Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-13


there was something sinister and dis
honest underneath, and he felt it when
he looked long enough in her eyes.
Claire did not connect honesty with
herself at present, nor did she view
the question at all from this point but
she found herself specializing upon the
origin of the quarrel between Daintree
and his people. and she thought of the
flowers that had come back to him
from his mothers grave.
Later in the evening she worked out
her own position, shuddered at the
passing impulse to confess. which had
long since passed, put Toms life be-
fore her self respect and determined
to act better from that hour. So the
play went on before an audience of
one who had been taken behind the
! scenes but who now looked on with
| eyes that SAW not, SO absorbing were
| his own affairs. In very truth. how
ever. there was an audience of two,
and but little was lost upon the unseen
onlooker.
Daintree meanwhile spent hours ev-
cry day with Mr. Bassett the solicitor,
or in waiting for him at his office. In
the evening he would return to Avenue
Lodge with the latest news of the pris-
oner ErichSen.
One day he had been removed to the
prison infirmary Not that there was
much the matter with him, but the sur
geon was credited with desire to re-
ward Erichsen's humanity toward a
| -In 10
died in his arms
But another fellow prisoner he had
fought tooth and nail the night before.
and Mr.. Bassett had n shrewd suspi-
cion that the real object of the removal
was to isolate a desperate man.
However that might be, he was do
ing pretty we'll in the infirmary, was
said to he depressed but not unable to
eat or sleep. Daintree reminded Claire
that the prisoner was having all his
meals sent in from neighboring chop
house and who it was that had ordered
them. 1t was himself.
Erickson was inundated with letters.
Most We're from religious strangers.
who took his guilt for granted and in
Dictated several only ways to that mer-
CIV in another world which was neither
to be expected nor desired in this. But
the one that had given him the great
est annoyance was thought to have
come from Il near relative. for it was
very long. and he had torn it in many
pieces and then retorted in three lines
and given it to the surgeon to post
Claire knew who the relative was.
She had gone the length of calling at
Avenue Lodge on her fight through
town to the continent. and her chief
lament was not that murder had been
committed. presumably 10y Tom, but
that her name had been disgraced. her
trust abused, her money spent in riot
and her life rendered uncomfortable in
her native land. The lady was Toms
stepmother.
There was another letter which he
seemed to expect every day and yet
not to expect and 1t never came, but
they thought he must be in love
Claire considered it unlikely. How
could lover have done such thing
And had he ever written to any grill
Daintree said he would inquire.
No friends had been to see him. nc
relations; but a noble lord, the same
who had incumbered the bench at the
Marylebone office. brought a party OF
friends and received payment in kind
for his insolent questions. The prison
er was reported to have asked him il
there were no hospitals where his lord
ship could see the legs and arms cut
off and listen to the screams; to have
recommended bodily tortures as likely
to provide better sport than a poor dull
devil like himself. and suggested the
nearest slaughter house if all else
failed. His lordship had raised his
cane and been cuttingly invited to lay
it on, as he might not have such d
chance every day; whereupon the par
ty retreated. highly amused, all bu
their leader, who was said to have
marched straight across the street t.
book window for the execution.
When Claire heard this story, sht
showed her feelings in rather peril
Gus manner. "Well doner" she cried
and clapped her hands. so they have
not taken all the spirit out of him yet
Let us be thankful, Mr.. Daintree," sh'
: added in an instant, that 1t is at leaS
a man of spirit whose cause you have
espoused. Next to an innocent man
a spirited man has the best claim OIL
ones sympathy. 1t would be dreadful
If he were neither the one nor tn,
other!"
But you know. that 1 believe him t.
, be BOTH
II have heard you say so. Yet yo'
: never go near him yourself"
Daintree admitted his repugnance t.
personal contact with the prisoner. g
certainly prefer to draw the line a
that" said he. especially as it coul'
do no good. No. it was bad enough
seeing him at Marylebone. l woult
give something to forget his face"
And why?" cried Claire. "Becaus
In your heart, like all the rest of tn
world, you know him to be guilty
l You may be sensitive, but you wouldn'
L | no NIL hot bop