The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-24

about hearing the music better fma
the other side of the balcony Nv
Gas Mrs. Millicent very tnlv ~
plained} there was not ba'nanaa
worths difference in favor of ono s,s
over the other; but she followed :
the wake of her imperious aunt
The colonel drew nearer to r.,.,
Smith; in order to sink his voice \.
low disturbing the music-lovers !.
found it necessary to sit on a nila :,
cushions at her feet.
Did you know Mercer will be bar,
tonight" he began, a long way ,r0n
his ultimate object. He noticed th.,
leaning back in the shadow her read,
smile had dropped from her facs
which looked tired I want to ton
you little story about Mercer h
continued; may I? 1t won't taxa
/ long
He was aware, and it gave him !
twinge Of pain to see it, that she sat
up a little straighter. like one IN
guard; and oh. how tired her face wa,
and how sweet, He told her of all hi,
suspicious of her brotherin-law; d
the blood-stains and the changing h
clothes. she did not interrupt him by
a question, hardly by a motion, until
he told of the conversation with
Keateham and the note signed The
! Black Hand At this her eyes light
ed; she exclaimed impetuously
Cary Mercer never did send that let
. teri" She drew a deep intake Of
breath Il don't believe he touched
Nj Keatciam,
Neither do t. said the colonel
but wait" He went on to the theale,
girls report OF the receiver of the telA
grams Her hands. which clasped hei
knee fell apart; her lips parted and
closed firmly.
Did | think 1t was you?" said he |
Why. yes, | confess | did fear Il
might be and that you might be trying
to shield Atkins.
=" she exclaimed hotly; that De
: testable villain
Isn't he" cried the colonel. But
well. | couldn't tell how he might
strike lady. he ended lamely
Il reckon he would strike lady
she were silly enough to marry hin
and he got tired Of her. He Is tn
j kind CT man who will persecute girl
TO marry him. follow her around and
imp0ftune her and fatter her and
/ then. if he should prevail, never for |
give her for the bother she has gya
him. Oh. | never did like him; In
afraid of him-awfully.'
"Not you?"-the colonels voice wal
/ cheerful. as II he had not shiyeFel
over his own foreboding vision. I've
seen YOU in action already, you know
Not fighting bombs. | hate BOMBS
There are SO many pieces to hit you
/ You can't run away.
Well. you'll find them not so oaa'
besides. you did fight one this ven
morning. and you were cool as pep
permint,"
That was quite different; | Aaa
time 20 think. and the danger VIZ
more to me than to any one else wv
10 think Of Mrs. Winter and AcaH
/ ana y all of you; that scares me.
Now. don't let it get on !oa
nerves" he soothed-of course
necessary to take girls hahd
s00the her when she is frightned p1
Miss Smith calmly released her naaa
only reddening a little; and
laughed. "Where-where were =
ar she asked in her unconseOs
southern phraseology.
Somewhere around AtSlas
think" said the colonel: he laugasu
his tnrn-he found it easy 10 iausI
now that he knew how she iel' IVA IA
Atkins. You see. after | talked y"
Keatcham | couldn't make any'na'
but Atkins out of the whole ous'a.
| But there were those stained Guns ..
| his changing his clothes
Yes" said she. =. ~,
How explain? There was on. Nam
explanation, that was, tha' p.h
Mercer had discovered Kea'chaI n
fore We did, unconsciously spo'.su i
cuffs. been alarmed by our app, -.
and hidden. lest it should be 'ne s 80
derers returning. He might y"
wanted a chance 10 draw ~. ,,su
volver. Say he did that way y, !. a "A
foollshly pretend to enter for 'us Nd
time. II he made that nlis'a' :, M
then discovered the condition ', md
cuffs and the spots on his khee .,l.s.
would be his natural first impu ,sa
Why, to change them, trus''Hs y.yM
they hadn't been noticeu'
then, he would wash them ou'
(TO BE CONTINUED
III EauIt.