The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-04-23
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which made the circuit of the behold
ers. Birdsall and the colonel recog-
nized the travelling enthusiast Of the
Fireless Stove.
The colonel took matters into his
own hands.
Il think you're the young gentleman
who took my nephew away said he.
"Will you kindly tell us where he is?"
"And don't get giddy, young gentle
man." Birdsall chimed in, because we
know perfectly well that you are not
the agent of the Peerless Fireless
Stove"
I've got one here on trial, and I've
come back to see if they like it," ex-
planned the young man, in silken ac-
cents, but with a dancing CLEAN of the
eyes.
I'VE are going to keep it, said Mer-
Ger. 'Kito,' calling the unseen Jap,
fetch that Fireless Stove this gentle
man left us, and show it to this gentle
man here"
'Oh, cut it out" Birdsall waved him
off. ITS only ten minutes before our
fellows will come. You can put the
police court wise with all that. Try
it on them; it don't go with us.
Where is the boy?" said the
colonel.
Tell him, if you know" said Mer-
GER. This gentleman" he explained,
left a stove with us to test. He was
here about it this morning, and we
gave Archie to him to take to the
Palace hotel"
And he is there now" said the
young man.
Did you leave him there?" asked
the colonel.
yes, did you?' insisted Mercer.
The young man looked from Mercer
to the other two men. There was no
visible appeal to the southerner, but
Winter felt sure of two things: One,
that the newcomer was MERGERS con-
federate whom he was striving to
shield by pretending to disavow; the
other, that for some reason Mercer
was as anxious for the answer as were
they.
Why" hesitated the stove pro-
moter,. you see, Mr.-ah, gentlemen,
you see, | was told to take the boy to
the Palace hotel, and | set out to do
it. We weren't going at more than an
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. clip, yet some fooz-
Ter of a cop arrested us for speeding.
1t was perfectly ridiculous, and | tried
to shake him, but it was no use. They
carried us off to a police court and
stuck me for ten dollars. Meanwhile
my machine and my passenger were
outside. When ! got outside | couldn't
find them. | skirmished around, and
finally did get the machine. I'd taken
the precaution to fix it so it couldn't
be run before | left it-took the key
out, you know-it must have been
trundled off by hand somewhere!-
but | couldn't find the boy. Naturally,
| was a bit worried; but after l had
looked up the force and the neighbor-
hood. it occurred to me to phone to
the Palace. l did, and | was told he
was there
who told you?" The question came
simultaneously out of three threats.
why, Mrs. Winter-thats what she
called herself
But not three minutes ago Mrs.
Winter told me that he wasn't there"
remarked Mercer, coldly. when did
you telephone?"
1T was at least Is minutes ago"
the young man said dolefully, 81 say,
wouldn't you better call them up
again? There may be some explana-
ton. | shouldn't have come back
without the kid if l hadn't been sure
he was safe
WAS it Mrs. Melville or Mrs. Win
ter you got?" This came from the
colonel Did she by chance have an
English accent or was it southern?
"Oh, no, not southern, protested
the young man. Yes, | should say
it was English-or trying to be-
1T would be exactly like Millicent,"
thought the colonel, wrathfully, ito
try to fool the kdnapers, who had APP
parently lost Archie, by pretending he
was at the hotel"
He made no comment aloud, but he
nodded assent to MERGERS proposal
to telephone; and then he walked up
to the stove man.
The game is up" he said, quietly.
I'VE have a lot of men waiting out
side. If we signal, they will come any
minute; if we don't signal, they will
come in ten minutes. Give us chance
to be merciful to you. This is no kind
of a scrape for your fathers son-or
for Arnolds."
Shot without range though it was,
Winter was sure that it went home I'M
der all the young fellows assumed be-
wilderment. He continued. looking
kindly at him:
"You look now. I'll wager, about as
you used to look in the office when
you called on the dean-by invitation
and we're wondering just where the
inquiry was going to light"
CTO BE CONTINUED)
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