Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-26

like a gentleman-but useless. quite |
useless. So the less said about invok-
ing the law the better for-some peO- |
pie. You'll agree with me, dare say.
And now. concerning your friend Ger
aid Erroll-I have not the slightest de-
sire to see him play cards. Whether
or not he plays is a matter perfectly
Indifferent to me, and you had better
understand it. But If you come here
demanding that l arrange my guest
lists to suit you you are losing time"
Selwyn, almost stunned at Ruthven's
knowledge of the episode in his rooms,
had risen as he gave the man the lie
direct.
For an instant. now, as he stared at
him, there was murder in his eye.
Then the utter hopeless helplessness
Of his position overwhelmed him as
Ruthven, with danger written all over
him, stood up, his soft. smooth thumbs
hooked in the glittering sash of his
kimono.
'Scowl if you like" he said. backing
away instinctively. but still nervously
impertinent, land keep your distance!
If you've anything further to say to
me. write it." Then. growing holder
as Selwyn made no offensive move:
Write to me-" he repeated. with a
venomous smirk. Its safer for you
70 figure as my correspondent than as
my wife'S correspondent L-let go Of
me! W-what the devil are you dido
ing?"
For Selwyn had him fast, one sinewy
hand twisted in his silken collar, hold
ing him squirming at arms length.
"M-murder!" stammered Mr.. Ruth
ven.
NO" said Selwyn, mot this time.
But be very. very careful after this"
And he let him go with an invOlun-
tary shudder and wiped his hands Oh
his handkerchief.
Ruthven stood quite still, and after
a moment the livid terror died out in
his face and rushing flush spread
| over it-a strange, dreadful shade
| curiously opaque-and he half turned,
| dizZily, hands outstretched for self
support.
| Selwyn coolly watched him as he
sank on to the couch and sat huddled
| together and leaning forward, his soft,
| hinged fingers covering his empurpled
| face.
| Then Selwyn went away with a
shrug Of utter loathing, but after he
had gone and Ruthvens servants had
discovered him and summoned q physi-
clan their master lay heavily amid his
| painted draperies and cushions, hii
| congested features set, his eyes partly
open and possessing sight. but the
| whites of them had disappeared, and
the eyes themselves, save for the pu-
pills, We're like two dark Sits filled
| with blood
There was no doubt about It, The
doctors, one and all, knew their bust
ness when they had so often cautioned
Mr.. Ruthven to avoid sudden and ex.
cessive emotions.
That night Selwyn wrote briefly to
Mrs. Ruthven:
1 saw your husband this afternoon. He
Is at liberty to inform you of what
passed. But in case he does not there Is
one detail which you ought to know-your
husband believes that you once paid a
visit to my apartments. 1t is unlikely
that he will repeat the accusation, and
think there is no occasion for you to
worry. However 1t Is only proper that
you should know this. which is my only
/. excuse for writing you letter that re-
quires no acknowledgment Very truly
yours. PHILIP SELWYN
To this letter she wrote an excited
and somewhat incoherent reply, and
rereading it in troubled surprise, be
began to recognize in it something OF
the strange, Illogical, impulsive atti
tude which had confronted him in the
first weeks of his welded life
Here was the same minor undertone
Of unrest sounding ominously through
every line; the same Illogical, unhappy
J attitude which implied so much and
said so little, leaving him uneasy and
disconnected, conscious of the vague
recklessness and yelled reproach
dragging him back from the present
through the dead years to confront
once more the old pain, the old Devil
derment at the hopeless misunder
standing between them.