Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-21
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
1.-The Letter of the Bond. by Crttenden Marriott.
Associated

John Follansbee stared at the young
man angrily. Then be turned TO his
daughter.
Kate" he said earnestly. almost
,pleadingly, ''be advised. You think
now that you love this young man
and that you can't be happy without
him. But you are wrong. If you did
not see him for year you would for
get him utterly. He-to his face say
1.-THE is not the sort of man TO inspire
any lasting affection. Give him up.
Trust your old father and give him
up. Won't you do it. Kate?"
IL can't. father"
Mr. Follansbee sighed Then he
turned to the young fellow. and his
voice was stern.
"Mr Carter" he said formally, Il
am plain man and deal plainly.
object to you as son-in-law. | have
looked into your history and find no
evidence Of enterprise or capubility.
You hope to induce my daughter to
marry you, but you'll never do So
That possibility may be set aside at the
start. There remains to you only one
alternative. You may defy me and be
crushed, or you may accede to my
wishes and become rich--in another
city. AS you know. there is scarcely
a business in this whole city in which
do not exert an influence. directly or
indirectly. If l choose-and ! may
end all your chances for the future
You do not doubt this. do your
mo, | do not doubt it." answered
the young man quietly.
Every well. That is one side of the
| shield. Now will show you the other.
| l had expected something like this and
| had decided how to deal with ii. and |
will make you an offer. If you will
promise to leave town tonight-within
the hour-without word to my
| daughter, and remain away for. say,
two years and to exchange no letters
with her in that time, / will give you
$4,000"
"Fatherr" Kate was on her feet.
red with shame and anger.
| "Hoighty-toighty, Kate! Let the
young man speak for himself. Which
4
4 ing or $10O00Y'
| Carter threw his head back haugh-
| tily, but before he could speak Kate.
who had slipped around behind her ia
/ Their. caught his eye and shook her
head violently. Bewildered. the young
man paused and faltered. "You-you
insult me- Mr.. Follansbee." he NUT
tered weakly
'Well. I'll double the insuit-and the
cash. Take it or leave IT,"
But Carter had had time now to
guess at the meaning of Kate's gestic-
ulations.
| Twenty thousand!' he sneered.
That's quite a sum-about equal to
your income for week. isn't it? Oh,
no. Mr.. Follansbee; ! don't sell out at
any such price as that"
Eollansbee stared at him beneath his
bushy browss Very WE'LL" he said.
forty thousand"
Again Kate shook her head and held
up her hand with all five fingers spread
widely. Carter saw it and answered
briskly. make 1t $4,000" he said.
land I'll talk business
VERY well. fifty thousand. then. to
be sent to you promptly by certified
check to-Chicago. shall we say?-as
soon as you send me an address from
that city. But. mind you. young man
4 no tricks. Your pledge. which you
| must give ME in writing, may not be
legally binding. but don't think thai
you can take the money and fan e
keep your word. If you do. by heav
ems. I'll stop at nothing to destroy
you"
H. .All right. all rightw returned tn