OCR Text |
Show PROVO HERALD Tlin WMST: uiajTJMTawOCTAVE AUTHOR. rWyTyf T.mr COPrRf OHT. IOT i . iki n i ' -- ' r "i "f rfi r tr - i 11 r i afraid you'd catch on, fu a weight oil me moind, eor. - C- ,BOB&s-Men.it.tr- I dare say. You always have your way with me, jqu. old mule. Now listen; I wantou to be on the watch for --two men" thereupon the colonel described his wen, laying special stress on the moles on the face of one, and the othersaiinple. Having set" Haley his tasks, he went back to his car In better spirits. By this time the train was moving. He had seen Ills kinswoman and her-- f party, enter; and be found the object of Mrs. Melville's darksome warnings sitting with ju alender lad in the mala body of the car. Aunt Rebecca was In the mayfopoffaImost drawing-room- --- Tla leaa-And-wl- I ' -- : gjrow older , her maid withTierf , .. HI HI 1 - I Co at my agel Slt down. Tin J to see you; I've a heap glad extremely to talk to you about. J3o you mind if thl. game through first?" j j i n coionei aian i mina. He ravsea the- - proffered hand to hisIIps;.. such homage seemed quite tb roost natural act in the world with Mrs. Winter. Antf be "unobtmstTely edged hfa- - own person. Into the vacant seat opposite her. ' far are you going?" said she, after a few moves of the arls "My ticket says Los Angeles; but It bad to say something, bo I chose t Los - Angeles for luck: I'm an lrr j sponsible tramp now, you know; and 1 sot. -- : - J V " ry anywhere.-You- r1 Mrs, ' Melville, who bad already re- are for southern California, aren't vealed her presence,' sat across the you?" 7 aisle! SheTrpTeaentedTTthe :ricoIoneI rat rZTEventjialJyj. butjive shall stop" at " " " San Francisco for two - or three once-.Miss Smith did not look formidable; weeks." , off with you? she looked J'nlce" thought the colonel. V"Do you mind if She was of medium 1lght; she was I want to get "acquainted with myl oiyl.ously plump, although - well pro- - ward." said the colonel. a m ..... a w . jm r ir r nm portioned presence iad an effect, "JI eems rathw on were rjf Tadianr cleaBltnesBrlier-eye- a so .luminous and her teefh so fine and aren't worried about well, tubercu- r her white shirt waistso Immaculate. losis or that "sort of thlng? 1 am worried about Just that sort -There was about her-- a eertaln soft Illumination of cheerfulness, and at the of thing; although the doctor says same time" a restful repose; she moved nothing organic at all is the matter In a leisurely fashion and she sat per- with him; but he is too melancholy fectly still. "I never saw any one who for a boy; ie needs rousing; losing --looked less of an adventuress " Win- his father and mother in one year, you I I Y:I ter was thinking, as he bowed. Then know, and he was devoted to them. I swiftly. his glance Went'to the lad, a can't quite make Tilm out, Bertie; Winter temperament. I pale young fellow with hazel eyes and suppose "he lias a legal right to his a long,, slim hand which felt cold. The .boy made a little Inarticulate mother's nature; but it is very annoysound in his throat and blushed when ing. It makes him so much harder Col. Winter- - addressed him, - But. he tounderstand not that she wasn't a looked the "brighter for the blush. It good woman who "madeTpm" happy; was not n plain "facer rather an in but.she. wasn't a Winter.. However, him up conaider-Tiblteresting one In . spile of Its llsllessness Janet has brightened seen "Smith T "JanetHss ycore" was oval and iu sickly pafior7its " ' do y6u think of her?" , purely cut, the delicate mouth was What Winter said honestly that she was closed firmly enough, and the hazel and that she looked eyes with their long lashes would be very he fell into the Idiom .capable; right so veiled. beautiful were they not -yu sometimes whenwitha He has the-- Wlntermouth-a- t least," 4 ol-throb at southerner. noted .the colonel. He felt his heart. Had his own boy lived, the - "She' Is."" said "Aunt" Rebecca. "Where did you find her I" "asked After a Pause;- -. Thera . Was' Gen. Philemon Mreer, Con- baby that' died when'tt" was bornt le the inspecting carelessly, would be only a year older than Archie. the colonel federate Army." - , At