Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-06

The bed had become disagreeably warm.
| and he raised himself on his elbow that
the cool air might come under the clothes
The attitude made him think of the way
actors die on the stage. Would man
who was ST OF take this pSsitions He won
dered bow Z would be with himself if that
| first bullet from Basil Redstock's weapon
should take effect. Poohi it was q toy af-
fair, incapa bic of hitting a mark ten feet
| away. There was no chance-of course
| there was chance, merely a chance. He
| dropped back in bed. Then he began to
see pictures of what might happen He is
| walking down the street-Basil comes up
| from hehinl-calls ont to him-shoots-he
falls into the gutter. He is coming out of
the front door OF the house-some one calls
| TO hint IL Basil Redstock-a shot-he
| falls forward on his face on the steps lie
| Is at his des in the office-a noise of some
one speakiug-h looks up-it is Basil Red
stock-a report-fash of light-smoke-he
drops out Of the chair in heap on the
hoor-b,ood on the carpet. Now the pict-
ures began to follow one another more
rapidly. He was whirled along through
| the various places where business or pleas
ure might take him in the course Of the
day: always it was the samoa sudden CRY
Basil Rssistock-a shot-Mostyn falls
blood. As they came faster the details
grew DINNER until at last the whole
| seemed an indistinct haze, in the midst of
which he could see only Basil Redstock,
| with arm appraised. and he himself falling
falling
He WAS nearing sleep. One moment
| more and he would have been free from
the torment of consciousness.
But in that instant he heard = crv from
tlA lnuH nd rfaa, he
Redstock
"Mostynl Cowardl Come out and be
shot"
He sprang up in bed-stunned into ter
ror. After the last word was spoken
| there was s;illness-stillness in the house
and in the street-stillness so complete
that it roarsd in his ears
There was no chance to think il A dream
for, on hearing his name called, Mostyn
had instantly shaken off his drowsiness
and was thoroughly awake to what fol-
lowed. There could be no question either
about the origin of the cry: BASIL Red
stock-crazf'd, perhaps in the street
in the middle of the street-before the
house, and was calling To him TO come ont
Evidently be was armed, and the instant
Mostyn should appear would begin to
shoot
Mostyn climbed slowly and noiselessly
out Of bed, and CROPPED his way into the
front room. He had no distinct plan of
action, but when, by the moonlight that
struggled throng the chinks of the blinds,
he saw the revolver lying on the desk. he
took 1t out of its sheath and went toward
the window that overlooked the street
Here he could see plainly, yet not be seen.
There was no one in the street. Ii WAS
empty and silent, rs when MoStvn had
looked down upon it few hours before.
Where was Redstock, Had he gore
away or was he hiding in the dark shad-
ows? Mostyn strained his eyes, but could
see no sign of him
Suddenly he remembered that the CRY
must have been heard by others in the
house, and for that matter in Az the neigh
borhood about, for it had runC ont Ioud
and shrill il the quiet night He listened.
expecting to hear the sound OF people NOV
ing about. But silence continued. Min
utes passed-two or three-five-ten-but
no sight of Basil Redstock in the street
no sound in the house
So he turned and put the revolve. on
the desk and went back to bed Now he
began to think il ali over anew
The weakness and folly of Eva Redstock
had been 4 surprise, but. in the name of
heaven, what possessed Basils Was he in
sane-or drunken had he actually
thought that Mostyn would respond to
such challenge and come out and be
shot:" Really, it was quite incom prehen-
sibie. But it was none the less disgrace
disgusting, damnable-
And 4 unded from the clock.
-Four in the morning, and not a wink of
sleep yeti Three must have struck when I
was only hat conscious In an hour more
and 1t viii lie daylight. I must get to sleep
or | shall be wreck to-morroyT-a wreck
a wreck
''Mostyni Coward Come out and be
shot!''
The words struck into the man, half
doing in his warm bed, with sudden and
icy chill They sounded very loud, as if
Redstock were within a few feet of the
house-on tie sidewalk or the steps. There
was no longer question but the cry must
have been heard, at least by those who &C
cupied rooms In the front part of the dwell
ing; and Mostyn waited breathlessly for
something to happen. But the stiffness
which follow ed the cry RENAL ned unbroken.
AT last he sprang from the bed, shivering
like man with the ague, and peeped again
through the blinds of the front windows.
There was no one to be seen The moon
HSnb mao CAV en- way 10 the first streaks of
dawn, and rs he stood looking out the
clock below struck the hour Of j.
To attempt sleep now WAS idle and he
slowly began to dress. The cry was not
heard again
When Mostyn was ready to leave the
room ne put the sheat he'd revolver into his
pocket. he stood for a moment in the
front doorway and looked searchiuoIy
across and along the street, before he vent
ured ont upon the steps. On his way down
town, he sLaekened his pace at every cor
ner and CLAN ced about. right and left and
behind, in the stealthy manner of a man
who Is afraid of his own fears Several
times be magined that he SAW Redstock
coming. and he stepped into a doorway and
waited with his hand on his hip pocket.
until the suspected person came near
enough TO show that he was not the man.
Il did not know that was such cow
ard" he said; 81 am not coward A night
without sleep has made me nervous. Be
sides, If am not always on my guard,
may be taken unewares"
he went ID lis Office, and lighting fire
BEGAN to turn no vvorf Re b,I