Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-04

" y the year 1897 and on warm.
"a moist April morning there knock
ed at a modest lodging house in
Rolls buildings. Fetter lane, re.
cent ledger who could no longer afford
even the attics trihinG rent. So now
he made his bed in the parks of the
metropolis or in the damp green fields
outside. And for all he protested to
care. the damp was welcome TO kill
him If only it would kill outright.
The man was very fair and spare.
but of a medium height. His hands
and feet were notably small. the wrists
and arms little deceptive. These
looked lean, hut were made of muscle
and quickened with hot, keen blood.
He was very young: but. though as a
fact not five and twenty. the thin. sar-
dOniC. reckless face looked half as old
again. An abiding bitterness had curl
ed the full nostrils. deepening the lines
thence to the sensitive red lips and
drawing the latter too habitually apart
upon set teeth or sneer. Nor was the
bitterness of the kind Sown i'll proud
hearts 10y capricious circumstance ami
1t was rather the Dead sea fruit OF
willful riot and Il contemplate, impen-
itent remorse. And yet in the fun
brown eye and lifted chin, as in the
i'll clad, well carried figure. there was
"A lingering something that was gallant
and fine and debonair.
To this lost youth the door In Rolls
buildings was opened 10y gray haired
woman. who nodded knowingly in re-
spouse to an inquiry for letters and
handed one over with an invitation to
enter and read it within. But the
kindly words fell on inattentive ears
Looking fOndly ana yet fearfully at
the superscription-to Thomas Erich
sen. Esq. and the rest-thc needy own
er of that name suddenly pocketed his
letter with unbrolsen seals. He was
turning as abruptly away when the
blank face of his former landlady led
him to pause moment.
mo, bless you. no. It's not from
him." said Erickson grimly. This is
from n friend | met yesterday. who
would insist on having my address,
What was | to do? ] thought you
wouldn't mind, so l gave my last"
Mind! It is your address and might
be your 'ome il you wasn't that ign
and 'aughty. Dear, dear. dear! Sc
you've not heard from that villain
YETI
Not line
"NOr of him."
mot word. Give me time IF
don't root him out by this day month
well, then he's fed the Countrywide 9
sensible man"
"But what if you do?" demanded the
landlady. who was herself directly In
terested in the event.
what If do, Mrs. Adcock? Well.
shall probable half murder him. 10 be
gin with. He has wholly ruined me
Yes, 1t will lie my money-and YOU
money-or his life. He knows It, too
If he's got my letters. Feel the weigh
of that"
And he put in her hands heavy asl
stick, green and sinewy. with the knoll
still creamy from the knife.
Lord save u.s. cried the woman
"Is this the rod in pickle for him?'
That's the rod in pickle. Nice ant
heavy. isn't it?'
Too 'eavy. Mr. Erickson. Too cav,
by 'alf. I'd show no mercy to thieves
and swindlers, but I should be yer.
careful what l did with that
wouldn't take the law into my owl
hands If I were YOU
you Wouldn't" cried he. Not
you'd been cleaned out as have by a
blackguardly a dodge? BY the Lor,
that made him, I'd break every bon
In his Internal body and will. too. II