Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-10-11

pened and added his fears. Wallace
was greatly cast down. Hoddy had
so set his heart upon this venture that
1t was a shame to proceed without
him. He had warned him at the be.
ginning about that internal rug; but
Hoddy was always set in his dare
devil schemes. So long as the Major
mad the plans, he supposed that they
could turn the trick without Hoddy's
assistance; only, It seemed rather
hard for him not to be in the sport
He told me that nothing would give
him greater pleasure than to stick his
INST in the first bag Of yellow.boys.
There was something mysterious in
the way he used to chuckle over the
thing when first sprung It on him.
He saw a joke somewhere. Let's 20
into the smoke-room for a peg. II
won't hurt either Of us. And that
poor little grill It's a hell Of world.
eh?"
3 The Major admitted that Il was:
but he did not add that Fortunes vel.
fare or ill-fare was Of little or no con.
Germ of his. The little spitfre had
always openly despised him.
They were drinking silently and mo.
rosely, when Mrs. Chedsoye, pale and
anxious, appeared in the companion.
way. She beckoned them to follow
her down to her cabin. Had Fortune
arrived? Had Ryanne? She did not
answer. Arriving at her cabin she
pushed the two wondering men inside,
and pointed at the floor. A large
steamer'roll lay unstrapped, spread
out.
Il only Just opened it." she said.
Il never thought Of looking into 1t
at Cairo. Here, 1t looked so bulky
that l was curious"
"Why, it's that damned Yhiordes!"
eclaimed the Major wrathfully. What
the devil is 1t doing in Fortunes
steamer-roll"
THAT is what / should like to
know. II they have been kidnapped in
order to recover the rug, whatever
will become Of them% And Mrs.
Chedsoye touched the rug with her
foot, absently. She was repeating in
her mind that childish appeal: "You
don't how loyal should have been!"
They took the first sailing out of
Naples. Twelve days later they
landed at the foot of Fourteenth
Street. There was some trifing diff
Guilty over the rug. 1t had been de-
clared; but as Mrs. Chedsoye and her
brother always declared foreign resi-
dence, there was a question as to
whether 1t was dutiable or not. Being
a copy, 1t was not an original work
OF art, therefore not exempt, and so
forth and so on. 1t was finally decid-
ed that Mrs. Chedsoye must pay a
duty. The Major paid grumblingly,
very cleverly assuming an iritability
well known to the inspectors. The
way the United States government
mulcted her citizens for the benefit of
the few was scandal of the nations.
A smooth-faced young man ap-
preached them from out the crowd.
as this Major Callahan"
Yes. This must be Mr.. Reynolds,
the agent?"
Yes. Everything is ready for your
occupancy. Your butler and first man
have everything ship-shape. l could
have turned over to you Mr.. Jones'"
Not at all, not at ALL" said the Ma
jor. They would have been strangers
to US and We to them. Our own serv-
ants are best"
you must be very good friends of
my client?"
Il have known him for years." said
Mrs. Chedsoye sweetly. 1T was at
his own suggestion that We take the
house over for the month. He really
insisted that We should pay him moth.
ing; but, of course, such an arrange
ment could not be thought of. Oh,
good-by, Mr.. Wallace" tolerantly.
We hope to see you again some
day"