least, this boy was of his own blood. cards.Aunt Rebecca smiled. "I thought Without father or mother, but not Milllcent would youl all pecting. She asked me once If she She ha been in tragedies, If an Inhave given alone In the world; and, if any danger She-.w- aa the nurse, aecre-tary- , dldnlt jplay an intelligent game, and I violable coolneBsTjf head, perhaps of particulars, menaced, not without defenders. The - diet cook to told her she did a babe ' In arms Jieart, had shielded her from being of and companion depression which had enveloped him Cousin when she died could understand It. - She didn't seem them. The husband of her youth, the Angela Nelson; lifted as mist before the sun.; burned nearest of her blood,, the friends of . me." for Lucky quite pleased." away by the mere thought of possible life all had gone Into the I "So I should Judge" commented the , How about Arrhie? Caij he "play a her middle "Wa will nafrttf-anr-m: - here"- ; dark her : yetcolonel .j. politely. said gOQtLame? skin stHTIustrous" and her smooth "I presume Milllcent has told you "Very fair, for a boy of 14; he was Rupert Winterr compressl ng the Winter mouth more firmly, "or if those that she is ap adventuress and fter fond of whist until his troubles eyes and her fragrant , hands,Thekeenly col and a heap mqre stuff. If came" said Mrs. Winter, with a faint smiling over her solitaire. gentlemanly kidnapers mean you." " reconever onel could wondered . lfhe of-"Since Bhe hasn't she will. Get a notion clouding her keen gaze-His ebbing suspicion of the boy's cile himself with such philosophy to companion revived; he would be on his once in Millicent'8 head and a surgical then he hasn't taken much interest in his own narrowed and- emptied life; la guard.-all-rlg- ht operation npcessaryQsJidge-ltl- .. aaeOasjLri she-cotoe7Ter TO9waTT5lderthgir whelThe and" a who mortal more the is than . anyone; only person wants to see you," Janet, up. All the find zest a eifstence. still la rouse Mrs. Melville suggested. .."She Is in could live with poor Cousin Angela, heard you were coming that did all the big Intergone; great passions are-on- e He's "to had kill diseases his who real heroes. You of him. .' enough the drawing-roowith her solitaire," her and enough imaginary ones to that sort of a boy," she added, with a ests; and still her clever mind was "Still playing Penelope's Web?" in Its mert till anybody who lived with her! tinge of impatience In her soft south- working,! happyZp'osslbly, "Oh, she always comes back to it. the stake, . she exercise, disdaining But she plays bridge, too; Rupert. I Janet rnadfr- her comfortable; would ern voice. As if to divert her thoughts, who had bad every success. What cards hear your game is a wonder. Archie's at her, puzzling. p4jandaJhowed the vitality He looked beeq "learning," go"" he could "play with 7 heihoughjhhid-tan4-a-heabewildered him. be Her " eared for Tier. complexity " When"'" ' than she and ' blue they. ". really velnanoro prominently you." of a complex nature himself." net "Good v for Archie!" he shot a died Cousin Angela left her Bome show In young hands. This was" iheir As being he suddenly he found himlooked, tonot were thoua few but an"d money surrender much, very tlme; they only: j a smile lad's jedden-inglanc self why her face, in Ita" questioning sands. She would have left her more, shapely" aid white, andithe slirfl fln face "we'll have a game." ' - smoothness of and. revival youthful the when as wouldn't She t were strath her. left as Janet but let gers"Lord. I Wish he didn't look quite so' some recalled face, otber tint recently to some old servants, who sure- beaux of Fairfax county would have lady like," "he - was grumbling - within, some studied by him a face that had worn as he. dutifully made his way to his ly desmedit for living with her, some ridden all day for a' chance to kiss an absolutely ' different expression; to charities and the rest to her . them.1, aunt's' pre8ence..--:v;l.