The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-04-22
AZUGzRA7ZONeJ oe5I
81. FZZX ,,
co@rR<oHE 1907 e061S-<4EkRHL co.

his cap, a bow, and flashing smile
which made the circuit of the behold
ers. Birdsall and the colonel recog-
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 is?v
And don't get giddy, young gentle.
man." Birdsall chimed in, because we
know perfectly we'll that you are not
the agent of the Peerless Fireless
Stove"
I've got one here on trial, and I've
come back to see If they like it." ex-
planned the young man, in silken ac-
cents, but with 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 it OUT" Birdsall waved him
fellows will come. You can put the
police court wise with all that. Try
it on them; it don't go with u.s.
Where is the boy" said the
colonel.
Tell him. If 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.
did you leave him there?' asked
the colonel
Eyes, did your" 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 Mercef's con-
federate whom he was striving to-
shield by pretending to disavow; the
other. that for some reason Mercer
was as anxious for the answer as were
they.
Why" hesitated the stove pro-
moter, you see, Mr.-ah. gentlemen,
you see, was told to take the boy to
the Palace hotel, and set out to do
1t. We weren't going at more than an
eight-mile-an-hour clip, yet some fooz-
Ter of cop arrested us for speeding.
1t was perfectly ridiculous, and tried
to shake him, but it was no use. They
carried us off to a police court and
stuck me for ten dollars. Meanwhile
my machine and my passenger were
outside. When l got outside couldn't
find them. / skirmished 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.
| was a bit worried but after l had
looked up the force and the neighbor-
hood. it occurred to me to phone to
the Palace. l did, and was told he
was there"
who told your" 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 Is 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 it southern
"Oh, no, not southern" protested
the young man. Yes. l should say
it was Engish--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 ne
was at the hotel!"
He made no comment aloud, but ne
nodded assent to MERGERS proposal
to telephone; and then he walked up
to the stove man.
"The game is up" he said, quietly.
1--WE have lot of men waiting out
side. II we signal, they will come any
minute; If we don't signal, they VIII
come in ten minutes. Give us chance
to be merciful to you. This is no kind
of a scrape for your fathers son-or
for Arnolds"
Shot without range though 1t was.
Winter was sure that it went home UNI
der all the young fellows assumed be-
wilderment. He continued. looking
kindly at him:
"You look now, I'll wager, ABOUT as
Won used to look In the office wnen
Won called ON the dean--by invitation