The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-05-13

Well" he greeted him, did you find
any trace of the boy?"
"Of course / did," growled Birdsall.
They didn't try to hide i'm. They
had him lodged in a dandy room with
his own bath. OF course, he left his
toothbrush. They'd got him some au-
tomobile toys, too, and he'd left some
leggings when he packed. and letter
begun on pad to Miss Smith-'Dear
Miss Janet it begins, I am having
a bully time. | can steer the machine,
only | can't back'-that's all. Say,
the young dog has been having it fat
while we were in the frying pan, for
fear somebody was bothering him"
But he is not in the house now?'
mo. nor nothing else"
Nobody hidden away? Where did
the groans you heard come FROM"
queried the colonel politely.
Birdsall flushed. Il do believe that
slick deceiver you call Mercer put up
game on us out of meanness-just to
get me guessing"
That sort of thing looks more like
the college boys"
Say, it might have been. This
thing is giving me nervous prostration.
Say, why didn't you see the thing out
with me?"
The colonel shamelessly told the
truth to deceive. Il was called here.
was told that Mrs. Winter my aunt,
had seen Archie in the street"
"Sho Wac ipcf oottipU ont Of a mo-
chine as | came up. Miss Smith was
with her, and they had their hands
full of candy boxes. They were
laughing. | made sure the boy had
been found
Not to my knowledge" said the
colonel. But in some excitement he
walked into the paflor. The ladies
had arrived; they stood in the center
of the room while Randall took away
the boxes.
Candy for Archie" explained Aunt
Rebecca, and these were the first
words to reach Rupert Winters ears.
Il expect him to dinner"
Aunt Rebecca," proclaimed Mill
cent, Il never have been one to COM
endurance. | am modern person.
civilized Episcopalian. accustomed to
regular and well-ordered life, and
for the last few days | seem to have
bsen living in a kind of medieval mys-
terry, with kidnapers, and blood
stains, and. for anything | know, some
body ready to stick a knife into any
Of.
| enjoy this sort of thing-you seem
to-but don't And | tell you frankly
that | am going to apply to the police,
not TO any private detective inquiry
office, as like as not In league with the
criminals ungratefully did Mrs.
Millicent slur the motives of her only
truly interested auditor-"but real po-
licemen. | shall apply"
She did not tell where she should
apply, the words being snapped out of
her mosth by the sharp tinkle of the
telephone bell
Aunt Rebecca responded to the call.
Send him up" was her answer to the
inaudible questioner.
She laid down the receiver Then
she put it back. Then she stood up,
her silver head in the air, her erect
little figure held motiorless.
Janet Smiths dark eyes sought
hers; her lips parted only to close
firmly again.
Even the detective perceived the
electric intensity of the moment, and
Rupert shut his fists tight, with
/ quickened beating of the heart; but
emotional vibrations did not disturb
Mrs Melville Winters poise. She
continued her plant.
This present situation Is unbear-
able, unprecedented and un-un-un-
expected" she acclaimed, rather gro
ping for climax which escaped her.
Aunt Rebeeca raised her hand.
Would you be so very kind, Mill
cent" said she. las to wait moment?
am trying to listen
Like a response to her words, the
| knob of the door was turned. the
door swung, and Archie entered the
room, smiling his odd little chewedup
smile.
Janet uttered a faint cry and took
single step, but, as II recognizing a
superior right, hung back while the
boy put his arm about his great-aunt's
waist and rather bashfully kissed her
cheek.
She received the salute with entire
composure, except for tiny splash of
red which crept up to each cheek
bone. rs II really you, Archie?" said
she You are a little late for dinner
day before yesterday. but quite in time
| FOR to-day. Sit down and tell us
where you have BEEN
Quite SOL" exclaimed Mrs. Mill
cent. Good heavens Do you know
how we have suffered? Where have
you been? Why did you run away?"
But Archie, who had surrendered