The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-06-03
CHAPTER VIII.-cou,Inued.

Il am not often mistaken in people"
vas the colOners rather oblique an
swer. and | think you are a gentle
man who might kill me IL you had
chance. but would not break his word
TO me. II you will promise to play
fair with Us, DO no harm 10 my nephew,
take this letter and bring me an an
sver-.f you find any one-On your
word Of honor as a japanese soldier
and gentleman. you may go; we viii
not signal the police Is il a bar
game
The Jap gFaveiy assented. still in
the language OF the east, saving his
face by the declaration OF the ab-
sence Of his principals. And he went
on as gracefully and courteously as If
only the highest civilitles had passed
between them.
Wont be Try some skin game on
u.s. the detective questioned; but
Winter only mOtioned toward the teie-
phone desk. Listen al IT," be said.
you can tell IL the wires are cut;
and he knows your men are outside
hiding. somewhere: he doesn't know
how many. You see, we have the
advantage OF them there; to be safe
they don't dare to let many people
into their secret. We can have
whole gang. We haven't many. but
they may think we have"
Birdsall. who had lifted the receiver
10 his ear. laid il down with an ap-
peased nod. Immediately he proceeded
20 satisfy his professional conscience
by a search in every nook and Granny
of the apartment But no result APP
peared important enough TO Justify
the production Of his red morocco
notebook and his fountain-pen- He
had paused in disgust when the colo
mel sat up suddenly. erect in his chair;
his keener ears had caught some
sound which made him dart to all the
windows in succession. He called
Haley whom he had posted outside to
guard the door, and dispatched him
across the hall 20 reconnoiter. Il am
sure Il was the sound of wheels" he
explained. but Haley will be too late;
we are on the wrong side of the
house"
AS he spoke the buzz of an electric
bell Jared their ears. Somebody is
coming in the front door," hazarded
Birdsall
Evidently" returned the colonel.
dryly. How can our absent friends get
in otherwise-at least how can they
let US understand they have come in?
4 fhfnk M. oro y,ofnU 80 h.ua fho utaaa
sre OF an interview with the elusive
Hr. Mercer"
They waited The colonel motioned
Birdsall to a seat by the table. within
breathing distance OF the telephone
He himself fluttered the loose journals
and magazines. his ironic smile creas-
ing his cheek. Our japanese friend
reads the newspapers" he remarked.
Here are o-day's papers; yes, En-
aminer and Chronicle. unfolded and
smoked over. Cigar, too. not cigarette.
for here is a stump-decidedly our
eherry-blossom friends are getting civ
ilized,"
''Oh. there is somebody in here all
right" grunted Birdsal. Say. colo
ne, you are sure Mfs- WINTER mas ndd
no answer to her ad.? No kind OF
notice about sending money!"
Il haven't seen her for few hours.
bat saw Mrs. Melville Winter; she
was positive no word had come. She
thought my aunt was more worried
than she would admit. and Miss Smith
looked pale, although she seemed
hopeful"
"She didn't really want to give me
the lerser. thought" said the detect
I've. The colonel gave him no reply
save a lack iooh. A silence fell. A
football outside broke It. firm, in no
wise stealthy 1Ssfall. Birdsall sEy.ed
his hand inside his coat. The 1c-Jnel
rose and bowed grayely to Caso Nsr-
Ger.
On his part. Mercer was not n the
least aurried; he looked at tho two
men. not with the arrogant sus, icion
which had stung Winter on the train.
but with the melancholy courtesy OF