Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-10


ting up earlier than did myself"
The burglar looked up with light of
grim sympathy in his eyes as the girl |
fingered the revolver He did not seem
to be dismayed by the heartlessness
she evinced
yet 1t seems to me-" Miss Morley
suddenly announced, facing the bur-
\ g!ar squarely and with a little color,
that you and | are pair of weak
kneed cry-babies. We have experience
ed few of the worlds bitterly disap-
pointed experiences. and we both
whine. Dent ycu oppose that-that
we could help each utfcr 20 stand and
Stick it out-pool our courage. SO to
srcak:"
Wonderingly the burglar looked at
hec for moment as though he were
fe'lrful of some unfathomed and cruel
humor. He had let himself drop down
IN a huddled heap beside the safe.
Row he lifted himself upright and
was about TO advance a step when she
stayed him with uplifted hand.
Helen lie implored. will you.
AFTER all have been through-will you
literally cast your fortunes with me?
l Promise that you shall never have
occasion again to be ashamed of me-"
mo. nor the girl besought with a
haste almost hysterical. 'We'll draw
up compact to go into partnership OF
friends. We have saved each other
from crime. and we will stand by
each other, and We'll strike this off the
minutes before we adjourn. How say
your
..Nnd If the fight be a good one?"
Gorham asked softly. Will you have
confidence then In me? Oh, heaven"
With q reSolute movement he step
ped forward to touch her. Hitherto
her manner had been half playful. half
ironical. but il was altogether to hide
her deeper feelings. With an effort
that brought her figure splendidly
erect she wardsd him off.
mo, no. no.' she commanded. Not
here and now. No: but promise me.
John. promise me here and now. that
you and / part tonight members of Il
compact to fight the fight Of righteous
ness. no matter how hard it may be-
If-if-if you care to see me-" she fall
tered. you will know how to find me
But now-nothing but your promise,
and then--Go"'
He looked at her steadily while he
brcathed once or twice. 1t seemed as
| If he would defy her and take her to
himself in spite of what she might do.
but finally he turned to the open libra
ry door. At the moment of passing
out he turned and looked at her once
| again. Neither spoke. and she hardly
seemed to know the exact instant Of
| his leaving. She thought be was sure
" gone. however when he stepped
| hack into the room.
Helen" he began, and she knew
that he would have his question an
| swered, when l can come back TO you
| able honestly to take care of you, may
, I-comeT"
| He heard her softly speak her an
swer, and with n gesture of gladness
he was gone certainly this time.
| The safe was still open. and some of
| the papers lay as the burglar had drop
1 ped them. Helen turned to these and
began restoring them to their former
order.
| 81 pray he viii come back again to
me-" she breathed. ut may be a long
| while to wait until he can, but pow
erty and disgrace-nothing matters il
only we may have some happiness a
last, even the happiness that is nearly
4 all hardship
She had the will in her hands, ane
In spite of herself. she opened and reid
it. Before she finished she stood erect
in her excitement. Folding the paper,
| she placed it in the safe and closed
the iron door. Then she turned back
toward her room.
"He is coming back when he can
| honestly take care of me-" she told
| herself joyfully. land all of Uncle
Growers money is willed to him in
/ compensation for all he has suffered.
He will soon be back for me-
She could not sleep any better even
now, but the restlessness hadl given
place to peace of mind and terfect
happiness that were very good.