The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-10

ieiiiiiah 5 Drows darkened. 81
guessed as much. he growled. "Tau
your mother l wsnt to see her in eyo
minutes. And help Nellie TO ret
ready" He passed on up the stairs
Bess started after him. Then sbe
ran to seek her mother and deliver
the message. This done, she raced up
the stairs to Nellie's room.
Meanwhile Archman had hurried
into his office and sat down at his
desk. He jerked the telephone toward
MIN. Long distance" he ordered
CURLY. "Give me New York-Des-
presses, 5S641. Quick, centrall"
A moment later the phone tinkled
and he picked it up. Hello! Is this
Captain Bunker? Good Do you
know my voice, captain? Hush! No
names. This phone may leak. It's
leaked once tonight already, or its
got the credit of it. When can you
put to sea? Yes! 1 know you need
coal and stores and all that. What
I want to know is the earliest possi-
BILE moment you can be ready for a
two thousand-mile trip. Five days!
Five days! On! Oh, very WE'LL If
you can't you can't. Now listen. I'll
be at your house some time before
morning. Wait up for me. I'll give
you instructions then. Understand?
All right. Make no mistake. That's
ALL"
Archman slammed the receiver back
upon the hook and looked around
Come I'M" he ordered irascibly
Come in, Marthal" he called. 81
want to talk to you. The summons
has come at last"
'What !"
"Yesl It's come at last. 1t didn't
reach me. The messenger was muir
dered and his papers have been stolen.
But I've had warnings, and l can
guess what he wanted to say. I've got
to start at once"
Mrs. Archman paled. Murdered"
she gasped "Will you be in danger?'
Archman jerked his shoulders impa-
tiently. "Of course not" he rasped.
"Now, Martha, don't you go to worry
ing. Everything will be all right
But where are you golng?"
"I can't tell you. It's not my secret"
But when will you be back?"
"I don't know. l may go to Argen-
tina first. I'll try to keep you in
formed as to my movements, but you
mustn't worry If l fail to do so. l
may take Nellie on with me or send
her back"
"Nellie! You're taking Nellie?'
Archmans eyes widened. YES! l
thought you understood. It's for Nell
lie that I'm going"
Mrs. Archman's pleasant face grew
paler. you've never explained about
Nellie" she began.
"Pve explained all that I could or
can. The secret isn't mine. When
brought the child home 1 told you that
1t was only for time-that some day
she would be required of us. The
times been slow in coming, but it's
come at last"
But why tonight! Can't you wait
till tomorrow"
"Tomorrow will be too late. I've
got to try to outrun the thieves who
stole that paper. I'm going south by
railroad and on by any means that
offer. can't tell you how. The I'll
Rio will follow as quickly as 1t can
probably in five days. Get Nellie's
trunks packed and send them on
board. / don't know whether ] VIII
come back myself or go on to Argen-
tina. don't know anything except
that I must get Nellie away before the
thieves have time to watch and fol-
low u.s.
"But who are the thievesT
T can't tell you. That is, l can't
tell you who is behind the thing, though
guess. I know the actual thief. ns
that Grant woman
"Who?"
AN actress who calls herself Edith
Grant. She's shared Harry"
.Harry! My Harry"
"yesl Your Harry" Archman
spoke grimly. II don't blame the BOY
very much. They chose their agent
well. Morbach died In her house. Har-
rvs mad about her. That's what
was talking to him about tonight
"He-he isn't planning to marry her'
is he?"
Maybe he is. But you can bet your
last dollar that she isn't planning 10
marry him. MOI Don't worry ABOUT
that. She'll drop him when she gets
through with him. And, after ALL the
quickest way to cure fool is to give
him his head
Mrs. Archman did not pursue the
subject. She had unbounded faith IN
her ability to manage her son. i
haven't been troubled about Harry,
she said. "But l have been about Mel
lie."
"Nelliel Nonsense!"
Tt isn't nonsense" Mrs. Archman
besItated, then went on. "only to-
night she told me that her idea OF hap
niness was. to stand shoulder to shonl-