Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-02-03

NOulo oOJs CihhCl - VI A'AiANNNSt - ~~-~--
boy has kept an eye on the Keatcham
doors and the next room ever since |
found Archie was gone. No one has
gone out with our seeing him. II any
suspicious person goes out, we have it
arranged to detain him long enough
for me to get good look. can tell
you exactly who left the room"
1T is you who are the wonder, Ber'
tie," Said Aunt Rebecca, little weart-
ly, but smiling. who has gone out?"
AT seven Mr.. Keatcham's secretary
went down to the Office and ordered
dinner. very carefully. didn't see
him, but my sleuth did. He had the
secretary and the valet of the Keatch-
am party pointed out to him; he saw
them. They had one visitor, young
Arnold, the Arnold's SON"
"The one who has all the orange
groves and railways? Yes, knew his
father"
THAT one; he only came a few mo-
ments since. Mr.. Keatcham and his
secretary dined together, and Keatch-
ANS own man waited on them; but
the waiter for this floor brought up the
dishes. At nine the dishes were
brought out and my man helped
Keatcham's valet to pile them little
farther down the corridor in the hal"
These items the colonel was reading
out of his little red book.
You have put all that down. Do
you think it means anything?"
Il have put everything down. One
can't weed until there is crop of in
formation, you know"
True" murmuyed Aunt Rebecca,
, nodding her head, thoughtfully. We'll,
did anything else happen?"
THE secretary posted lot of let
ters in the shute. They are all smo-
king now. Yes" he was on his feet
and at the door in almost a single mo-
tion. There had been just the slight
est tattoo on the panel When the
door was opened the colonel could
hear the rattle of the elevator He
was too late to catch it, but he could
see the inmates. Three gentlemen
stood in the car. One was Keatcham,
the other two had their backs to Win
ter. One seemed to be supporting
Keatcham, who looked pale. He saw
the colonel and darted at him single
glance in which was something like
poignant appeal; what, it was too brief
for the receiver to decide, for in the
space of an eye blink shoulder of the
other man interviewed, and simultane-
ously the elevator car began to sink.
There was need to decide instantly
who should follow, who stay on guard.
Rupert bade the boy go down by the
stairs, while, with kind of bulldog
instinct, he clung to the rooms. The
lad was to fetch the manager and the
keys of the Keatcham suite.
Meanwhile Rupert paced back and
forth before the closed doors, whence
there penetrated the rustic of packing
! and a murmur of voices. Presently
Keatchams valet opened the farther
door. He spoke to some one inside.
"Yes, sir" he said "the porter
hought to be ere now"
The porter was there; at least he
was coming down the corridor which
led to the elevator, trundling his truck
before him. He entered the rooms
and busted himself about the luggage.
Doggedly the colonel stuck to his
guard until the valet and another man,
a clean-shaven, fresh-faced young man
whom the watcher had never seen be-
fore came out of the room. The valet
| superintended the taking of two
trunks, accepting tickets and checks
| from the porter with a thoroughly
! Anglican suspicion and thoroughness
of inspection, while the young man
stood tapping his immaculate. trousers
leg with the stick of his admirably
slender umbrella.
Its all right, Colvin," he broke in.
| impatiently; three tickets to Los An
geles, drawing room, one lower berth,
one section, checks for two trunks;
come on!
Very methodically the man called
| Colvin slowed away his green and red
slips. first in an envelope, then in his
pocket-book, finally buttoning an in
! side pocket over all. He was the image
Of rather stupid, conscientious Eng
lish serving creature. Carefully he
counted out liberal, but not lavish tip
for the porter, and watched that func.
tionary depart Last Of all, he locked
the door.
With extreme courtesy of manner
Winter approached the young man.
Pardon me- said he. Il am Col.
Winter; my aunt, Mrs. Winter, has
the rooms near yours, and she finds
that she needs another room or two.
Are you leaving yours?"
"These are Mr.. Keatcham's rooms.
not mine,9 the young man responded.
politely. He is leaving them"
when you give up your keys, would
you mind asking the clerk to send
them up to me?1 pursued the colonel.
Room S27.'s
Certainly" replied the young man,
"or would you like to look at them q
moment now?"
| ~Why-if it wouldn't detain you"
hesitated Winter; he was hardly pre-
pared fer the offer OF admittance.
Get the elevator and hold It min
ute, Cclvin," said the young man, ant