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

szsscSS q revocation of all that had
s-aN pleased him in the former
one. Beecot senior wrote many pages
of abuse. He always did babble like
woman when angered. He
declined to sanction the marriage and
ordered his son at once-underlined-
to give up all thought of making Sylvia
Norman his wife.
Sylvia, under the charge of Deborah
and escorted by Bart Tawsey, had
duly left Gwynne street, bag and bag
gage, and she was now established in
Rose cottage, JubileetOwn. The house
was n small one, and there was not
single rose in the garden around it.
She was assigned the best room in the
small abode, and one of the first things
she did was to write Il letter to Paul
asking him to repair to Rose cottage
to witness the marriage of Deborah
and Bart. The handmaiden thought
this was necessary so that she could
make full use of her intended husband
IF he wasn't here allays," said the
bride elect. he'd be gadding about
idling. l know him. An me getting
Il business together won't be easy I'M
less I've got him at and, as you may
say, to take round the bills, let alone
that he ought to sleep in the 'ouSe in
case BURGLARS gifts ill.,"
Deborah. as an American would say,
was hustler, and. having made up
her mind. she did not let grass grow
under her feet For three Sundays
she had the pleasure of hearing the
banns announced which foretold that
Bart TawSey and herself would soon
be man and Wife Then the marriage
took place.
The future Mrs Tawsey had no rela-
tives, but Bart produced Mrs. Purr, q
snuffy old grandmother from some
London slum who drank gin during
the wedding feast, much to the scan
dial of the bride. Paul acted as best
man to Bart, and Sylvia, in her plain
dress. was bridesmaid.
After the ceremony Paul, laughing
at the oddity of it all, took his leave.
On walking to the gate he was over
taken by Mrs. Purr, who winked mys-
teriously. whatever you do, sir said
the lean Old creature, with many con
tortions of her withered face, don't
have nothin' to do with Tray"
"Tray?" echoed Paul in surprise
''Mr. Pash's office boy?"
Him and none other. 1 knows his
grandmother, as as bin up for drunk
200 times and is proud of it. Stretch
ers is as common to her, sir, as kiss
ings is to a handsome young gent like
you. An the boy takes arter her. A
deep young cuss," whispered Granny
Purr significantly.
But why should L beware of himT'
! asked Beecot, puzzled.
"a mods wink to blind 'un,'
croaked Mrs. Purr, condensing the
proverb and turning away. Jus
leave that brat Tray to his own wick
edness. They'll bring him to the gal
lers some day"
But | want to know
"Ah, well, then, you won't, sir. / ses
what 1 ses, and 1 ses no more nor
| oughter say. So good night, sir" and
Mrs. Purr toddled up the newly gray
| eled path and entered the cottage
| leaving an odor Of gin behind her.
1t was o'clock when Paul arrived
at the door of the stairs leading to his
shoulder by no less person than Mr.
| Billy Hurd. Only when he spoke die
| Paul recognize him by his voice, fol
the gentleman who stood before hin
was not the brown individual he knew
| as the detective. Mr.. Hurd was II
evening dress, with the neatest of pat
| ent boots and the tightest of white
gloves. He wore brilliantly polish
ed silk hat and twirled gold headed
cane; also he had donned smar
blue cloth overcoat with a velvet col
lar and cuffs. But, though his voic,
was the voice of Hurd, his face wa!
that of quite different person. Hi.
hair was dark and worn rather long
his mustache black and large an(
fected an eyeglass as immovable a.
that of Hay.
"Why are you masquerading as ,
Frenchman, Hurd?"
Not Hurd in this skin, Mr.. Beecot
Comte de la Tour, votre service" ant
he presented thin glazed card witt
a corOnet engraved on it. "Come up t.
your room. There's something to b.
talked over between u.s."
mo bad news, hope"
"Ah, my poor friend" said the de
tective in his usual genial voice, 'yo,
have had enough bad news, l an
aware. To lose lovely wife and
fine fortune at once. Eth, what pity!
81 have lost the money, certainly
said Beecot, lighting his lamp, "but tn
wife will be mine as soon as can saw
sufficient to give her better HON
than this"
M. lie Comte de la Tour sat down an,
gracefully flung open his overcoat, S
as to expose a spotless shirt front
!.'What," he asked. lifting his .darkene