Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-04


sick man? The risk would be small
enough. and it was the one way open.
On the last afternoon before the de-
fparture Hugh asked for the clothes he
had worn when he was brought to the
hospital, found the gold pieces he had
snatched in the burning chapel and
tied them in a handkerchief about his
meek. They would Suffice to buy his
sea passage. The one red counter he
had kept-it was from henceforth to be
a reminder of the good resolutions he
had made so long ago-he slipped into
n pocket Of the clothes he was to wear
away. suit of loose, comfortable
tweed
Waiting restlessly for the hour of
his going Hugh asked for the news
papers, Since the first he had had
them read to him each day. listening
fcarfully for the hue and cry. But
today the surgeon put his request
aside
| after you are there" he said. "if
Bishop Ludlow wilp let you Not now.
You are almost out of my clutches, and
l must tyrannizc while can"
! A quick look passed from him to his
assistant as he spoke, for the newspa-
pe-s that afternoon had worn startling
headlines. The sortlid affairs of
mining town across the ranges had lit
| tie interest for Aniston. but the names
| Of Stires and Moreau on the clicking
| wire had walked it thus late to the SEN
sation. The professional caution of the
| tinker Of human bodies wished, how
ever, that no excitement should be
| added to the unavoidable fatigue of his
| patients departure.
| This fatigue was near to spelling de-
feat. after all. for the exertion brought
| again the dreadful stabbing pain, and
this tire 1t carried Hugh into re-
Sion where feeling ceased, conscious
ness passed and from which he strug-
| glcd back finally to find the surgeon
| bonding anxiously over him.
81. don't like that sinking SPELL" the
latter conided to his assistant an hour
lstcr as they stood looking through the
| window after the receding carriage.
ut was too pronounced. Yet he has
complained of no pain. He will be in
good hands at any rate He tapped
the glass musingly with his forelinger.
Its curious he said after pause.
~ always liked Sandcrson- in the pull
pit. Somehow he doesn't appeal to me
at close range"
The special car which the bishop had
| ready had been made pleasant int
rior. Fern boxes Were in the corners,
a Gagged canary swung from a bracket
and softly cushioned couch had been
prepared for the sick man. A moment
before the start. as it was being cou-
pied to the rear of the resting train
while the bishop chatted with the con
drctor. a flUstercd messenger boy hand
cd him q telegram. 1t read:
I arrive Admission tomorrow 8. Conf
Dental. Must see you. Urgent.
JESsICA
The bishop read it in some perplcx
ity. 1t was the first word he had re
ceived from her since her marriage
but. aware of Hugh's forgery and dis
grace, he had not wondered at this
The newspapers today pictured a still
worse shame for her in the position OF
the man who in the name still was hel
husband, who had trod so swiftly the
downward path from thievery to The
| worst of crimes. Could JcSSica's com
ing have TO do with that? He mus
see her. yet his departure could no
now be delayed. He consulted will
the conductor, ard the latter poret
over his tablets.
| AS Il result his answering message
flashed along the wires to Jessica's
faraway train:
Sanderson injured. Taking him t.
coast train As due Twin Peaks tomor
row afternoon.
And thus the fateful moment ap
preached when the great appeal should
be made.
The evidence Of the first days tria
of the case of the people against Hugl
Stires was the all engrossing topi,
that night in Smoky Mountain. Bar
ney McGinn perhaps aptly expressed
the consensus of opinion when he said
Il allow we all know he's guilty, blu
, nobody believes it."
Late as Smoky Mountain sat up tina
!, night, however. it was on hand mex
morning, rank and file, when the cour
| convened. t
All the previous evening save for
/ short visit to the cell Of his client
Fielder had remained shut in his office
thinking of the morrow. In his tall
. with Harry he had not concealed hi
deep anxiety, but to his questions thcr
was no new answer, and lie had re
turned from the interview more non
, plused than ever. He had wondere
, that Jessica ON this last night did no
| come to his Office, but had been rathe
, | relieved than otherwise that she di
, not He Lad gone to bed heavy wit
Acknowledgement and had walked in til
morning with foreboding.
, AS he turned from greeting his eli
, emit In the packed courtroom Felde
/ noted with surprise that Jessica wa
not in her place; not that he needed he
further testimony, for he had draw,
from her the day before all he intende