Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-06

J
err" he exclaimed. Three years ago,
and he had almost forgotten; but here
was Cary Mercer-the name came to
him after little groping-here he
was again; but who was the pleasant
youngster with him? And what were
. they discussing with 80 little apparent
| and SO much real earnestness?
| One Of the colonel's physical gifts
was an extraordinary acuteness of
hearing. 1t passed the mark of fac
ulty and became marvel. Part Of
! this uncanny power was really due,
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 we'll
as his ears This combination had
made an unintentional and embar-
raised eavesdropper out Of an honest
gentleman number of times. To set
of such evil tricks 1t had saved his
life once on the plains and had res
cued his whole command another time
in the Philippines. While he studied
1 the two faces sentence from the
younger man gripped his attention.
/ 1t was: II don't mind the risk, but
l 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 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: "Oh, under
stand; wasn't backing water; know
we have lost the right to be squeam-
ish. But say, old chap, how long
since Mrs. Winter has seen you?
| Would she recognize you?"
The colonel who had been about to
abandon his espionage as unbecoming
a soldier and gentleman, slowed
away all his scruples at the mention
Of the name. He pricked up his ears
and sharpened his eye, but was careful
lest they should catch his glance. The
next sentence, owing to the speakers
position, was inaudible 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. I wish were as sure
of some other things Have we settled
everything? 1t is better not to be seen
together"
Yes, think you've put me wise on
the main points. BY the way. what is
the penalty for kidnaping?"
Again an averted head and hiatus,
followed by the younger mans spark.
ling smile and exclamation: Wow!
Riskier than football-and even more
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 q moments
gloomy meditation, gathered up coat
and, bag and followed. During that
moment of arrested decision, however,
his features had dropped into sinister
lines which the colonel remembered.
Dangerous customer, or miss my
guess" unused the soldier, who knew
the passions Of men. Il wonderfully
couldn't mean my Aunt Rebecca
She's old; she has millions of money
but she's not on this train. And there's
no Miss Smith in our deck. I'm 80
used to plotting 60 OF 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 for
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 his
mind, which went back to his ward
and his single living brother. Mel
vile had no children. only his wife's
daughters, who were both married.
Melville having married widow with
family, an estate and mind Of heI
own. Melville was professor in a
state university, mild, learned man
whom nature intended for science but
whom his wife was determined to
make into the president Of the uni
versity.
Even money which will win,'
chuckled Rupert Winter to himself
"Millicent hasn't much tact; but she
has the perseverance Of the saints
She married Mel; he doesn't know
but she surely did. And she bosses
him now. Well, suppose Mel likes
to be bossed; he never had any strenu
Gus opinions except about the canals
of Mars-Valgame dios!"
With gasp the colonel sprang to
his feet. There before him, in the
flesh, was his sister-in-law. Her state
ly figure, her Roman profile. her grace
fully gesticulating hand, which indi'
Gated the coloners position to her
heavily laden attendant, lad in blue
these he knew by heart just as be
knew that her toilet for the journey
would be in the latest mode, and thai
she would have the latest fashion Of
gait and mien. Millicent studied such
things.
She waved her luggage into place
~ ovcol1oof p1ooo-in tho sauoo breath