The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1909-03-26

some explanation; Rupert Winter had
lived'too long not to distrust the plaus.
ible surface clew. 1T Is the improba-
BILE that always happens, and the i'm
possible most of the time," Aunt Re-
becca had once said. He quite agreed
with her whimsical phrase.
Nothing happened to arouse his sus.
picions that day. Haley reported that
Cary Mercer was going on to San
| Francisco The conductor did not
know his name; he seemed to know
Mr.. Keatcham and was with him in
his drawing-room most of the time.
| Had the great man secretary with
him? Yes, he seemed to have, little
fellow who had not much to say for
himself, and jumped whenever his
boss spoke to him. There was also
valet, an Englshman, who did not re-
spond properly to conversational over
lures. They were all going to get of
at Denver
| Haley was not misinformed, as the
colonel perceived with his own eyes
and he saw Cary Mercer bow in part
ing to the great man, who requited the
low salute with gruff nod. Here was
an opportunity for nearer glimpse OF
Mercer possibly for that explanation
| in which Winter still had lurking
hope He caught Mercer just in the
car doorway, and politely greeted him:
MIR. Mercer, / think? You may not
remember me, Col Winter. met you
in Cambridge, three years ago
1t seemed brutal thing to do, to re.
call a meeting under such circum-
stances; but If Mercer could give the
explanation he would excuse him; 1t
was better than suspecting an limo
cent man. But there was no oppor-
tunity for explanation. Mercer turned
blank and coldly suspicious face to-
ward him. Il beg pardon" he said in
his southern way, II think you have
made a mistake in the person"
"And are you not Mr.. Cary Mercer?"
The colonel felt the disagreeable re-
sembIance of his own speeches to
those made in newspaper stories by
the gentleman who wishes his old
friend to change a $50 bill or to en-
gage in an amusing game with thin
ble Mercer saw it as well as he.
TRY some one from the country" he
remarked with an unpleasant smile,
brushing past, while the color mounted
to the colonel's tanned cheek. THE
next time you meet me-" Rupert Win.
| tor uouod Fvo,,'ll EpOw mo
A new porter had come on at Den.
yer; light brown, chubby, bald man
with face that radiated friendliness.
He was filled with the desire for con.
versation, and he had worked on the
1 road for eight years, hence could sup
plement "Over the Range" and the 9TH
er guide books with personal gossip. He
| showed marked Difference to the col
onel, which that unassuming and di
rect man could not quite fathom, until
| Archie enlightened him. Archie
smiled a queer, chewed-up smile which
the colonel hailed with:
"Why are you making fun of me.
young MANI"
Its Lewis, the porter; he follows
you round and listens to you in such
an awestruck way"
But why?"
why, Sergt Haley told him about
you; and told him little, and he
says he wishes you'd been on the train
when they had the hold-ups. This is
an awful road for hold-ups, he says.
He's been at five hold-ups."
"And what does he adviser"
ooh, he says, hold up your hands
and they won't hurt you"
"Well, l reckon his advice is
| sound laughed the colonel. See
| you follow it, Archie
Shall you hold up your hands,
| Uncle Bertie?" asked Archie.
Much the wisest course; these fel,
! lows shoot"
(TO BE CONTINUED)