The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-05-20


him only casually. hut my cousin.
Ralph Schuyler. went to preps school
with him. so | got his character
straight on the bat His father was n
patent.mediclnc man from Mississippi,
who made fair pile. a couple OF hun
dred thousand which looked good to
that section. you know don't know
anything about his people except that
his father made the Celebrated At
kins' Ague busters and that Atkins
was ashamed OF his people and shook
his married sisters who came 20 see
him. In rather a brutal fashion: but
know a thing or two about him: he
was one OF those Founders who curry
favor with the faculty and the popular
boys and never break rules apparently.
but go on and have sly little bats by
themselves. lie never was popular.
yet. somehow. he got into things: he
knew where TO lend money; and he
was simply sickeningiy clever; in
math. he was wonder. Ralph hated
him. For one thing. he caught him In
dirty lie. Atkins hated him back
and contrived TO prevent his being
elected class president. and when be
couldn't prevent Raiph's making his
senior society the happy thought
struck Atkins to get on the laltiatlon
committee. They had a CHEEKY little
branding game to make the fellows
quite sure they belonged. you know.
and he rammed his cigar stump into
Ralph's arm so that Ralph had blood
poisoning and a narrow squeak for his
life. You see that I'm not prepos
sessed In thu fellows favor. He's got
too vivid an imagination for mel"
Seems 10 have" acquiesced the
colonel
Il think. you know"-Tracy made an
effort to be just-'T think Atkins was
rather sourcd Some OF the fellows
made fun Of the 'Ague Busters he
had a notion that the reason Il was
such up hiii work for him IN the school
was his fathers trade. No doubt he
did get nasty ticks az nrst: and he's
rcvengful He hasn't got on In society
outside. ei,her-thIs he lays 20 his no,
being a university man. You see his
father lost some OF his money and put
him to work instead OF in college. lie
was willing enough at the tlme-f
think he wanted 10 get married-but
afterward. when he was getting n good
salary and plling up money on his tips.
he began 20 think that he had lost
more than he had bargained for. Al
together. he's soured Now. what he
wants Is 90 make a laundering big
strike and to pull out OF Wall street.
buy what he calls a seat on the
James and set up for a southern gen
tleman. He's trying TO marry a south.
ern girl. they say. who Is kin to the
Carriers and the Byrds and the Lees
and the Carys-why. you know her.
she's Mrs. Winters secretary"
'Does-does she care for him." The
colonel suddenly felt his mouth
parched: he was savagely conscious OF
his mounting color. What n hendish
trick OF fatel he had never dreamed
OF this Well. whether she cared for
him or not. the man was n brute. he
shouldn't get her That was one GER
tainty In the colonels mind.
"Why. Cary vows she doesn't. that
II was only a girlish bit OF nonsense
up In Virginia. that time he was pros
pectlng. you know. But don't feel so
safe. She's too nice for such n cur.
But you know what women are: the
incest OF them seem TO be awfully
queer about men. There's no betting
on them"
I'm afraid not" remarked the colo.
mel. lightly. But he put his fingers In
side his collar and loosened II, as II
he felt choked.
Because he had a dozen questions
quareling for precedence In his head
he asked not one. He only inquired
regarding the situation; discovering
that both Mercer and Tracy were
equally in the dark with himself as to
Atkins plans, Atkins store Of infor-
nation, Atkins resources. How he
could have waylald Tracy and the boy
without knowing whence they came
was puzzling; Il was quite as puzzling
however assuming that he did know
their whereabouts. 10 decide why he
I ~ kttu W Ant IVY IN
fact II was. as Tracy said. too much
like Prof. Santa Annals description
OF a German definition Of metaphysical
a blind man hunting In a dark room
for black cat that isn't there"
In any event. you would better keep
away from me" was the coloners sum
ming up OF the situation: Il don't want
to be inhospltable. but the sooner you
are on. and out Of the hotel. the safer
for your speculation"
Friends will please accept the In
tlmation." said Tracy, good.humoredly.
Very well. it's 23 for me. I'm hoping
you'll see your way clear TO run over
as soon as the old man has surTen-
dered; I'm going to invite him to make
us a proper visit. then. and see the
country. I'm always for letting the
conquered keep their sids-arms"
lie went away smiling his flashing
smile. and turned II w at the botel as
/ walked c;st. the cOlOrs. .lade no sign