Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-04-06

people to lead her to a taxicab, and
after Mr. Ransom had put them inside
she shook hands with him and told |
him to be sure to come and see her, |
and she gave him the HarpeN' ad- |
dress.
II suppose you know II already"
added Cousin Phoebe, "as you and Nan
are such old friends"
Nan blushed, and so did John Ran
som. and then Nan grew pale, and |
Ransom turned quickly to see what |
had caused the sudden change oficolor.
The three conspirators were coming
toward them, arguing in low tones.
Are those the men?" asked Ransom
quickly
Nan nodded. BE careful" she whis-
pered, and then the car started and
left HIM alone
He stood there rolling a cigarette,
bis sers keen to catch word from
~ salESe men
"Durgee played trick on u.s. NUT
tered one.
what did he say when you tele-
phoned him just nOwf"
"Oh, nothing, except that Ransom
was wearing yellow marigOld when
he left Buffalo, and II we didn't know
a marigold when we saw one We were
lust the bunch OF blockheads he took
us for"
"But Ransom might throw the flow
er away"
"Of course he might. asked Dur
gee what he looked like. He said he
was tall chap In a gray suit, had
light hair smoked cigarettes and wore
a topaz ring on his little finger"
They laughed scornfully.
"As II we had time to stop and take
inventory of every man who came
through the gateP' scoffed one. IL
told Durgee to tag him plainly"
There wasn't any yellow marigold
came through that gate" insisted an
other
Maybe he's coming on another train.
There's another at 9:46 tonight"
1--WE better be on hand then-same
place"
They scattered, and Ransom, who
had stepped behind pillar, evidently
waiting for taxi, smiled In salts
fed way as he went back into the sta
tion.
He stepped into telephone booth
and called a law office.
There was brief dialogue In which
Ransom told the state attorney what
he had escaped and that the villains
would be waiting for man with a
marigold In his buttonhole ON the 9;4o
train that night.
At 915 that night John Ransom
mingled with the crowd that stood be-
fore the bulletin board In the Grand
Central terminal. His keen eyes had
singled out the three plotters, and he
had pointed them out to dozen quiet
looking men who were also scattered
through the crowd.
The minutes dragged. An official
chalked messages on the blackboard.
The Boston express was twelve MIN
utes late: the Western Limited was
on time At 0:4O he announced the
train, and the crowd hurried to track
% and waited outside the lines.
John Ransom was there. and so were
the three plotters, their faces grim and
resolute.
The gate opened, and the crowd OF
incoming passengers poured through.
The three plotters jumped forward.
A man with yellow marigold had
passed through. They were about to
follow him when there came another
man wearing a yellow flower and still
another, until 1t seemed that every 9th
err man was wearing marigold In his
coat.
Am dlppy2" demanded Jim hOarse-
ly OF his companions.
SOMEBODY is," growled BIZ. whats
all these guys wearing yellow flowers
for?"
BEAT IT," whispered Dan. Meet me
at Leghorn's place. I'm going bnck to
Buffalo tonight to fix Durgec. What's
he making a fool out OF us for with
his yellow What do you wantr' he
ended shrllly as firm hand closed
on his arm.
He looked up into the determined
face OF a man wearing yellow mari
gold-a familiar face, the face Of
Buffalo detective. And another one,
wearing marlgold, was cscortlng Jim,
and Bill also had n plain clothes man
all to himself
The plotters would have battled, only
at the first sign Of resistance there
gathered score Of detectives, all
wearing yellow flowers, and In the
center of these the three flower hunt
ers were spirited away and later
brought to justice for the crimes they
had committed In Buffalo and which
the company would have overlooked
had not they consplred 10 add murder
to their other sins.
A few days afterward John Ransom
availed himself Of Cousin Phoebe's In.
yitation and went to the HarDers'
house to inquire after Cousin Phoebe
and FIdo and incidentally. Of course.
Nan
She seemed so glad to see him that
he forgot al! about lfidO and Cousin
Phoebe ana thought Of no one save
Nan. lie told her all nbOui the plot
ting plotters and how they had been
trapped by the cunning detectives,
who had nll worn marigolds 10 puzzle
the three, and how everything was
coming out all right.
And We Ind to thank Nan all over
again foi saving his life, aud he almost
told her thna and there that ho want
ID to offer thdt life 20 her gentle keep.
ing, but he dl1n't. which was very
well, because Mo was lmpulslye and
might have sent iiiiD AWAY forever
But there came n day when he could
and did tell II 10 her. and Nan had a
Hash or common sense and accepted |
him on the spot which was the most |
sensible thing she ever did according |
10 her family. Although the said fam
lily thought Nan ana John were luna.
tics because they wanted marlgOlds for |
wedding decoration, the bride and |
groom didn't care. ~ love lunallcs," |
l.. H. A.. Al.