Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-29

Droom's claminy fingers rested life
lessly in the warm clasp.
How are you. Graydon? I'm-l'm
very glad to see you. You are looking
well Oh, this? We've are moving,
said the old man. The helpers looked
on with interest. "Come into the back
expect you SO soon. They said 1t was
twenty-four hours late. Well, well.
how are you, my boy?"
I'm quite well again, Elias. Hard
siege of it, l tell you. Moving, Ell?
What's that for?"
Never mind those books, Eddie.
Thank you for helping me. Come in
some other time You fellows-I mean
you-pack the rest of these, and then
I'll tell you what to do next. Come in,
Graydon."
Eddie 'Deever took his departure,
deeply insulted because he had not
been introduced to the newcomer.
Graydon, somewhat bewildered, fol-
lowed broom into his fathers CONSUL
tation room. He looked around in
Quiringly.
"Where is father? 1 telegraphed to
him."
An incomprehensibie grin came into
Droom's face He twirled the UNI
brella In his fingers moment before
replying. His glance at the closed
door was no more significant than his
lowered tones.
ut didn't go very well with him,
Graydon. He isn't here any more
''What do you mean?'
81 mean the trial. There was trial,
you see Haven't you heard anything
Trial? He-he was arrested?' came
numbly from the young mans lips.
Il can't mince matters, Graydon. I'll
get it over as quickly as>possible. Your
father was tried for blackmail and was
convicted. He Is in-he's in the peni-
| Tertiary"
The sons face became absolutely
bloodless. His eyes were full of com
prehension and horror, and his body
stiffened as If he were turning to stone.
The word penitentiary fell slowly, me
chanically, from his lips. He looked
into Droom's eyes. hoping it might be
joke of the calloused old clerk.
'YOu-it-it can't be true" he muir
INJURED, his trembling hands going TO
his temples.
"Yes, my boy, it is true. l didn't
| write to you about it because l wanted
| to put it off as long as could. It's for
five years.
"God!" burst from the wretched son.
A wave of shame and grief sent the
tears flooding to his eyes. Poor old
| dadw He turned and walked to the
window. his shoulders heaving. broom
stood silent for long time. watching
| Bansemer's son, pity and triumph in
| his face.
do you want to hear about it?' be
asked at last Graydon's head was bent
| in assent.
at came the day after you left Chi
cago with the recruits. l knew you
would not read the newspapers. So did
he Harbert swore out the papers, and
he was arrested here in this Office.
believe he would have killed himself II
he had been given time. His revolver
was-er--not loaded. Before the officers
came he discharged me. l was at liber
ty to go or to testify against him. did
neither OF course | was arrested, but
! they could only prove that l was 8
| clerk who knew absolutely nothin:
about the inside workings of the Office
| offered to go on his bond. but he
would not have me. He made some ar
rangement through his attorney, ant
bail was secured. In spite of the fac
that he was charged with crime he in
sisted on keeping these offices and try
ing to do business. 1t wasn't becauS,
he needed money, Graydon. but be
cause he wanted to lead an honest life
he said. He has great deal of money
let me tell you. The grand jury indict
ed him last spring, but the trial did no
come up until last month, nearly {;
year later. so swift is justice in thi!
city. In the meantime | saw but littlt
of him. | was working on an invention
and, besides. there We're detective;
watching every movement l made.
stuck close to my rooms BY the way
want to show you a couple of model
l have perfected Don't let me forge
it. They Ia
Eyes, yes-but father? Goron."
'Well, the trial came up DIT last
That man Harbert is n devil. He ha
twenty witnesses, any one of whor
could have convicted your father HOY
he got on to them l cannot imagine
He uncovered every deal we'ye-er-
he had in Chicago and
''Then he really was guiltyr' groane
Graydon.
Eyes, my boy. knew 1t, of course
They could not force me TO testif
against him, however. l was too smaI
for them. Well, to make 1t short, h
was sentenced five weeks ago. TIL
motion for a new trial was Overrulet
He went to Joliet. If he had been
popular alderman or ward boss b
would have been out yet on continI
ances, spending most of his sentence
some fashionable hotel, to say tn
least
''For i've years. The young ma
sank into n chair and covered his fac
with his hands.
II "There'U be something off for goo