason they had let him go
and were pretending not to know
where he was "Ain't that so9" the
detective appealed 70 Aunt Rebecca.
who merely smiled, saying. You're
wonder, Mr. Birdsall" According
70 Blrdsall's theory. Atkins was pnz.
zled by Archie's part in the affair.
But he believed could he and the
boys present hosts he would find Ed.
win Keatchpm II would not kC the
first time Keatcham had hidden him.
self, the better to spin his web for the
trapping Of his rivals. That Mercer
was with his employer the exsecre.
iary had 40 manner OF doubt. any more
than he doubted that Mercers scheme
had been 10 oust him and TO build his
own fortunes on Atkins ruin. He
knew both Tracy and young Arnold
swery well by sight When he couldn't
frighten Archie Into telling anything,
probably he went back to hls first
plan OF ahadowing the Winter party
AZ ihe Palace lie must have seen
Tracy here He penetrated his dis.
guIse Giles as sharp as the devil.
! tell you Colonel") he either fol.
lowed him himself or had him tcb
lowed: aud he heard about the tele.
phone Somebody barking IN the
next room, most lkely.'D knowing
Trncy's intimacy with Arnold, It WAS
not hard for 80 clever and subtle a
mind as Atkins 10 Jump to the con
clusion and test II IN the nearest tele.
phone book cat least that is how Il
figure Il out. colonetsl Blrdaal had
traced the clever mechanic who was
lnterfogated BY the eastern gentleman
about to build: this man had given the
lavish and inquisltiye easterner plan
Of the secret passages-to use IN his
own future residence Whether AZ.
kIns went alone or In company TO the
Casa Fuerte the detective could only
snrmise, lie couldn't tell whether his
object would be mere blackmall or
robbery Of the cipher. or assassination
Perhaps he found the insenslhle man
IN The patio and was tempted BY the
grlsly opportunity victim and weapon
both absolutely to his hand for II
was established that the dagger had
been shown Tracy by Mercer as a
cuFio. and left on the stone bench.
Perhaps ha had not found the dag
ger but had his own means to make
an end Of his enemy and his own ter.
rOr. Blrdsall believed that he had &c.
complices, or at least one accompllco,
with him, He conceived that they
had lain IN ambush watching until
they saw Kito 90 away Then an
entry had been made. Most Ike"
Blrdsall concluded me Jest fling that
dagger away for you folks 20 ind and
suspect the domestlcs. say Kllo. cause
he was away" But this WIS not al
that Blrdsali had 70 report He had
traced Atkins TO the haunts ST certain
unsavory Itailans; he had struck the
srail. IN fine. To be sure. It ran under
sr0und aud was lost IN the brick
walled and alimy- -timbered cellars Of
Chinatown which harbored every sin
and crime known TO civilization or 10
aavagery. What mntlerg by grace Of
Ms aunls powerful friend they could
track the wolves even through those
noiaome burrows
Yes sighed the colonel. stretching
Out his arms, with resonant breath
of relief. Nwe're out Of the maze; all
We have 70 do nov Is to keep from be-
ing killed. Which isn't such plain
proposition IN Frisco as ii Massa.
chusettal Hut reckon we can tackle
~ And then-then, my darling.
shall dare be happy
He found himself leaning on mis-
wlndowsIlI and staring Ike boy on
the Landscape. lost n she lovely hal
luclnations of moonlight lt was no
scene that he knew. Il WIS u vision Of
old spain and by aud By from yonder
turret the princess, with yiolets IN her
loo5ened hair and her soft cheek like
satin and snow. would lean and look.
Y 81 e meuve 4 Iastlma mi eiafuo pa
decer.
Como ts amo. aname bellisslma mnierl
"Ah, no. little GIRL he mnttefed
with shake Of the head. Il like II
better 70 have YOU plain American
gentlewoman, as Aunt Becky would
say. who could send me 70 battle with
q nice little quivery smile sweet.
heart Oh I'm not eood enough for
you, my deaf my dear" ne feli an
immense humility ps he eontrasted his
own lot with the loneliness Of
Kealcham and Mercer and lhn multi
tude of soli1ailes ii the world, who
had lost, or saddcr siiIl had never
possessed, the divine dream thnl IL
the onls reality Of The soul. A. snch
thoughts moved his heart, suddenly IN
the full Tide Of hope and lhahkfplness,
Il stood stu, chilled aa n BY the
glimpse dfan iceberg In summer neas
Yet how tbsugd Il Nas only thaE ho
had recalled Ms ssdlcSl sAAte most
unexpected touch OF superstition.
Quite in Jest be had asked her II she
felt any preaentlments or queer things
II her bones tonight He expected 70
be answered that Janet had driven
every other anxiety out Of her mind;
and how was she 40 bfeals Il 10 MILL
cent? -or pitb some such caHstie r.
partee. Instead. she bad replied lenl.
ily: yes. d. neFlle ! fael- hpr-
fiai feel as Il something out Of tie
common awful we're going to happen.