The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-27

hfa T, hau lelt an hour ,elore. Rupert was not eager to see a'm' but neither was he anxious for 'ne 'eie'a-tete with MiilIoent which a@alted him in the parlor Betwaen the Two he chose Tirdsau
 Well" he greeted him. did yop f,nd any trace Of the hoy?'
 VT course l did" growled Birdsau .shey didn't try to hide i'm. Tbey nad tim lodged ia a dandy room w;,s ITS own bath. Of course. he laft lts toothbrush. They'd got him some m. eomoble toss, too. and he'd Jeff sone 'sssin when he packal. and lettar eesun on rad to Mizs smith-'Dear MISS Janet it begins, I am having ouliy time. can steer the machine ouiy can't back'-that's all. Say. 'le young dog has been having 1t fat while We were in the frying nan. for ar somebody was boihering him.
 hut he is not ia. the house now?s
 No. nor nothing else"
 Nopody hidden away? Where did the groans you heard come from y' qneriei the colonel. politely.
 olrusaIl nusneu. I do believe ina, slick deceiver you call Mercer put LID game on us out of meanness-just to get me guessing"
 That sort of thing looks more like the college boys
 Say, it might have been This thing Is giving me nervous prostration. Say why didn't you see the thing out with me?"
 The colonel shamelessly told the truth to deceive. q was called here l was told that Mrs. Winter, my aunt. had seen Archie in the street.
 She was just getting out of ma chine as l came up. Miss Smith was with her, and they had their hands full of candy boxes. They were laughing. I made sure the boy had been found"
 Not to my knowledge" saio lhe colonel But in some excitement he walked into the parlor, The ladies had arrived; they stood in the center of the room while Randall took away the boxes.
 Candy for Archie" explained Aunt Rebecca, and these were the first words to reach Rupert Winters cars. T expect him to dinner"
 Aunt Rebecca" proclaimed Mill. cent, q never have been one to com rlain, but there are limits to human endurance. am modern person, a civilized Episcopalian. accustomed to a regular and well-ordered life, and for the last few days I seem to have been living in kind of medieval mys. iery, with kidnapers, and blood stains, and, for anything know, some. pcdy ready to stick a knife into any one of us any timei You people may enicy this sort of thing-you seem c-bat don't. And tell you frankly hat l am going to apply to the police, not to any private detective inquiry office. as like as not in league with the criminals s"-thus ungratefully did Mrs. Fiilicent slur the motives of her only trly interested auditor-"but real DO 3ccmen. 1 shall apply"
 She did not toll where she should HUM 'Ht N[tN1 Dtiaf- nHIDDtu Out til her mouth by the sharp tinkle of the telephone bell
 Aunt Rebecca responded to the call "Send him up" was her answer to the inaudihle questioner.
 She laid down the receiver. Ther she put 1t back. Then she stood up her silver head in the air. her erect i little figure held motionless.
 Janet Smiths dark eyes sought hers; her lips parted onA to close firmly again.
 Even the detective perceived the electric intensity of the moment. and Rupert shut his fists tight. with 2 quickened beating of the heart; but ems.ional vibrations did not disturb Mrs. Melville Winters poise. She continued her plaint.
 This present situation is unb. ar able, unprecedented and un-un-un expected" she acclaimed. rather gro ping for a climax which escaped her Aunt Rebecca raised her hand.
 Would you be so very kind, Milli cent" said she. "as to wait moment am trying to listen"
 Like response to her words, the knob of the door was turned. the door swung, and Archie entered the room. smiling his odd little chewed-uT smile.
 Janet uttered 9, faint cry and took a | single step, but. as if recognizing q superior right. hung back while the 1 boy put his arm about his great-aunt's waist and rather bashfully kissed heI | cheek
 She received the salute with entire eomposure, except for tiny splash ol | red which crept up to each cheek bone. "Is 1t really you, Arche?' said she. You are little late for dinner 1 day before yesterday, but quite in time for today. Sit down and tell us where you have been
 Quite sol" exclaimed Mrs. Milli cent. Good heavens: Do you know how we have suffered? Where have you beer? Why did yon run away But Archie, who had surrendered 1 one-haIf of him to be hugged by MISS | Smith and the other to be clapped on the shoulder by his uncle. seemed to think a vaguely polite "How-de-do' Aunt Millicent; I'm sorry to have wor ried you!" to be answer enough. oniy when the question was repeated Dy Mrs. Winter herself did he reply; I'm awfully sorry, Aunt Rebecca, but I've nromised not to say anything about IL