Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-18

Landon eyed the crumpled scrawl
doubtfully, fragment torn from a
sheet of writing paper on which the
characters were family penciled, bro
ken here and there as if the writer's
strength had failed: IF you want news
of Jack Henderson it will be worth
your while to follow the bearer of this
without delay"
"Who sent thisT' he said to the
grimy faced gamin.
Dunno. He blew in tween twol
days, an the ole woman TUX him in.
She lows he'll croak fore night"
Landon hesitated, but the memory of
Judith's face on the day Of Jack Hen.
derson's fight urged him on. He fol-
lowed the boy through the back streets
to the tumbledown row of tenements
down by the river known to the police
as Carriers Rents" along black pas
sage and across the court to room at
the back of the saloon, where the light,
filtering through the unwashed panes
of small window, accentuated the
poverty and filth. On the heap of
| rags in the corner a man stirred and
| moaned Landon recognized him as
one of the wrecks that had haunted
| the river front during the past sum-
mer.
Here, take this and get some bran
dy-the best" and, thrusting n coin in
| the child's hand, he pushed him out
| and closed the door
$50 you have come to the end of
your row, Red"
The man on the floor opened his eyes
Eyes; I'm where the best and the
| worst of us have to come, but we
haven't time to be passing compli-
ments. Do you know where Hender
| son is?'
| mo. He has dropped out complete
| ly. What do you know of him?'
What l brought you here to tell
| you-that he never stole that money"
| "Whatr'
| 81 tell you the boy had nothing to do
| with it. Locke knew a thing or two
about me-knew that l had escaped
| from Sing Sing-and he forced me TO
do his dirty work. could not refuse.
1t was that or prison, but I'll swear l
| didn't know that the boy would get
the blame for 1t. Locke wrecked the
bank and had. me doctor the books,
making the entries in another mans
writing. He gave me an old letter to
copy it from; then he had me forge old
Dalton's name to. that check. I never
did figure out just how he managed to
lay it on the boy, but reckon my
false entries must have been in his
writing. and when the young fool ran
away that fastened it on him. Locke
kicked me out IKE a dog when he got
things fixed to suit him: 1 drifted
south for couple of months and came
back like this. 1 didn't know my time
was so short or I'd have sent for you
before. Write it out and let me sign
It,"
Landon's pen few over the paper
Black, ugly and tangible, the tempta
ton whispered at hist ear: 80
| Delay, gain time. Henderson free to
come back. and Judith is lost to you"
The man on the floor moaned feebly
Hurry, Mr.. Landon. It's getting dark
mighty dark. Get Mother Biddle and
Jimmy Sullivan from the saloon for
witnesses. Where's that boy with the
brandy? There he is nowr' And he
snatched eagerly at the bottle. Get II
done with, Mr.. Landon. l cannot hold
out much longer"
1t was over, and Red Matthews lay
back. painting from the eXertion.
Il almost forgot he said to Landon
when I was over in st. Louis l me,
Don Battle. He told me about Hender
, sons trouble, the first I'd heard of it
and he said that a fellow from Lara
mie had told him about meeting Hen
dersou in Santa Fe. He got on to his
; name by accident and didn't know thai
Don knew Henderson when he was
!. telling 1t, so l reckon you will have t.
go to the jumping off place to find the
boy. You will find him and set this
straight. Mr. Landon:"
The glazing eyes sought for the face
above him., and Landon answered
Yes, Red, I'll find him.
He watched her come slowly dowr
!, the stairs, the light of the great win
dow behind her framing the little heat
, In an aureole of sunset rays. His
hearts lady-his no more! With blint
, resentment choking the words in hi'
throat he Numbered through the story
of Red Matthews confession, and theI
he found himself wondering at tn,
self possession with which she dis
;, cussed the ways and means of dealing
| with Peter Locke.
Poor little Lilias, What a misera
= bic tanglew said Judith as they walked
to the gate. .
''Lilias?' He had forgotten Locke
y daughter, the pretty little girl who ha,
been Judith's shadow since Jack Hen
!, derson's flight. The position had re
n versed itself. 1t was Judith VIII
n would play consider now.
;. Landon lost no time in placing tn
confession with the proper authorities
He swore out the warrant against Pc