The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-07-08

| ucloIc nlill as III t1dl HTSt uisdppehI-
ance had had any real fright in It?
OF course she didn't know yet (al-
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 1t. Unconsciously. his inward
criticism made his tone drier as he re-
piled with a 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 1t his fancy that her face
changed and her eyes looked wistful?
1t must have been. He walked stiffly
away. Hardly had be entered his
room and turned his mind on the
changed situation before the telephone
apprised him that a gentleman. Mr..
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. Endicott Tracy entered,
smiling. 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 learned enough to know they
put up job with the justice, all right;
/ got next to that game without any
Machiavellian exertions. But they got
away. Who is It? Any of Keatcham's
gang?"
Atkins" said the colonel. concisely.
Tracy whistled and apologized. ITS
tlow," 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 mall"
"He didn't get it?"
mo. 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 tits
hotel with Keatcham. But he doesn't
know where we come in; whether
Keatcham's gang is Just lying low for
some game of its own, or whether
we've got him. At least. don't be-
lieve he knows"
You ought not TO be talking so free
ly with me; l haven't promised you
anything. you know" warned the colo
mel.
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"
Il don't seem to have a fair call
to-" observed the colonel.
And | 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 Carlyle saw him for the first
time to-day-that he had bigger things
on deck than the Midland; and wanted
to get at 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
toys 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 masquerade-Tracy had al
ways had a weakness for theatricaIs and
some Of his Hasty Pudding Portraits
OF Unknown People We Know" had
won him fame a. Cambridge. Ten
minutes later, there sat opposite the
colonel fiorid-faced, ,austached, west
ern commercial traveller whose plaiden
tweeds, being an ill-ad Used venture o.
Haley's which the cosonel had taken
of his hands and fouId no subject OF
charity quite obnoxious enough to de-
serve them, naturally lid not At the
present wearer, but suited his inane
complacence of bearing and might pass
for bad case Of ready made purchase.
Now" said the adviser, I'm notify
Haley to have my owa hired motor
'eady for you and you can slip out and
take 1t after you've hac something to
eat. Here's the restaurant card.
Haley will be there Leave 1t at the
drug store on Van Ness street-sHaley
will give you the nun'oer-and get
home as unobtrusiveiy as possible.
You can peel OF these toys in the
motor IL necessary. Yor've your own
underneath except your coat. Wrap
that in a newspaper anc carry 1t.
don't know that Atkins las any one
on guard at the hotel, bit ! think 1t
more than likely he suspects some
connection between our party and
Keatchams But first, tell me about
Atkins: what do you know about him?
It's an American name
America can take all the glory Of
him, l fancy" said Tracy. Hes been
Keatcham's secretary for six years.
He seems awfully mild and usefoi and
timid. He's not bit timid. He's full
of resource; he's sided suggestions
into Keatcham's ear and has been
gradually working to make himself
absolutely necessary. think he aimed
at partnership; but Keatcham
wouldn't stand for IT, think It was In
revenge that he sold out some Of
Keatcham's secrets. Cary got on To
that and has score OF his own to
! settle with him besides. l doRf know