Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-27

her as she passed through the quarters
Of the luckless ones
Jane, won't take no for an answer
this time," he whispered eagerly. you
| must consent. Do you want to ruin
both of our lives?"
Why will you persist Graydon?
You know cannot
You can. Consider me as well as
yourself. l want you. Isn't that
enough? You can't ask for more love
than | will give. Tomorrow Wen be
on shore. | have many things TO do
before | am liberty TO go my way.
Won't you wait for me? 1t won't, be
long. We can be married in San Fran
| cisco. Mr.. and Mrs. Cable are TO meet
you. Tell them, dearest, that you want
to so home with me- The home won't
be in Chicago, but it will be home just
| the same
Dear Graydon, l am sorry, / am
heartsick, but cannot, l dare not"
Graydon Bansemer was a man as
lswell as a lover. He gave utterance TO
a perfectly manlike expression, coming
from the bottom of his tried soul:
Its ID nonsense, Janer' He said
it so feelingly that she smiled even as
she shook her head and moved away.
"Ill see you tomorrow on shore?" he
called, repentant and anxious.
| 'Yesi"
The next day they landed Graydon
waved an anxious farewell TO her as
he was hurried off with the lame the
halt and the blind. He saw David Ca
bile and his wife on the pier, and IN
spite of himself he could not repel an
eager, half fearful glance through the
crowd of faces. Although he did not
expect his father to meet him. he
dreaded the thought that he might he
there, after all. To his surprise, as he
stood waiting with his comrades he
saw David Gable turn suddenly and
after moments hesitation wave his
hand to him. the utmost friendship in
his now haggard face. His heart
thumped jioyously at this sign of amity.
AS the soldiers moved away Cable
paused and looked after him. grim
though compassionate expression in his
eyes. He and Jane We're ready to con
front the customs officers.
Il wonder If he knows about his
father" unused he Jane caught her
breath and looked at him with some
thing like terror in her eyes. He
abruptly changed the subject, deplorine
his lapse into the past from which
they We're trying TO shield her.
The following morning Graydon re.
eeived a note from Gable, i frank but
carefully worded message, in which
he was invited to take the trip east in
the private car of the president of the
Pacific. Lakes and Atlantic. Mrs. Ca.
, bic Joined her husband in the invita-
ton. One of the sore spots in Gray.
don'S conscience was healed by this
exhibition of kindness. Moreover, Ca
BILE stated that his party would delay
E departure until Graydons papers were
[ passed npon and he was free from red
: tape restrictions.
i The young man ON landing sent tele
grams to his father and Elias broom
the latter having asked him to notify
1 him as soon as he reached San Fran
i cisco. Graydon was not little puZ
: lied by the fact that the old clerk
: seemed strangely at variance with hi:
5 father in respect to the future. IL
0 both kilograms he announced that h.
would start east as soon as possible.
There was a letter from Droon
{ awaiting him at headquarters. 1t wa:
i brief, but it specifically urged him tt
accept the place proposed by Mr.
; Clegg and reiterated his pressing com
II mand to the young man to stop for :
few days in Chicago. In broad ant
characteristically uncouth sentences b
assured him that while the city hel(
/ no grudge against him and that tn,
/ young men would welcome him will
y open armsA-his groundless fears to tn,
contrary-he would advise him t
choose New York. There was on,
rather sentimental allusion to "ol(
Broadway" and another to "Gren
t Mitch" as he wrote it. In conclusion
: he asked him to come to the office
which was still in the u building
G adding that If he wished to avoid tn,
] newspaper men he could find seclusioi
a at the old rooms in Wells street. You
S father" he said, has given up hi
e apartment and has taken lodgings.
uOuDC very tnucu Ill ne Will Dc Niiial
< to share them with you. In view of tn
! position he has assumed in regard t
t your future, although he says you ma.
I always call upon him for pecuniary as
. sistance." A draft for $500 was in
!, closed with the letter.
/ Graydon was relieved to find tina
e there would be no irksome delay al
u tending his official discharge. Whel
he walked out "free man." as h
called it, gentlemanly pension attoi
ney locked arms with him and hung o
l. like a leech until the irritated soldie
{ shook him off with less consideration
than yigor.
He went directly to the Palace hote
where he knew the Cables We're stoI
ping. David Cable came down in re
!. Spouse to his card. The two men shoe
:. hands, each eying the other inquiringl
: for an instant
a Il want you to understand, Graydor
). that l am your friend. Nothing has a
tered my esteem for you"
= ''Thank you, Mr.. Gable. I hardly e1