Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-06

| My impression was that we settled up
| and parted friends"
| You settled with a check not worth
| the paper it was written on. Your
name was unknown at the bank! 1t
was check for f35."
| II should like to see 1t. At least. You
won't mind telling me whether it was
drawn on Stuckey's bank"
ut was"
| Exactly" cried the captain. ITS as
plain as a pikestaff now. My dear
young fellow. | apologize from the
| very bottom of my heart. for it has
been my mistake after ALL What do
you think | did? Wrote out my check
in Dick Wales check book. You recol-
lect Dick Vale? He banks at Stuckey's.
Pom my soul. I'm sorry Here's my
| hand"
II prefer your money"
"Well, you shall see ii tomorrow. |
don't carry f35 about in my evening
clothes.'
"Then suppose we turn back to your
rooms and you pay me there and nowl"
And where are my rooms, pray"
SIN the village of West End"
Blaydes swore a puzzled oath and
thumped his cane upon the ground.
"You know a lot" he snarled.
81 know where you're going. and I'm
coming too. | don't lose sight of you
tonight
And they stepped out with no more
words. though Blaydes ground his
teeth and gripped his cane and tried
his best to drop Il foot or two behind.
But Toms eye was on him. So he
stopped at stile. whereupon Tom
. stopped. too. and rs they stood there
passed laborer, who stared and wish
ed them good night.
: "See here, Erickson" exclaimed the
} captain. Il object to discussing private
matters on Il turnpike road. Here's Il
path that's a short cut back into town.
: Suppose I come part of the way with
you and talk this thing over without
: fear of being heard. What do you
!: say?"
: ''As you like. Your way is mine"
] Biaydes shrugged his broad shoul
| derS, tucked his cane under one arm
e and laboriOusly crossed the stilc. Tom
. then followed him into Il Sloping field
= with n beaten right of way running
e uphill through the dewy grass. They
4 climbed this path with the young moon
$ in their eyes. but not Il word upon thCir
L lips. and Toms thick stick graSped
:, tight by the knob. The ascent brought
$ them to a second hedge, backed Ivy !
e row of horse cheStnutS all hay Will
Tiny leaves, and to hollow beech he
g side the second stile. Here the captain
> dropped his cane in the grass and
Il limping pitiably, begged the other -tC
t pick it up. But Tom merely shifted i
g with his foot. keeping IL strange eye Of
l. Blaydes as he did so. The cane in the
grass had no gold knob, and the cap
tain's right hand was tucked inside hi.
e cloak
Very prettily planned" said Tom
with Il sheer, but | should like to sc,
e the rest of that sword stick
The other laughed
81 only drew it in case of need. Yor
are such violent young blood. Alb
k you will have it, will you? There, thel
Il and there-and there
Il The yard of thin. tempered steel hat
< been casually produced. and Tom hat
1t instantly struck at 1t with his stick
II Next moment the point was within al
e inch of his body. but Tom retreate,
d nimbly, hitting high up the blade witt
r all his might. 1t snapped at the thirC
L blow. whzzed in the air and cam
down sticking in the grass. Only tn
a gold head and three inches of blad
Inft in hn in'S In
" hand.
I Chuck it away" said Tom, ''and
if drop my stick. That's better. Nov
about that money. You didn't brin
me up here to run me through tn
! body. of course, What was your oil
IS ject?"
I ITO settle with you-fairly," sal
II BlaydeS, with Il lurch in his low voic,
r. Il am overdue elsewhere, as you hav
found out-the Lord knows how,
l had the money on me. it should b
yours this minute. AS l haven't 1t
propose this compromise-waitt till t.
morrow and I'll make it fifty and Civ
you an l. o. L. on the spot"
"No. no, Blaydes. Once bit-onc
bit! Very sorry, but it can't be done.
Blaydes muttered an oath as he too
= out his watch, pressed the spring, an
:. it struck 10 and then the three-qual
!. tiers, like fairy bells. He did not pr
the watch away again, but stood wit
:. it in his hands and presently detache
the chain from his waistcoat He Ia
already turned his face to the moor
and he now glanced over his shoulde
o and beckoned to Tom.
2 Just have a look at this" he sai'
- mo; take it in your hands and exam
inc it properly
The watch was a repeater of tyr
e even then old fashioned. 1t was yer
Y handsome and heavy and fat with
yellow dial and a back like a golde
saucer. Tom turned it over, and Il
;. moon shone on the captains mon
gram.
"Weil, but what have / got to {
y with this?'
sspaxyn