The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-04-22


mel knew he did not believe any more
than Mercer suspected. "Of course,
believe you; but don't know what to
do IL amt on the map. guess it's
up to you to throw a little light. I've
called the boys of twice already and
told 'em TO wait an hour or a half
hour longer. got to see the colonel"
Il can trust my intultions, or can
trust the circumstantlal evidence"
thought the colonel. lie jumped up
and began to pace the court.
Seems to be like a game OF bridge
before one can see the dummy" he
complained; and, as so often happens
in the crises Of life. trivial illustra-
ton struck a wavering mind with the
force OF an argument. His thoughts
reverted whimsicslly to the card
table; how many times had he hest
tated over the first lead between even
ly balanced suits of four; and how
often had he regretted orwon. depend
ing solely upon whether his card in
stinct had been denied or obeyed, IL
might be instinct, this much-discussed
card instinct" or It might be a sum.
ming up OF logical deductions so swift
that the obscure steps were lost, and
the reasoner was unconscious Of his
own logical processes. Now"
groaned Rupert Winter, Il am up
against it. She looks like a good
woman; she seems like a good wom-
an; but have only my impressions
and Aunt Rebeccas against the APP
parent facts in the case. Well, Aunt
Rebecca is a shrewd one!" He sat
down and thought harder. Finally he
rose, smiling. He had threshed out
his problem; and his conclusion, in
audibly but very distinctly uttered to
himself. was: me for my own i'm
pressionsl II that girl is in with tbs
gang. either what they are after isn't
so bad--or they have made her believe
1t isn't bad"
He looked idly about him at the
arched doorway Of the outer court. 1t
was carved with a favorite mission
design OF eight-pointed flowers with
vase-like fluting below. There was a
tiny crack in one OF the flowers. the
tiniest crack in the world. He looked
at II without seeing II, or seeing II
with only the outer half Of his senses
but-he could not have told how
into his effort to pierce his own tan
gle there crept sudden interest, a
sudden keenness of scrutiny of this
minute. insignificant crack in the
stone. He became aware that the crack
was singularly regular, preserving the
form OF the flower and the fiuting be
meath. Kito, the Japanese, who was
sitting at the far end Of the court, con
versing in amity with Haley. just here
rose and came to this particular pill
lar. The Irishman sat alone. trimmed
by the sunset gold. little spangles OF
notes drifting about him; for the mer
est second Winters glance fingered on
him ere il went to the Jap, who passed
him, courteously saluting.
After he had passed, the colonel
looked again at the column and the
crack-it was not there.
"Chito, chito" muttered the colo
mel. Carelessly he approached the
| column and took the same posture as
the Jap. Unobtrusively his fingers
strayed over the stone. He scratched
the surface; not stone, but cement
| He tapped cautiously, keeping his
hand well hidden by his body; no hol
low sound rewarded him; but all al
| once his cropping fingers touched 9
little round object under the bold point
of an eightpointed flower. He didnr
dare press ON Il; instead he resumed
his cautious tapping. He glanced
about him. Saye for Haley he wal
alone in the patio. He pressed on the
round white knob, and what he hat
half expected happened: A segmen
of the column swung on inner hinges
disclosing the hollow center OF the en-
gagged columns on either side. He
looked down. Nothing but darkness
was visible. but while he stood, tense
ly holding his breath. his abnormally
sensitive auricular nerve caught dis
tinctly the staccato breath OF that kind
OF sigh which is like a groan, and Z
voice said more YEARLY than angrily
"oh. damn it ALL"
Almost simultaneously. he heard the
faint footballs OF the men within; h
must replace his movable flower. The
column was intact. and he was bend
ing his frowning brows on the style
bate OF another when Birdsall an(
Mercer entered together Mercer, will
shrug of his shoulders at the detect
ives logged suspicion, preceding thu
latter.
We'll" said the colonel, did yo'
get my aunt?"
yes, sub, got your aunt herself,
responded Mercer, with his VirginiaI
survival of the formal eivility of al
earlier generation. Yes, sub; but
regret TO say Archie is not there"
Where is he?" The soldiers vote
was curt.
Honestly. declared Mercer, Il wisl
knew. sub. certainly do. But