The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-27

and he rammed his cigar stump into Ralph's arm so that Ralph had blood pflsonlng and narrow squeak for his Gfe. You sec that I'm not prepos 'sessed in the fellows favor. He's got too vivid an imagination for mol"
 Seems to have" acquiesced the colonel
 T think. you know"--Tracy made an effort to be iust--"I think Atkins was rather soured. Some of the fellows made fun of the 'Ague Dusters;' he had a notion that tho reason it was such up hill work for him in the school was his fathers trade. No doubt he Gid get nasty Ticks at first: and he's revengful. He hasn't got on in society outside, either--this he lays to his not being university man. You see his father lost some of his money and put him to work instead of in college. He was willing enough at the time-I think he wanted to get married-but afterward, when he was getting good salary and piling up money on his tips, he began to think that he had lost more than he had bargained for. Al. together, he's soured. Now. what he wants is to make laundering biz strike and to pull out of Wall street buy what he calls a seat on tn, James and set up for southern gen tleman. He's trying to marry south ern girl, they say, who is kin to the Carters and the Byrds and the Lees and the Carys-why, you know her, she's Mrs. Winters secretary"
 "Does-does she care for him?" The colonel suddenly felt his mouth parched; he was savagely conscious of his mounting color. What a fiendish trick of fatel he had never dreamed of this! Well, whether she cared for him or not, the man was a brute: he shouldn't get her. That was one cer- tainty in the colonel's mind.
 Why, Cary vows she doesn't, that it was only a girlish bit of nonsense up in Virginia, that time he was pros pecting. you know. But I don't feel so safe. She's too nice for such a cur. But you know what women are; the incest of them seem to be awfully queer about men. There's no betting on them"
 I'm afraid not" remarked the colo nel, lightly. But he put his fingers in- side his collar and loosened it, as if he felt choked.
 Because he had dozen questions Quarreling for precedence in his head, he asked not one. He only inquired regarding the situation; discovering that both Mercer and Tracy were equally in the dark with himself as to Atkins plans, Atkins store of infor- nation, Atkins resources. How he could have waylaid Tracy and the boy without knowing whence they came was puzzling; it was quite as puzzling. however. assuming that he did know their whereabouts, to decide why he was so keen to interrogate the boy. In fact, it was, as Tracy said, too much like Prof. Santa Anna's description of GerTa1s definition of metaphysics, "A blind man hunting in dark room for black cat that isn't there'"
 Tn any event. you would better keep away from me-" was the colonels sum- ming up of the situation; 'I don't want to be inhospitable, but the sooner you are off, and out of the hotel, the safer for your speculation"
 Friends will please accept the in- timation," said Tracy. good d-humoredly. Very we'll, it's 23 for me I'm hoping you'll see your way clear to run over as soon as the old man has surren- dered: I'm going to invite him to make us proper visit, then. and see the country. I'm always for letting the conquered keep their side-arms"
 He went away smiling his flashing smile, and turned 1t up at the hotel as walked out. the colonel made no sign of recognition from the window whence he observed him. Instead, he drew back quickly, frowning; 1t might be a mere accident that only hands breadth of space from the young Harvard man was dapper little shape in evening clothes, man still young, with round black head; if SO 1t was an accident not to the colo nels liking.
 Damn youl" whispered Rupert Winter very softly. What is your lit tie gamer"
 At once he descended, having tele- phoned Haley to meet him at the court. When he entered and sent his glance rapidly among the little tables, by this time filled with diners. he ex- perieneea disagreeable surprise. It did not come from the sight of Sergt Haley in his Sunday civilian clothes stolidly reading the Call. it came from vision of Atkins standing lowing animatedIy talking with Janet Smith.
 Instead of approaching Haley. Win ter fell back and scribbled few words on a page of his notebook. while safely shielded by a great palm. The note he dispatched to Haley, who promptly joined him. While they stood, talking on apparently indiffer- ent subjects, Miss Smith passed them. Whether because he was become sus- picious or because she had come upon him suddenly, she colored slightly. But she smiled as she saluted him and spoke in her usual tranquil tone. You are going to dine with us, aren't you. colonel?a said she. T think dinner is just about to be served"
 The colonel would be with them di- rectly.
 Haleys eyes followed her; he had returned her nod and inquiry for his wife and little Nora with military salute and the assurance that they