The Tupelo journal., 1909-06-04

appearance of secrecy, the trail took
to water and was lost, since the motor
car which carried them was supplied
by Birdsall and driven by a safe man
of his own.
Regarding the detective, Rupert
Winter had what he called "a stiff
think" he could not afford ever the
remote risk of his going with the pic.
turesque assortment of information
which he had obtained about Casa
Fuerte and Mercer, into Atkins en-
ploy; therefore he hired him, still,
himself. He made a partial but alb
solutely truthful statement Of the
case; he said frankly: 'Birdsall, I'm
going to treat you fair, for I'm not go
ing to tell you all l know, because
well, for one thing, l don't feel sure
how much do know myself. But all
I'm going to ask of you is to watch the
house, day and night, without seeming
to watch it. You will oblige Mr..
Keatcham as well as me. There is a
big game going on, but it isn't what
you thought. Mr.. Keatcham's best
helpers are right in that house. Mer-
Ger and l and young Fireless and
Arnold are doing our best to guard
him, not hurt him. Now, there is big
money for you if you will watch out
for u.s."
Birdsall reflected a moment before
he did answer, screwing up his face:
Il don't like these jobs in the dark;
but like you, colonel, and it's a CO."
Keatcham's valet was next sum-
moned from his vacation and became,
in Tracy's phrase, "a dandy %subnurse."
The Tracys' family physician came
twice a day. He was known to be
visiting one OF the guests who had
fallen i'll. Mercer sem three or four
kilograms a day to Seattle and to New
York, to Keatcham's associates. Sew
eral times he held a conversation of
Importance over the telephone with
the man who acted as distributor Of
intelligence. Warnebold, himself, came
on to San Francisco from Seattle, and
was received with every courtesy. He
questioned Kito, questioned Mercer,
questioned the colonel. Tracy had
effaced himself and was in Pasadena
for a day or two.
The colonel was the star witness Cat
least this was young Arnold's verdict).
His narrative was to the effect that
he had gone out to see Mercer, who
was a family connection; no, he was
not alone, he had a young friend with
him; co~nfidentially, he would admit
that the friend was Mr.. Tracy's son;
and, while he could not be sure, he
had reason to suspect that he. young
Tracy" had been conducting some
delicate negotiations with Mr.. Keatch-
am. At this point the i~nterlocutor
nodded slightly; he was making the
deductions expected and explaining to
himself Keatcham's astonishing COM
munication e the telephone. So, he
was surmising shrewdly, that was the
clew; the old man had been making
some sort of a deal with Tracy
through the son; well, they were pro-
tected. thanks to Keatcham's orders.
Likely as not they would know
| all the reasons for this side-stepping.
Il understand, then," he said, as one
who holds a clew but has no notion of
letting it slip out Of his " fingers,
ssyou and young Tracy got here and
you found Mr.. Keatcham? How did
you get in? Did Mr.. Mercer let you
in? How did it happen he didn't dis
cover Mr.. Keatcham instead of you.
or did you come in on the side"
Mrs. Winter. who was In the room,
had a diversion ready, but it was not
needed; the colonel answered unhesi-
tatingly, with a frank smile: mo, we
came in ourselves; young Tracy had q
key"
aoh, he had, had he?" returned
Warnebold, with q shrug Of the shout
ders.
He is "a great friend o. young
Arnold's; they were at Harvard to-
gether. belonged to the same soci-
eties."