Evening star., 1913-12-07

tray, and a birdcage at the same time. At
her feet was large bundle wrapped in a
bedquilt scarcely less gorgeous than Uncle
Ieff's regalia. A roaring, tantalizing crowd
surrounded them.
Through this plunged the Colonel, wild
eyed and excited. Uncle Jeff was manfully
struggling with an expressfman bent on re-
moving an old and battered satchel but the
Colonel was Immediately recognized by
Aunt Sally, who shouted, "Kunnell kunnel!
Heah we all! Make dat low white trash pass
back dat juramiumt'
There was appeal and jubilation in her
voice. and she dropped the birdcage to point
a trembling black hand at a man beyond.
The Colonel sprang forward with the agility
of excitement, showed one who interfered
out of the way seized the geranium pot with
one hand, and wrested it from Aunt Sally's
tormentor, then doubled white old fist and
srnote the offender full on the jaw. Taken
by surprise, although much younger and
heavier than the Colonel, the man was
knocked from his feet. The Colonel slipped
the flowerpot under his arm and struck an
other man who shouted curse.
"There amt no man livin' dares cuss out
a Hatch!n roared the Colonel dropping into
vernacular and f,Iming with rage. as there
any other pusson who has anything to say"
He stood there white and trembling, with
IL the f1owerpot under his arm and the bios
soming plant dragging Imply downward
when he made his challenge The outer
throng wavered and broke wide open, and in
charged the quartet like flying wedge,
with a short, fighting fat man as the apex.
A policeman came along in the swirl
"Stop! Stop this" shouted the executive
of law and order. "What does this mean"
There was an irlstant's silence, and the
man who had seized the cherished plant got
to his feet and began to struggle out OF the
crowd. The officer caught him by the collar;
but the Colonel interfered.
"Mr. Policeman" he said in his most
dignihed voice, II am Colonel Alonzo Fair
fax Hatch. We all have had a slight argu-
ment here; but it's all over now. This man
here surely did aggravate me; but there's
no use in pesterin' with him. Let him go.
The Hatches have always been able to care
for themselves, Sir"
"Well, you re sure some square old guy, at
thati' asserted the man, grinning.
"The same to you, Sir" declared the
Colonel magnanimously, and suddenly held
the gcranium out toward the officer. "Would
you mind carrying this for me, he asked,
"until | can find my daughter, Miss Ara
bella?"
The policeman was SO astonished that he
sheathed his club and accepted the plant,
and stood with it in his hands The Colonel
saw Burmah and the quartet of hopefuls,
and was overjoyed.
Come on, let's get out Of this, suggested
the man from Kansas. @Are these some
more of your folks, Colonel?'
"'Deed we ISL fervently responded Aunt
Sally before the Colonel had time to reply,
and Burmah marshaled them and took the
plant from the officer, and showed his way
out toward Arabella, who, infinitely dis
tressed, was lowering on the outskirts.
at looks to me" muttered Burnah, "as
if | had taken charge of an orphan asylum
where all the young ones was the offspring
of prize fighters! Lord. | got to get EN-
away from this! Now he said IF you
folks will wait here minute, I'll fix every
thing up all right.
He hastened out to secure cabs for the
party He hustled back with porters. He
had the baggage counted. He took the
checks and saw to it that everything was
undamaged. He tactfully cornered the four
young men in his own cab and installed
them at his hotel, with rooms on the same
floor, where he could have them under his
eye. There was no telling how useful they
might be, and he had long before discovered
that guieless young men with money were
profitable Burmah had also thoughtfully
engaged the most expensive suite at the
CoIOne1'S hotel for the latter and his DAUGHTER