The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-13

whole course of plans and action was changed. " ''S
 Mercer spoke first and in 2 low iona ta the colonel.
 nave no right" said he, "to ask 50 much trust from .ou. but will you trust me enough to step aside with ms young man and me for A mo hent only-out of earshot? give you my word of honor I mean no slightest harm to you. wan, to he rank. l will so alone i; ,ou desirep
 ne colonel eyed him intently for the briefest space. "Ill trust von." said he. Then: q think you have inc esy to this queer mix-up. At your service. And let your friend come too. He Is an ingenious sort. and he amuses me"
 blrusall looked distinctly sullep over the request to wait, intimating oulte frankly that his employer was walking into trap "I won't stand here more than l5 minutes,D he grumbled. five gwen those fellows poco tiente ltng enough" But the colonel insisted on 20 minutes, and reluctantly Birdsall scquiesced.
 Mercer conducted the others 70 the library When they were seated he began in his composed, melancholy rashion:
 T earnestly beg of you to listen to me, and to believe me, for your nephew's sake. It is the only way oow. When you came, we handed him over to this gentleman, exactly as we have said. l do not know why he should have been stopped. I do not know why he left the machine"
 Might he not have been carried away" said Winter.
 He might; but I don't know what motive"
 What motive had you? You kid. naped him."
 Not exactly. We had no intention Of harming him. He came accidental. y into the room between Mrs. Win. ter's and MT. Keatcham's suites. Stand Ing in that room, trying to stanch the bleeding of sudden hemorrhage of the nose. he overheard me and my friend"
 "You?" asked the colonel laconical ly, of the young Harvard man.
 smilingly confessed the latter. T am ready to own up. You are a decent fellow. and you are shrewd You ought to be on our side, not lighting us. tell you. you don't want to have the boy turn up safe and sound any more than do. MT. Mer. cer was talking to me. and the kid overheard, We heard him and went Into the room"
 How"
 Knocked on the door and he opened It. And we jumped on him. It was life and death for us not to be blown on; so. as we didn't wish to kill the kid, and as we didn't know the young. ster well enough tc trust him then although we might, fer he is game and the whitest chapi-but we didn't know why, we just told him ne would have to stay with us while until our rush was over That was all we meant, and we let him phone you.'
 How about his great-aunt-the cruel anxiety-"
 Anxiety nothin-," began the other man, but glance from Mercer cut him short.
 The southerner took the word in his slow. gentle voice. q tried to reassure our aunt, Col Wintc9 l think sue ceeded. She telephoned and I told her 1t was all right. As for Archie, after we talked with him, he was willing enough to go. He stole out with my friend inside of five minutes, while you all were searching your rooms. It was he insisted on calling you up, lest yon should be worried. He said you were right afraid of kidnarers, and you would be sending the police after us. You can call Mrs. Winter up and find out if am not telling you the exact facts"
 Very well, I will" said Winter They met the sullen detective at the door. Cary Mercer, with his mirthless smile. Jed the way. Mercer rang up the hotel for Winter, himself. To the colonels vast relief Aunt Rebecca an swered the call. "Est-ce que c'est vous-meme, mon neveu?' said she, dryly
 sMais oui, ma tante. Why are you speaking so formally in foreign tongues? Is Millicent on deckf"
 Tn her room," came the answer still in French. Well, you have got us in pretty mess. Where Is my boy?"
 q only wish knew. Tell me now. though, is Mercer's story straight?'
 Absolutely. You may trust him.
 "What's his real game, then? Tn one he was afraid Archie would eD poser"
 Ask him"
 But you are in 1t. aren't youf"
 Enough to ask that you abandon the chase--immediatelyl Unless you wish to ruin mel"
 You'll have to speak palmer I've been kept in the dark as long as l can stand in this matter
 But before he could finish the sen tence. Pas lei, pas maintenant--c'est trop de peril" she cried. and she must have gone, for he could get no mort from her. When he rang again. Kan ssll responded:
 aMrs. Winter says. sir. wAl fos please come mp here as quick as you can. She's gone ont. She thousn'
 .,. .t,.b+ ot Mir Archie on the