Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-08

Her cries were not loud; they were
smothered in the struggle which was
still continued-now ut the foot of the
stairs. now on the stairs themselves
and at last on the landing outside the
barricaded door. Meanwhile the bird
had flown.
No sooner had Tom realized what was
taking place below than he threw up
the bedroom window 1t overlooked n
small and filthy back yard, into which
Tom quietly dropped while the pair
were still struggling on the stairs. To
find his way through the house. through
the kitchen itself and out into the mar
row street was the work of very few
moments. The last Tom heard was
the belaboring of the locked. blocked
door by honest Jim. Nor did his pres
ence of mind desert him yet. He walk
ed out of the narrow side street, only
running when he came to the main
thoroughfare and after a perilous hest
tation as to whether he should strike
into the city or over Blackfriars bridge.
He chose the city and, having chosen,
lost his head and ran for his life.
He darted across the street and
plunged into the busy alleys filling
the delta between the bridge and st.
PaulS Here he slackened little.
for the stony, many Widowed ravines
were so narrow and so crowded that
it was impossible to continue running.
But he threw up his heels the instant
he emerged on Ludgate hill. tearing
heller SHELTER in the middle of the road.
He was nearly run over by a van
coming out of Paternoster row and
cursed to the skies by the driver.
Faces stopped and turned upon the
pavements He knew the folly of it.
and yet ran on with fiend in either
heel.
Bank. bank. Ere you are. sir,
| ere you are
Tom was almost up to the omnibus
before he realized that this was meant
! for him. Instinctively he waved and
! planned The omnibus stopped; he
! jumped in. gasping.
| Thought you was after me-" said
| the cad. with Il grin.
Tom had no breath to reply. A ru
| bicund old gentleman ms de n wei
meant remark upon the eagerness OF
youth and was favored with u CLASSY
stare. The newcomer sat painting in
corner. the perspiration trickling
from his nose.
But his head was cooler. He saw
| the needIeSSneSS as we'll as the indis
| erection of conspicuous fight. He haC
Slipped through the only hands tina
We're as yet against him. He haC
eluded the only eyes he need avoid tina
night. for the hackney cOachman nigh
| take his new tale straight to Scotland
Yard. but it could hardly he given Il
the world before morning.
Toms heart leapcd as he discovered
the temporary strength of his position
Next moment il sank. for the cad wa
| collecting the fares. and his single rs
| set WAS the watch. His bankrupt stat
had occurred to Tom as lie ran for til
omnibus. but not again. 1t was s
small thing compared with the charg
now lying ut his door. Yet lie had jus
thought of this little fraud was S
far deliberate he had neither til
face nor the foolhardiness to sit Their
and confess his fault. And, situate
like the wanted felon he now felt hin
self to he, it was wonderful and hol
Tible how q felOn'S resources came III
hidden to his fingers ends. He bega
feeling in pocket after pocket. with
face that heightened under the frOw
of the cad. the raised eyebrows of til
rubicund gentleman and the fixed a
tention of all.
I'm afraid II don't seem to hay
q coin i'll my pocket"
"Oh, you 'aven't. 'ayen't You"
NO, | have not! I'm very sorry
. T.
you may be, Never mind no tale
, You can keep them for the beak as
ave word TO say to you tomOrr'
= mornin'r And the cad winked ut IL
other passengers. stopped the omr