Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-26


you think I'm u brute?'
But the money!
"What does that matter? 1 love her,
not the money"
"And the name. Her birth"-
"Fll give her my own name, and then
We'll see who will dare say a word
against my wife"
Hurd stretched out his hand and,
grasping that of Beecot, shook it warm
ly. Upon my word you are a man,
and that's almost better than being
a gentleman" he said heartily. "Ive
heard everything from Mr.. Pash, and
honor you, Mr. Beecot; honor you"
Paul stared. 'You must have been
brought up in queer way, Hurd," he
said dryly, 'to express this surprise
because a man acts as man and not
as a blackguard.''
"Ah, but you see in my profession 1
have mixed with blackguards, and that
has lowered my moral tone. It's re-
freshing to meet straight, honorable
man such as you are, Mr.. Beecot. 1
| liked you when first 1 set eyes on you
| and determined to help you to discover
| the assassin of Aaron Norman
"Lemuel Krill you mean"
| Hurd looked round the bleak garnet
expressively and shrugged his Shout
ders. You can't bring Miss Norman
| here"
NO. But may make enough mon
ey to give her better home"
Can L help you"
| ~ don't see how you can. / want to
be an author
| 'Well," said Hurd, whose British
| speech was in strange contrast to his
foreign appearance, Its not bad
game to be an author if you get good
serial connection. Oh, don't look sur
prised. 1 know about newspapers and
publishers as know about most things.
See here, Mr.. Beecot. have you ever
tried your hand at a detective story?"
mo. L write on higher level"
You won't write on n more paying
| level replied Hurd cOolly. Il know
a newspaper which will give you-if !
recommend you, mind-E100 for a good
detective yarn. You apply for it,
But / couldn't make up one of those
plots-so intricate"
Pooh. It's trick You set your
puppets in such and such a way and
then mix them up. I'll give you the
benefit of my experience as a tee, and
with my plot and your own writing
We'll be able to knock up Il story for
the paper L talk of. Then, with E100
you'll have Il nest egg to start with"
Il accept with gratitude" said Bee
cot, moved, but l really don't know
why you should trouble about me-"
Because you're white man and an
honorable gentleman" said the dctec-
tive emphatically. III see about the
story for you. Meanwhile | am going
to card party to meet incidentally
Mr.. GreXon Hay"
"Ah. You still suspect himT"
81 do, and with good reason. He's
got another mug in tow. Lord George
Sandal, the son of Lord-well l needn't
mention names, but Hays trying to
clear the young ass out, and I'm on
the watch. Hay will never know me
as the Count de la Tour. Not he,
smart as he is. I'm flyr'
'DO you speak French well"
Moderately. But l play a silent
part and say little. / shut my mouth
and open my eyes. But what 1 came
here to say is that intend to find out
the assassin of Aaron Norman"
Il can't offer you a reward, Hurd, VI
said Paul, with a sigh.
"Oh that's all right! The widow, by
the advice of Pash, has doubled the
reward. One thousand pounds it Is
now--worth winning, eh?'
'Humph!" said Paul modify. 81
shouldn't think she loved her husband
so much as that"
Hurd's brown eyes shot a red flame
! which showed that he was excited
though he was cool enough externally
''Yes,' he admitted I'm n careless man.
ner, "she certainly does act the weep
ing widow in rather an exaggerated
fashion. However, she's got the cash
! now, or at least her daughter he
which is the same thing. The two
have taken up their quarters in q fash
: ionable hotel in the west end and are
looking for house. The old woman
manages everything, and she will be
one too many for Mr. Hay"
"What? Does he know Mrs. Krill
He said he didn't
. "Quite right. He didn't when the la
| dies went first to Pash's office. But
: Hay, on the lookout for a rich wife
got Pash to Introduce him to the la
dies, who We're charmed with him
l He's making up to ,he daughter ever
in the few weeks that have elapsed
: and now is assisting them to find 6
house. The daughter loves him, fan
! cy, but whether the mother will allow
t the marriage to take place can't say
Surely not on such a short &C
3 quaintance."
3 Hurd bent forward as about to sa!
) something. then changed his mind
!, "'Really, don't know-Hay is fasci
! mating and handsome. Have you beer
: to see him yet?'
5 mo. He asked me, but all thest
troubles have put him out of my head
q Why do you ask?"
Because next time he invites you