The Tupelo journal., 1909-05-07

PLEASED, l am sure" said the colo
mel in turn, bowling. "Your father, l
suppose, is the president of the Mid
land; and Mr.. Keatcham will, | sup
pose, not be able to prevent his re-
election tomorrow. Is that the game?'
Mr.. Tracy's son admitted that it
might be.
"Ah, very clever said the colonel,
very. Any side-show, for example,
Il did not go into this for money
| MERGERS level gaze did not relax, and
he kept his dreary eyes unfiinchingly
on Winters. A peculiar look in the
| eyes recalled some tragic and alien
memory, just what, Rupert could not
capture; it fitted hazily through his
thoughts ere the next words drove it
off. Nevertheless, it is true that if
we win out / shall have enough to pay
back to all the people who trusted me
the money they lost when they were
frightened into selling their stock in
the Tidewater, and your aunt and Mr..
| Tracy stand to make money"
How do you expect to make it?'
"The M. & s. stock is away down
because of rumors Keatcham is likely
to control it. When it is settled it is
not to be looted by him, the stock will
rise-we are sure of the ten points;
We may make 20"
And my aunt has financed your
scheme, has she?-paid all your ex-
penses?"
The Harvard man laughed out. "Our
expenses? Oh, yes, she has grub
staked us, all right; but she has done
a good deal more-she has furnished
more than half a million to us for our
gamble"
The colonel considered; then: "But
why did you keep him here so long be-
forehand?" said he.
1T was not long beforehand" said
Mercer. THE meeting was adjourned
for a day-we don't know why-we
fancy that his partners suspect some
| thing. 1t is called for tomorrow, in
spite of their efforts to have it put off
a week. But we want more; we want
to induce Keatcham to vote his own
stock for us, and to call off his dogs
himself.
And you can't force him to do it,"
1--WE shall force him, easily enough"
returned Mercer, but we don't trust
him. We want his private cookbook
to be sure he is playing fair. In fact,
We have to have it, because nothing
gets any attention that isn't, SO to
speak, properly introduced"
And he will not give it to your"
Says he has lost it,"
Perhaps he has" unused the soldier.
But now, all this is not my concern,
except that ] have no right, as a sol
der, even passively to aid in breaking
the laws. It is my duty to rescue and
free Mr.. Keatcham.'
Before he could speak further Mer-
Ger lifted a hand in apologize inter
ruption. Would Col. Winter excuse
him, but he must ask Mr.. Tracy to go
back to the patio and have an eye on
the detective. Endicott only ex-
changed a single glance before he
obeyed. MERGERS eyes followed him.
1T was not to be helped" he said,
half to himself, "but / have been sorry
more than once that / had to take
him into this"
Winter looked at him, more puz-
zled than he wanted to admit to him.
self; indeed, he was rather glad to
have the next word come from Mercer.
Il have a few things / want to say
to you; they 60 easier when we are
alone-but won't you sit down." When
the colonel had seated himself he went
on: I'D like to explain things a bit"
I'd like to have you" answered the
soldier. Il think you have the clew to
Archie's whereabouts and don't recog-
nize 1t yourself; SO put me wise, as
the slang goes"
Then, without preface, in brief, ner-
vous sentences. spoken hardly with q