Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-04

"And the boys letter of credit even
has never been drawn uponr'
NO; not since he left Vienna"
"Then the motive cannot be robbery.
Thank heaven" Duncombe added, with
little shudder. that 1t was the boy
who went first"
DON'T"
A great winged insect came buzzIng
into the room. DuncOmbe struck vic
iously at 1t with the palm Of his hand.
Lord he muttered. what fool |
am! I've never been away from home
before, Andrew, without longing to get
back, and here l am just back from
Paris In August. from turning night
into day, from living just the sort of
life hate. and I'd give anything to be
going back there tomorrow. I'm
haunted man. Andrew. I got up last
night simply because / couldn't sleep
and walked down as far as the pad
| dock. ] seemed to see her face In all
the shadowy corners to see her NOV.
ing toward me from among the trees
And I'm not an imaginative person,
Andrew, and I've got no nerves
| Look
He held out his band. strong and
firm and brown. 1t was as steady as a
rock.
II can't Sleep" he continued. 81
can't rest. Is there witchcraft in this
thing, AndrewY'
| Andrew Pelham laughed shortly. 1t
was laugh which had no kinship to
mirth.
And l." he said, 'have seen her
grow up. We We're boy and girl To-
gether. ! stole apples for her. have
watched her grow from girlhood into
womanhood have known flesh and
blood. and you cardboard image l,
too. am strong man. and | am help
less. / lie awake at night and
think. II is as though the red flames
of hell We're curling up around me-.
George. If she has come to any evil.
whether | am blind or whether can
see, I'll grope my way from country to
country till my hand is upon the~throat
Of the beast who has harmed her"
| The mans voice shook with passion.
| Duncombe was awed into silence He
had known Andrew Pelham always as
n good natured. good hearted giant. be-
loved of childrea and animals. deeply
religious. man whose temper. il he
possessed such thing, was always
strictly under control Such an out
burst as this was a revelation. Dun.
combe understood then how slight a
thing his own suffering was.
You shall not 60 alone. Andrew"
he said softly. but for the present we
must wait. If any one can help us.
spencer Will"
A servant came in with the whisky
and glasses and silently arranged them
upon the table. Duncombe rose and
attended TO his duties rs host
Can I get you anything further
Sir" the man asked.
Nothing. thanks Duncombe an
swefed Tell the servants to go tc
bed. We will lock up. Say when. An
Drew
Andrew took his glass mechanically
Out III the lane the silence of the sum
mer night was suddenly broken by tn,
| regular tread OF horses feet and The
rumbling of vehicles. Duncombe Inl
was built like many of the old fash
Toned houses in the country. with III
back to the road and the window a
which they Were sitting looked on
upon it, Dunconbe leaned forward II
his chair
''Vlsitors by the last train going III
to Runton Place." he remarked. Run
ton has quite a large party for III
first. Hello. They're stopping. L,
better go out"
He rose from his chair The omni
bus had stopped in the lane. and the,
could hear the voices of the occupant
clearly through the soft darkness
Some one was apparently getting on
and stumbled. A girls soft laugh ran;
out distinctly above the mans ey
clamation. Duncombe was airead
stepping over the window sill, when h
felt clutch like iron upon his shout
der He looked round in amazement
Andrews face was transformed. H
was struggling for words.
Her voice." he exclaimed hoarseiy
IAN dreaming. George? 1t was he
voicew
L n hn