Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-18
By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIN1,

as you call tneIn, discovered nothing.
Well, they only had one evening at 1t.
Will they try again in other directions?
Can l engage them to work for me?
Money is absolutely no object"
Spencer shook his head.
''Duncombe," he said. "you're going
the truth is best. You must not count
upon me any more. cannot lift even
my little finger to neip you. can only
give you advice If you want it,"
"And that?"
Go back to England tomorrow.
Chuck 1t altogether You are up
against too big combination. You
can do no one any good. You are Il
great deal more likely to come to harm
yourself"
Duncombe was quite quiet for sew
eral moments. When he spoke again.
his manner had new stiffness
You have surprised me good deal.
1 must confess. Spencer" he said. I'VE
will abandon the subject"
Spencer shrugged his shoulders.
~ know how you're feeling, old
chap" he said. ~ can't help it. You
understand my position here. l write
daily letter for the best paying and
most generous newspaper in the world.
and it is absolutely necessary that /
keep hand in glove with the people In
high places here. My position abso-
lutely demands it, and my duty to my
chief necessitates my putting all per-
sonal feeling on one side in case like
this when 4 conflict arises
But where" Duncombe asked, docs
the conflict arise?"
"Herer' Spencer answered. 81 re-
ceiyed note this morning from q great
parsonage in this country to whom
other breathing man. requesting me to
refrain from making any further in
quiries or assisting any one else to
make them in this matter. | can as
sure you that l was thunderstruck, but
the note is in my pocket at the present
moment"
"Does it mention them by name?'
1.-THE exact words are" Spencer an
swered, respecting the reported dis
appearance of the young Englishman
Guy Poynton, and his sister This
VIII just show you how much you have
to hope for from the police for the per
son whose signature is at the foot OF
that note could command the implicit
obedience of the whole system
F. Duncombe's cheeks were a LITTLE
| flushed He was British to the back
| bone, and his obstinacy was being
stirred.
1.-THE more reason" he said quietly
so far as | can see. that | should con
tlnue my independent efforts with such
help as | can secure. This girl ana
boy are fellow country people, and
haven't any intention of leaving then
IN the clutches of any brutal gang OF
Frenchmen into whose hands they may
have got. shall go on doing what
lean. Spencer"
The journalist shrugged his shout
lders.
81 can't help sympathizing with you
lDuncombe." he said, "but keep rea
isonable You know your Paris wei
enough to understand that you haven
Ia thousand to one chance. Besides
Frenchmen are not brutal. If the DO,
got into n scrape, it was probably hi
Town fault"
"And the girl? What of her? Am
to leave her to the tender mercies o
whatever particular crew of black
guards may have got her into. thei
ipower?"
You are needlessly melodramatic,
lSpencer answered. II will admit, o
course, tnat her position may be a
unfortunate one, but the personag
whom l have the honor to call III,
friend does not often protect black
guards. Be reasonable, Duncombe
These young people are not relative
OF yours, are they?'
"Nov'
Nor very old friends-the youn
lady, for instance"
Duncombe looked up, and his fac
was set in grim and logged lines. 81
felt like man who was mailing hi
colors to the mast.
1.-THE young lady," be said, "is, pra
heaven, my future wifeI"
Spencer was honestly amazed and
little shocked.
Forgive me, Duncombe," he saiG
II had no idea, though perhaps ougE
to have guessed"
They went on with their luncheon
silence for some time except for fey
general remarks. But after the coffe
had been brought and the cigarette
were alight Spencer leaned once NOR
across the table.
Tell me, Duncombe. what you mea
to do.'
Il shall go to the Cafe Montmartr
myself tonight. At such place ther
must be hangers-on and parasites VIII