The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-19

"Thank you. That's right kind OF
you. sub Good.hy, sub"
This had been the manner OF their
parting--a -assnredly singular one, at.
er the sinister suspicious and the VIC.
lent promises which the soldier had
made himself in regard to this very
man. After leaving he had motorca
into town. down to the police courts,
70 discover no records Of the arrest
and no trace Of Archie. Thence dis
c0uraged. perplexed and more worried
than he liked to admit. he had re-.
paired TO the hotel His aunt was
gone. Miss Smith was gone and Ram
dali could only relate how Mrs. Winter
had fewed Hike bird, sir. into q big
red motor car and gone a. and then
Miss Smith and lady and gentleman
had got into d white car and gone or
10 the same direction"
He was mediatIng on his next step
when nlrdsall was announced below
The detective looked as warm and as
tired as the colonel had felt an hour
before Rupert was not eager to see
him. but neither was he anxious for
the iete-a.tete with Milllcent which
awaited him in the parlor Between
the two he chose Birdsal.
well" be greeted him. "Nd you find
any trace Of the boy?"
"oi course dld," growled Blrdsall
"They didn't try 10 hide i'm, They
had him lodged IA dandy room with
Bis own bath. OF course. be LETT his
toothbrush. They'd got him some au.
iomobile togs, too, and he'd left some
leggings when he packed, and lettcr
begun on q pad TO Miss Smith Dcar
Miss Janet, Il begins. ] am having
bully time. can steer the machine,
only ! can't back'--thats all Say,
the young dog has been having It fat
while we were in the frying pan, for
fear somebody was bOthering hil'
but he iR not In the house now2"
mo, nor nothing else"
Nobody hidden away7 Where aid
the groans YOU heard come froml"
Querled the colonel. politely
'alrdsall flushed Il do believe that
deceIyer you call Mercer put up
Inc on us out Of meanness--iu Just TO
49, me guessing"
THAT sort Of thing looks moro llie
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 meg"
The colonel shamelessly told tho
truth to deceive, 4 was called here.
I WAS told that Mrs. Winter. my aunt
had seen Archie IN the street.
She was Just getting out Of a ma.
chine as came up. Miss Smith wac
with her and they had their hands
fuli Of candy boxos They were
laughing I made sure tile boy had
been found"
Not 10 my knowledge said the
colonel But IN some excitement ho
walked into the parlor The ladies'
had arrived; they stood in the center
OF the room while Randall took away
the boxes.
Candy for Archie explained Aunt
Rebccca. and these we're the flrst
words 70 reach Rupert Winters ears.
II expect him 10 dinner
Aunt Rebecca." proclaimed Mill.
cent. Il never have btsn one to com
plain, but there are limits TO human
endurance. am modern person. a
civilized Eplseopallan, accustomed TO
a regular and wellordered life. and
for the last few days | seem to have
been living IN a kind Of medieval mys-
terry, with kldnhpers, and blood.
status, and, for anything know. some
body ready 20 stick a knife into any
one OF as any timel You people may
enjoy this sort OF lhing-you seem
to--but don't Aud tell you frankly
that 1 am going to apply to the police,
not to any aTlyate detective inquiry
Office as like as ncr IN league with the
crlmlnals'--thus ungrateflilly did Mrs.
MilIleent. slur the motives Of her only
truly interested anditor-"but real po.
ilcemen. | shall apply"
SHE did not tell whore she SHOULD
apply, the words being snapped ont Of
her mouth by the sharp tinkle Of the
telephone bell
Aunt Rehecca responded TO the call.
"send him up was her answer to the
inaudible qHestloner
She laid down the recsiyer Then
she put It back Then she stood up.
her silver head in the air, her erect
little figure held motionless
Janet Smiths dark eyes sought
hers; her lips parted only 10 close
firmly again.
Even the detective perceived the
electric intensity Of the moment. and
Rupert shut his fists tight with a
qnickened 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 nn--un--un.
eKpected.r she declnimed. rather gro.
ping Tor q climax which escaped her.
Aunt Rebeeca raised her hand.
Would you be 30 very kind. Mill.
cent. said she. 1ns to wait moment
/ an trying to listen"
Like response 70 her words. the
knob Of the door was turned the
door swung. and Archie entered the
room. smiling hls odd little chewedup