Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-26

stop! Stop! Don't call to him."
whispered Daintree in a choking voice
'I-killea him"
Good Cod cried Nicholas Harding
Tom shut down the sash.
yes, | killed him." cried Daintrec.
recovering his spirits. "and I'd do ii
again this minute. Why: You shall
hear-and then Claire shall hear-for /
mean to see her 1t will take all sgd
ney TO keep US apart. That night she
refused me. God alone knows why
She loves me now and will stick to me
in spite of you all, but she refused me
then. l stayed for an hour where she
left me. Then l got out by the back
way and wandered through the fields
just as | waS-thinking of her At
last-I hardly knew where l was or
what l was DOING heard voices His
was one. Yours was the other. Erich
sen-I didn't know it then-aEd you
We're just leaving | heard him say
he was thinking of being married. l
joined him when you had gone and
asked who the happy lady might be.
What do you think be said? What 90
you think? What do You think!'
CLAIRE" said Nicholas Harding.
Yes, Claire screamed Dalntrne.
'That incarnate devil-and my angel,
! lie said he loved her-that smooth
Homeland she had limited she did
care for somebody God knows what
more he said, You would consent
lie had you in his power. Either he
said that or saw it. At any rate he
tainted me-maG,lened me-and when
l looked about for something to strike
him with there was the very thing at
my feet. l killed him. meant TO
kill him. | have never for one mo-
ment regretted killing him. What 90
you suppose was the first thing | found
in his pocket? No Harding. I'm not
thinking of You. my honest friend. 1t
was a letter that showed the kind OF
cur he had been. | let Claire see it.
| thought of way. / showed her that
dead devil in his true colors, l cured
hey of her follv and l thanked God Ia
put him out of her way and mine. Re
greet it? Repent it? Never for an in
slant. Never to this hour
You let an innocent man suffer for
your crime" said Nicholas Harding,
with Il shivcr.
Did |? And do you suppose I would
have let him hang: I was under the
impression that | saved his neck.
would have saved it with my own had
that been necessary. Only yesterday
risked my life 10 save his. Who took
him away from tn" iron gang; | had
to commit a forgery ana risk my liber.
| ty to do it. Who would have treated
him like a brother from that day: l;
! was his own doing. mark you. that
made him mental. And he would
hang me, would he. for Kidding tho
earth of the crying rascal who picked
his own pocket like Il common thief.
He shakes his head, but ! know hin
better. And that's his GratitnAc-uftei
all I've done. Something like yours
You. Harding. l save your daughter
from poisonous scoundrel so l an
not to marry her for my pains. y jus
pair-convict bushranger and frdudu
lent NJ. p! y precious pair TO joi,
forces against an honest man, Dc
your worst l shall marry her a"ains
} YOU both | shall. ! shall. ! Shalli"
Tom knew this voice. He wondered
t he had not heard the madness in i
from the first.
l Never" cried Harding. Il would
rather see her in her collin"
l she loves me as l love her"
D "She does not love you ut all"
e At these words Il feeling of rity Crep
over Tom. They rang so true. an,