Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-13

patch OF silver glide aslant from wall to
sill and sill to frame and so pass out.
Near the fire, which had been made up
and now glowed and cracked bravely on
tho hearthstone at my elbow, my three
Jailers had set mattress for me, and on
this sat, my back TO the wall and my
face to the window. The guards lounged
on the other side of the hearth round q
lantern, playing dice and drinking. They
were rough, hard men, whose features, as
they leaned over the table and tho light
played strongly on their faces, blnzoning
them against wall Of shadow, were stern
and rugged enough. But they had not
shown themselves unkindly. They had
given inc share Of their wine and had
pointed to the window and shrugged: their
shoulders, rs much rs to say that 1t was
my own fault II I suffered from the draft.
Nay, from time to time one Of them would
turn from his game and look at inc, in
pity, ! think, and utter a curse that was
meant for encouragement.
Even when the first excitement had
passed away felt none Of the stupefaction
which have heard that men feel In such
n position. My brain was painfully active.
In vain I longcd to sleep, II 1t were only
that I might not bc thought to fear death.
But the fact that / was to DO tried first,
though the sentence was a certainty, dis
trp.:tcd and troubled me. My thoughts
paced from thing tn thing, now dwelling
on the duchess and her husband, now fit
ting to Pctronilla and Sir Anthony, to tho
old place at home and the servants, to
strange, petty things, long familiar-a
trco In tho chase ut Cotton, herb l had
planted. Once great lump rose in my
throat, and had to turn away to hide tho
hot tears that would rise ut the thought
that 1 must die In this mean German
town, In this unknown corner, md DO
buried and forgotten! And once, too, to
torment mo thoro rose doubt in my mind
whether Master BERTHE would recover,
whether indeed I had not thrown my life
away for nothing. But IL was too late to
think of that, and tho doubt, which tho
evil ono himself must have suggested, SO
terrible was 1t, passed away quickly.
My thoughts raced, but the night
crawlcd. We had surrendered about 10,
and tho magistrates less pitiful than tho
jailers, had forbidden my friends to stay
with mo An hour or more after midnight
two of the men lay down, and tho other
sat humming drinking song or mt inter
walls rose to yawn and stretch himself and
look out of the window. From timo to
time tho cry of tho Waterman going bis
rounds came drearily to my cars recalling
to mo the night I had spent behind tho
boarding In Moorgatc street, when the ad-
venture which was to end tomorrow
nay, today, in u few hours-had lurcd mo
away. Today Was l to die today? To
perish, with all my plans. hopes, love? 1t
seemed impossible. AS gazed ut the win
dow, whose shape began to be printed on
my brain, it seemed impossible. My soul
To-, - 81 l.,,
spiration stood on my brow, and had to
clasp my hands about my knees and strain
every muscle to keep in tho cry would
have uttered-a cry, not of fear, but of
rage and circumstances md revolt
was glad to sec tho first streaks OF
dawn, to hear the first cock crowings,
and, u few minutes later, the voices of
men in tho street and on the stairs. The
sounds of day and life acted magically
upon me. Tho horror of the night passed
of rs does the horror of dream. When
u man, heavily cloaked and with his head
covered, cano in, the door being shut be.
hind him by another hand, looked up nj
him bravcly. The worst was past.
lie replied by looking down at mo for a
few moments without disclosing himself,
the collar of his cloak being raised so high
that could SEQ nothing of his features
My first notion that he must be Master
Lindstrom passed away, and, displeasct
by his silent scrutiny and thinking him
stranger, said sharply, Il hope you arr
satisfied, sir.
satisfied he replied In a voice which
made me start so that tho irons clankct
on my feet. We'll, think should be
seeing you so, my fricndN
1t was Clarence! OF all men, Clarence
knew his voice, and lie, seeing himsol
recognized, lowered his cloak. l stared n
him in stupc.ied silence, and he ut me II
grim curiosity. was not prepared 70
tho blunt abruptncss with which he con
tinucd, using almost the very words h
had used when face to face with me in tn
flood Now tell mo who you are, an
what brought you into this company
gave hii., no answer. l still stared n
him in silence.
Come" he continued, his hawks eye
bent on my facc, mako n clean breast o
II, and pcrhaps-who knows'-I may hcl
you yet, lad. You have puzzled and foile
me, and l want to understand you. Whcr
did my lady pick you up just when sh
wanted your l had arranged for ever
checker on tho board except you. VIII
arc you:"
This time did answer him-by q ques
ti'h' nv" tiiiits udNC We iiSt'
asked.
Three" he said readily, land the las
time you nearly rid the world of me
Now the luck is against you. 1t general
is in tho end against those who thwar
mo, my friend" He chuckled ut the cor
cei., and l read in his face Mt once hi
love Of intrigue and his vanity. Il com
uppermost, rs always"
only nodded.
What do you wants" asked felt
certain expectation. He wanted some
thing.
First to know who you are
Il shall not tell you.' answered.
He smiled dryly, sitting opposite to m,
Hc had drawn up stool and made hin
self comfortable. He was not an uncom,
ly man rs no sat there playiug~vith HI
dagger, n dubious smile ON his lean. dar
face. Cnwarned, might have been N
tracted by tho mastcrfrl nudacity. the i,
tcllcct rs well as the force which l sa
stamped on his features. Being warne,
read cunning in his bold eyes and cruc
~ In tho cusi of his lip. What DO yo
want ncxt!' / asked