Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-02-24

"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"
The dimple showed in the young
mans cheek 81 admit" he replied,
"that l didn't take advantage as
should of my university opportunities.
Probably that is why have to earn a
strenuous livelihood boosting the Only
Peerless Fireless Stove. BY the way.
have you ever seen the Fireless in
action? Just the thing for the army!
Fills a long-felt want. | should be
very pleased to demonstrate. We have
a stove here
The colonel grinned responsively.
"You do it very well,' said he. Cant
you let me into the gamer"
There was the slightest waver in
the promoters glance, although he
smiled brilliantly as he answered: rTll
take it into consideration, but--will
you excuse me? l want to speak to
Mr. Mercer about the stove"
The moment he had removed his
affable young presence Birdsall ap-
preached his employer. 1t had been
difficult quarter of an hour with the
detective. Vague instinct warne1 him
not to touch the subject of Miss
Smith; :; he felt ip no way assured
about anything else The result had
been that he had fidgeted in silence.
But the accumulated flood could no
longer be held.
1--WE found out one thing" exploded
Birdsall putting in the haste of his ut
terance. "The boy is on the prem
ises."
think so?" was all the colonels
answer.
I'm sure of it. Say, | overheard
Mercer talking down speaking-tube.
what did he say?"
Talked French, damn him! But
say, what's gorge?"
Throat"
whats cupillo gorge?'
sure he wasn't talking of a cars
riage, or did he say je lie couperai la
Sorge?"
Maybe. l wouldn't swear to it. ]
don't parlez francais little bit"
did you hear any other noises
Where we're they?"
BirGsall thought he had heard other
noises, and that they were down CELLAR.
.'And anyhow, colonel. I'm dead-to,
rights sure those guys are giving us
hot stuff to get us out of the house.
I'm for getting our men in now and
rushing the house. It's me. for the
cellar
While the colonel was rolling Bird
SALTS information around in his mind,
he heard the echo of steps on the flag
ging which preceded Mercer and the
other man. M
{ There was that in the bearing and
the look of them that madeat the watch,
err used et9 he signs of decision Oh
mems faces, instantly sure that their
whole, course of plans and action was
changed.
Mercer spoke first and in low tone
to the colonel.
81 have no right" said he, TO ask
SO much trust from you, but will yea
trust ME enough to step aside witn
(. this young man and me for mo,
ment onlyout of earshot? ! gsve
you my word of honor / mean no
slightest; harm to you. ! wan, to be
S frank. will go alone If you desire"
The colonel eyed him intently for
the briefest space. '1'il trust you, =
!, said he. Then: Il think you have the
key to this queer mix-up. At your
service. And let your friend come,
too. He is an ingenious sort, and he
amuses me"
Birdsall looked distinctly sullen over
= the request to wait, intimating quite
frankly that his employer was walking
into a trap. Il won't stand here more
than Is minutes he grumbied. I've
given those fellows POGO tiente long
!, enough" But the colonel insisted on
20 minutes, and reluctantly Birdsall
aequiesced.
e Mercer. conducted the others 70 the
library. When they were seated he
began in his composed, melancholy
fashion:
Il earnestly beg Of you to listen TO
me- and to Believe me. for your
nephew's sake. It is the only way
now. When you came. we handed him
over to this geatlrman. exactly as we
have said. ] DO not know why he
should have heaa stopped. 4 do not
know why he left the machine"
might hes not have been carried