Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-22
CHAPTER X.
MR. DYE

MR. DYE
Tho tide flowed back and forth beneath
the thickcning ice unseen, and the win.
ter wore ON. Maxcy's new pupil xros
making much progress. Tho same was
trg, in another sense, of Maxey him.
self Sometimes In the interest and pro.
occupation Of their mutual labors their
heads would get very close together
This was so entirely accidental and nm.
prcmcditatod an occurrence that the fact
tllii sudden interruption mt such times
started blush into the faces Of each
seems strange and understandable. But
1t was unqucstionably the fact A knock
at the outer door one afternoon was at.
tended by this result They had beep
bending over sketch by a window in
the rear room, and both became Sudden
" conscious that they were bctrayinp
unwonted confusion. Maxey was so
painfully aware of his own BETRAYAL of
sentiment that he was very glad of the
opportunity offered to conceal it nv an
swcrlng the summons ut the door.
He stepped into the vestibule and
partly closed the entrance TO the rear
chamber before he looked into the outcr
corridor. Two men stood by the stair
railing. When he saw them, the artist :
heart gave great bound One man he
knew by sight; the other he knew by in
tuition The foremost man was the sly
landlord Of 10 Flood street. The other,
who remained n little in the rear. was
q curious specimen of humanity. He ap-
ncarcd to be between 40 and 80 years of
age His face was smooth his skin very
pale and sallow. His cheeks sank into
TWO cavernous hollows. His hair was
long and OF IN obstinate straiShtness. 1t
buried his cars and swept his coat collar.
In perfect keeping with the rest of his
appearance, his eyes looked as though
they might have been of a definite color
III his boyhood. bat had faded out from
long usage. So did his hat his coat and
what was visible of the remainder Of his
habit There were a telltale rlossiness
and wocbcgono thrcalbarencss about
them all. II there was furlorn and ut
tcrly cast down atmosphere surrounding
his face, this was equally true of his hat
and shoes. His ancient coat was button
cd mp about his neck with such m evil
dent attempt TO conceal the absence of q
collar or the dirtiness Of his linen that
the only possible excuse for having TAX
in so much pains about the matter
seemed TO be TO allow the observer q
chance ia amuse himself with n specu-
lation ~ TO which of the two was the
fact And with all this there were hard
lines In the mans face which spoke of
unhappincss, even perhaps despair.
Mr.. Bclfry bowed is soon as the door
was opened. With placid wink, of
which his companion was blissfully IN
conscious. he said.
Il believe you was the man. sir, that
wanted man TO write letters for you?"
i believe was, returned the artist
And if YOU have found me the person
want i shall le greatly obliged 10 YOU
Let the gentleman come in Perhaps
You wouldn't mind yourself taking a
scat IN the vo-tibulc:"
The hircling gave Naxcy "a sly look
and profound bow. He motioncd his
companion forward. ard when the door
was closed Immediately turned the key
III the lock, drew a chair up against it
and -It calmly down with his back to il.
The faded and forlorn individual did
NOT notice this action, u il wa. done
behind him. lie had coinc into the hall,
had removed his hat and was bustowiuy
one or two smoothing touches upon his
Obstinate hair. cyiug Maxcy rather
steadily the while.
You did not mention the gentle
mans name" slid the artist.
His name is Dye" returned the sly
Bclfry.
- this the lips Of the stranger I'M
closed 10 give slow and distinct utter
ancr, in u dull, sort-r voice. to the cor
rpburativc statement.
Mr.. LcardCr DYE sir -
Dye: Dye? Rather ~ odd name.
That. Bat ! think have heard it before
think | have. Cone in, Mr.. Dye come
ia. ! have recently taken il upon myself
70 become the protector and guardian Of
y certain young person 10 whom shall
TAI" great pleasure IN introducing you. "
NaNcy threw open tine door comm1ni-
eating with the rear room and stepped
H. The next instant the young woman
and tho man confronted each other
The meeting affected them differently
Auhrttc was 30 overcome that she was
Obliged to cling 70 the piano for support
Mr. Dye. even under the shock Of tie
hrst meeting. did not start. nor was
anything added to the natural pallor Of
MS countcaancc He merely turned his
hr.id, saw The man who had brought him
,h'r' sitting with his back against the
door, cast a faded glance over the gen.
a.. INa II. I