The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-05-20
CHAPTER Vi.-continued.

DOEkcuil SNuOh "
guard until the valet and another man,
a clean-shaven. fresh-faced young man
whom the watcher had never seen be-
fore, came out of the room. The valet
superintended the taking of two
trunks, accepting tickets and checks
from the porter with a thoroughly
Anglican suspicion and thoroughness
of inspection, while the young man
stood tapping his immaculate trousers
leg with the stick of his admirably
slender umbrella.
IT'S all right. Colvin." he broke in.
impatiently: three tickets TO Los An
geles, drawing room, one lower berth,
one section, checks for two trunks;
come ont"
Very methodically the man called
Colvin slowed away his green and red
slips, first in an envelope. then in his
pocket-book, finally buttoning an in
side pocket over all. He was the image
of rather stupid. conscientious Eng
fish serving creature. Carefully he
counted out a liberal. but not lavish tip
for the porter, and watched that func.
tionary depart. Last Of all. he locked
the door.
With extreme courtesy of manner
Winter approached the young man.
Pardon me-" said he. Il am Col.
the rooms near yours. and she finds
that she needs another room or two.
Are you leaving yours?"
These are Mr.. Keatcham's rooms,
not mine," the young man responded,
politely. "He is leaving them"
when you give up your keys. would
you mind asking the clerk to send
them up to me?" pursued the colonel.
Room 327."
Certainly" replied the young man,
cor would you like to look at them a
moment now?"
"Why-if II wouldn't detain you"
hesitated Winter; he was hardly pre-
pared for the offer OF admittance.
Get the elevator and hold II a min
ute. Colvin." said the young man. and
he instantly fitted the key to the door.
which he flung open.
Excuse me-" said he. as they stood
in the room. but aren't you the Col.
Winter who held that mountain pass
to let the other fellows get of. after
your ammunition was exhausted?"
Il seem TO recall some such episode.
only IL sounds rather gaudy the way
you put it,"
Il read about you in the papers; you
swan a river with Funston; did all
kinds of stunts"
"Or the newspaper reporter did. You
don't happen to know anything about
the price of these rooms. | suppose?"
The young man did not know. but
he showed the colonel through all the
rooms with vast civility. He seemed
quite Indifferent 10 the coloners in
terest in closets, baths and wardrobes;
he only wanted TO talk about the
Philippines.
The colonel. who always SHE'D like
a melted horse from the fiutter of his
own laurels, grew red with discomfort
and ratified the door knobs.
There the suite ends" said the
young man.
Ou, WE uOu want IL all, Only a
room or two" Col. Winter demurred
ANY one Of these rooms would do
Well. l will not detain you. The ele-
vator boy will be tired. and MIR.
Keatcham will grow impatient"
Not at all: he will have gone. I
I'm so very glad TO have met you. Colo
nell"
In this manner, with mutual civili-
ties. they parted. the young man es-
corting the colonel TO his own door
which the latter was forced to enter
by the sheer demands OF the situation.
But hardly had the door closed than
he popped out again. The young man
was swinging round the corner next
the elevator.
Us he an innocent bystander or
what?" puzzled the soldier. He re-
sumed his march up and down the
corridor. The next room to the
Keatcham suite was evidently held by
AN agent of the Fireless Cooking
Stove. since one Of his samples had
strayed into the hall and was mutely
proclaiming its own exceeding worth
In very black letters on a very white
olacard