Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-24
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Telltale Shadow-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1910 by Associated Literary Press

Alter couple of hours sail the
party returned to the shore. and VII
cox asked the father and daughter to
go into the wineshop for refreshment
The father declined for both himself
and his daughter. saying it was late
and he must be up early in the morn
ing to begin his days fishing. VIII
COX babe them good night. and, as II
was early for him, went into the wine
shop alone for his tipple and his
smoke.
There was no one in the place ex-
cept the woman, who set the wine be-
fore the American and left him. There
was a fireplace in the room. and. the
nights being chilly In Italy, wilcox re-
called her and asked her to bring in
a few fagots and build a fire. She
was surprised at the request, for fuel
is enormously expensive in Italy; but,
knowing him to be an American,
which to these people means having
plenty OF money. she acceded to his
request Wilcox sat down before the
fire with the wine beside him and
drank and smoked and, without in
tending it, fell asleep.
He awoke with a start What caused
him to feel that he was in danger he
did not know. 1t might have been
blow that was threatening him or it
might have been the fact Of sudden
realization that he had been ever since
he first saw Marie taking q frightful
risk. In any event he was conscious
that death was in the room. The
fagots had burned out. There was
bright light near the entrance, which
shone on Wilcox's back and which
cast a shadow on the wall directly
over the fireplace. The shadow was
that of a figure with the right arm
raised above the head. The shadow
cast BY the end OF this arm was din.
cult for Wilcox to make out. It SEEM
ed to be a pointed stick held by a fist.
The mind works quickly In the pres
ence of danger, real or fancied, and in
q fraction OF a second he had deter
mined that a man was behind him
with his right hand raised and holding
q dagger.
"SenoraY' cried the American sharp.
ly, calling to the woman who had
served the wine.
The shadow nickered and disap-
peared.
There was no reply to the summons,
and the young man called again:
''Senora!'
Presently the woman, yawning,
came slowly into the room.
81 find myself, senora," said Wilcox,
with not even money enough about
me to pay you for the wine have or
dered. Have you any one here who
will go up to my hotel with a check.
get it cashed by the landlord and bring
me the money!
Eyes. senior, but you can as well pay
for the wine when you come for
more"
mo, sonora; go away early in the
morning to Naples. Besides. there are
other payments 1 wish to make down
here among you good people. 1 in.
tended to bring money, but forgot It."
VERY well, senior. II you desire. IL
will send my SON. He is in bed, but
can awaken him."
Wilcox took a blank check from his
portmanteau and filed q check for
500 ira ($1O0) and wrote on the back
Of it a request to the landlord of his
hotel TO send him the money it called
for by bearer. Then he gave it to
the landlady, and. ordering another
ntre of wine and lighting a cigarette,
he made it appear that be would await
the return of his messenger.
But he had no idea of waiting for
the Daoney,- he knew the man who