The Nevada County picayune., 1909-05-20
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but l am expecting to see him vanish again."
 The sentence affected the colonel unpleasantly: why need she be posing before him. as if that first disappear ance had had any real fright in it? Of course she didn't know yet Gal though Aunt Rebecca might have told her-she ought to have told her and stopped this unnecessary deceit) that he was on to the game; but-he didn't like it. Unconsciously, his inward criticism made his tone drier as he re- piled with little bow that he i'm agined Archie was quite safe, now, and he would ask to be excused, as he had to attend to something before dinner.
 Was it his fancy that her face changed and her eyes looked wistful? It must have been. He walked stiffiy away Hardly had he entered his room and turned his mind on the changed situation before the telephone apprised him that a gentleman, MT Gardiner, who represented the Fire less Cook Stove, said that he had an appointment with Col. Winter to eX plain the stove: should he be sent up?
 Directly. Endcott Tracy entered, smiIing Where's the kid? I know he's back. were his first words: and he explained that he had been hunting the kidnapers to no purpose. Except that 1 learned enough to know they put up job with the justice, all right; I got next to that game without any Machiavellian exertions. But they got away. Who is it? Any of Keatcham' gang?'
 Atkins said the colonel, concisely.
 Tracy whistled and apologized. Its a blow" he confessed. That little wretch. He has brains to burn and not an ounce of conscience. You know he has been housing round at the hotels after Keatcham's mail-'
 He didn't get it?''
 No. Carey had covered that point Cary has thought this all out very carefully. but Atkins has got on to the fact that Cary was here in this hotel with Keatcham. But he doesn't know where we come in: whether Keatcham s gang is just lying low for some game of it's own. or whether we've got him. At least, l don't be- lieye he knows.
 You ought not to he talking so free ly with me; l haven't promised you anything, you know" warned the colo nel.
 But you've got your nephew back all right: we have been on the square with you: why should you butt in? know you won't
 T don't seem to have a fair call to. observed the colonel.
 And I think the old boy is going to give in; he has made signals of dis tress, to my thinking. Wanted his mail; and wanted to write; and in formed Cary-he saw him for the first time to-day-that he had bigger things on deck than the Midland; and wanted to get al them. We're going to win out all right
 Unless Atkins gets at him tonight the colonel suggested You oughtn't to have come here. Gardiner Don't go home. now Wait until later. and let me rig you up in another lot of togs and give you my own motor car. Better.
 Tracy was more than impressed by the proposal; he was plainly grateful. He entered with enthusiasm into the soldiers masqucrade-Tracy had al ways had a weakness for theatricals and some ot his Nasty Pudding Portraits Of Unknown People Ne Know had won him fame at Cambridge. Ten minutes later there sat opposite the colonel a Aoridfaced. musfached, west ern commercial traveller whose plaided tweeds, being an illadyi-ed venture of Ealexs which the colonel had taken of his hands and found no subject of. charity quite obnoxious enough 10 de- serve them. naturally did not fit the pieseat wearer. but suited his inane complacence of bearing and might pass for a b. d case of ready made purchase.
 "NoW said the adviser. "I'll notify Haley to have my own hired motor ready for you and you can slip out and take il after you've had something 10 eat Here's the restaurant card. Haley will be there. Leave it at the drug store on Van Ness street-Haley will give you the number-and get home as unobtrusively as possible. You can peel off these toes in the motor if necessary. You've your own underneath except your coat Wrap that in a newspaper and carry it. don't know that Atkins has any one ell guard al the hotel. hu, 1 think it more than likely he suspects some connection between eur party and Kaa,oham's But first tell me about atkins what do Gou know about him? Its &a American name
 "AHeica can take all the glory of