Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-14
THE OPAL SERPENT.
CONTINUED from Page Seven.)

"Iuss," said Fart slowly, 81 did. but
Deborah she told me to say nothink.
Mr. Beecot was smashed, and his friend,
the cold eyeglarsed gent. pulled him
from under the wheels of that there
machine with Tray to help him, and
between 'em they carried him to the
pavement"
.'Iumph!' said Aaron, resting his
chin on his hand and speaking more to
himself that to his assistant. $50 Tray
WIS ON the spot Tumph"' Bart, hav-
ing brushed himself, moved behind the
counter and took up what Hokar had
left. "Why. it's brown sugar!' he ex-
claimed, touching it with his tongue
"Coarse brown sugar-a handful" He
stretched out his palm heaped with the
sugar to his master What do that
furrein pusson mean by leaving dirt
about?"
Il don't know, nor do care" snap
ped Aaron. who appeared to be out of
temper. Throw it away" which Bart
did, after grumbling again at the i'm
pudence of the street hawker
Norman did not go upstairs, but de-
seconded to the cellar. where he busted
himself in looking over the contents of
the three safes. In these were many
small boxes filed with gems of all
kinds. cut and uncut: also articles of
| jawelry, consisting of necklaces. brace
| let's, stars for the hair. brooches and
tiaras. The jewels glittered in the far
| ing gaslight. and Aaron fondled them
| as though they were living things.
| You beauties he whispered to him.
self, with his one eye gloating over his
| hoard. "Tll sell you, though it goes
| to my heart to part with lovely things
But must-I must--and then I'll go
not to America-oh. dear, no-but to
| the south seas. They won't find me
there-nO-no, I'll be rich and happy
and free. Sylvia can marry and live
| happy. But the serpent" he said in a
harsh tone. ''oh. the opal serpent! The
| pawnbroker'S shop. Stowley-yes-I
know it. I know it. Stowley They
want it back; but they sha'n't. I'll
buy it from Beecot by giving him Syl-
| via. It's lost-lost" He looked over
his shoulder as he spoke in terrified
whisper. Perhaps they have 1t, and
then-theD," he leaped up and flung
i the armful of baubles he held on to
the deal table, land then-I must get
away-away."
He pulled out three or four coarse
sacks of small size and filed these
with the jewelry. Then he tied a
[ cord round the neck of each sack and
sealed it. Afterward, with sigh he
closed the safe and turned down the
gas. He did not leave by the trap.
which led through the shop, but OPP
ened and locked the back door of the
cellar, aScended the steps and went
81 out into the street through the side
I passage. IF they come" he thought
as he walked into the gathering night
they won't find these No! nor and
he Rugged the bags closely.
Sylvia upstairs waited anXiously for
the return of her father from the hos.
, pital, as she both wanted to hear how
her lover was progressing and what
he said about the permission to marry
being given. But Aaron did not come
to supper, as was his usual custom
I Bart said, when inquiries were made
) that the master had gone down into
( the cellar and was probably there,
) Meanwhile, according to his usual hab.
II, he put up the shutters and departed
) Sylvia and Deborah ate their frugal
meal and retired to bed, the girl much
disturbed at the absence of her father
Outside, In the street, the passersby
diminished in number, and as the night
grew darker and the lamps were
J, lighted hardly person remained II