Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-01-13

train?"
And he saw the interlocutor's head
nod.
THE boys with them?"
An inaudible reply, but another nod.
"And you're sure of Miss Smith,"
This time the others profile was to-
ward the listener who heard the reply:
Plumb sure. / wish | were as sure
of some other things. Have we settled
everything? 1t is better not to be seen
together"
Yes, think you've put me wise on
the main points. By the way, what is
the penalty for kidnaping?"
Again an averted head and hiatus,
followed by the younger mans spark
ling smile and exclamation: Wow!
Riskier than football-and even more
fun!" Something further he added,
but his arms hid his mouth as he
thrust them into his greatcoat, prepar-
ing to move away. He went alone;
and the other, after a moments
gloomy meditation, gathered up coat
and bag and followed During that
moment of arrested decision, however,
his features had dropped into sinister
lines which the colonel remembered.
Dangerous customer, or miss my
guess" unused the soldier, who knew
the passions of men. Il Wonderfully
couldn't mean my Aunt Rebecca?
She's old; she has millions of money
but she's not on this train. And there's
no Miss Smith in our deck. I'm so
used to plotting go off on fake hikes!
Probably I'm getting old and dotty
Mercer, poor fellow, may have his
brain turned and be an anarchist or a
bomb-thrower or dirty kidnaper for
revenge; but that boys decent chap;
I've licked too many second lieuten-
ants into shape not to know something
Of youngsters"
He pushed the idea away; or, rather,
his own problems pushed 1t out of his
mind, which went back to his ward
and his single living brother Mel
vile had no children, only his wife's
daughters, who were both married.
Melville having married widow with
a family, an estate and a mind OF her
own. Melville was a professor in a
state university, mild, learned man
whom nature intended for science but
whom his wife was determined to
make into the president of the uni
versity.
Even money which will win,"
chuckled Rupert Winter to himself.
'Millicent hasn't much tact; but she
has the perseverance of the saints
She married Mel; he doesn't know,
but she surely did. And she bosses
him now. Well, suppose Mel likes
to be bossed; be never had any strenu-
GUS opinions except about the canals
Of Nars-Valgame dios!"
With a gasp the colonel sprang to
his feet There before him, in the
flesh, was his sister-in-law. Her state
ly figure, her Roman profile, her grace
fully gesticulating hand, which indi-
Gated the coloners position to her
heavily laden attendant, lad in blue
these he knew oy heart just as he
knew that her to;.l .ul Ut.
would BE- in TIE eT, p asi hat
she would have ''a- .s...-a Of
gait and mien a,tcc..S studies SIKH
things.
She waved her LUGGAGE i2to place
an excellent place--:n the sane pselth
dismissing the porter and FMS .:-lias
him when he mus. return. Then, but
not until then. did she turn graciously
to her brother-inlaw.
Il hoped that / should fld You.
BERTHE" she said in voice of such
creamy richness thai it was hard to
credit the speaker with only three
short trips to England. Melville said
you were to take this train; and was
so delighted. so relieved! an in a
most harassing predicament, my dear
Berthe"
That's bad" murmured the colonel
with sympathetic sclicitude; what's
the trouble? Couldn't you get sec
tion?"
81 have my reservations. but don't
know whether l shall go tonight"
Maybe I'm stupid. Millicent. but |
confess don't know what you mean"
Really, there's no reason why you
should. BERTHE. That's why | was so
anxious to see you-in time, so that
might explain to you-might put you
on your guard"
"Yes?" the colonel submitted; he
never hurried woman.
'T'm going to visit dear Amy-you
remember she was married two years
ago and lives in Pasadena; she has
dear little baby and the loveliest
homel It's charming. And she was
so delighted with your wedding gift.
It was so original. Amy never did
care for costly things; these simple.
unique gifts always pleased her. OF
course, my main object Is to see the
dear child, but shall not go tonight
unless Aunt Rebecca Winter is on the
train. II for any reason she waits
over until tomorrow / shall wait
also"
"Ah." sighed the colonel very softly,
not stirring muscle OF his politely
attentive face. saud does Aunt Re