Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-22

You don't mean it! Well. put my
things into that suit case. l must be
off in half an hour sharp or miss my
train
While The man.was packing 1 put in
the last words of a chapter of 4 story
was wilmington / am a slave of the
pen-then looking ut my watch and
dropping my work rushed forithe train.
was going TO the country TO spend
Sunday with my fiancee.
The next morning was bright and
beautiful. Kathryn and 1 strolled
away from the house and found u
shady nook whore we SAT looking alter
nately at a superb view and into each
others eyes.
stephen" she was saying, do you
know 1 lay awake last night thinking
that She paused andlcast her eyes
on the ground.
Thinking what, love-"
"Papa says that you and 1 haven't a
single mutual acquaintance"
was holding her hand. dropped it.
You are offended" she said, tears
starting into her eyes.
NO, hurt. You have no confidence
in me for myself; only what you may
learn from others. Suppose l should
be accused of some dark crime would
you stand by me with perfect faith
when all others were sure of my guilt?
Would you visit me in prison? Would
you pour words of comfort into my
ear?"
"Oh, Henry" she cried, throwing her
self into my arms, Il would share your
captivity with you. 1 would die with
YOU
There was n pause. 1 heard words
distinctly spoken, That's your man"
turned, and Il man stepped out from
behind a bush. l had never seen him
before, but a companion 1 recognized
as an elevator boy in the apartment
house where I had my rooms.
That's Mr. Perkins," said the boy.
referring to me.
"NIr Perkins, I'll trouble you to come
with me-"
Come with you! Who are You and
what do you mean?"
Il am Il constable come to arrest you
for the murder of Anthony Hurd, Il
gentleman occupying rooms in your
apartment house"
Nothing will take the romance out of
a person so quickly as being placed
suddenly in one of those romantic stu
atoms in which one delights to read OF
others. 1 should have bitterly repealed
the allegation. Instead | said impa-
tiently:
what rot! l haven't murdered any
body"
The man paid no attention to my
words. Instead he slipped pair of
handouts on my wrists.
Kathryn. the heroine of this story,
should have chung TO me in tears, cry
ing my innocence between her sobs.
Instead she said. turning IL bit pale:
This is very strange"
Kathryn" | exclaimed, looking at
her, disappointed and astOnished. do
you think me n murderer"
There were conflicting emotions in
Kathryns breast. She had engaged
herself TO man she knew very little
about Her father had counseled wait
ing till my references from Sydney.
Australia. where l had lived till | came
to America. could arrive. But Kathryn
was as full of romance as L and said.
"A fig for references to Il woman who
loves"
Hes beau foOling You. miss said
the constable Hes Il larrikin from
Australia"
whats n larrikin?" asked Kathryn.
horror stricken at having loved any
one with such a designation.
THE descendants Of the Botany bay
criminals and shipload of women
from the London alleys sent out to
Australia many years ago"
KAhryn covered her face with her
hands and turned her back.
Kathryn" l said reproachfully as
| was led away. "hOw about your fine
words to share my captivity, to die
with me-"
That there Is romance in men and
women. though they do not always eX-
press it as in books, was evident from
Kathryn's reply. who as soon as put
to the test relinquished her book ro-
nance for the real article.
You shall have every opportunity to
vindicate yourself. Papa will leave no
stone unturned TO prove that you are
innocent And, oh, Henry"-this with
touch of tremor-'I do hope you are
innocent
Spoken like true woman. There
is some mistake here. AS soon as I
can untangle ii L Will come to you"
kissed my hand TO her as l was led
away. but she was too uncertain TO
return il. l left her standing where
we had been sitting, looking at me rue
fully.
At my preliminary examination the
next day the following paper found
in my room was read:
Il tell you. Anthony, as Il am a lar
rikin. for this deed done in the wilds
Of Australia l will follow you to the
juugIes Of India. to the wilds of Amer
lea. and wherever I find you you shall
die
Judge" cried, somebody has been
Stealing my thunder That's the last
words of chapter 10 a novel I wrote
before leaving the city"
The paDer was found i'm your room ."