Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-17

couch III @HGc1ed SURPRISE.
My dea fellow, ,,vhe exclaimed. Il
had no idea that.you were i'll. This Is
why l have not heard from you. them
Spencer smileds as he held ont his
hand, and Duncombe. who seemed to
catch some mcali.lg IL the upralse1
eyebrows of his friend. was shocked.
"You meap?' he exclaimed.
Spencer nodded
.L'affaire Poynton'' he said gently.
"A very subtle dose OF poison indeed,
my friend. l shall not ole, but / have
had my little lesson Here the indi-
vidual has little chance We fight
against forces that are too many for
us. told you so at the start"
yet l." Duncombe answered, "have
not SUFFERED i4a,
my friend" Spencer answered, lit is
because l am the more dangerous
You have discoTered something's
Duncombe exclaimed.
Il came near discovering great
DEAL" Spencer answered perhaps it
would have been better for my system
if l had discovered little less. As it
is, have finished with l'affaire Poyn-
! ton for the present. You see how very
nearly faffaire Poynton finished me-"
cit is not like YOU" Duncombe said
thoughtfully. Ito give anything up
Eve come face to face sometimes
| with unique experiences which destroy
precedent" Spencer answered. This
| is one of them"
"And what Duncombe asked, do
| you advise me to do?s
Always the same advice" Spencer
| answered. Leave Paris today. Go
straight back to Norfolk. read the
| newspaper; and await events
We'll, l think that shall do so,"
| Duncombe answered slowly Il nave
| found out where Miss Poynton is. but
she will not see me. / have made an
enemy of my dearest friend, and
have. at any rate, interrupted your ca
raer and endangered your life. Yes;
will go back home"
"You may yet save your friend some
Inconvenience" Spencer suggested
TRY and persuade him to go back
with you"
HE will not listen to me-" Dun
combe answered. HE has brought an
| English detective with him. and he is
as obstinate as mule. For myself,
leave at O'clock"
you are well adyised-eXceedingly
well advised" Spencer said. Mind,
do not take the responsibility of send
ing you away without serious reasons.
II honestly believe that Miss Poynton
is safe. whatever may have happened
to her brother, and I believe that you
will serve her best by your temporary
absence"
Duncombe stood for moment wrap
lped i'll thought The last few months
had aged him strangely. The strenu-
Gus days and nights of anxious thought
had left their mark in deep lines upon
his face. He looked out of the window
Of Spencer's room. and his eyes saw
little of the busy. street below. lie
was alone once more With this strange
terrified girl upon the hillside with the
wind in their faces and making wild
lhaYoc in her hair. IIe,was with her
n different mood in the little room be
hind his library. when the natural Joy
Of her young life had for the moment
reassGttcd itself. He was With her al
their parting. He saw the hale fear
ful regret with which she had left Lis
care and accepted the. invitation OF
the marquise. Stirring times these had
been for man Of his quiet tempera
ment, whom matters of sentiment and
romance had passed lightly by and
whose passions had never before beer
! touched by the finger of fire And now
he was going back to an empty life-G
lie at least empty OF joy save thC
hope of seeing her again. For COOL Of
for evil, the great thing had found its
way into his life. His days of cain
nnimal enjoyment were over Sorrow
NJ joy We're to be his. He had passet
into the shadows OF the complex life.
md turned to Spencer.
About yourself. Spencer" he said
Have you seen u doctor?'
yes. l am not seriously ILL., hi
riend answered. "The worst is owe
low. And. Duncombe. it's hard 70
on to 70. know: but. look here. be
lieve that you will DE back In a mont
and taking Miss Poynton TO lunch ch,
Ritz. 1 never felt so sure of it as
DO today"
Duncombc remembered the anSw'
to his note and found it hard TO shal
his friends cheerfulness.
(To be Continued.)