Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-06

tween verdict and penallty-n0t en0J2
doubtless, for the problem to solve It
self. For the only solution possible
was Hugh's dying in the hospital at
Aniston. So long as the other lived
he must play out the role.
And if Hugh did die, but died too
late? What Il satire on truth and jus
tice! The same error which put the
rope about his own neck would fold
the real Hugh in the odor of sanctity.
He would lie in the little Jail yard in
felon's grave, and Hugh in the GENE
terry on the hill beneath a marble mon
ument erected by st. james parish To
the Rev. Henry Sanderson. In the
dock or in the cell, with the death
watch sitting at its door, it was all one.
He had elected the path. and if it led
to the bleak edge of life. to the barren
abyss of shame, he must tread it, He
was powerless to help himself still. he
had given over his life into the keep
ing of power in which his better
manhood had trusted. If it eGacted
the final tribute for those ribald years
| of Satan Sanderson the price would be
paid.
A step came in the corridor. A voice
| spoke his name. The summons had
| come
| Before the opening of the door the
hum of voices in the courtroom sank
TO stiffness itself. The jury had taken
their places. Their LOOKS were sober
and downcast. The judge was in his
seat, his hand conbing his beard. Har
ry faced him calmly. The door of 8
side room was partly open. and ;
girls white face looked in, but he die
| not see.
Gentlemen of the jury, have you ar
rived at verdict?"
1--WE have"
There was Il confusion in the hall
abrupt voices and the sound of feet
The crowd stirred, and the judge
frowningly lifted his gavel.
"What say you. guilty or not gui!ty?'
The foreman did not answer. II,
was leaning forward, looking over thu
heads of the crowd. The judge stoo,
up. People turned. and the room wa:
suddenly a-rustle with surprised move
ment. The crowd at the back of tn,
room parted, and up the center aisl,
toward the judges desk staggered ;
figure-a man whose face. CHASTITY ant
convulsed. was partly swathed in band
ages. At the, door of the judges room
"a girl stood transfixed and staring.
The crowd gasped. They saw tn
familiar profile, replica of the pris
oner's; the mark that slanted acros
the brow, the eyes preternaturall
bright and fevered.
A pale faced, breathless man i'm clel
ical dress pushed forward through til
press as the figure stopped-thrust OIL
his hands blindly
"Not-guilty. your honor!' he said.
A cry came from the prisoner at tn
bar. He leaped toward him as he fe
and caught him in his arms.
The group in the judges room wa
hushed in awestruck silence. Th
door was shut. but through the panels
from the courtroom, came the mul
muir OF many wondering voices. r
the sofa on which lay the man VIII
had made expiation stood the bisho
and Harry Sanderson. Jessica knee
beside 1t, and the judge and those VIII
stood near him in the backgroun
knew that the curtain was falling upo
a strange and tangled drama Of If
and love and death.
After the one long, sobbing cry 6
realization, throughout the excitemeI
and confusion, Jessica had bee
strangely calm. She read the swii
! Scertainty in DR.. Brent's face, and sh
: felt q painful thankfulness. The Ia.
appeal would not be to mans justic
: but to Gods mercy! The memorie
: Of the old blind days and the know
edge that this man-not the one
!. whom she had given her love ;
4 Smoky. Mountain, at whom she dare
Q not look-had been her. lover. was no
. in very truth her husband. rolled abo,
D her In a singing mist. Bat as 81
S knelt by the sofa the hand that chafe
the neryeless one was firm. and 81