The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-04-22
CHAPTER Vill.-Continued.

he'd into the mouse.
CHAPTER Vlll.-continued.
n am not often mistaken in people,
the colonel's rather oblique an
Ter. land | think you are a gentle
"a who might kill me If you had a
ance. but would not break his word
me. II you will promise to play
i with us, do no harm to my nephew
Re this letter and bring me an an
er-if you find any one-on your
BIRD of honor as a Japanese soldier
ID gentleman, you may go; we will
II signal the police. Is 1t a bar
i'm
The Jap gravely assented, still In
e language of the east, saving his
ce" by the declaration of the alb
nee of his principals. And he went
as gracefully and courteously as IL
ly the highest civilities had passed
tween them.
won't he try some skin game on
?" the detective questioned; but
inter only motioned toward the tele-
one desk Listen at It" he said,
lou can tell if the wires are cut /;
ID he knows your men are outside
ding, somewhere; he doesn't know
pw many. You see, we have the
Vantage of them there: to be safe
ey don't dare to let many people
to their secret. We can have a
hole gang. We haven't many, but
ley may think we have"
Birdsall, who had lifted the receiver
his ear. laid it down with an ap-
passed nod. Immediately he proceeded
satisfy his professional conscience
a search in every nook and Granny
the apartment. But no result ap-
Jared important enough to justify
Pc production of his red morocco
pte-book and his fountain-pen. He
pa paused in disgust when the colo
FL sat up suddenly, erect in his chair;
IS keener ears had caught some
Pund which made him dart to all the
[indows in succession. He called
|aley lwhom he had posted outside to
pard the door, and dispatched him
Fross the hall to reconnoiter. II am
pre II was the sound of wheels" he
Rplained, but Haley will be too late !;
= are on the wrong side of the
Ouse."
AS he spoke the buzz of an electric
ell Jared their ears. Somebody Is
ohaihg In the front door," hazarded
irdsall.
evidently" returned the colonel,
ryiy' How can our absent friends get
otherwise-at least how can they
!. US understand they have come in
uiihK we are going to have the pleas
re OF an interview with the elusive
lr. Mercer"
ihey waited, The colonel motioned
nusaii TO seat by the table, within
'cathlhg distance of the telephone.
&c himself tluttered the loose journals
NJ magazines, his ironic smile creas-
- MS cheek. Our Japanese friend
,ads the newspapers" he remarked.
mere are to-day's papers; yes. Elk
miner and Chronicle, unfolded and
noked over. Cigar, too, not cigarette,
= mere Is a stump-decidedly our
ized!"
on, there is somebody in here all
sh'' grunted Birdsall. Say, colo
" you are sure Mrs. Winter has had
answer to her ad.? No kind of
o.ice about sending money!"
haven't seen her for a few hours
~ l saw Mrs. Melville Winter; she
"S positive no word had come. She
i'usilt my aunt was more worried
'ah sue would admit, and Miss Smith
,oAeu pale, although she seemed
opeful,"
one didn't really want to gre me
) ieIter' | thought" said the detect
!, ~ me colonel gave him no reply
~ piack look. A silence fell. A
= outside broke it, firm, in nc
!, 10y slealthy football. Birdsall slipped
I, e hahd inside his coat. The colonel
=, = ana bowed gravely to Cary Mer-
IN IN MS part, Mercer was not in the
80 s' hurried; he looked at the two
'sa' NOT with the arrogant suspicion
!. .en mad stung Winter on the train