Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-21

Your wire. Howdy. Glace-an' l
reckon this is Missis Glaze. amt Il!
Dual tipped off the marriage in his
message ! hope see you well ma'am.
Say-you folks come over to the car.
an I'll get you home prontO Then
we can talk. Hot, amt it? Hey.
Motto, grab these here bags
An intelligent-looking japanese in
the uniform of chauffeur came for
ward, picked up our cases from where
We had placed them on the platform,
and carried them toward handsome
motor at one end of the station.
The four of us followed his lead,
and, while Colonel Mac held the door.
Dual. Connie, and ! climbed into the
tonneau. Then the colonel slapped
his hat on his head. lifted his five feet
ten of bone and muscle aboard, and
spoke to Motto.
LET her out, son" He sat down.
The car leaped away with a dash
of gears. Sheldon turned back to us
with an audible sigh.
at was sure mighty good of you
to git action so quick he ran on.
"Whcn it happened | said to Alice
an Archie: 1 amt goin to fool with
none OF these here police or private
detectives. No,'sir. There's jest one
fan on this little old ball of dirt as
can put the Indian sign on whoever
done il, an that man is the Teller who
put it all over Colonel Mac himself
Homer thought it was kinder
foolish, but says, I'm runnin this
thing, my boy an | got busy with
the wires. Then somebody signin
hisself Bryce wires me you're headin'
this way already an | could catch
you at Salt Lake if 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 a
good deal surprised.
Dual shook his head.
We'll, my--Lord' How'dje know
then? You wired me not to take any
steps till you got here. How" He
paused, as though struck by thought
and a grim smile twitched the lips
.bov, b;o fiobtiny chin
Il reckon You don't need to am
swer," he said slowly. I've seen
some of your work before this, Mr..
Dual, an mighter known I'm
mighty glad you're here. Now |
reckon Wen find that girl"
| felt Comics fingers close on
mine at the words, aud knew she had
not missed their meaning. saw
her eyes resting on the gray clad fig.
ure of the colonel, with its heavy
gold watch-chaln looped across its
brocaded vest.
What do YOU think of him now?"
| whispered in question.
She turned her eyes. and / saw
they were dancing. More than that
her lips were smiling.
Il like him." she said.
Colonel Mac had lapsed strangely
client. Presently he drew a caseful
of his favorte black panetelas from
his pocket and extended it to me.
Smoke, Gordon" he invited, "or
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
Sheldon chuckled, selected and
lighted one of the slim brown rolls,
and put away the case. Il been
smokin' like a 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 telc.
grams, an had to smoke to dope up
what wanted to say in them"
Inc car swung III 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 | 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.. Dual's message. | am so
glad to meet you, Mr. Glace spoke
of yon many u time in the past This
is my husband" she added as Archie
Parton came forward, and he bowed
over Comics hand.
(To BE Contlnued)
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