Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-07-20
CHAPTER xiI.-Continued.

Young man. think I told you
once before that your legs were alto
gether too active. / want you to light
right out of here-skip!"
Not for q million dollars. Our
meeting is highly opportune, Cookie.
It's not for me to fly in the face of
providence. I'm going to see what's
doing down here
All right" replied Cooke. Take
nc all In and enjoy yourself; but
you're my prisoner"
"Oh, that will be all right, So
long as I'm with you I can't lose out"
march," called Cooke, dropping be-
MIND; and thus the two came in a few
minutes to the engine. the cars and
the caboose. From the locomotive a
slight smoke still traiied hazily up
ward.
Thomas Ardmore, coatless and hat
less, sat on the caboose steps writing
messages On a board pad, while a
telegraph instrument clicked busily
within. One of his men had qualified
as operator and pile OF messages at
MS elbow testified to Ardmores In
dustry. ANmore clutched in his left
hand message recently caught from
the wire which he re-read from time
TO time with increasing satisfaction.
ut had been sent from Ardsley and
ran:
j shall ridb tonight c,n the road that
leads south beyond the red bungalow,
and on the bridie-path that climbs the
rdge on the west, called Sunset Trail A
pertain English gentleman will accom-
tPany me. II will be perfectly agreeable
10 me to come back alone c. d.
Ardmore was still writing when
Cooke stood beneath him under the
caboose platform.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Ardmore,
hSt this is our first prisoner"
Ardmore sighed a dispatch and then
looked up and took the pipe from his
mouth. Collins lifted his hat politely.
All, Mr.. Ardmore, you see l have
taken advantage of your exceedingly
kind invitation to look you up In
North Carolina"
HE was looking for you very hard
when I found him, Mr.. Ardmore," in
<erposed Cooke
Your appearance delights me-"
said Ardmore, extending his hand to
the reporter ut was nice of you to
walk out here to find me. Wouldn't
they put you up at the house?"
We'll, the fact is didn't stop there
My paper sent me in this general d.
rection on business, but / had every
honorable intention of making you
that visit after I finished my assign
ment But Cookie here says I'm ar
rested"
Hes a dangerous character and
can't be allowed TO run loose in these
parts I'm going to tie him up" said
Cooke
May ] ask you. Mr.. Collins. Just
what you are doing here?" inquired
Ardmorc.
You may, and I'll bet a boiled
goose that Cookie and I arc on the
same Job"
What are you looking for?" de.
manded Ardmore's chief of stan
IT'S a big story If I get it. and /!
have every intention of getting H."
Caid Collins guardedly
out with it," commanded Ard
more.
"The fact is. then. that I'm looking
for a person Of Importance"
Go right on, please"
And that person is the governor Of
North Carolina, who is mysteriously
absent from Raleigh He attended
the Cotton Planters convention In
New Orleans. He got as far as At
lanta on bis way home and then dis.
appeared ! need not say to gentle
men of your intelligence that lost
governor 10 ripe fruit in my business,
and l have reason to believe that for
some purpose of his own the governor
OF North Carolina is hiding in this
very neigji5orhOod.
Cooke y1anced at Ardmore for IN.
Strucuops, bat the master of Ardsley