Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-06
SLEEP NO MORE.

DhScSe ol All men Is ne VINO OetrayS a
trust.
Nothing could be urged in the defense of
Edgar Nostyn; not youth, not lack of ex-
| perience, not hastiness of action. not
temptation from Others, and-as far as one
might Judge-not passion. No man stand
ing between good and evil ever had better
reasons than he for following the right
path, and experience would not suffer him
10 go wrong by mistake Yet he sinaed-
ana the sin was at once great and con-
temptible
When Basil Redstock had been married
about year business made IL necessary
that he should leave his wife and home for
several months. There were some mines
to be looked after in wild district where
he could not take Eva. A maiden aunt.
old, deaf, stupid, came to the house to
stay, and several OF Eva's cornpanions
were expected. But there ought TO be a
man about To scare away burglars Basil's
best friend was Edgar Mostyn, bachelor
and man of the world, yet one whose re-
served speech and upright conduct had al
ways repealed the breath of scandal
He is man. said BasiI-and Nostvn
knew that he had said ito whom l
would, without hesitation. intrust every
dollar | had in the worid-ny own good
name-everything"
80 Mostyn came to live in the house OF
his friend on his friends request that he
should guard and protect his wife
AT ilrst Iva was never without the com
pany OF girl friends. Presently they ceased
to come; perhaps it was accidental. per
haps she was less urgent in her invita-
lions. During he last month, she and the
old aunt and Edgar Mostyn were alone
much of the time, The aunt would grow
sleepy in the evenings; besides she was
deaf
When Basil Redstock returned. Mostyn.
who was d man OF perfect self control. vel
coined hun with cordial smiles and hearty
speech. But the weak woman, sick with
terror, scarcely knew what she said and did.
Basil was not suspicious by uature-yet
he was not fool
On the evening of the third day after the
husbands return, as Mostyn sat alone In
his bachelor quarters, a note was brought
to him. 1t had been left at the door by a
woman. In the trembling, iIegible scrawl.
he with difficulty recognized the handwrit-
ing of Eva Redstock. The note read TINS:
What have | donel / cannot tell how it
has happened; but he knows all. He said
he would kill me if did not confess, and
was almost crazy. He means to shoot Won
l know, for he took his revolver and went
away. wish he had killed mel wish |
were dead "
Mostyn stared bl2ndly at the paper for
some moments after he had finished read
ing its message. Here was catastrophe in
form that he had not toreseen: for such
weakness was quite out of the pale of his
understanding. At last he tore the note
to fragments and tossed it into the fire.
Well" he said with savage -cowl, sit
iE q haH
to shoot, eb?"
Presently Mostyn arose and opened a
drawer in his desk. He took out a revolver
not toy article, but one of the sort that
can be made to shoot straight and TO kill
and began to turn it over in his hands A
touch on half concealed spring aud the
chambers rolled out. From t he same drawer
he brought piece of cloth, a small bottle
OF oil and some cartridges
lit took little time to clean, oil and load
the weapon While he was thus engaged
Mostyn thought the situation over after
this wise:
He does not know how to shoot, and if
meet him on the street and he draws |
can safely risk his first fire | know that
revolver of his; before he is ready for a sec
ond l can-h m, it would be bad business
If should-the whole thing is going to
y, II
business. Ruin me, of course; but don L
care TO give my life Just because woman
is fool God! what fool she was! II
she had only denied it that would have
been soInething-but 10 confess all! Yet
how If he should come on me from behind.
Well, that is not like Basil Redstock He
is chivalrous fellow, and | imagine will
not shoot without warning"
When the pistol was loaded ard in per
feet order Mostyn slipped it into a leather
sheath and left it upon the desk. Then be
sat down by the fire and thought-not of
the immediate danger-for he was ready
now to meet that-but OF he man and the
woman who had that day lived tragedy
on his account. Such thoughts were surely
not pleasant; yet he remained an hour be-
yond the time when he usually retired,
staring into the flames.
The living apartments of Mr.. Edgar
Mostyn were two rooms in the second story
of a large residence building The parlor
was in front and looked out over the street. |
The neighborhood was quiet, although not
far distant from populous thoroughfare.
When he was ready to go to bed, Mostyn,
as was his custom, threw wide open one of
the front windows. He stood for a moment
gazing upon the street, which was brightly |
lighted by the moon and empty of people |
Then he closed the blinds and went into
the inner room
There was in the lower hall of the house
a Large clock which struck the hours. !
Shortly after Mostyn stepped into bed mid |
night sounded He lay very still for a |
time and thought of Eva. Then ne turned |
over into another part of the bed and |
thought about Basil And presently he |
heard the clock strike l.
Then he became restless and tossed about |
r was a bad scrape, and it worried him |
Even If he saved his life he must expect to
part with his reputation. for the affair