The Detroit times., 1913-10-11
CHAPTER TX.
Colonel Caxley.Webste

Abbotts studio was under the roof
Of one OF the little hotels that stand
tim0rously and humbly, yet expect
antly, between the imposing cream
stucco of the Grand Hotel at one end
and the elaborate pink-stucco OF the
| Grande Bretegne at the other. The
hob-nailed shoes Of the Teuton (who
wears his mountain kit all the way
from Hamburg to Palermo) wore up
and down the stairs all day; and the
racket from the hucksters' carts and
hotel omnibuses. arriving and depart
ing from the steamboat landing, the
shouts OF the begging boatmen. the
quarreling of the children and the
barking OF unpedigreed dogs,-these
noises were incessant from dawn I'M
I'll sunset.
The artist glared down from his
square window at the ruffied waters,
or scowled at the deeting SHOWS on
the mountains over the way. He
passed some ten or twelve minutes
In this useless occupation. but he
could not get away from the bald
fact that he had acted like q petulant
child. To have shown his hand SO
openly, simply because the Barone
had beaten him In the race for the
motor boat! And Nora would under
stand that he was weak and without
backbone. Harrigan himself must
have reasoned out the cause for such
asinine plays as he had executed in
the game of checkers. How many
times had the old man called out to
him to wake up and move? In spirit
he had been across the lake. Q spirit
In Hades. He was not only fool.
but a coward likewise. He had not
dared to
put 1t to the touch
To gain or lose 1t ALL"
He saw 1t coming: before long he
and that Italian would be at eacn
others throats.
Come in" he called, in response
to a sudden thunder on the door.
The door opened and short, ener-
getic old man, purplervisaged and
hawk-eyed, came In. why the devil
don't you join the Trappist monks.
Abbott? II wasn't tough should
have died Of apoplexy on the second
landing"
Good morning, Colonel" Abbott
laughed and rolled out the patent
rocker for his guest. Whats on
your mind this morning? can give
you one without ice"
I'M take 1t neat, my boy. I'm not
thirsty, I'm faint. These Italian arch
fleets; they call three ladders flights
OF stairs! Ha! That's Irish whis-
Ky. and jolly fine. Want you to come
over and take tea this afternoon. I'm
going up presently TO see the Harri-
eans. Thought I'd 60 around and do
tho thing Informally. Taken fancy
to the old chap. He's little bit OF
all right. I'm no older than he Is.
but look at the difference! Whisky
and soda. that's the racket Not by
the tubful; Just an ordinary half
dozen . day. and. . dem climate
thrown In"
difference in training"
Rot! IT'S the sised hat man
wears. I'd give nfty guineas TO see
the old fellow In action. But, ! say;
rocali the argument We had before
you want to PARISH"
"Yos'
"Well, / win. Saw him bang across
the street this morning"
Abbott muttered something.
what was that7"
Nothing"
Sounded like dem II to me-
Maybe II did"
Heard shout him In Paris7"
no"
1.-THE old boy had transferred his
regiment to Z lonesome post In the
North to cool his blood. The young
ster took the next train into Paris. He
was there incognito for two weeks
before they found him and bundled
him back. OF course, every one
knows that he Is but q crazy lad who's
had too much freedom" The colonel
emptied his glass. Il feel dem sorry
for Nora. She's the right sort. But
q woman can't take q man by the
scruff Of his neck and chuck ltlm."
But can" declared Abbott saw
agely.
"Tut, tut! He'd eat you alive. Be-
sides. you will find him too clever
to give you an opening. But he'll
bear watching. He's capable of put
ting her on q train and running awaf
with her. Between you and me,
don't blame him. What's the matter
with sticking the Barone on him?
He's the best man In Southern Italy
with foils and broadswords. Sic EN-,
Towser; sic 'em!" The old fre-eater
chuckled.
The subject was extremely dis
tasteful to the artist. The colonel,
rough soldier, whose diplomacy
had never risen above the heights Of
clubbing a recalcitrant Hill man into
submission, BADLY inferred that he
understood the artists interest In
the rose OF the Harrigan family. He
would have liked to talk more In re-
gard TO the interloper, but II would
have been sheer folly. The colonel,
in his laundering way. would have
brought up the subject again at tea
time and put everybody on edge. He
had. unfortunately for his friends, q
reputation other than that Of a sol.
der: he posed as peacemaker. He
saw trouble where none existed, and
the way he patched up imaginary
quarrels would have strained the
patience Of Job. Still, every one
loved him, though they lived in NOR
tai fear OF him. SO Abbott came
about quickly and sailed against the
wind.
by the way" he said. Il wish you
would let me sketch that servant OF
yours. He's got profile like me-
dallion. Where did you pick him
up?"
I'm the Hills. He's q Sikh and a
frst-class fighting man. Didn't know
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