Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-16

THAT revolver again?" asked Mus
grave, with laugh that did not cover
the irritation that 1t was intended to
conceal. 1T seems to me, Jeanne, that
you are always foolirg with that muir
derOus looking thing
Not always" was the grave re-
Spouse. For whole weeks it lies in the
top drawer, Frank. but once a month 1
take it out and clean it that 1t may al
| ways be ready and that l may not for
get, as though / ever could" she added
| wildly.
Musgrave shuddered. He disliked the
sight of weapons, and there was some
thing sinister in the care with which
| the girl kept the revolver always in
| good condition.
| 1t was no pearl handled toy such as
woman might be supposed to carry,
but blue barreled A. that would
stop" a man with n single shot, the
sort of weapon that was meant for
men.
1t struck a Earring note In the femi-
ninity of Jeanne Barthon's personality.
1t was absurd and yet repelling that
the dainty little artist should devote SO
much time to the care of the black
muZZled threat. All about were half
finished sketches. bits of French sea
coast, ideal heads and fashion draw
ingS in odd confusion. with a hand
some toilet over a dressmakers form
in one corner
Jeanne herself was essentially femi-
nine, tiny mite of a woman with a
coropet of golden hair surrounding 4
fragile face. She was scarcely five fee,
tall, and the gun was oddly out of pro,
portion
Musgrave sank into q chair from
which he swept the fashion maya
zines to the floor and watched the girl
with gloomy face.
Perhaps it will be as we'll TO tell you
my secret. Frank" she said at length
when the weapon had been oiled and
reassembled "Then you will under.
stand my care and also why 1 cannot
promise to marry you. dear. 1t is hes,
that you should understand"
II have no wish to pry into your
secrets" he demurred. "They canno;
be very mportsnt-except your reason
for not wanting to marry me. You ad
NIT that you are unmarried and free
and that you love me. Those are the
essentials"
"Unmarried-yes," the girl breathet
tensely. "but free-no. 1t is tina
/ would tell you, dear, so sit that
may not see the horror in your face
and do not speak until have finished
Sit So" she added as she placed 6
chair so that 1t stood directly before
her own.
ut Is the gun with which some day
, am to kill a man." she began, plung
ing into the middle of her story. sd,
not stir until / say that you may.
cannot talk If you interrupt 1t II
hard enough to tell even So" =.
"Then don't tell" urged the man
you never will kill a man. You ar,
afraid even of the dark"
"Of the dark, yes" she admitted
softly, ''but when the moment of re
venge comes shall shoot to kill. will
never thought of what will follow
They may not kill me- but will spen,
Years in prison. and all because I hav
done the justice that men would no
do. That is why may not marry.
81 had brother once. He was a
that 1 had Not even cousins had
and when my Paul went to your Klor
dixie grieved and grieved, eve
r though he had promised that In on
year he would return with millions c
francs and I should enter the atelie
o of the great artist with whom woul
study and become famous.
"For year l had his letters. The
none came l said that mails were N,
y regular in that far Off land, and so
waited almost another year. The
n with the little money that I had
isought him, for I knew that evil mu
hayA hefallen.