The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-03-26
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to give the porter the collodion for
his cut thumb. People with troubles,
big or little, are always making
straight for~Janet. BERTHE, have you
made up your mind about her?'
"Only that she is charming" re-
piled the colonel He did not change
color, but he was uneasily conscious
that he WINGED, and that the shrewd
old critic of life and manners per-
ceived it. But she was mercifully
blind to all appearance; she went on
with the little frown of the solver Of
a psychological enigma Eyes, Janet
is charming; and why? She is the
stillest creature Have you noticed?
Yet you ncyer have the sense that she
hasn't answered you. She's the best
listener in the world; and there's one
thing about her unusual in most lis
teners-her eyes never grow vacant.
Rupert had noticed; he called him
self a doddering old donkey silently,
because he had assumed that there
was anything personal in the interest
of those eyes when he had spoken. OF
course not; it was her way with every
one, even Millicent, no doubt His
aunt's next words were lost, but SEN
tence caught his ear directly: For
all she's gentle, she has plenty of
spirit BERTHE, did ever tell you about
the time our precious cousin threw our
great-great-g randfather's gold snuff
box at her? No? 1t was funny. She
flew into one of her towering RACES,
and shrieking Take that hurled
the snuff-box at Janet. Janet wasn't
used to having things thrown at her.
She caught the box, then she rang
the bell. Thank you very much says
Janet and when old Aunt Phrosie
came, she handed the snuff-box to her
as present, But she sent 1t that
same day to one of the sisters. There
was never anything else thrown at
her, can tell you"
They found a wonderful sunset on
the bay when San Francisco was
reached. Still in her golden humor.
as they ratified over the cobbestones
of the picturesque streets to the Pal
ace hotel, Mrs. Winter told anecdotes
of Robert Louis Stevenson. obtained
from a friend who had known his
mother. Mrs Winter had chosen the
Palace in preference to the st.
Francis, to Mrs. Melville's high dis
gust.
"She thinks it more typical"
sneered Millicent; myself, l prefer
cleanliness and comfort to types
Their rooms were waiting for them
and two bel-boys ushered Mrs. Winter
into her suite. Randall was lodged on
the same floor, and Mrs. Melville, who
was to spend a few days with her
aunt on the latters invitation, was on
lower floor. The colonel had begged
to have Archie next to him; and he
examined the quarters with approba-
ton. His own room was the last OF
the suite; to the right hand, between
his room and Archie's, was their bath;
then the parlor of Mrs. Winters suite
next her room and bath. and last, to
the right, Miss Smiths room.
Archie was sitting by the window
looking out on the street; only the
oval of his soft boyish cheek showed.
The colonel went by him to the parlor
beyond where he encountered his
aunt, her hands full of gay postal
cards.
Souvenirs de voyage" she answered
his glance; 81 am going to post them
Cant take them for your"
NO thanks, want the exercise.
May l go with your
Indeed, no. My dear BERTHE, I'm
only aged, I'm not infirm."
"You will never be aged" responded
the colonel CALAMITY. He turned away
and walked along the arcade, which
looked down into the great court OF
the hotel. Millicent was approaching
him; Millicent in something of tenn
per. Her room was hideously draughty
and she could not get anyone, although
she had rung and telephoned to the Of
fee and tried every device which was
effectual in a well-conducted hotel;
but this she concluded bitterly, was
not W. conducted; it was only typi-
cal
There's a lovely fire in Aunt Re
becca's parlor," soothed the colonel;
come in there"
Afterward It seemed to him that this
whole interview with Millicent could
not have occupied more than four min
utes; that 1t was not more than seven
minutes since he had seen Arches
shapely curly head against the curtain
fall of the window.
But when he opened the door, Miss
Smith came toward them. is Archie
with Aunt Rebecca?" said she.
The colonel answered that he had
left him in the rarlor; perhaps he had
stepped into his own room.
But neither in Arches nor the colo
ners nor in any room of the party
could they find the boy.
CTo BE CONTINUED.)
The Ivory Nut.