Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-28
The Argus Daily Short Story
Mystery of Black Mountain-By John Louis Berry.
Copyrighted. by Literary

The lightning flashed, Illuminating
the dark forest wildly.
This is the place." said Glare
breathlessly after her long run, and
she pointed to the ground.
At Jacks feet lay a sinister black
heap with its face turned up toward
the stormy sky. There was a wide
cash in the head. Beside the body lay
the brutal implement of the hideous
deed-an AK.
''Philr cried Jack in horror stricken
tones. bending down and feeling the
heart. My God, he is dead!'
Dead" repeated Glare, land you
killed him.
81? Why. Miss Fleming. you must
be mad. l swear
She held up her hand. mot another
word. Please see me to the edge of the
wood"
Jack Lawrence was held for the muir
der.
One afternoon a week before the day
of the trial Jack was surprised by a
visit from Clare Fleming.
I'm going away" she explained.
land | didn't want TO leave without
saying goodby."
Thank you" he answered quietly.
do you still believe me guilty."
Don't ask me. please"
He sighed heavily.
"ls there anything | can do for
you?" she asked eagerly.
Yes. Try TO believe that I'm limo
cent Will Won fry CIaray ~
Yes, Jack; I'll try-with all my
SOUL
THANK you. You didn't see me strike
him with the ak. did your
mo" She was silent a moment, gaz-
ing at him steadily. Tell me. are you
innocent or guiIty?"
Innocent. so help me Cod
She held out her hand. 81 believe
you she said. then. ashamed of her
tears, hurriedly left him.
Out in the street she met her uncle,
Judge Hughes.
I'm on my way to reserve your
berth. my dear" he said. THE train
has changed time, and
but I'm not going away-just yet
she interrupted.
You don't say so. Well, if you're
not the most uotionate young LADY,
But she laughed and hastened past him.
Reaching Dizzy Lodge. the Hughes
home, she ordered her pony saddled
and soon was galloping up Black
mountain. She did not draw rein until
arriving at Piney Bits cabin. The old
man was hard at work chopping wood.
Good afternoon" she said gracious
II hos I'd haf rho only
person in the county who believes Jack
innocent of the murder"
Bill did not respond with much alac-
rity. Because of this handsome. dash
ing young woman one of his boys was
dead and the other was virtually con-
demned to die.
well. Mr. Bill. that's a mistake"
she continued good humoredly, for
here's another who believes him limo
cent"
Bill gave his Ak a rest. "You" he
queried incredulously.
Come, now" she said briskly, dis
mounting. Lets go to the place where
poor Phil met his death and talk it
over. Maybe we can reach some con-
clusion."
do you remember the exact spot?"
Bill asked doubdully.
Eyes. The tree was struck by light
ming"
'P'raps Phil was struck too"' ne
hazarded. with sublime hope.
She shook her head. mo; it was
that horrible ak. Somebody killed him
with that, and you and ] must find
out who it was"
In few moments they were stand.
ing on the fatal spot. The tree had
been struck by lightning. as Clare had
said. and was now a partly burned and |
shriveled sembIance of its former
kingly self. The two friends of the |
accused examined the surroundings |
but found nothing that led |
to a clew. There seemed to be only |
ahead.
The day of the trial came. The pros |
ecution then called its first and only |
Clare Fleming. She told O |
simple and straightforward story OF !
how on the afternoon of the picnic she |
and the murdered man had met Tbs I
accused and of how when she and |
Phil were hurrying home in the rain