Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-10

where you are. III fetch you a drink
and deck chair, and you shan,t come
down till you feel more fit."
And 1 let him have his way-I will
not say as usual. for i had even less
than my normal power of resistance
that night. That villainous upper cuti
My head still sang and throbbed as 1
seated myself on one Of the aforesaid
parapets and buried 1t in my hot hands.
Nor was the night one to dispel head
ache. There was distinct thunder In
the air. Thus 1 sat in a heap and
brooded over my misadyenture, pref
ty figure of subordinate villain, until
the step came for which 1 waited, and
it never struck me that it came from
the wrong direction.
"Yeu have been quick" sad simply
"Yes," Missed a voice / recognized,
land you've got to be quicker still!
Here, out with your wrists-no, one at
a time and IL you utter a syllable
you're dead manr'
1t was Lord Ernest Belville. His
close cropped iron gray mustache
] cleaned through the darkness, drawn
| up over his set teeth. In his hand gilt
tered pair of handouts, and before I
knew It one had snapped its jaws about
my right wrist.
Now come this way" said Lord Err
| nest, showing me revolver also. land
| wait for your friend. And, recollect,
single syllable OF warning will be your
deathr'
With that the ruffian led me to the
very bridge had just crossed at Rallies
heels and handcuffed me to the iron
rail midway across the chasm. 1t no
longer felt warm to my touch, but icy
as the blood In all my veins.
So this highborn hypocrite had beat
en- us at our game and his, and Raffies
had met his match at last! That was
the most intolerable thought-that Raj
f1es should be down in the fiat on my
account and that 1 could not warn him
Of his impending fate, for how was it
possible without making such an out
cry as should bring the mansions about
our ears? And there 1 shivered on that
wretched plank, chained like Androme-
da to the rock, with a black infinity
above and below. And before my
eyes, now grown familiar with the pc
culiar darkness, stood Lord Ernest Bel
vile, waiting for Raffies to emerge
with full hands and unsuspecting
heart. Taken SO horribly .unawares.
even Raffies must fall an easy prey to
a desperate in resource and courage
scarcely second to himself, but one
the beginning Not that 1 paused to
think how the thing had happened: my
one concern was for what was to hap
pen next.
And what did happen was worse
than my worst foreboding, for first a
light came Pickering into the sort of
companion hatch at the head Of the
stairs, and finally Raffies-in his shirt
sleeves. He was not only carrying a
candle to put the finishing touch to
him as a target; he had dispensed with
coat and waistcoat downstairs and was
at once full handed and unarmed.
Where are you. old chapY' he cried
softly, himself blinded by the light he
carried, and he advanced a couple Of |
steps toward Belville. This isn't you.
is it,"
And Rallies stopped, his candle held
on high, a folding chair under the other |
arm.
NO. 1 am not your friend" replied |
Lord Ernest easily, "but kindly remain
standing exactly where you are, and |
don't lower that candle an inch unless |
you want your brains blown into the |
street" |
Raffies said never word, but for a |
moment did as he was bid. and the un- |
shaken fame OF the candle was testi |
mony alike to the stiffness of the |
night and to the finest set of nerves in |
Europe. Then. to my horror. he coolly |
stopped. placing candle and chair on |
the leads and his hands in his pockets. |
as though 1t were but popgun that |
covered him.
why didn't you shoot?'' he asked in
solentIy as he rose frightened Of
the noise? should be. too. with an |
Did pattern machine like that All
rery well for service in the field, but
On the housetops at dead of night
Il shall shoot, however" replied Lord
Ernest as quietly in his turn aud with
less insolence, land chance the noise
unless you instantly restore my proper
ty. l am glad you don't dispute the
last word" he continued after slight
pause. There is no keener honor than
that which subsists or ought to subsist
among thieves, and need hardly say
that soon spotted you as one of the
in the beginning, mind
you! For the moment 1 did think you
were one of these smart detectives
jumped to life from some sixpenny
But to preserve the illusion
you ought TO provide yourself with a
worthier lieutenant. 1t was he who
gave your show away" chuckled the
wretch, dropping for a moment the at
fected style OF speech which seemed in
tended to enhance our humiliation.
Smart detectives don't go about with
little innoceuts to assist them. You
needn't be anxious about him, by the
way. 1t wasn't necessary to pitch him
into the street. He is to be seen,
though not heard, If you look In the
right direction. Nor must you put all
H. 1y.,,xo ~,n1v, rrx.r fri~r6 /