The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-03-21
which Is ImpossIble-"


Then the money goes into the fam
lily. OF course, as my dot Or--or. II
| should die-in that case Stephen
inherlts the money. And there is no
doubt but that Stephen needs money.
Aleck pondered for several minutes,
while grave shadows threatened his
lace. But presently his smiling, un-
quenohah!e good temper came to the
nurface, and he gloefully tucked Me
lanies hGud under his arm.
"As | a0id before, you need a has
band very badly"
"Oh, / don't know" she laughed
The result OF Alexis moment OF
grave thought came a few days later,
with the arrival OF two quietly-dressed
men. He told Melanie that one man
was her chauffeur for the white ma
chine. and the other was an extra hand
he had engaged for the return trip
on the Sea Gull The chauffeur, how
ever. for one reason or another, rare
/ ly took the wheel. and could have
been seen walking at a distance be-
hind Melanie whenever she stirred
abroad. The extra hand for the Sea
Gull did just the same as the chauf-
| feur
From the day OF the arrival OF the
manager. Mr.. Hands rather mysteri.
GUS but friendly temper underwent
change for the worse He not only
continued silent, which might easily
be counted a virtue, but he became al
most sulky, which could only be called
crime. There was no bantering
with Sallie in the kitchen. scarcely
friendly smile for Agatha herself. Mr..
Hand was markedly out OF sorts.
On the morning following Mr..
Straker's request that Hand should re-
pair the car, the manager found him
tinkering in the carriage shed near
the church. The car was lacked up on
a horseback, while one wheel lay
near the road. Mr. Hand was as grimy
and oily as the law allows, working
over the machinery with a sort of
vicious earnestness. Mr.. Straker hov-
cred around for a few moments, then
addressed Hand in that tone of
pseudo-geniality that marks a certain
type of politician.
Look here, colonel understand
you were in the employ Of that French
anarchist"
II was an unlucky moment for at
tack, though Mr.. Straker did not at
once perceive it. Hand carefully wip-
ed the oil from a neat ring OF metal,
slid down on his back under the car
and screwed on a nut. AS Mr.. Strak-
er, hands in pockets and feet wide
apart, watched the mechanician, there
came through the silence and the
sweet air the sound of thrushes call
ing from the wood beyond Mr.. Strak
er craned his head to look out at the
church, then at the low stone wall,
as If he expected to see the songsters
performing on a stage before a row of
footlights. He turned back to Mr. !
Hand.
That's right, is it? You worked for
the slippery Mounseer?"
''Uh-m." Hand grumbled, with a /
screw in his mouth. Something like I
that" i
..Whatd you do?"
I've found where she was wrenched .
in the turnover. Got to have a new
pin for this off wheel before she goes
much farther
"All right, I'll order one by telegraph
today. Wnat'd you do | asked"
Hand wriggled himself out from un-
der the car and got on his feet. He
thrust his grimy hands deep into his
pockets, stood for a moment con-
and belligerent, as if I'M
decided whether TO explode or not,
and then silently walked away.
As Mr.. Straker watched his figure
moving slowly toward the kitchen. he
started a long low whistle, expressive
Of suspicion and doubt. Midway, how
ever, he changed to a lively tune
whose title was I've got him on the
'un"-a classic just then spreading up
and down Broadway He took a few
urns about the car, looked at the gear
ng with knowing air, and then went
nto the house.
If he had been a small boy, his
mother would have punished him for
stamping through the halls; being a
grown man and a visitor, he may be
described as walking with firm, bold
read. Finally he was able to run
lown Agatha, who was conferring {
With Sallie in the library.
Sallie shifted in scorn of Mr. Strak- :
r, whom she disliked far worse than
ir. Hand; nevertheless, as she left ,
he room she twisted up her gingham ;
prom and tucked it into its band in a
ague attempt at company manners.
ir. Straker lost no time in attacking
lgatha.
What d'you know about that chauf- =,
eur-nurse and general roustabout =
hats taking care of your young gen !,
eman upstairs?' he inquired bluntly. 7
Innocent Of subtlety as Mr. Straker :,
as, he was nevertheless keen enough ;,
} see that Agatha's instincts took =
arm at his words Indeed, one skilled :,
J reading her face could have detect. .
] the nature Of the uneasiness writ.
m there. She could not lie again. as
le had unhesitatingly lied to the Q
leriff; neither could she abandon her ;,
osition as protector to Mr.. Hand. 81
he wished for cleverness of the sort
lat could throw her manager off the
ent, but saw no way other than the
rect way.