- : same delicate aquiline nose, the " having hadn'tthe colonel' watched The great ruby put :a footJnsldeHthe The - electric lights flooded the wide' rthe same" oval contour, Jig-sa15 years, but naturally rewink a for was house The and part ruby glow. flimsy railway table on- which were colonel the who? who? brows queried had not every-thinher them his ls memories of auntivsbe .'giving cards. . An sented spread rows of small-sizehe nodded. Of coUrse; it was, I "reckon" they filled Milllcent alwaynworn It. He remembered It, Then elderly lady of quality . was musing the-mawith' the moles, the brother.' him She with and come their notions." visit pushed when she used to over the pasteboard rows. A lady of up He'looked enough like' Mrs. Winter to the West cards at hotel together. the Point, dazzling outspread af quality that was distinctly the bhrase At once he put his. kinsman. be her "You had several moves left" said Impartially, officers, prof essors, cadets to catch one's" fancy at" the first ;to: the:leJatAntiBecky,,, said guess almost Was and waiters. hotel that colonel. the , Mrs. Winter.- Not an aged glimpser-o- f kin 1 don't know ' "Four. But then, I was finished. itO years ago? Well, 34 anyhow! She he, "have -you any lady, either, for even at 80, that ele. ; about?"' to been' had very of generous very good, course; and gantly molded, slim figure, that abun- Bertieyou play bridge, 'I ail indee4 the young Winters, then. dance of silvery: hair parted In the I used to hear of your whist triumphs; said ahe serenely JI . to whist?" although she never quite forgave him less' to did take how you happen on and each growing thickly piddle aa well as mar--. was born a Winter, "To fill up the time; I reckon. I be for not marrying the wife of her f ashioh, which art lda Jaature'a-ow- n MeKand Archie isnd so and yoii hk(LlwayB. been kjud and j4ed, can not counterfeit, as "well as "softly gan It years ago. Now a soldier's life me. are " double tarto sl was o-an only mnre. varlpd hprmiHo n generous to Rupert;? yet somehow, la ptiffed-an- d "massed atooYBthat-- x 1 f haven-fchildlw--aay thing-lwhile Ee "Bad adnilred and ?oun quisitely .colored and textured skin, man will be shifted around and get a aown m or rourta tmrd than cousins, his Aunt Rebecca, he strangely smooth- -i or her years, with show of the different kinds of service. humorous Joy in . Boston." and . . Virginia loVed her. ever -wondered if had hi tiny wrinkles of humor, to be .sure, And there are 'the' exams.- ,- and the "chaHcer cousln,ahy HavFyparT -about'the ?- .'named-Merc87uT"WffiielF SBd pBhmpplnei old a soutnern wue, leaf7iBrTflif skin uhmarred ;; that fine; firmly; carved But 1n the days a man In the line Restln&Ihfir JLngef ilpg jon the cards, a her life .was northern - those black leader, time! society an and was billed for awfully stupid profile, eyebrows Aunt Rebecca seemed to let her mind ; her of J eonquests; footsteps, lashes and. still brilliant dark eves:.! I didn't care to take to drink; and I full amid Virginian and Massachu- search had which had wandered over the world, iilda'treadajia'oiv-d-tf-r- d jmst: air in that: greet," alertr dala carriage, gave no impression-o- f age; t books,- - which I Jadn't. so 1 took to hadleftlTpWsoTelcen tainly, she answered after a pause. Bui they all, and playing tarda. ..I played skat .and miration. She had always been a per- "there wasTCes; Philemon Mercer a toilet and manner, and a little prim poker and whist, and of late years I've sonage She was power TnasnlhS: confederate armyyou know and bis ton afterlhq war; they had found her touch of an older, more reticent daylj'y bridgev- - Milllcent playstl "soiirsaiErNetson In 3 royal courts "Milllcent is a; celebrated player. uniquely i delightful in both dress and bearing, recalled the and Sam Nelson my second.1 last cenfury phrase. '' She was a play- long before,; Americans ...were .the and Sani Nelson's" Boas would be my -fashlon;rshe-hadLheen- :jf importance "A soft gray bunch of chinchilla fur er, you know, To see Milllcent In-e-r wouldn't they? Phil and Sam third, her loved had In ind New. they York, lay where she had slipped It on; her glory, one should play duplicate with are both dead, and Winnie Lee,- - the sott gfay7Bkrrti.."B Jier, -- I'm only. thump player rmy epigrams In Boston jr now, in her old Is dead,' and poor Phll--ttbeTf.urher;.Mt-hand-and-aitfiftage, she held a veritable little court of daughter. t you know-poo- r '..hoy.:Jbe. r grandson,, her "own in the provincial eStferrieit? ''What else should it be? . third. finger were the only rings which while at Harvard; but. himself shot, which had she wdreabandT of "gold, worn"by760 Aunt Resecca Brniled TrpoirhiinrTo , his brother Cary Is alive.", years, and a wonderful ruby, wherein give Information, to your partner. The He went to congress from Falrport; ' TP BE COJfTINCED.)