Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-22

become possessed OF the person Of a So
cial outcast like myself unless he be.
lieves such a step of supreme impor.
tance. Doubtless you have your theo-
ries?"
Doubtless have. You have parried
my question very ingeniously, Mr. Dye.
Let me see what you will say to the
next You spoke of the truth in the
matter What is the truth?''
Sir, Twill answer you unreseryedly.
connect my presence here, not without
some degree of naturalness, You must
admit, to the interest You take in the
young lady whom I have reared as nv
daughter While can have no idea OF
what your suspicious are or of what Won
would convict me, inasmuch as YOU
speak of the police infer that it must
be something Of n criminal nature. The
truth in relation to that matter is An
nette is not my child, and l have no
claim or authority over her. l never
even legally adopted her. If she has
borne my name, it was because nv late
wife wished it for the child's own sake.
She believed that it would be humilias-
ing for the child to be brought up in the
knowledge that she had no name: that
she was in truth a waif whose parent
age was unknown. Iwould have riyep
much if the name we gave her had been
worth more for her own sake, but it was
the best that we could do under the cir
cumstances.
''Who were Annette's parents?"
God knows.
"And you?"
"Sir, l am not in his confidence
"Iou talk that way and expect me to
believe you''
Sir, on the contrary, / do not Nei-
Their do wish to be understood as in
dulging in profane levity. Ihave the ut
most respect for the Deity. He has, he
can have none for me.
MaXey was aStounded It was NOT
alone the GOODNESS OF the man, bat the
sincerity and despair with which he
seemed to speak. In spite of himself, the
artist began to believe him For a mo-
ment he could not regain courage enough
TO return to the attack. Mr.. Dye lifted
his faded eyes inquiringly from the con-
temptation Of his hat.
Ou tb-l htlttNt me. ic Sslll.
at seems hardly possible -
''Sir, it is the truth. For myself |
would not take the trouble to sneak. For
her sake l viii say to Won that take nv
oath before Almighty God, as hope Tor
mercy IN the world to come that do
not know who her parents were -
be said this s0iemniy and impressive
II. 1t produced profound effect on
MaXey, who had never driftea away
from the religious teaching IF his yoet1
The name Of the Deity was a very solemn
thing i'll his eyes. He could not under
stand why il should not be in the eyes
Of all men. Nevertheless he mustered
up courage 10 renew the battle
If TINS be true, why then did Won
appear SO o-cited on the night when Won
put CHS e,ila into your wife, G-,-?
Why eli ySl Plead with her =, .,,-.sItty
never 70 reveal that the child was nat
your own: Why did You even say that
If the truth were known it might ts-in,
you to The gallows:''
Surprises like this may startle the
calmness of etfronterv. bet there are
few surprises sufficiently strong to over
come the calmness Of despair. Mr. Dye
was utterly unmoyed He replied IN his
somberest tones:
Sir, you must be aware that the
moribund when approaching dissolution
enters frequently into stage of hallu-
clnatlon. The mind wanders. If il were
worth while TO defend myself, ! should
say that my poor wife was not herself:
that she exaggerated"
This was simply unansverablc, and
strangely enough it was the first time it
had occurred 10 Maxcy. The artist felt
the groundwork Of his hopes giving WY
beneath him. but he forced himself to
assume skeptical air and to proceed.
You can tell me, / suppose. how ECU
became possessed Of this child?
sir, ! can assuredly."
In the name of goodness, vary your
form of address little cried Maxev.
exasperatcd by the inevitable predatory
sir. " Mr.. Dye locked up with mild
surprise in his faded eyes.
Since il annoys you, sir. will"
1T Is unnatural, and you pat it On for
effect "
''u ''tt Stlltltfltn, SIT. cannot
contradict you.
Maxey bit his lip.
BE kind enough. then. to 20 on. ~
1t was a dark night, sir. " said Mr..
Dye, looking as though he were drawing
the whole scene out OF the ruffled sur
face of his forlorn hat Il was coming
home from a low resort. | stumbled
up my steps unsteadiiy and fell over a
bundle that was lying outside my door
II Was little Annette, stupeiicd by the
effects of some drug which had been
gwen her. | took her III to my wife
and that poor, unfortunate woman who
wrecked her life when she married me
conceived IN affection for her al once
We never had any children. She desired
to keep her. / permitted her 20 DO So
That Is the whole story. Do not thini, /
wish TO lie short with you. will an
swer any question you think it worth
your while to address to ne. -
Did You leave the city Immediately
after you found the child:'
II did"