The Mena weekly star., 1909-06-10

lnVn h tuu Wht bU Out Into the yard with me will show you where charming porgola ends in vine. wreathed sun.dial of stone that you may tug at and not move; but press your foot on certain stone the whole dial swings round on a concealed turn. table such as they have in garages, | you know. You will have no difficulty in finding the right stone, because an inscription runs round the dial: Mas vale tarde que nunca;' and the stoae Is directly opposite 'nunca' When you have moved away your dial you will see a gently inclining tunnel high enough for a man to walk fin without stooping. wide enough for two, and much better ventilated than the New York subway. That tunnel leads to secret door opening directly into the cellar, SO skillfully contrived that 1t looks like an air-shaft This door is only a few feet from the shaft to the patio. We have found bolt and put 1t on this entrance, but there wasn't any before: nor did any one in the house know of the secret passage" The colonel went on to say that on questioning the architect he ayerred that he had never mentioned the secret passage to his knowledge-ex- | cept that very recently, only few | days before, at dinner, he had barely alluded to 1t: and one of the gentle. men present, an customer, had asked him where he got man to make such a contrivance-it must take skill He had mentioned the name of the work man. The colonel had hunted up the artisan mentioned, only to find that he had left town to take job some where; no one seemed to know where. Of course he had inquired of every body. The name of the customer was 1 Atkins.
 | Atkins" cried Warnebold, at this turn of the narrative, "Keatcham's ! secretary? Why, he's the boldest and | slyest scoundrel fin the United States He started leak in Keatcham's office that made him couple of hundred thousands and lost us million and might have lost us more if Mercer hadn't got on to him. Keatcham wouldn't believe he had been done to the extent he was at first-you know the old man hates to own to any ones getting the better of him; it's the one streak of vanity I've ever been able to discover in him. Otherwise, he's cold and keen as razor on frosty morn ing. He was convinced enough, how ever, to discharge Atkins; the next news had, he was trying to send him to the pen. Gave us instructions how to get the evidence. No allusion to his past confidence in the fellow. simply the orders-as if we knew all the preliminaries. Wonderful man, Mir. Keatcham, Col. Winter"
 Very" agreed the colonel. dryly.
 By this time the warrior and the man of finance were on easy terms. Warnebold remained three days. Be fore he left the patient had been pro nounced out of danger and had re yived enough to give some succinct business directions. Mercer had been sent to look out for the cement deal; and Keatcham appeared a little re lieved and brighter when he was told that Mercer was on his way.
 "He will put 1t through if 1t can be put" he said said weakly to Warne bold Ines moderately smart and per fectly honest" Such words, Warne bold explained later to Mrs. Winter coming from Keatcham. might he re l oIx mendation. Your cousins fortune Is made" he pronounced. solemnly; ''he can get Atkins place. make no doubt"
 Mrs. Winter thought that Mercer was very valuable man.
 Only always so melancholy; I've been afraid he had something serious the matter with his digestion It's these abominable quick lunches that are running the health of all our steady young men. don't know but they are almost as bad as chorus girls and late suppers. We'll. Mrs. Winter. i'm afraid we shall not have another chance at bridge until I see you in New York. But, anyhow, we stung the colonel once-and with Miss Smith playing her greatest game, too. Pity she can't induce Mir. Keatcham to play: but he never touches a card hardly ever takes anything to drink doesn't like smoking especially, takes cigarette once in while only never plays the races or bets on the run of the vessel--positively such icy virtue gives an ordinary sinner the cramps. Very great man, though, Mrs. Winter and a man we are all proud to follow ; he may be overbearing; and he doesn't praise you too much. but somehow you always have the consciousness that he sees every bit of good work you do and is marking it up in your favor; and you won't be the loser. There Is no question he has hold on his associates; but he certainly is not what call genial man.
 Only on the day of his departure did Warnebold, in young Arnoids Ian guage. loosen up" enough to tell Arnold and the colonel vital incident The night of the attack telegram was sent to Warneboid in Keatcham's confidential cipher, directing the cam paign against Tracy to be pushed hard, ordering the duriping Of some big blocks of stock on the market and arranging for their dummy purchasers The naming of Atkins as the man in charge was plausible enough, presum ing there had been no knowledge of the break in his relations with Keatch am. The message was couched in Keatchams characteristic crisp phrase