The Tupelo journal., 1909-05-07
CHAPTER IX.=Continued.

The dlmpl6 showed III the young
mans cheek. Il admit" he replied
that didn't take advantage as ]
should of my university opportunities,
Probably that is why | have to earn a
strenuous livelihood boosting the Only
Peerless FireleSs Stove. By the way,
have you ever seen the Fireless in
action? Just the thing for the army!
Fills a long-felt want. | should be
very pleased to demonstrate. We have
a stove here"
The colonel grinned responsibility.
"You do it very WELL" said he. Cant
you let me into the gamer
There was the slightest waver in
the promoters glance, although he
smiled brilliantly as he answered.: I'll
take it into consideration, but-wlll
you excuse me? l wan to speak to
Mr.. Mercer about the stove"
The moment he had removed his
affable young presence Birdsall ap-
preached his employer. 1t had been a
difficult quarter of an hour with the
detective. Vague instinct warned him
not to touch the subject of Miss
Smith; he felt in no way assured
about anything else. The result had
been that he had fidgeted in silence.
But the accumulated flood could no
longer be held.
1--WE found out one thing" exploded
Birdsall, putting in the haste of his ut
erance. The boy is on the prem
ises."
Think 500" was all the c~oloners
answer
I'm sure of it. Say, 1 overheard
Mercer talking down a speaking-tube."
What did he say"
talked French, damn him! But
say, what's gorge?'
Throat"
whats cupillo gorge?"
Sure he wasn't talking of a car
riage, or did he say je lie couperai la
gorge?"
Maybe. I wouldn't swear to it. l
don't parlez francais a little bit"
did you hear any other noises?
Where were they?'
Birdsall thought he had heard other
noises, and that they were down cellar.
And, anyhow, colonel, I'm dead-to-
rights sure those guys are giving us
hot stuff to get us out of the house.
I'm for getting our men in now and
rushing the house. It's me for the
cellar"
While the colonel was rolling Bird
sails information around in his mind,
he heard the echo of steps on the flag
cling which preceded Mercer and the
other al
There was that in the bearing and
the look of them that made the watch
err, used to the signs of decision on
mems faces, instantly sure that their
whole course of plans and action was
changed.
Mercer spoke first and in a low tone
to the colonel.
81 have no right said he, ito ask
SO much trust from you, but will you
trust me enough to step aside with
this young man and me for a mo-
ment only-out of earshot? 1 give
you my word of honor / no
slightest harm to you. | want to be
frank. / will go alone If you desire"
The colonel eyed him intently for
the briefest space. I'll trust you,"
said he. Then: Il think you have the
key to this queer mix-up. At your
service. And let your friend come,
too. He is an ingenious sort, and he
amuses me-"
Birdsall looked distinctly sullen over
the request to wait, intimating quite
frankly that his employer was walking
into a trap. Il won't stand here more
than Is minutes" he grumbled. I've
given those fellows POGO tiente long
enough" But the colonel insisted on
20 minutes, and reluctantly Birdsall
a~cquiesced.
Mercer conducted the others to the
library. When they were seated he
began in his composed, melancholy
fashion:
Il earnestly beg of you to listen to
me, and to believe me, for your
nephew's sake. 1t is the only way
now. When you came, we handed him
over to this gentleman, exactly as we
have said. ! do not know why he
should have been stopped. ! do not
know why he left the machine
Might he not have been carried
away" said Winter.