- . and fortune a there, , hehadhjmade-iaf Ie.a5LMch;was-Rflperl'Bphanfflfeyv roaJC:pb1LoLyi a writhing flame- - was neld captive by jtaa-leadiWmf ff signaling Informa- when he died. .mapy. years x agot In 2tSS$tt:$t3tuV." .' its guard of diamond, icicles. .. The tion to' your psirtner, Incidentally, one Fgypt, Bicl" tcrRls westerp hoTnt, with of author Marcelle Mme. Tlnayre, ' same rings "admired by her nephew tells the adversaries,:as TveU as one's dogged determination and lavish - ex "La i Matsoa du aBd y "La Rebelle",' his and wit,ever sln9e he was a cadet JTJst .the partner, which. however,? doesn't penditures'.of among the .recently elected , same smiling,- - inscrutable, count really as much as you might widow had brought him to rest The Pechej" Is of the legion i. of Honor. chevaliers aolemn and most . experience Jntense ,,. think;, for most people don't notice unchanging old 4ame! . marble r no -- "Good evening. Aunt Rebeeoji; notl "what their, partners play ..very much, of a woman she had missed,--fod'Enf-mtEntitled "TrilouIyt statue" to come but her adver-Bar' had them, children and don't notice what thein a day older! said the colonel. busbsnd had heen her lover so long has ben bought by Ih1 Freuch nation "Good evening, Bertie," returned the play at alt. Milllcent" is in the Luxmtour" so busy Indicating- - things to bfr as he' lived,, and nhe had loved him. and will beTut lady, extending a hand over the cards; of only two wo nn works the "excuse my not rising' to greet von ; nartner and watching for his slgnlft! She had known great. met);, she had are representtj Tu' iL.s grulptiirs wonderful and. Hhrouth lived event?; and his indications that you "can run af I migM, Juggle the" cards-." '. .7T.. ' on ttoso uiuoum. I'm. not. a day older; I don't dare to cross- ruff in on her without her sus-- oftfcn her hand had been, - " ' i..-- . - . -- - A - Lr. ' LLJiTT , : , ? y nice-lookin- g Was A, 7 7- - SYNOPSIS. - ----- I 12 T' I i . 5 but he has put that in the j . I Aunt Rebecca. wasMrs. Melville ushered Into hifr section than the colonel went through the train. He was not so suspicious as he told himself he might been, with such, a dovetailing of .titcumstances lntQ!liia accidentally captured information; he couldn't yet read .villainy On that college lad's frank face. But no reason, therefore, to neglect precautions. 'Hope 1 the best of men and prepare for the worst,'"-:- ' was the : old campaigner's ha-f- r" 7"77CHAPTER 1. Continued. 't "We've been worried a good deal,": - fpursued Mrs. Melville, "about .the wax j Aunt Rebecca has acted.. She. would s i In Purport,1 where' we could have .jtay some influence over her. She Was al- 1 1 ways going BOuth or going to toe sea- jahore or .going somewhere, Sgpetimea suspect Miss Smith madf her, to Tteep "neraway"ffom us, ToJ EnOW." "Well, as long as I hive known Aunt Rebeccaanyhow, Jever since has been tfncle Archibald died restless and flying abourl- ' "Not as she is now, ind then she only had her maid" te's faithful as yea,: Randall does she say they make 'cm W1 about Miss Smith?" -- 1 mottq;:-- r- - walk -A through - theeara-show- ed him nn signs of the .two 4nen a a tolerably complete Inspection, too. or therewas only one drawing-roostateroom of which hea1'dotftn4ge ta get .a glimpse the closed room being the .property ;6f a; Very great-- financial magnate,-whos- e private car' -- was for. him In Denver. His door 1 waiting t," wag-fasand - therclick of. the typeannounced writer the tireless industry I" of our rulers. ",. over Randall "Bertie, t she's e But if he did not find . Randall swears- byfher. OK she's's man with or he did the moles the boy deep!" , a surprise for his walk; namely, get ."seems to.be. Jlnt excuse me the sight of the family of Haley, and what's your gaineJMUlicent? How do himself beside their trig, bat- you mean to project our . aged kin s- - Haley Iri a section 'of the car woman and, Incidentally, of course, tered luggage, his next own';Mrs.' Haley, turn.ed a '' -.