The Mena weekly star., 1909-04-15
CHAPTER V. Blind CteWS.

Blind ClcWS.
 But this is preposterous," cried Mrs. Melville, you must have seen him had he come out of the room; you were directly in front of the doors all the time"
 q was," admitted the colonel; "can
 can the boy be hiding to scare us?' He spoke to Miss Smith. She had grown pale; he did not know that his own color had turned. Millicent stared from one to the other. How ridiculous!" she exclaimed; "of course not; but he must be some where; let me look! Look as they might through all the staring empty rooms, there was no vestige of the boy. He was as clean vanished as if he had fallen out of the closed and locked windows. The colonel examined them all; had there been one open, he would have peered outside, frightened as he had never been when death was at his elbow But 1t certainly wasn't possible to jump through window, and not only shut, but lock 1t after one.
 Under every bed. in every closet, he provided; he was searching still when Mrs. Winter returned. By this time Mrs. Melville was agitated and, natur- ally, irritated as well. q think it is unpardonable in Archie to sneak out in this fashion" she complained.
 q suppose the boy wanted to see the town a bit," observed Aunt Re becca, placidly. Rupert, come in and sit down; he will be back in mo- ment; smoke cigar. if your nerves need calming"
 Rupert felt as if he were a boy of ten, called back to common sense out of imaginary horrors of the dark. But, if he wanted to go out, why did he leave his hat and coat behind him?r asked Miss Smith.
 "He may be only exploring the hotel" said Mrs. Winter. Don't be so restless, Bertie; sit down" The colonels eye was furtively pho tographing every article of furniture | in the room; 1t fingered longest on | Mrs. Winters wardrobe trunk, which was standing In her room. Randall had been dispatched for hot-water | bottle in lieu of one which had sprung | leak on the train; so the trunk stood, It's door ajar.
 Maybe he is doing the Genevra stunt there-is that what you are thinking?" she jeered. Well go and look"
 Light as her tone was she was not unaffected by the contagion of anx- iety about her; after a moment, while Rupert was looking at the wardrobe trunk, and even profanely exploring the swathed gowns held in rigid safety by bands of rubber, she moved about the rooms herself.
 There isn't room for mouse in that box" growled the colonel.
 "Of course not" said his aunt, languidly, sinking into the easiest chair; but your mind Is easier. Archie will come back for dinner; don't worry"
 How could he get by mel" retorted the colonel.
 Perhaps he went into the neigh boring rooms" Miss Smith suggested. Shall go out and rap on the door of the next room on the left?" On the right the last room of the party was a corner room.
 "Why. you might" acquiesced Aunt Rebecca; but Mrs. Melville cut the ends of her words.
 Pray let me go. Aunt Rebecca." she begged, suiting the action to the words. and was out of the door almost ahead of her sentence.
 The others waited; they were si- lent; little fecks of color raddled Mrs. Winters checks. They could hear Millicent's knock reverberating. There was no answer. Telephone to the adjacent room" proposed the colonel.
 "ru telephone" said Mrs Winter, and rang up the number of the next room. There was no response; but when she called the number of the room adjoining, she seemed to get an answer, for she announced her name Have you seen young lad?" she con tinued, after an apology for disturbing them. He belongs to our party. has he by chance got into your room? and Is he there?" In a second she put down the receiver with heightened color saying: They might be a lit- tie civiler fin their answers, if 1t is MT. Keatcham's suite."
 What did the beggar say?" brlstlei the colonel
 "Only that it was MT. Keatcham's suite-Mr. E. s. Keatcham-as if that put getting into 1t quite cut of the question Some underling, presume.
 There is the unoccupied room be- tween. That is not accounted for. But 1t shall be l will find cut who Is in there.9 Rupert rose as he spoke, pricked by the craving for action of a man accustomed to quick decision. He heard his aunt brusquely repelling Millicent's proposal of the police, as be left the room. Indeed, she called him back to exact promise that he would not make Archies disappear ance public. We want to find him. was her grim addendum "and we cant have the police and the news papers hindering us"
 In the office he found external courtesy and rather perfunctory sympathy, based on suppressed, but perfectly visible conviction that the boy had stolen out for a glimpse of the