Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-15
CHAPTER XVIII.
Casa Fuerte.

when he had a normal temperature
vet he saw the stars come out and the
stars fade on that fateful April night
He entered his room at the hour wher
midnight brushes the pale skirts o
dawn and misguided cocks are voclfer
ating their existence to an Indifferent
world. Before he came there had beer
long council with Mercer and hi!
aunt. Mercer, who had been success
full in his mission. had barely seen hi!
chief for moment before a gentle
but impericus nurse ordered hin
away Winter caught queer, abrup
laugh from the f1nancier. The latter
beckoned to him. See you are at
obedient as am when your time
comes" he chuckled; and he chucklee
again when both the soldier and Miss
Smith blushed over his awkward
jocosaness. Yet, the next moment ne
extended his hand with his formal
othergeneration courtesy and tool
Miss Janet's shapely, firm fingers In
his own lean and nervous grasp. AL
low me to offer you both my sincere
congratulations" began he. and halted
his eyes, which seemed so injurious
but were so keen, travelling from the
woman's confusion to the mans. u
beg your pardon; l understood-Ar
chic who was here, gave me to under
standard heard yop singing; you
will hardly believe it, but years ago
sang that to my wife"
$50 far as / am concerned, 1t is
settled" said the colonel steadily.
I'VE are ALL" Keatcham continued,
no longer with any trace Of embarrass-
ment. as he touched the hand which
he still held with his own other hand,
I'VE are all, as you know, my dear
young lady, in considerable personal
peril; regret that it should be on my
account; but 1t really Is not my fault;
1t is because will not relax my pur-
suit OF a great scoundrel who is dan
gerous to all decent people. But being
in such danger, think you. will be
glad afterward If you are generously
frank and give up something of the
sex's prerogative to keep lover on
the anxious seat Excuse me tiff
presume on my age and my privileges
as patient"
Janet lifted her sweet eyes and sent
one glance as fleeing and light as the
flash of birds wing. "I-I-reckon
it is settled" murmured she; but i'm
mediately she was the nurse again.
"Mr Keatcham, you are staying awake
much too late. Here is Colvin, who
will see to anything you want. Good
night"
1t was then that Mr.. Keatcham had
taken the coloners breath away by
kissing Janet's hand; after which he
shook hands with the colonel with a
strange new cordially, and watched
them both go away together with a
look on his gaunt face unlike any
known to Colvin.
Only three minutes in the hall, with
the moon through the arched window;
and his arm about her and the fra
GRANGE of her loosened hair against
his cheek and her voice stirring his
heartstrings with an exquisite pang.
Only time for the immemorial ques-
tons Of love: "Are you sure, dear, it
is really II" and when did you
first" To this last she had an
swered with her half-humorous, adora-
BILE little Tilt of laugh: ooh, l
reckon it was-a-little-all along,
ever since 1 read about your saving
that poor little Filipino boy, like
Archie; the one who was your servant
in Manila, and going hungry for him
on the march and jumping into the
rapids to save him-when you were
lame, too"
Here the colonel burst In with a
groan: ooh, that monstrous newspa-
per liar! The dear little Filipino boy
was married man; and didn't jump
into the river to save him. 1t wasn't
more than wading depth only swore
at him for an idiot and told him to
walk out when he tipped over his
boar and was foundering about. And
he did! He was the limit as a liar"
To his relief, the most sensible as
we'll as the most lSyable woman in the
world had burst into delicious bit Of
laughter and returned: ooh, well,
you would have jumped in and saved
him If the water had been deep; it
wasn't your fault it was shallow" And
just at this point Mercer and Aunt
Rebecca must needs come with most
unusual premonitory racket, and Janet
had fled.
Afterward had come the council.
All the coil had been unraveled. Bird
sail appeared in person, as sleek,
smiling and complacent over his
blunders as ever. One Of his first
sentences was declaration Of trust
In Miss Smith.
81 certainly went off at half-cock
there" said he, amiably; "and just be-
cause she was so awful nice felt
obliged to suspect her; but I've got
tire real dog that killed the sheep this
time; it's sure the real Red Wull!"
It appeared that he had, of verify,
been usefully busy. He had secured
the mechanic who had given Atkins a
Ylan of the secret passages of Casa
Tnsrte. He had found the policeman
Who had arrested Tracy Che swore
because he was going too fast) and the
who had fined him; and
not only that, he had captured the po-
ice1nan, genuine officer, not Grim
nal in disguise, who had been Atkins
instrument in kidnapping Archie. This