Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-30

cab and the OulCer curly mloFmeu
Archie that Gardiner (Tracy's travel
ing name) had been taken to another
court and he was to follow. He didn't
suspect anything beyond collision
with the speed regulations of the city,
but had he seen chance to dive under
his escorts arm the boy would have
taken 1t. Such chance was not af-
forded him, and all he was able to do
was to lean out suddenly as they
passed the Palace and to wave at Ran
dali. ~ wanted them to stop and let
me get some one to pay my fine said
Archie. "but they said was only a
witness. They wouldn't let me stop;
thew r,vl down the curtain-at least
so far as it would run. 1t was like
all those hack curtains, you know-all
out of order"
archie" the colonel INTERCEPTED
here, was one of the men little fel-
low. clean shaver, with round black
head. blue eyes-one of his eyes winks
little faster than the other?"
yes, sir. How did you know"
81 didn't know: guessed. Well, get
on: they wanted to pump you when
they got you safely out of sight?"
Yes" Archie said, they put me
into the Teat-box, all right
did you tell them anything?" asked
Mrs Winter.
Archie looked at her reproachfully
Did she think that he had gone tc
boarding school for nothing? He ex
planned that, being a stranger in the
town. he could not Tell anything about
where he'd been. There was an agent at
the house trying to sell stoves, and they
let him take him OF back to the hotel
The man seemed to know all about
who he (Archie) was. and about his
having gone away The men asked
him an awful lot of questions about
how he was taken away. He said he
didn't know, and he'd promised not tc
tell. He couldn't tell. They said he
would have to go to Jail If he didn't
tell, because the men who had him
were such bad men. But he didn't
tell
Did they try to brighten you-tc
make you tell?" said Mrs. Winter.
ooh, they bluffed little" returned
Archie, carelessly. yet the keen eyes
on him-eyes both worldly-wise and
shrewd-noted that the lads color
shifted and he WINGED the least in the
world over some remembrance.
But they didn't hurt you? They
didn't burn you or cut you or twist
your arms, or try any other of theil
playful ways?" Mrs. Winter demanded;
and Janet began feeling the boys
arms, breathing more quickly The
colonel only looked.
mo, they didn't do thing. knew
they wouldn't, too" Archie assured
her, earnestly. Il told them if they
did anything Uncle Rupert and you
would make them pay"
And you weren't frightened, away
from every one-in that hideous quar-
ter?" cried Miss Smith. "Oh, my
dear!" She choked.
well, maybe l was little scared
l kept thinking Of a rotten yarn OF
Kipling's; something happened to him
down in the underground quarter, in
just such hot, nasty-smelling hole
l guess. as was in; you remember
Miss Janet, about the game of cards
and the Mexican stabbing a Chink 70,
cheating. and how Kipling jumped ur
and ran for his life, never looking
around; and don't you remember thai
nasty bit, how he felt sure they had
dealt with the greaser their own way
and he'd never get up to the light
again"
1--WE been remembering that story
all this afternoon" answered Miss
with a shudder.
Agreeable little tale,' said Aunt
Rebecca, dryly. archie, you must
have had right nasty quarter of ar
Smith with a shudder.
why, a Chink came and called tn
little man off; and there was r.
'o1 I couldn't 10
cop was swearing; think they didn't
like It, But, in q minute the China
man-he was an awful nice little Teller
he came up to me and took me out
led me all sorts of wayss not bit
like the way l came in, and got me out
to the street. The other fellows were
very polite; they told me that they
were my friends and only wanted to
find clew to my kidnapers; and the
burning holes in me was only joke
to give me an excuse to break my
word under ompulsion-why, they
wouldn't hurt me for the world! I pre-
tended to be fooled, and said it was
all right, and looked pleasant; but
I'd like to scare them the same way
once, all the same"
The boy caught at his lip which was
trembling, and ended with shaky
laugh. Miss Smith clenched the fist
by her side; but she dropped the arm
near Archie, and said in a matter-of
fact, sprightly tone: "Archie, you
really ought to go dress-and wash
for dinner; excuse me for mentioning
it, but you have no idea how grimy
you are"
The commonplace turn of thought
did its errand. Archie, who had been
bracing himself anew against the hor
ror which he remembered, dropped
back into his familiar habits and
jumped up consciously. Its the dust
motoring" he offered, bashfully. q
ought to have washed before l came
up. Well, that's all; we came straight
here. Now, may go take bath?"