Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-09-04
DAILY STORY
A DETECTIVES STORY.

sometimes we waste sympathy on
people, and sometimes we don't give
them sympathy that they deserve.
Some years ago Il young fellow 1--WE
will call him ghtbody-Lightbody's a
good name for the sort of fellow he
wasI went to New York and got a po-
sition in banking house. They said
he was smart as chain lightning. At
any rate, he climbed right up in the
estimation of his employers, and soon
he became their right hand man. But
while they thought he was attending
exclusively to their interests he was
attending exclusively to his own. He
was in everything where money
| is to be made or lost. though where
he got the capital to work with no.
body knew.
1.-THE fellow bit off more than he
! could chew and to save himself used
his employers funds, and about the
same time Mr. Lightbody disappeared.
"A year or two after his disappear
ance it was reported to his former
employers that he was living in a
Central American state, and / was en-
ployed to 90 down and bring him
back. The job was Il delicate one,
since there was no eXtradition treaty
with the state i'll which he had made
his home.
FURNISHED with all the evidence l
would need, including photographs,
sailed for Central America and on
reaching my destination found that Mr..
Iightbody was at the capital and Il
prime favorite with the government.
lie had got some valuable concessions
that were likely to make him rich. He
had won the heart of the daughter Of
one of the prominent citizens, who was
considered very lovely girl.
"Of course l had letters to first class
people in my pocket. for I knew before
starting that my man was cutting a
heavy swath sofllly. l waited for
some important function to let me in
on an equality with the man l was
after A ball was given to which l
was invited. and, getting myself up in
the latest style of evening dress, l
joined the throng. OF course Light
body was there. and so was his girl.
During the early part of the enter
tainment he was in such demand and
was so devoted to his fiancee that 1
didn't even make his acquaintance. 1
saw them together frequently, and it
was plainly Il case of genuine love on
both sides. l pitied the GIRL but. as
have said, had made up my mind to
attend TO business and let sentiment
alone.
Shortly before the ball broke up |
joined n party of men in the supper
room who We're drinking champagne
and smoking cigarettes. Lightbody
was among the number. ] made an
effort to in@ratiate myself into his
favor and had some success. But he
seemed anxious to get away, and l saw
him soon after dancing with his girl
When the affair broke up l stood on
the veranda, keeping my carriage
standing while l waited for LightbOdy.
Presently he came out with his fiancee
and her mother. put them in carriage,
and they were driven away. Light
body returned to the house. went in
side, got his hat. came out. lighted 4
cigarette and was going down the
steps when / stopped him and asked
which way he was going. When lie re-
piled 1 told him that / was going the
same way ana would be happy to take
invitation, and we got in and were
driven away. We had not gone far
before l said TO him:
Mr.. -, calling him by his real
name, how would you like to go TO
New York on the steamer with meT
HE OWNED the situation at once.
He made no reply for some time, then
said:
There's no eXtradition treaty be-
tween the United States and this coun-
try, and could put you to some trouble.
but Ill go with you provided you won't
give me away here and give me time
to arrange my affairs. What do you
say to that?'
''All l want is you. l don't want to
peach OH you. The steamer sails to-
morrow night Can you be ready|
Yes
THE next day the fellow gave out
that he had been called to New York
on some important financial business
and said goodby to his girl, promising
to be back soon. The next evening we
sailed, arriving in New York in due
time.
81 wondered how his girl would feel
when she heard that he was an en-
bezzier and had gone from her to states
prison. And here's where my refrain
ing from telling her comes in The
affair for which he was wanted in
volved several people besides himself,
and he was the only one not TO blame.
The others were his friends and had
families. He drew suspicion away
from them by fight. On his return he
IL. ~
lea to the losers and agreed to take
them in. This he did without inform
ing on the real culprits. The losers.
finding that far more money was to be
made from his concessions than they
had lost. accepted his terms, gave him
funds. and in two weeks he was back