The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-03-05
HLU@ZRAzZOWG ee5I
81. pZZW

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 eavesdropper out of an honest
gentleman a number of times. To set
off such evil tricks it 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: 81 don't mind the risk, but
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; 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 your
The colonel. who had been about to
abandon his espionage as unbecoming
soldier and a gentleman, slowed
away all his scruples at the mention
of the name. He pricked up his ears
h., bic ant w careful
lest they should catch his glance. The
next sentence, owing to the speakers
position, was inaudble and invisible;
but he clearly caught the young mans
response:
You're sure they'll be on 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? 1t is better not to be seen
together"
Yes l think you've put me wise or
: the main points. By the way, what is
9 the penalty for kidnaping?"
I Again an averted head and hiatus
. followed by the younger mans spark
a ling smile and exclamation: Wow.
8 Riskier than football-and even more
t fun!' Something further he added
\ but his arms hid his mouth as he
( thrust them into his greatcoat prepar
: ing to move away. He went alone;
? and the other, after moments
/ gloomy meditation, gathered up coat
and bag and followed. During thai
moment of arrested decision, however
, his features had dropped into sinister
G lines which the colonel remembered
a Dangerous customer, or | miss my
guess" unused the soldier, who knew
the passions of men. Il wonderfully
p couldn't mean my Aunt Rebecca
2 She's old; she has millions of money
I but she's not on this train. And there's
4 no Miss Smith in our deck. I'm Sc
used to plotting | go off on fake hikes
Probably I'm getting old and dotty
Mercer, poor fellow, may have his
brain turned and be an anarchist or
q. bomb-thrower or a dirty kidnaper fol
: revenge; but that boys decent chap
: I've licked too many second lieuten
ants into shape not to know something
: of youngsters"
He pushed the idea away; or, rather
his own problems pushed it out of hi!
mind, which went back to his ware
and his single living brother. Mel
= vile had no children, only his wife''
daughters, who were both married
Il Melville having married widow will
; a family, an estate and a mind of he
own. Melville was professor in {
. state university, mild, learned mai
whom nature intended for science bu
u whom his wife was determined t
! make into the president of the uni
:, versity.
u Even money which will win,
:, chuckled Rupert Winter to himself
"Millicent hasn't much tact; but sh'
. has the perseverance of the saints
She married Mel; he doesn't know
i but she surely did. And she bosses
him now. Well, l suppose Mel like
! to be bossed; he never had any strenu
= Gus opinions except about the canals
of Mars-Valgame dios!"
With a gasp the colonel sprang t
: his feet. There before him, in thu
l. flesh, was his sister-in-law. Her state
{ " figure, her Roman profile, her grace
fully gesticulating hand, which indi
i Gated the coloners position TO he
heavily laden. attendant. lad in blu'
i these he knew by heart just as h
knew that her toilet for the journe!
would be in the latest mode, and tina
o she would have the latest fashion o
L gait and mien. Millicent studied sucl
v things.
l. She waved her luggage into place
}, an excellent place-in the same breatl
e dismissing the porter and instructinI