The Tupelo journal., 1909-06-25
CHAPTER xVi.-Continued.


81 see," said the colonel; ITO make
sure they don't foozle the bomb. But
he'll have his alibi ready all right.
Mr.. Keatchem, did they send you a
previous letter"
ooh, lear no; that's only part of the
game; makes a better story. So is
using the hotel paper; if it throws
suspicion on anybody it would be your
party: you see Atkins knew Mercer
had a grudge against me as well as
him. He was counting on that.
rather wonder that he didn't fix up
some proof for you to find"
by Jove!" cried the colonel; may
be he did"
"And you didn't find it,"
"Well you see | was too busy with
you; the others must have overlooked
1t. Hard on Atkins after he took sc
much trouble, wasn't it?"
81 told you he was too subtle. But
1t is not wise to underrate him, or
bombs either; we must get the women
and those boys out of the house."
But how? You are not really &C
quainted with my aunt, Mrs. Rebecca
Winter, l take it"
"You think she wouldn't go if there
was any chance of danger"
you couldn't fire her unless out of
a cannon; but she would help get
Archie away; Mrs. Melville and Miss
Smith"
'TWell-ur-Miss Smith, | am afraid,
will not be easy to manage; you see,
she Knows
Knows? Did you tell herr" asked
Col. Winter anxiously.
well, not exactly. AS the children
say, 1t told itself. There has been a
kind of an attempt, already. A box
came, marked from a man l know in
New York, properly labeled with ex.
press company's labels. Miss Smith
opened it; l could see her, because
she was in the bathroom with the
door open. There was another box
inside, wrapped in white tissue paper
Very neatly. She examined that box
with singular care and then she drew
some water in the lavatory basin, hall
opened the box and put the whole
thing under water in the basin. Then
I thought it was time for me and
asked her if it was a bomb. Do you
know that girl had enough not
to try to deceive me? She saw that
l had seer every move she had made
She said merely that it was safe un
der water. 1t was ar ingenious little
affair which had an electrical arrange
ment for touching off a spark when
the lid of the box would be lifted"
"Ah, yes. Thoughtful little plan tc
amuse an invalid by letting him open
the box, himself, to see the nice sur
prises from New York. Very neat, in
deed. What did you do with the box?'
Nothing, so far. 1t only came
about an hour ago."
do you reckon some of the Black
Hands are out on the street, rubber
ing to see if there are any signs o.
anything doing?"
Perhaps; you might let Birdsal
keep a watch for anything like that
But they hear, somehow; there is
leak somewhere in our establishment
1t is not your aunt; she can hold hel
tongue as well as use it; the boy, Ar
chic, does not know anything tt
tell"
He wouldn't tell it If he did" in
terrupted the colonel; and very con
cisely but with evident pride he gave
Arches experience in the Chimes
quarter.
Keatcham's comment took the listen
er's breath away; SO far afield was !
and so unlike his experience of thu
man; it was: Winter, a son like tina.
would be a good deal of a comfort
wouldn't he?"
Poor little chap!" said Winter
HE hasn't any father to be proud O
him-father and mother both dead"
Keatcham eyed Winter thoughtfully
a moment, then he said: you've
been married and lost children, YOU
aunt says. That must be hard. But
did you ever read that poem Of Jane.
Whitcomb Riley's to his friend whose
child was dead? It's true what he say