Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-24

IreSn Information IL you can.
II cam" snapped Mr.. Bump ominous-
ly. Then his voice went on rapidly.
without pause: There was two men
on the job; they knew the combina-
ton. had Keys 10 the cupboard and
cash box; Il was cinch for 'em.
gents. One man was tall and fair.
with a scar on his temple like Mr..
| Haswell here. and the other Teller was
the very spit of yourself. Mr.. Dray-
ton" He smiled impudently into our
astonished faces.
What do you mean?" sputtered
Jimmy threateningly.
Il mean when u firm of architects is
pressed for $4,000 and they hold its
worth in trust for relative it's an
easy matter TO raise the money and
call in the central Office TO cook up a
robbery yarn" he said brutality. Now.
gents. I'll give you till tomorrow after
noon to produce thar necklace"
The door closed behind his shrinking
form. and Jim and / tottered into OPP
posite chairs and stared aghast at each
other.
Fool idea. that. your calling up
headquarters" muttered angrily.
You've got US in no end of a messi"
How the devil did he learn we need
ed 100000" groaned Jimmy. "Must
have snooped around a lot on his way
up here"
Its his business to snoop. That's
what you hired him for" remarked
coIdly.
AT dinner that night Jim and 1 were
sunk into an abyss Of melancholy.
Mary was the very spirit Of Joyous
anticipation. She talked and laughed
and merrily rallied us on our silence.
Afterward she played and sang until
the clock struck IL. Then she turned
on the piano bench and rose to her
graceful height
Boys" she said TREMENDOUSLY. I'm
going upstairs for awhile. I'll meet
you in the library at-12 O'Clock"
In the library we smoked drearily
until the hall clock rang twelve dread
ed chimes
The door opened slowly. and Mary.
Respondent in white satin. entered. &
Jim knelt before the safe and open
ed it. Silently he handed me the tin
box. and as silently opened it.
"Mary. dear. these securities will be
transferred to you tomorrow-today. 1
mean" l said lamely. Their value
now is about $4,000. and you may do
as you please about
Bother the old securities, Peter" in
terrupted Mary. 81 want the neck
lace"
held the Jewel case in my hand.
Dear" I said. "can you bear a
shock?"
What IS it. Peter?' she half whis-
pered.
Dear. the necklace has disap-
peared.'' ! blurted out suddenly.
"Since when?' demanded Mary.
I'VE discovered its loss this after
noon-I mean yesterday at 4 o'clock.
If it does not show up, Jim and 1 will
make up its loss to you"
"Ffddlesticks. Open the case" COM I
manded Mary.
snapped open the cover and there
on its white satin bed lay the diamond
necklace.
"Jover yelled Jimmy, prancing ex-
citedly about.
"A foolish joke" commented my |
wife as claspeG the necklace around |
her graceful neck. She kissed me soft |
~ and then reached and drew Jimmy |
into the triangular embrace.
"Dears." my wife exclaimed. forget |
ting all about the necklace. you've |
been in trouble over your stupid bust
ness. You needn't deny it. heard you
talking one night: You needed just |
$4,000 TO set you on your feet-not |
ten thousand borrowed dollars that
would have TO be paid back. but that |
amount for your very own-and I've I
got it for you
What we roared increduously.
Eyes. sirs,'' she smiled happily. 1--WE
committed all sorts of crimes TO gain
my ends, and I'm not a bit repentapt.
although I've been dreadfully afraid
you would find me out-especially yes
terday afternoon-you acted so queer
Now listen. / stole the combination
TO the safe from Peters desk, and l
took his key when he was sick two
weeks ago and had duplicate made
of it. so that early this week l took
my necklace and raised $4,000 on it,"
She paused dramatically.
81 took the money to fathers old
friend, Colonel Muldoon, and asked
him II he wouldn't please invest 1t so
it would be doubled at once. I have
heard that everything he touched turn
ed to gold"
"He said he liked my nerve in asking
him to do such thing, but he said he
was going TO stir up Prairie Limited.
so he put it in that
Lord OF lovei Prairie Limited
solid gold"' i burst out.
Don't interrupt. Peter. Yesterday
he telephoDed me TO come down to his
office and receive the proceeds. anC.
dears, there was enough TO redeem the
necklace and ten thousand over-hereA
the bank draft. Am 1 not a finan-
cier?"
You're darlingr' cried her brother
when | had released her. But. Mary.
dear. you. er-specuIated; it's against
your principles. You should not have
done IL even for us"