Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-21
DAILY SHORT STORY
A DispIeasing Return.
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easiness TO newly married couple,
James and Carrie Roscoe. When
Bowen had gone away on a two years
cruise he was engaged to Carrie Nor
ris, now James RoscOe's wife.
Bowen as soon as his ship was
locked sauntered ashore and was
making straight for the house in which
he had left his sweetheart when he
met an acquaintance.
Carries all right. 1 suppose?" re-
marked the sailor inQuiringly.
ooh, yes; she's very we'll"
give come back to marry her"
''You can't do that, Jack, for she's
married already"
"WhatY'
'She married Jim Roscoe six months
after you went away
Instead of the panied look in Bow
ems face one might expect in such
case there was an ugly one. Without
word he turned and walked to a tav-
ern. where he poured out for himself
half n tumbler of whisky and drank it
down.
That evening when James Roscoe
went home to his wife and informed
her that her old lover had come back
she turned pale.
"Oh, dearw she said. 81 was in
hopes he'd never come back"
"He can't bother you now that you're
married."
The wife made no reply to this, but
showed uneasiness in every feature.
"Never mind him, sweetheart. I'm
q match for him any daY"
The next morning Roscoe had half
mind to leave his days fishing and
stay at home, but he didn't know that
his wife would need him or when she
would need him, and he couldn't stay
at home all the time, so he gave her
an extra embrace and told her if Brown
appeared TO refuse to talk with him;
then, promising an earlier return than
usual, he went away. His smack and
his men were ready, waiting for him,
and they sailed to the fishing grounds.
The day seemed never ending. When
Roscoe thought it should be noon he
glanced at the sun and his compass
and saw that it could not be more than
10 o'clock. When he looked again,
thinking 1t should be midafternoon, it
was barely 2. At last he could endure
his uneasiness no longer and gave the
order to weigh anchor and start for
home. On reaching the beach he turned
the smack over to the others and start
ed for his home.
When he passed Bridget Noonan's,
she cast an anxious glance at him, re-
marking: I'm glad you're come, Jim
Roscoe. seen Jack Brown goin' your
way some time ago. an he was mighty
ugly lOOkin'."
Roscoe hurried on with a great fear
in his heart, instinctively putting his
hand to his hip, where a sailor carries
his knife.
Bowen had seen Roscoe go off in his
smack and knew that an interview
With his old sweetheart without the
presence of her husband was possible.
but he feared such an interview. He
knew the devil had possession of him,
and he struggled to keep away. 1t was
about o'clock that his evil passions
overcame him, and, thinking Roscoe
would not return till evening, he start
ed forth. Carrie saw him coming.
Running TO an upper window, from
which she could get a view OF the
ocean, she cast a quick glance sea-
ward. and there within few miles Of
shore was the smack beating inward.
Then she went down to meet Bowen.
Jack" she said, forcing a welcome
smile, Il hope you've come back well
and happy"
I'm well enough, but how do you
expect me to be happy with you gone
back on me?"
Its better so. Jack"
Better so, you jadel Do you expect
me to go away worlxin' and savin' for
two years for you and then come back
to find you married?"
For half an hour Carrie kept the
man at bay, reasoning with him, max
Ing excuses for her action, begging him
to be calm when he became violent
1t was sandy about the house and no
football could be heard, but she hoped
at every moment to see her husband
appear in the open door. But, oh, how
long he was in coming! She did not
know that he had been warned and
was hurrying toward his home.
AS Roscoe came up he heard Bow
ems voice, and it occurred to him to 1
move cautiously, though not less rapid
out warning. 1t was fortunate that
he did so, for Bowen was at the time
in state of frenzy that would have
led him to strike back had he known
the protector was at hand.
you've killed me-" Roscoe heard
Bowen say, "and I've a mind to kill
you for dom it. L can put an end to
myself afterward."
Jack, remember that once II loved
YOU" pleaded the terrified Carrie.
Eyes, and 1 should have stabbed you
then before you could have
An iron grip from behind clutched
about the sailors windpipe. and. after
a few vain efforts to free himself, he
sank down, his face black, his eyes
starting from his head
Take his knife"
Carrie seized the knife and threw it
out of the window.
I'm going to let you up" said Ros-