The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-23


might have stroled down to the waters ana
been drowned"
The banker fixed his burning eyes upon
the uhysicisn's face, and whispered
ii said we never saw the poor chic
again. | did not say we had not heard Oh
her. She was lost on the 9th OF August
1854, For year we thought her dead
Rpt on the anniversary OF our loss We
received written message cohcefn'us
her, u,..o, s,art.
ing. .,..r,. hand
evidently .disguised,' said the oanNef'
"Here it 10. e ,.r
He produced dingy scrap OF paper
from q drawer in the table, ana he'o II up
to the view Of the physician, who read a.
follows
"Aueu.t 9, 1855, Diessie ha, he! Jc''i'."
Dr. Hutton looked, with puzzled a'1
from the scrap of paper, which he '4rneu
over and over, to the counten~AcS VI Tue
banker. el:.rtoaa.luod
ut il merely , date, with the name of your
,aa, Jancbtc,. 1t tells me nothing"
''V No. J d;S it US, at FIRST" said Mr.. Preble'
urhon lat name and that date, with the
aamor laugh connecting them, set us to
,hirIinR. A whole year we aponIzed over
tie dreadful problem, and then we received
another message, which you shall see.'
He thrust second slip Of paper, Identical
| in shape and appearance with the first, be-
fore the gaze Of DR.. Hutton, who read 1t
aloud
august 9, 1856. Your Jessie stiH iee''"
The MUSICIAN started, as if electrified.
"Ah This is something definite some.
thing decisive he muttered at convinced
YOU that your daughter was still living
ayes, Doctor said Mr.. Preble, "aud ev.
ery anniversary of that day has brought US
some message. The disappearance of the
child, mysterious MS il is, does not seem 10
me half so strange as that the villain who
took her away could contriye to commum'
cate with US every year since, and always on
a particular day--the anniversary OF that on
which she was stolen-wthout our being
. able to discover who he is. And still
Z greater wonder to me is what can be ms
motive. 1t seems incredible. If it was
stated in novel many people would not BE-
lieve it. But truth is stranger than hctlon.
) Mrs. Preble drew from her husband
Q breast pocket his note book, opened 1t to the
proper page, and presented it to the phys'
-, clan.
DR.. Hutton adjusted his spectacIes
l glanced over the page, and then slowly reaC
the group Of entries aloud. The entry th'
first year is as follows
: august 8, 1855. Jessie, ho, ba! Jessie y
D And the next year i a. ann. ~
< IA iT The neyt--
- ANY Tue noA ,ot7 ele. i. ooo5 hand. r'
:. AID the rext--
y A "an 're o 1858. She il ,ceH as ercr %
:. And the next--
, august 9, 1859. Iso~ 1ey yssterd"y!'
And the next o., 81,
"Angust j. lS'V' "'' y''"'"' '"F'"Y
And the next t....y.,,
4 august ., ''''' '"' '"'''
e ana tne ,eAt ,oso Pee. ,,,, lien, ,oai,, p,
@ Au ,5o =, -
a Att ut 'no a tsf3. She. becoming a ,romaur
!. "A ~, Nv
>. -A" n1n,,nst 9, 1864. Your cGHd is thirteen :"
And the next
k "Aggust 2, 1863. SHE" Ior'''er th'" ee''
And the next
a august 9. 1866. She's ''"t'y charming
d ana la8' year ,. ~ M, yu,ayd is at ha.d ="
Is A0bu1' %
And what shall we get 'ooay exod !;
e, The physician looked up anu nNeI 49,
d thoughtful gaze upon the pefeaVeo hu'o"n
=, and wife. .-...,, 10 go, .
As Wow did these messages come 10 YOU
zee he demanded. .,;.1 NJ. p,oh,
nd "lnyanaoIy oy post iep'''D .n1' 49,, 80 ~
Usually to the houS'' Du' 'o'''e''D''' W VI