- ."the Winter-fortuedwhile-Haleyr gui essayed watchJ on shall Bertie; I shall be . demeanor.";": J' my guard every waking hour. That "Wha't does this mean?'' demanded rr deluded old wenian Is in more-dange: perhaps, than you dream." ; ' the coloner"" he- - would have- - to z ", go ,'' 7 "Aa Ww?" 'fU f . "Miss Smith"her voice sank por with you, colonel," replied Mrs. Haley, ' who bad timid, wide, blue eyes and 11 rr-- . tontniiHlv truing ntirae." . IV r -- ,. - VIJ V,,,. " "What harm does t h&f.derianio, asWrds ha'?;- - too. you think she "would khow"t6ir"much" nests are in peril. "We've when their about poisons?" Tfie oelnjiel laughed. to a good man "wth rinted house the . "It'Syho laughing matter, Bertie. and Haley can get grown-nchildren, womthis and other sojrich him"--v want won't if you an is so poor, and, in iny .estTmaHon; Yis," sor," mumbled Haley. He was so ambitious. I make standing at attention, aswaalriftrwlfer I "only say she Nora being held in! the be right about that?said fthe toddltag you f gogUj.g-pjepecronnhe: plush seat . ; the colonel though tfullyE!fEhereiis I suppose you took the furni"And the for and. boy your.bagsJIZ: jRiley r-- The. boy) picked up the big dress-fea- ture' money to- buy -tickets? l "YIs. sor." case case, (the smaller dress-sui- t "And you're bound to go with me?" aud the ' hat case,-- ' he grabbed the YIs, sor' said (bundle of cloaks, the ease of umbrel-T'la- rl Jt-wa- fe : - " ?" -- fl lty-1-e- - , -- " 'r , - hatFlesst is p - b needs-'watcling.- mj : it -.-.x- Blwzriz , s, and the lizard-skiJa.- - Cubiaua- sergeant,!', said the colonel; but he colonel'f eyed jthe ly luggage.js h.e self,was he glad at the heart of him for' tried to dtiengage a finger. . "Nlver tnoind, young feller," called this mutinous loyalty.. A "Iu-- ; said so TFlaleyr "Yes, Halev. rremutorlly , whiskinaway. the nearc t'jilpce, "I'll help you a' bit you understand.'r with you s,' Instead; you've a load, you from " Tls, sor" said Haley:' Mrs. Haley sure!" ..Mrs, Mflvllle explained In an under- whimpered a blessing; butthe onjy I change Ip the soldier was that his miliall th tone:.. charges tary s'.olldity became natural and real possibly can; the overweight ' of .forced. tn$t-, are wicked!" S'.t dov;n on this seat over here with "Haley, 'they won't let you Jnsida "without a ticket,' objected thp rolourl rn' and HI tfcU you nha I want to But Halpy, unheeding. Etrode on ahad j You fraud, letting me say good-b" ' " -.Hie EtasSiiiing'joufh. of Thave ?ri Knglih bathtub, locked,) "l dUo't want to" talse the liberty, of cn'Tse. at'ld packed with things, sor, but you made me shake hands,- I n . - - - V to-da- hand-luggag- -- -- t y -- - -- -- - -- A " J 8he-Answr- ed -- f . ne .UNO sooner Melville. . " -y? CHAPTErV4t. . I car,"- - said " -- i Nurse.": Mrs.. Melville. said 1 the olonel ab"Certainly," sently "he was thiitlng: Mrs. Winter, the boyr Miss Smith how ridiculously comple! Decidedly some thing will beajf watching. etory open at Harvard where 'Col. Uupert" " Winter, U. -8. A.,-- vis of Tho suicide young "TftlngT saw Mercer. He met Cary Mercer, brother of the dead student. Thrte years Jater .. in Chicago, tn 1906. Col. Winter over- heard Cary' Mercer apparently planning to kidnap Archie, the colonel's ward, and to gain possession of A tint R1wro--Wl- n ter's millions. A Miss Smith warrnen- tioned, apparently as a conspirator. Wiri-- 1 - 1e unexpectedly met a. relative,- Mr. Milllcent Melville, who told bim that his Aunt Rebecca, .Archie ami th Matter's to leave nurse, Miss Janet Smith,-werfor the west with the colonel and Mrs. " The aTrln1 - she-sat,--- with ;. ,u swlndlesryou-mitrc4-7rm1r;share- iny-mon- ey uld "Aunt-Rebecc- -- - tleiorebeiHer ' : g ,. . of-h- d . -- - - okfc-part- '. -- ' fcrleatyf divert er ng, -- thelr-accessori- he .. both-mtme- high-bred- -- 1 " s : 1 . - - |