Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-08

Three years." Emerson replied.
impossible! Dear, dear, how time
flies when one is busyT
Boyd has been telling me Of bis
adventures" said Mildred HE is
going to dine with u.s."
Have you come home to stay?" ask
ed the father.
NO. sir 1 shall return in a few
weeks"
Mr.. wayland's cordially seemed to
increase In some subtle manner.
well, am sorry you didn't make
a fortune, my boy. But rich or poor.
your friends are delighted to see you,
and we shall certainly keep you for
dinner. / am interested In that north
western country myself, and 1 want to
ask some questions about it,
It was well on toward midnight when
Emerson reached his hotel, and, being
too full of his visit with Mildred to
sleep, he strolled through the lobby
and into the Pompeian room.
Boyd Emerson! By Jove. I'm glad
to see your He turned to face an
anaemic youth whose colorless. gas
bleached face was wrinkled into an
expansive grin.
"Hello, AltonY'
They shook hands like old friends,
while Alton Clyde continued to ex-
press his delight
80 you've been roughing it out In
Nebraska, eh?"
ALASKA"
$50 It was. always get those places
mixed. Come over and have a drink.
/ want to talk to you. Funny thing,
! Just met a Klondiker myself this
evening. Great chap tool / want you
to know him; he's immense His name
is Froelich. but he isn't a Dutchman.
Come on, you'n like him.
Clyde led his companion toward a
table.
Mr. FroelIch showed back his chair
and turned. exposing the face OF Fin
gerless' Fraser, quite expressionless
save for the left eyelid, which dropped
meaningly.
"'Froelich! said Boyd angrily;
~good heavens, Fraser, have you pick
ed another? 1 thought you were going
to stick to 'Frobisher.'" Turning to
Clyde, he observed: This mans name
Is Fraser. One of his peculiarities is
a dislike Of proper names. He has
never found one that suited him."
II like 'Froelich' pretty WELL" OBJ
served the imperturbable Fraser. cit
sounds distanguay and
Don't believe anything he tells you"
Boyd broke in, seating himself. HE
is the most circumstantial liar in the
northwest, and if you don't watch him
rofYo m ruf hr-
drauIic mine or a rubber plantation or
a sponge fishery. Underneath his &C.
centricities. however, he is really
pretty decent fellow, and am indebt-
ed to him for my presence here to-
night"
Alton Clyde made his establishment
evident by inquiring incredulously of
Fraser, Then that scheme of yours to
establish a gas plant at Nome was
ALL
Certainly" Emerson laughed. THE
incandescent lamp travels about as
fast as the prospector. Nome is light
ed by electricity and has been for
years."
assumption OF the supremest surprise.
You Know as well as 90.
I'm! I'd forgotten. Just the same,
my plan was a good one. Gas is
cheaper" He reached for bis glass,
at which Clyde's eye fell upon his
missing fingers. and the young club
man exploded:
'wel, if that's sthe Kind Of pill you
are, maybe you didn't lose your mftt
in Tho Poar yz-;ir pitborp
Emerson answered for the adventur-
er: Hardly! He got blood poisoning
from a hangnail."
Clyde began to laugh uncontrollably.
Really, that's great! oh, that's love
Tyr
Clyde said he was in poor health
and wanted a chance to regain lost
appetite and lost money.
I'm give you a chance to recoup,"
said Boyd 81 am here to raise some
money on a good proposition"
The younger man leaned forward
eagerly. IF you say it's good that's
all want to know. I'll take chance.
I'm in for anything from pitch and toss
to manslaughter."
'I'll tell you what it is and you can
use your own Judgment"
81 haven't a particle" Clyde confess
ed. 'If I had wouldn't need to in
vest. Go ahead, however; I'm all ears"
The other outlined the plan. To Clyde,
Boyd Emerson had ever represented
the ultimate type Of all that was most
desirable, and time had not lessened
his admiration.
at looks as If there might be a jolly
rumpus. doesn't it?' he questioned.
at does" a{
Then I've got to see it. I'll put in
my share If you'll let me go along"
You go! why. you wouldn't Ike
that sort OF thing" said Emerson, con-
siderably nonplused.
"Oh, wouldn't L? I'd eat it! It's just
what need. I'd revel In that outdoor
life" He threw back his narrow shoul-