Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-01-18


gest army in the world" He was not
addressing Rensselaer, now, but him.
SELF lost in vast speculation. he fell
into musing silence.
by the way, old chap" ventured
Rensselaer, presently. I'D like to speak
with you about q rather delicate mat
ter. It's about Miss Breed. Er-now
don't take this amiss, Phill--are you
contemplating anything serious In that
directionw
Kelvin was silent for so long that
| Herbert began to think be had not
heard, but presently he answered.
'Nothing whatever"
"Sure?" Herbert asked.
Absolutely" Kelvin replied.
'Thank you," said Herbert slowly.
"Rather caddish question, l know,
Phil, but between u.s. He. too. laps
ed into troubled silence.
Kelvin seemed to be about to say
something more, but he did not.
"Sam. do you think that in fight
could rely on your brother Peavy as
could on you" asked Kelvin as he
was dressing for dinner that night.
"'Deed. ALI doan' know. sah." an
swered Sam. putting the studs in Phil
lips shirt. Hes kin o. no count,
anyhow. All doan' reckon Aid place
too much 'liance on Peavy in pinch"
well, we'll keep him for his locks
then" said Kelvin, laughing. you
want to be careful, though, that he
doesn't steal Lucy from you"
Lucy! Huhv' grunted Sam. brush
ing the last speck Of dust from KEEL
wins pumps "Ef that wuthless coon
even tuhns up the whites O. his eyes
t'wahd Lucy. Abs goan t. brock ev'y
bone in his body. Heh-heh! Lucy"
and Sam grinned.
"You don't want to be too sure, Sam"
cautioned Kelvin. do you think you
could whip him"
"Whip mr. repeated Sam. "Why,
Mistuh Phillip. wild them two hans All
kin lick airy man in all this worl'"
Kelvin, however. firing Of the BAN
ter, had strayed to the table in the
corner Of his dressing room, where lay
spread out an outline map of the
United States. with figures here and
there contiguous to large cities-so
many troops massed here. so many
there. SO many in that other place, at
stations scattered thickly from coast
to coast and from lakes to gulf, grand
total so many. He nodded his head
In satisfaction, sweeping his eye over
his diagram. The little points upon
his map were regiments Of stalwart
men clad in the khaki Of the United
States government. He could hear the
tramp Of their feet, the click Of their
guns. the clank Of their sabers. The
ground shook under their rhythmic
tread, while nations heard and trem-
bled. And these. all these. were of his
dominion!
An insatiate ambition had taken
possession of him. 1t had always
been there, he realized now, but 1t
had grown with his years and his op-
portunities. 1t had grown until it en-
comprised the seas and the land be-
yond until it encircled the earth.
At the porte cochere he found wait
ing limousine, with an open car be-
fore and behind it. each of these ex-
ira cars carrying four silent and alert
members of the secret service. Peavy
already sat beside the chauffeur Of
the limousine. and Sam followed Kel-
vim into it. upon which all three Of the
autos moved away. Just beyond Du-
pont circle they were delayed by
congestion of carriages. and Kelvin
saw Elsie White in the doorway of
the house occupied by Rollins and his
mother. Elsie was now Mrs. Rollins
companion. She had loved him. this
girl; loved him. he knew, with an un-
selfish heart ever since he had been a
penniless prospectOr years before:
loved him yet. he was sure. and he
lad neglected this gift. had thrown IT
away
She was talking to her father and
George Blagg. Kelvin from within
his closed car saw White start away
with Blagg and Elsie apparently striv-
ing to coax him back. She even came
out to the edge Of the walk and put
her hand upon his arm. Blagg. how
S'SAs StSPpSo tOuSu UCtWceu tuGm
and. taking Whites arm, walked away
with him.
Kelvin stopped before magnificent
residence recently vacated by a noto-
rious railroad senator who had not
been found available" and, leaving
his secret service men at the door,
Kelvin found awaiting him in the
garishly decorated library Henry
Breed. The old man seemed shrunken
since Kelvin had last seen him, and
his bald head exhibited slight tend
ency to nod rhythmically.
"Well, how goes It, my boy?" he
asked In his senile old voice. rubbing
his withered hands together.
Beyond our expectations, ! think"
replied Kelvin. "The country Is COM
Ing to exactly that state of chaos
where 1t can he handled. There is not
city nor village but is in state
nf turmoil apd nop;o ord roo1r a..