The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-01-23

du ready 10 own up. 1Ou are a
decent fellow, and you are shrewd
You ought to be on our side, not
fighting us. tell you, you don't want
to have the boy turn up safe and
sound any more than I do. Mr.. Mer.
Ger was talking to me. and the kid
overheard. We heard him and went
into the room"
How"
Knocked on the door and he opened
1t. And we jumped on him. 1t was
life and death for lis not to be blown
on; 80, as We didn't wish to kill the
kid, and as we didn't know the young
ster we'll enough tc trust him then
although We might, for he is game and
the whitest chap!-but we didn't know
why, we Just told him ne would have
to stay with us while until our rush
was over. That was all we meant;
and we let him phone you"
How about his great-aunt-the
cruel anxiety"
Anxiety nothing" began the other
man, but glance from Mercer cut
him short.
The southerner took the word in his
slow, gentle voice. II tried to reassure
our aunt, Col. Winter. think sue
ceeded. She telephoned and told her
1t was all right. AS for Archie, after
We talked with him. he was willing
enough to go. He stole out with my
friend inside OF Ave minutes, while
you all were searching your rooms. 1t
was he insisted on calling you up, lest
you should be worried. He said you
were right afraid Of kidnapers, and
you would be sending the police after
us. You can call Mrs. Winter up and
find out If am not telling you tho
exact facts"
Very well. WILL" said Winter.
They met the sullen detective at the
door. Cary Mercer. with his mirthless
smile. led the way. Mercer rang up
the hotel for Winter, himself. To the
colonel's vast relief Aunt Rebecca an
swered the call. "Est-ce que c'est
vous.meme, mon neveu?" said she,
dryly.
MATS oui, ma tante. Why are you
speaking so formally in foreign
tongues? Is Millicent on deck?"
TN her ROOM" came the answer,
still in French. We'll, you have got
us in a pretty mess. Where ia my
boy?"
81 only wish I knew! Tell mo now,
though, is MERGERS story straight"
Absolutely. You may trust him."
Whats his real game. then? The
one he was afraid Archie would OK
pose?"
Ask him.
"But you are in 1t, aren't you?"
Enough to ask that you abandon
the discriminatory! Unless yor
wish to ruin mel"
you'll have to speak palmer. I've
been kept in the dark as long as car
stand in this matter"
But before he could finish the sen
tence. "Pas lei, pas mathematics
trop de peril" she cried. and she mus
have gone, for he could get no more
from her. When he rang again, Ran
dali responded:
MRS. Winter says, sir, will 70,
please come up here as quick as yo,
/ can. She's gone out. She thought
she caught sight of Mr.. Archie on the
street."
To the colonel's demand: Where
how did she see him." he obtained nc
answer, and on his vicious pealing Of
the bell there came. eventually, mel
low Anglican accents, which asked:
Eyes? Whom do you wish TO seer
1t is an evidence of the nndisciplined
nature Of the sex that the soldier
made a face and-hung up the re
ceiver.
He found himself-although this tc
a really open mind is no excuse--in
muddle Of conflicting impulses. He
was on edge to get into the street for
the search after the boy; he was
clutched In a wise by his conviction
that the clew to Archie's whereabouts
lay in MERGERS hands, and that the
southerner meant no harm to the lad
And all the while he could feel Bird
sail Juggling at the leash.
cts on the cards." he grumbled
with wry face, quite on the cards
that he may bolt in spite of me and
do some foolish stunt of his own that
will make most awful muddle."
Not nearly SO composed az he
looked, therefore. he turned to Mercer
However, his ammunition was ready
and to MERGERS inquiry, was he sat
isfied? he replied. calmly: well, moi
entirely. II Archie isn't in the house
who is 1t whose throat you wish tc
cut? Who is hidden here?"
1t could not have been an unex
pected question or Mercer hardly haG
answered SO readily: you know who
1t is," said he. ut Is Mr.. Keatcham.'
CHAPTER X.