The Tupelo journal., 1909-05-28

he had not touched Keatcham, nor
even approached him close enough to
reach him by an o~utstretched hand.
Winter studied his face, his attitude
and suppressed the slightest of starts;
Mercer had turned his arm to light
another electric bulb and the action
revealed some crimson spots on his
cuff and a smear on his light trousers
above the knee. The lamp a rather
high and he was obliged to raise his
arm, thus lifting the skirts of his coat
which had previously hidden the stain.
He did not seem aware that his action
had made any disclosure. He was
busy with the light. 'Thatll be bet
ter" said he; I'll go call up Sister
Janet"
How had those stains come? Mercer
professed just to have entered. Vainly
Winters brain tried to labor through
the crazy bewilderment of it all; Mer-
Ger spoke like an honest man-but
look at his cuffs! How could any out
side assassin enter that locked and
guarded house?-yet, If Mercer had
not lied, some one must have stolen in
and struck Keatcham. Kito? But the
Jap was out of the house-perhaps!
| And Janet Smith, what was she doing
talking to Atkins? Had she given that
reptile n clew? Could he-but it
was his opportunity to rescue Keatch-
am, not to murder him-what a con
founded maze!
And what business had he, Rupert
Winter, who had supposed himself to
be an honorable man, who had sworn
to support the constitution and the
laws of the United States, what bust
ness had he to help l~aw-breakers and
murderers escape the just punishment
of their deeds? He almost ground his
teeth. Oh, well, there was one way
out, and that was to resign his COM
| mission. He would do it this very
| night, he resolved; and he swore mis-
erably at himself, at his venerable
aunt who must be protected at such a
| sacrifice, at Atkins, at the feebly
moaning wretch whom he had not
ceased all this while to ply carefully
with drops of brandy. "You %everlast-
ing man-eater, if you dare to die, I'll
kill you!" he snorted.
Thereupon he went at the puzzle
| again. Before any answer could come
to the telephone calls, a low, mourn
full, inhuman cry penetrated the thick
walls. It was repeated thrice; on the
third call, Tracy ran quickly through
the patio to a side door, barred and
locked like all the entrances, re-
| leased and swung 1t open and let in
Kito. A few murmured words passed
between them. The Jap uttered a
| startled exclamation But how can it
to be? How? no n can get in! And
who shall stab him? For why?"
He examined the wounded man, aft
er a gravely courteous salute to Win
ter; and frowned and sighed. What
did it," said he; "did who stabbed,
take it way, he must give stlong pull!
Whoever did it." said the colonel,
must have put a knee on the mans
back and pulled a strong pull, as you
| say" In speaking the words he felt a
| shiver, for he seemed to see that red
smear above MERGERS knee.
He felt the shiver again when Mer-
| Ger returned and he glanced at him;
! there was not a stain on his shining
white cuffs; he had changed them; ne
had also changed his suit OF clothes
and his shoes. His eyes met h colo
nel's; and Winter fancied there was a
CLINT of defiance in them; he made
no comment, for no doubt a plausible
| excuse for the fresh clothes was ready.
Well, he (Winter) wouldn't ask 1t.
Poor devil! he had had provocation.
For the next half-hour they were all
busy with Keatcham.
.He is better pronounced the Jap;
The will not live, maybe. but he will
talk, he can say who hult him."
IF he can only do that!" cried Mer-