Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-17

treachery.
Indeed it was clear that tho distrust and
dependency had today become . panic
Men glared at one another and at the door
and talked in whispers and started at the
slightest sound. l glanced round. Tho
one sought TO. with eager yet shrinking
eyes was no: to be seen. 1 turned to Mas
ter BERTHE, my face mutely calling on him
to ask the question. Where is the pris-
oner:" he said sharply.
A moment hung in suspense. Then
one of the men said: HE is in there. He
is safe enough; He pointed as he spoke
to door which seemed to lead to an inner
cellar.
Right" said Master BERTHE, still stand
ing. Il have two pieces Of bad news for
You nevertheless. Firstly, have just been
recognized by the Spanish ambassador,
whom l met in the courtyard above. !"
Half the men rose to their feet. what
Is he doing here" they cried, one boldly,
the others with the quavcr very plain in
their voices.
II do not know, but he recognized me-
Why he took no steps to detain or arrest
me cannot tell. He rodc away by the
north road
They gazcd AZ one another and We at
them. The wolfish look which fear brings
into some faces grew stronger in theirs.
"Whnt is your other bad ncwsf' said
Kingston, with an cath.
"A person outside, a friend of the pris-
onor, has n list of our names and knows
our meeting place and our plans. She
threatens to Use the knowledge unless the
man Clarence or Crcwdson be set Free"
There was n loud murmur Of wrath and
dismay, amid which Kingston alone pre-
served his composurc. I'VE might have
been prepared for that" he said quietly
1T is an old prccaution of such folk. But
how did you come to hear of it,
MY friend here saw the messenger and
heard the terms. The man must be set
FREQ by sunset
And what warranty have we that he
will not go straight with his plans and his
list to the counciI:"
Master Bcrtie could not answer that,
neither could /. We had no surety, and
If we set him free could take none save
his word. His word! Could even ask
them to accept that? To stake tho life of
the meanest of t!s2m on il?
saw the difficulties of the position, and
when Master Kingston pronounced cool!y
that this was waste of time, and that
the only wise course was to dispose of the
principal Witness both in tho interests of
justice and our own safety, and then shift
ourselves before the storm broke, ac-
knowledScd in my heart the wisdom of
the course and felt that yesterday it would
have received my assent.
The risk is about the same either
way" Master Bcrtie said.
Not at al" Kingston objected, a spar
klc of malice in his eye. Last night wo
had thwarted him. Tonight it was his
turn, and the dark, lowering looks of those
round him showed that numbers were
with him. This fellow can hang Us all.
His accomplice who escapes can know
nothing save through him and could give
only vague and uncertain evidence. No,
no. Let US cast lots who shall do it, get
it done quickly and be gone"
1--WE must wait at least, BERTHE urged,
until Sir Thomas comes.''
MOI retorted Kingston, with heat
"Wc are all equal here. Besides the man
was condemned yesterday with the full
assent of all. 1t only remains to carry out
tho sentence. Surely this gentleman" he
continued, turning suddenly upon me,
who was SO ready to accuse him ycstcr-
day, does not wish him spared today"
Il do wish it, l said in q low tone.
"Ho. no." he cried, folding his arms
and throwing back his head, astonished at
the success of his own question. Then
may we ask for your reasons, sir? Last
night you could not lay your tongue to
words too bad for him. Tonight you wish
to spare him ard let him CO.
Il do, ;" said. l felt that every eye was
upon mo and that, Master BERTHE except
cd, not one there would feel sympathy
with me in my humiliation. They were
driven to the wall. They had no time for
fine feeling, for sympathy, for apprccia-
ton of the tragic unless it touched them
selves. What chanccf had with them,
though was son pleading for father.
Nay, what argument had I save that 1
was his son, and that l had brought him
to this: No argument. Only the appeal
to them that they would not make me a
parricidc, And I felt that at this they
would mock.
And so, in view of those stern, curious
faces, n new temptation seized mc-thc
temptation to be silent Why should I
not stand by and let things take their
course? Why should not spare myself
the shame which i already saw would be
fruitlcss? When Master Kingston with a
cynical bow, said, Your reasons. SIR"
stood mute ard trembling. If 1 Kept ST
lenCe. IL TCitSct 10 give lily feaSOnS, II
did not acknowledge the prisoner, but
merely begged his life, he would die, and
the connection between us would be
known only to one or two. / should be
freed from him and might go my own
way. The sins of Ferdinand Cluddo We're
! well nigh forgotten. Why take to myself
the sins Of Clarence, which would other
wise never stain my name, would never
be associated with my father or myself.
Why, indeed. 1t was n great and sore
temptation as l stood there before all
those eyes. He had deserved death. had
given him up in perfect innocence. Had
any right to call on them to risk their
lives that might go harmless in con-
science, and he in person. Had i
What! Was there, after all. some faint
in my blood: Was going to become like
bim-to take to myself shame of my own
! earning in the effort to escape from the
| burden of his i'll fame' / remembered in
time the oath l had sworn, and when
Kingston repeated his question answered
him quickly. Il did not know yesterday
who he was said. Il have discovered
since that he is my father l ask nothing
on his account Were he only my father
would not plead for him. plead for my
self, - murnurcd. If you show no pity,
you make me parricide."