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

nave been. and when LOUIS told him
that the gambler had stopped and de-
tanned Ann in'the path his teeth set in
anger. THE little houndr' he growled
under his breath. I'll put an end TO
fhatr'
Immediately upon finishing his sup
per he went up the path to Hanley's to
find 1.-THE lookout" Munro was in his
place, sitting high above his faro lay
out clicking a couple Of silver dollars
together, talking with gleeful intensity
to Denver DAN who stood at his Shout
der broadly smiling. The saloon was
packed with men, all in high spirits
over the precipitate flight of the sheriff.
Munro sighted him at last and called
out: Hello, Rob, How goes it?"
Raymond did not reply till he reached
his side st want to talk with you,
Jack" he said In low voice.
Munro studied him for n moment.
then turned to Dan. Take my place a
minute"
Dan complied, and Raymond led the
way into the open air. and when they
We're we'll out of the crowd he turned
and said:
You intercepted Miss Rupert to-
day."
II met her, yes. What about it?'
"Just this You're not fit to shake
the hand of n decent girl, much less a
cultured, high bred woman like Ann
Rupert, and you know it!'
Munro was staggered. What bust
ness is it OF yours?" he asked, with
instant anger.
Raymond's wrath was self contained.
Keep your temper. Jack. We've sum-
mered and wintered together, and you
can't make any mistakes about what l
mean l know the kind of women you
live with and the kind OF life you lead,
and / tell you to keep away from the
Kelly cabin"
Munro did not snarl as Raymond ex-
pected. His voice became softly in
sinuating as he said: Suppose the
lady invited me to call? Suppose she
was interested in my conversation?
The lady had a chance to go. The path
was open, but she fingered, she smiled
You're n liarr'
Munro was now very confident. Am
i? Ask the boy; he saw her talking
with me. 1 say the lady was gracious"
The gambler took on the air Of an in
jured comrade. Now, see here, Rob;
you're away out OF limits. 1 acknowl-
edge I've known a whole lot of cheap
women, but that's all the more reason
why / should be able to tell when l
meet the real thing. Her name is as
safe with me as with you. Probably
she's tied up back in the states any
way, so that neither of us has any
chance of interesting her. But it's an
open course and no favors, and so long
as she doesn't hand me out the icy
init I'm going to make the most of
my chance, and from this moment''-he
took of his haiti reform. I throw up
my job at Hanley's, 1 cut off booze
and shake Eau Claire"
Raymond was impressed by his RI
walls manner. You can quit gam
bling, and hope you can leave liquor
alone, but 1 see trouble when you
shake Claire. But that doesn't matter.
For the sake of old times / want to
avoid a quarrel with you. Jack. But
warn you that If Miss Rupert finds
your presence diSagreeable you go, and
you stay, AS you say. she is probably
engaged to a better man than either of
us. But she is here because Of the boy.
and I feel certain responsibility for
them both. and the man who presumes
on a chance acquaintance with her will
answer to me-"
"All right. Leave it to her. Rob-"
said Munro almost jocularly. "If she
turns me down I'll pull out of my own
accord. lightning sure Good night"'
RAYMOND walked away with sense