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


Louis is safe with Kelly. 1 want t
| see you because things have happene
to me. Come, 1 must see you alone"
They moved off up the path towar
the overlook, and, Notwithstanding he
brave words, the girl wavered In tn
gust of this mans overmastering eX
element. The mist closed round them
all signs of other human presence dis
appeared, and they soon stood alone il
a world of gray light wherein neithe
sky nor horizon line appeared. Al
that remained of the earth was a littl,
strip of ground beneath their feet
Raymond stopped at last and hel(
toward Ann a small, irregular piece OF
rock. do you see that?" he hoarsely
inquired.
She took it wonderingly. rs it oreT
Eyes, and it's heavy with gold. Kel
ly's luck has won again. We've open
ed q vein that will make US both rich
There was no tremor or doubt In his
tone.
"Oh, I'm SO gladw she cried out. with
unaffected pleasure. Now Mrs. Kelly
can go to live IN the valley"
Never mind the Kellys now" he
cried out impatiently. 81 have a great
deal to say to you, and I want to say
1t here. I'm going to try and win YOU"
His manner was exultant, his voice
tense with passion. II am bold to peck-
lessnesS today"
He had never been humble. Now he
rose above her. masterful, an avowed
lover, and his eyes burning down into
hers made her shrink and shiver as if
from cold
He misread the movement. Are you
warm enoughf" he asked tenderly. Il
hope you are, for 1 want to tell you
us sit here" He indicated a fat rock
This is our only opportunity. No one
will know-no one can see us. Will
you listen?"
Il will listen" she said quietly and
took seat, drawing her cloak about
her.
He took a seat a little in front, SO
that he could see her face, which was
radiant as a rose in the mist. 1--WE
been trying TO write you letter ever
since you came. l wanted to set my
self right with you on Louis account.
l love the lad, and I wanted you to
know that I was trying to do him
good"
Il know that. L trust you now"
''That assurance is sweet to me, but
want to tell you now that the only
mystery In my life Is this: 1 am a
West Point Cadet mean. L was
Were you, really?" She looked at
him with such unmiStakable relief and
yladness that he faltered.
Wait. l was only there two years.
was court martialed for breach Of
discipline and gross INSTRUMENTATION at
he beginning of my third year"
He fastened on. You mustn't judge |
NE hastily. 1t came on my return aft
,r furlough. That's the time when the ]
'outine and discipline pinch hardest |
IN the men. After two years of grind !
hat hated 1 had a visit home-a de- |
iciouS free time-and to get back into |
school, back into those cold, gray bar I
'acks, was like going into a strait |
acket. The first few weeks after the |
'acation are times of disorder, a period |
# boyish deviltry, and l took my share |
Il it. My breach of discipline was
lothing more than u boys frolic. |
hOuld have been punished for 1t, and |
hat would have ended il, but l hated
ne of the officers, the disciplinarian,
nd when lie rounded me up he rasped
ne till lost my head. Being a quick
youth, 1 answered him. He
bused me shamefully, and l struck
i'm in the face, and that ended my
tay at West Point"
"Oh, how foolish, How wrongr
mo, it was not wrong. l would do
again. The small sneak used tone
1 addressing NE which no man has
ight TO use to another. You wouldn't
oppose Il tone could hurt, but it did
cut like lash. Wei, that ended
~ career as n soldier My home was
n the Ohio river, not far from Cincin-
att, and my family still lives there
ur whole country is rich in traditions
General Grant. and my father had
elected me out of all his sons to be
lie soldier of his family You know
DIV some men try to map their sons
lreers. Don't you see, couldn't go
1me?"
Yes, / can see it was hard for your
lther. Was your mother living?"
Yes. she's living yet. / write her
Tery week, but not one word has
issed between my father and me
nee my dismissal. Naturally enough,
drifted west and into cattle ranching.
liked the excitement of it, and I'd
zen trained TO ride and to shoot
'adually became COW boss and fore I
an. and so you found me, with few
ousand dollars saved up. Your COM
g changed every current in my life I
became ambitious to do something.
be rich. l came here, 1 bought this {
Inc, and there shines my gold" He l
Id it toward her again. Now 1 can
} home My court martial becomes&
Ike. Don't you see? My father is !
imam. He would not receive me poor
I'd disgraced. With big mine behind
e the case Will be different
Are we all purchasable with gold?" {
e asked.
His high mood sank a little. Don't