Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-12

for. this incident with Gerald, you had
better not pursue 1t any further. Do
you understand"
He nodded, dropping his hands into
his coat pockets.
= Now you may CO." she said coolly.
He went, not, however. to his room.
but straight to the house Of the fash
ionable physician who ministered to
wealth with an JUNCTION and success
that had permitted him in summer time
to occupy his own villa at Newport and
dispense further ministrations when re-
quested.
On the night Of the conjugal con-
ference between Nina Gerard and her
husband and almost at the same hour
Jack Ruthven, hard hit In the card
room Of the Stuyvesant club, sat hud-
died over the table. figuring up what
sort Of checks he was to draw to the
credit of George Fame and Sanxon
Orchil
And now as he sat there. pencil In
hand, adding up the score cards he re-
membered that he was to interview his
attorney that evening at his, own house,
late appointment, but necessary to
insure the presence of one or two ply
sicians at a consultation to definitely
decide what course Of action might be
taken to rid himself of the wife who
had proved useless and almost ruinous
to him.
He had not laid eyes ON his wife that
summer, but for the first time he had
really had her watched during her alb
sence. What she lived on, how she
managed, he had not the least idea and
less concern. All he knew was that he
had contributed nothing, and he was
quite certain that her balance at her
own bank had been nonexistent for
months. In the autumn he had heard
| Of her conduct at Hitherwood House,
| and week later, to his establishment.
| he learned of her serious Illness and
that she had been taken to Clifton. 1t
was the only satisfactory news he had
had OF her in months.
| When he had finished his figuring he
/ fished out check book, detached q
tiny gold fountain pen from the bunch
Of seals and knickknacks on his watch
chain and, filling in the checks, passed
them over without comment.
AS they filed out of the card room
into the dim passageway, Orchil lead
ing, a tall. shadowy figure In evening
dress stepped back from the door OF
the card room against the wall to give
them right OF way, and Orchil, peer
ing at him without recognition in the
dull light, bowed suavely as he passed
as did Fame, craning his curved neck
and Harmon also, who followed in his
wake.
But when Ruthven came abreast OF
the figure in the passage and bowed
his way past low voice from the
courteous unknown. pronouncing his
name, halted him short.
IL want word with you, Mr.. Ruth
ven," added Selwyn; that card room
will suit me. IL you please"
But Ruthven, recovering from the
shock of Selwyn's voice, started t.
pass him without word.
II said that i wanted to speak t.
your repeated Selwyn.
Ruthven, deigning no reply, attempt
ed to shove by him. and Selwyn, plac
ing one hand fiat against the other
shoulder. pushed him violently bacl
, into the card room he had just lef
! and. stepping in behind him, closes
) and locked the door.
"W-what the devil do you mean?
! gasped Ruthven, his hard, minutei.
shaven face turning deep red.
, what say" replied Selwyn-"tha
want word or two with you"
He stood still for a moment in tn
, tcenter of the little room, tall, gaunt o
, feature and very pale.
"Ruthven," he said, ga few year
, ago you persuaded my wife to leav