The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-20

rea'lty Rupert was seeking on,r
 cie"' as little diverted from hts on' pose as bloodhound. He hogan p., uhuerstand the man whose fxaS N Y nose nao his own quality. but shara enea oy wrong and suffering l Tb;' p .nan hao not harmed Archie. as n,not ss ms warped and fevered soul aas.,, .eet softer emotions. he was ,,t.s,s in'entloned toward the lad wha haS carried him away. thenq Or rao ,'e on on his own account, really ,hIs u'iie Or suppose Atk IS. the nisstna secretary discharged al Denver nars 'ns pack for another arpeal to b,s or- .poyer finding Keatcham g,ne bnt ,a, ohe say stumbling on soma traoa ., n,ys'ery Tn his departure: snnnoso nm to consider the chance of bis bav ,ns ms past condoned and a rosy f,,. eure gwen him if his suspicious shon,l prove true and he should releaso tho capuVe-wouldn't such prosnect s,,,, on man who was as cunning as h. was unprincipled? Mightn't he have Wa'ched all possible clews, and micbt. ne nave heard about Archie and plotted to capture the child thinl,ing . ne would be easily pumped? That would presuppose that Atkins know 'nat Archie was at the Arnolds' or ho' ne might only have seen the hov on the street; he knew him by sight. the culonel remembered that several times Archie had been with him in Aeateham car. 1t was worth con. sidering, anyhow. He spoke ont of ms thoughts: Do you think Keatch. am could have told the truth, and that code of his be lost or stolen? Why couldn't Atkins have stolen it? He had the chance, and he isn't hampered oy principle. you say"
 Mercer frowned; IL was p,aln the possibility had it's argument for him He might" he conceded, but I doubt 1t. Why hasn't he done something with 1t? He hasn't. They wouldn't have postponed that meeting if he had wired his proxy and his directions in the code. He'd have voted his em- ployers stock. He's got too much at stake. Ihappen to know he thought 1t a sure tip to sell short, and he has put almost all he has on it. You see, keatcham was banking on that; he knew it. He thought Atkins wouldn't dare give any of his secrets away or go against him in this deal. because they were in the same boat"
 still, reckon I'll have to see Keatcham."
 Mercer shook his head, gently but with decision. T hate to refuse you. colonel, but unless you promise not to Interfere, it is impossible. But I'll 'lad'y go with you to see if we can find any trace of Archie. I'll risk that much. And if you will promise"
 Such a promise would be impos- ble to an officer and a gentleman. !" the colonel urged lightly. smiling Be sides, don't you see I have all the ants have only to call in my men I'd hate to do 1t. but if you force me. von would have no chance resisting"
 We shouldn't resist, colonel no, suh; yeur force is overwhelming. But { would do no good; you couldn't find him"
 We could try; and we may be bet ter sleuthg than you imagine"
 Then it would be the worse for him; for if you find him, you will find him dead"
 There was something so chilling in his level tones that Winter broke out sharply: Are you fooling with me? Have you been such an incredible mad man ss to kill him already?"
 Mercer's faint smile made the colo mel feel boyish and impetuous. "Of course not, suh," he answered. q told you he was alive, myself. I reck- oned you knew when a man Is lying and when he is telling the solemn truth. You know have told you the truth and treated you on the square. But, just the same, if you try to take that man away, you'll only have his dead body. He can't do any more harm then. and dead man can't vote"
 The colonel. who had taken out his cigarette case, opened 1t and medita- lively fingered the rubber band. Do you reckon" he suggested, in his most amiable voice. do you reckon young Arnold and Endicott Tracy will stand for such frills in warfare as assassi- uation?"
 T do not, suh," replied Mercer gravely, and as he spoke he pushed back the heavy tapestry hiding a win dow opposite the coloness head. but they can both prove an alibi. Mir. Ar hold is in Pasadena, and there goes MT. Tracy now in his machine--to try to find Archie. Do you see?"
 The colonel saw, He inclined his head, at the same time proffering his case.
 eI rather think, MT. Mercer, that l was wrong. You have the last trump"
 CHAPTER xl.
 The Charm of Jade.
 "A ..,or ,.. foico Iuro fD dfcfrapt nUT-