The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-22
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luHlpeu nlihDiy Out OF tne Nentcies nv
greeted them with polite removal Of
his cap, bow, and flashing smile
which made the circuit Of the behold
ers. Birdsall and the colonel recox
nized the travelling enthusiast OF the
Fireless Stove.
The colonel took matters into his
own hands.
Il think you're the young gentleman
who took my nephew away" said he
"Will You kindly tell us where he isy"
"And don't get giddy, young gentle
man." Birdsall chimed in, because we
know perfectly well that you are not
the agent OF the Peerless Fireiess
Stove"
i've got one here on trial. and I've
come back to see II they like IT," ex
planned the young man, in silken &C
cents, but with a dancing CLEAN OF the
eyes.
I'VE are going to keep It," said Mer
GER. "Kito," calling the unseen Jap.
fetch that Fireless Stove this gentle
man left us. and show 1t to this gentle
man here"
''Oh, cut II OUT" Birdsall waved him
on. "It's only ten minutes before our
fellows will come. You can put the
police court wise with all that. Try
1t on them; 1t don't go with u.s."
Where is the boy?" said the
colonel
Tell him, II you know" said Mer
Ger. This gentleman" he explained.
left stove with us to test He was
here about 1t this morning. and we
| gave Archie to him to take to the
Palace hotel"
'And he is there now said the
young man.
Ibid you leave him there?" asked
the colonel.
Yes, did you?" insisted Mercer.
The young man looked from Mercer
to the other two men. There was no
visible appeal to the southerner, but
Winter felt sure Of two things: One.
that the newcomer was MERGERS con,
federate whom he was striving ia
shield by pretending to disavow; the
other, that for some reason Mercer
was as anxious for the answer as were
they. ,. $1,000
Why" hesitated the stove pro
moter, you see. Mr.-ah, gentlemen.
you see, l was told to take the boy to
the Palace hotel, and set out to dc
It. We weren't going at more than an
eight-mile-an-hour clip, yet some. fooz-
Ter of a cop arrested us for speeding.
II was perfectly ridiculous, and tried
to shake him. but 1t was no use. They
carried us of to a police court and
stuck me for ten dollars. Meanwhile
my machine and my passenger were
outside. When got outside couldn't
find them. l sklrmished around. and
finally did get the machine. I'd taken
the precaution to fix 1t so 1t couldn't
be run before l left it-took the key
out, you know-it must have been
trundled of by hand somewhere.-
but couldn't find the boy. Naturally.
l was a bit worried; but after l had
looked up the force and the neighbor.
hood. il occurred to me to phone to
the Palace. l did, and / was told he
was there"
who told you?" The question came
simultaneously out of three throats.
why, Mrs. Winter-that's what she
called herself"
But not three minutes ago Mrs.
Winter told me that he wasn't there"
remarked Mercer, coldly. when did
you telephone?"
1T was at least 10 minutes ago."
the young man said dolefully. Il say.
wouldn't you better call them up
again? There may be some explana-
ton. / shouldn't have come back
without the kid II hadn't been sure
he was safe"
WAS it Mrs. Melville or Mrs. Win
ter you got?" This came from the
colonel. did she by chance have an
English accent, or was II southern"
"Oh. no. not southern" protested
the young man. Yes, l should say
il was English-or trying to be-"
1T would be exactly like Millicent."
thought the colonel. wrathfully. to
try to fool the kidnapers. who had APP
parently lost Archie. by pretending he
was at the hotell"
He made no comment aloud, but he
nodded assent to MERGERS proposal
to telephone; and then he walked up
TO the stove man.
The game is up" he said. quietly.
I'VE have lot of men waiting out
side. II We signal. they will come any
minute; II we don't signal, they will
come In ten minutes. Give us a chance
to be merciful 10 you. This is no kind
of scrape for your fathers son-or
for Arnold's."
Shot without range though It was
Winter was sure that II went home I'M
der all the young fellows assumed be-
wilderment. He continued. looking
kindly at him:
You look now, I'll wager, about as
! you used to look in the office when
you called on the dean-by invitation
and were wondering just where the
inquiry was going to light"
CTO BE CONTINUEDD
Much Too Good