Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-30

that lie was going away.
Hank has got ship" Captain Jim
heard Kate confide to another girl.
Its schooner running out of South
Ambey for Norfolk. and the owners
have promised him raise in few
months, and then. if father and mother
are able to be moved
Captain Jim lost the rest. but sharp
thrust went through him. whether Of
anguish or relief be could not have
told. A month later came news Of a
shipwreck on the New Jersey coast.
The dispatches said openly that there
We're suspicious 81; umstances about
the wreck. but as the captain, Hank
Raynor, was announced as among those
drowned 1t was impossible to do much
Investigating.
On that very day Kate failed to ap-
pear at the pier.
Day by day for blank. wretched
week Captain Jira faced the empty
went down to the waterside street
and found there restitution. at once
piiifuI and reassuring.
ut isn't your love l am asking for.
DEAR" he said to her gently as at the
end of Il half hour he found himself
| holding her trembling fingers and
smoothing her hair. Il couldn't expect
that. But if you will give me what is
, left. the right to take care of you and
| yours, God knows it will be a precious
| trust"
He felt himself more than ever be-
| fore to be "Old Ben Bolt as he said
| this.
Captain Jim had no fine phrases, but
| months of effort had made him mar
vel of self control. He stood quite
F, still, though every nerve was tense
| with longing to clasp the slim little
| figure to his breast In fact, he hardly
| dared breathe when at last Kate drop
| ped her head against his arm for ac-
| Guiescence and broke into soft sob
| bling. \ guess at what was In his
| heart. he told himself, would have
| frightened her out of his reach forever.
| The six weeks that followed were n
mixture of paradise and purgatory TO
him. 1t was hard. indeed. to play the
decorous, fatheriy lover when his
| whole soul cried out for the touch OF
her lips on his and every swish of her
dress against him set his pulses throb-
bling. But he did it. and well.
His paradise proved q fools. how
ever Walking along the main street
one evening, with Kate on his arm
Hank Raynor's unmistakable self pass
ed the two almost at elbow touch.
There was livid scar along the alp.
partitions cheek. Kate did not see him
but pang like death went through
"Old Ben Bolt" The sight of thai
handsome, devil-may-care face seemed
to sound his doom.
During the next four and twenty
hours Captain Jim worked out his bit
ter problem. Cost what it might to
his own self respect, he would tell Kate
the truth as he knew it concerning
Hank Raynor. He could do that if
she had been his young sister, but in
honor he must free her from her prom
Use to himself
He had thought of a way out of her
financial difficulties, but it was not
l
or, indeed, the cost to his own heart
of these last few months.
Il have come to give you back what
1 asked that first night, Kate, but
must tell you something it will be
hard for you to BEAR" he said to hel
hoarSely as he stood in the little par.
lor, whose very plainness had grown
dear to him.
A flush ran into Rates cheek. but ii
her lips. "Oid Ben Bolt gripped the
, back of the chair in front of him.
II suppose you have seen Raynor?'
he went on.
Rates color rushed back in a rosy
flood. Her eyes dropped for an in
slant; then, shy. but brave. they looked
straight into Captain Jim's own.
Yes. T have seen him and-his wife
she answered. with little laugh. He
brought her from Philadelphia. lit
was a good thing | had found out be
fore that-that l didn't care most fol
him, after all. wasn't it, you dear ole
Ben Bolt?'"
The room reeled round Captain Jim
, Out of its chaos Rates face grew
flushed and smiling still. but with sus
piciouSly luminous eyes. Then dir
this Ben Bolt give great gasp a,
the truth burst upon him. He tool
: two long strides with outstretchet
arms, and second later Kate wa.
quite lost in the big. warm embrac,
I her dark hour had taught her was he
! hearts true haven
letter, Salt Rheum and Eczema.