The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

life once on the pidlus anu ndJ res eued his whole command another time in the Philippines. While he studied the two faces sentence from the younger man gripped his attention. It was: T don't mind the risk, but I hate taking such an old woman's money"
 "She has a heap" answered the other man carelessly; besides" He added something with averted head and in too low voice to reach the lis tener unassisted. But 1t was convinc- ing evidently. since the young mans face grew both grave and stern. He nodded. muttering: "Oh. I under stand: wasn't backing water; I know we have lost the right to be squeam ish. But I say. old chap, how long since Mrs. Winter has seen you? Would she recognize your
 The colonel. who had been about to abandon his espionage as unbecoming a soldier and a gentleman, slowed away all his scruples at the mention of the name. He pricked up his ears and sharpened his eye, but was careful lest they should catch his glance. The next sentence, owing to the speakers position. was inaudible and invisible; but he clearly caught the young mans response:
 You're sure they'll be on this train?"
 And he saw the interlocutor's head nod
 The boys with them?"
 An inaudible reply, but another nod. And you're sure of Miss Smith?" This time the others profile was to- ward the listener who heard the reply: Plumb sure. I wish 1 were as sure of some other things. Have we settled everything? It is better not to be seen together"
 Yes. I think you've put me wise on the main points. By the way, what is the penalty for Kidnapping" Again an averted head and hiatus, followed by the younger mans spark 1 ling smile and exclamation: Wow! Riskier than football-and even more | fun!" Something further he added, but his arms hid his mouth as he thrust them into his greatcoat, prepar- l ing to move away He went alone; and the other, after moments | gloomy meditation. gathered up coat
 and bag and followed. During that moment of arrested decision. however,
 his features had dropped Into sinister
 lines which the colonel remembered.
 Dangerous customer, or I miss my | guess" unused the soldier, who knew
 the passions of men. q wonder-they
 couldn't mean my Aunt Rebecca?
 She's old; she has millions of money
 but she's not on this train. And there's
 no Miss Smith in our deck I'm so
 used to plotting I go of on fake hikes
 Probably I'm getting old and dotty
 Mercer, poor fellow, may have his
 brain turned and be an anarchist or a
 bomb-thrower or dirty kidnaper for
 revenge; but that boys decent chap;
 I've licked too many second lieuten
 ants into shape not to know something
 of youngsters"
 He pushed the idea away; or, rather
 his own problems pushed 1t out of his
 mind, which went back to his warC
 and his single living brother. Mel
 vile had no children, only his wife'' daughters, who were both married , Melville having married widow witl a family, an estate and a mind of he ; own. Melville was a professor in state university a mild, learned ma l whom nature intended for science bu whom his wife was determined t : make into the president of the un : versity.
 l Even money which will win, . chuckled Rupert Winter to himsel l. "Millicent hasn't much tact; but sh , has the perseverance of the saints 5 She married Mel; he doesn't know , but she surely did. And she bosse him now. We'll, I suppose Mel like to be bossed; he never had any strenl Q ous opinions except about the canal , of Mars-Valgams dios!" t With a gasp the colonel sprang l his feet. There before him, in tn
 flesh. was his sister-in-law. Her stat' - ly figure, her Roman profile. her grace - fully gesticuiating hand. which ind 1 cated the colonels position to he { heavily laden attendant, lad in blu . 1 --these he knew by heart just as b