Charlevoix county herald., 1918-08-09

put it all over Colonel Mac himself
Homer thought 1t was kinder
foolish, but / says. Pm runnin' this
thing. my boy an ! got busy with
the wires. Then somebody sfgnin
hisself Bryce wires me you're headin
this way already, an could catch
you at Salt Lake IL not sooner. an
then / gets your wire from Grand
Junction. / reckon Bryce wised you
up, eh?"
"He wired me to communicate
with you," said Semi.
"Eh? Didn't he tell you what had
happened?" Colonel Mac seemed q
good deal surprised.
Dual shook his head.
"Well, my-Lord! How'd'je know
then? You wired me not to take any
steps till you got here. How" He
paused, as though struck by a thought
and a grim smile twitched the lips
above his fighting chin.
IT reckon you don't need to an
sweI," he said slowly. 'Pve seen
ppme of your work before this. Mr..
Dual, an mighter known. I'm
mighty glad you're here. Now ]
reckon we'll find that girl"
/ felt Comics fingers close on
mine at the words, and knew she had
not missed their meaning. I saw
her eyes resting on the gray-clad fig
ure of the colonel, with it's heavy
gold watch-chain looped across its
brocaded vest.
What do you think of him now3"
] whispered in question.
She turned her eyes, and saw
they were dancing. More than that,
her lips were smiling.
II like him." she said.
Colonel Mac had-lapsed strangely
silent. Presently he drew a caseful
of his favorite black panetelas from
his pocket and extended it to me.
Smoke, Gordon" he invited. cor
kin he smoke, Mrs. Glace?"
HE does whenever he wants to-"
laughed Connie. But shook my
head. "a little too strong or me,
colonel; I'll stick to cigarettes"
CAuChlSd. SSiSNtOu ohu
lighted one of the slim brown rolls.
and put away the case. Il been
smokin' like chimney for four days,
an / cribbed this caseful when Allie
wasn't lookin'. She's kickin' about
my smokin' too much, but there wasn't
nothin' else to do; only send tele-
grams, an had to smoke to>dope up
what wanted to say in them"
The car swung in from the street
and stopped at the side of the house
where once / had called upon Alice
Sheldon in the days before her mar
riage to Parton. The colonel helped
us out and led us up to the wide
porch. where Alice herself waited to
greet us.
So far as / could see she was still
the same brilliant brunette / had not
seen for two years, save that there
was an added matronliness about her
which was rather becoming. She gave
both her hands to Dual, and then
turned to me while l presented Con-
ME.
Il have known your husband for
years." she said, smiling, but we
didn't know of his marriage until we
had Mr.. Duals message. / am so
glad to meet you. Mr.. Glace spoke
of you many time in the past. This
is my husband" she added as Archie
Parton came forward, and he bowed
over Comics hand.
t,1tr cd Gnn-
ME and Alice went off to see the Par
ton baby and Sheldon took us men
into the library, to "get action" as
he said. AS we entered the room a
young man rose from chair OF Spa
ish leather and stood while the col
onel presented him as Homer Reich.
He was a dapper appearing indi-
vidual, clad in blue serge and tan OK
fords, soft shirt with French collar
and belt. He-was what one would de-
nominate a handsome man on first
impression, of an almost tawny COM
plexion, brown eyed, and wearing a
great mass of wavy light hair, brush
ed straight back from where 1t grew
low on his forehead.
His brows like his hair were tawny,
his nose high of bridge and slightly
long, and his rather large mouth was
thin Tipped, blending into the general,
long, slender lines of his face as
whole. His figure, too, was slender
and his hands long. So much l noted
before he was introduced to me.
Homer was Lilly's fiancee," ex-
planned Sheldon, IAN l thought you
ought to meet him. had him come
up an wait here, when we knew you
was comm. Now tibet you know him,
/ guess we'd better dope this thing out
Jest as fast as we kin. Sit down an
let's get to work. First off though l
want to show Glace Goldfield high
ball" He struck bell on his desk.
A white jacketed Chinaman answer
ed the ring and to him Colonel Mac
gave his order, by holding up four
fingers, and then separating his two
hands about six inches.
Long ones, Lee" he directed and
glanced at Semi who shook his head.
AN Lemonade" said Colonel Mac.
The servant grinned and shuffled