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

Sir George Duncomhs's interference.
but he. again. Is foliowc,! ana watcaca.
over by ou. eneraies. wh3 would easily
possess Themselves os ar information
which he might gain"
Spencer nodded
sit is good reasoning" lie admitted.
Listen" II. Louis continued. 81
speak now on behalf of my friends.
You know whom l mean. You have
solved the mystery of cur existence.
We are omnipotent. Tie police and
the secret service police and the gov
eminent itself are with us. We have
license throughout tie city. We may.
do what others may not. For Us there
is no crime. l kill you now perhaps.
The police arrive. / am before the
| commissioner. I give him the sight
is raffaire Poynton. go free. 1t is
q certain thing"
"Granted. Spencer said. proceed
| with your killing or your argument"
"With tie latter, if you please" NJ.
Louis answered. y do not choose to
kill. L'aiIaire Poynton. then. Harm
| is not meant to either of these young
people. That | assure You upon my
honor. In three weeks, Oh, say,
| month, we have finished. Tliey may
| return 30 their homes if they will. We
have no further interest in them. For
| those three weeks you must remain as
YOU arc-you and. if you have influence
over him. Sir George Duncombe. The
| other two fools we have no care for.
1 Y IL, H.. Il
| they must pay. They are not our con-
Germ. yours and mine. For you bring
an offer. NJ. Spencer"
"Timeo Danaos dona ferentesw Spen-
Ger murmured.
| NJ. Louis smiled.
"My gift" he answered, twill net
terrify you. You are journalist.
| offer to make the fortune of your pa
per. You shall be the first to announce
an affair of the greatest international
| Importance since the war between
Russia and Japan was declared. No;
will go further than that. 1t is the
greatest event since Waterloo"
"L'affaire Poynton strikes so deep?"
Spencer remarked
$50 deep" the baron answered. 1T
Is the fools who grope their way into
great places. So Gid the boy Poynton.
You. my friend, shall be the one bril-
liant exception. You shall make your.
self the king of journalists. and you
shall be quoted down the century ;
having achieved the greatest journal
istic feat OF modern days"
| t,,ppnH hiSy Il har Il
face toward his visitor 4 slight flush
of color stained his cheek.
"You fascinate me-" he said slowly
II admit it. You have found the weak
spot in my armor. Proceed, For
whom do sou speak?"
NJ. Louis abandoned his somewhat
lounging attitude. He stood by Spe1.-
GERS side and, leaning down, whisper
ed in his ear. Spencer's eyes grew
bright.
IN. Louis" he said, you play at .
great game'
The baron shrugged his shoulders.
"Me?" he answered. Il am but
pawn. I do what am told"
ITO return for q moment to Taf
faire Poynton," Spencer said, Il am il
the humOr TO trust you. Have 1 thel
your assurance that the boy and gir
do not suffer-:
Upon my own homer ard the homo
of the company TO whom l belong.
he answered, with some show CT dig
nifty 1T is Il pledge which l hav
never yet broken"
| u hrih ~
swered.
NJ. Louis threw away his secon
cigarette. lie cast q look almost o
admiration upon the man who sti
lay stretched upon the couch.
you are the only Engiishman l eve
met. NJ. Spencer" he said, who wa
not pighaaded. You have the tenacit
of Your cOuntrymen, but you have tn
genius to pick out the right thrca
from the tangle, to know truth whe
you meet it. even in unlikely place:
| doif my hat to you, NJ. Spencer.
you permit ! viii send my own phys
clan to you. You will be yourself in
week"
you know the antidote?" Spence
remarked grmly.
Naturally. Accidents will happier
You wish that should send him.
without doubt" Spencer answered
, Il am weary of this couch"
You shall leave it in a week." MOI
/, sieur promised as he left the room.
q Spencer closed his eyes. Already /
felt coming on the daily headach
l. which, with the terrible weakness
were part of his symptoms. But thcl
7 was no rest for him yet. NJ. Lou
II had scarcely been gone five minute
e when Duncombe arrived.
: Duncombe had had 10 word OF h
- friends illness. He stood over h
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