Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-01

pat1attng upon every feature with the
fervor of a land agent bent on weav-
ing his spell about q prospective buyer.
And In truth she had chosen well. for
the conditions seemed ideal.
1--WE watched you, and know you
are down on your luck for some rea-
son." the girl said. you've been mis-
cast somehow, and you've had the
heart taken out of you, but I'm sure
it's In you to succeed, for you're young
and intelligent, cool and determined.
I am giving you this chance to play
the biggest game Of your Life and erase
In eight short months every trace OF
failure. I'm not doing 1t altogether
unselfishly, for / believe you've been
sent to Kalvik to work out your own
salvation and mine and that Of poor
George Bait, whom you've never seen
You're going to do this thing, ana
you're going to make it win"
Emerson reached out impulsively and
caught her tiny, mittened hand. His
eyes were shining; his face had lost
the settled look Of detection and was
all aglow with a new dawn OF hope.
Even his shoulders were lifted and
thrown back as If from some sudden
access OF vigor that n9htened his bur-
den.
you're rightr' he said firmly. wen
send for Bait tonight"
In the days that followed Cherry
was at Boyd's elbow constantly, aid
ing him at every turn in his zeal to
acquire a knowledge Of the cannery
aystem. The odd conviction grew upon
her that he was working against time.
that there was a limit to his period
OF action, for he seemed obsessed by
an ever growing passion to accomplish
some end within a given time and had
no thought for anything beyond the
engrossing issue into which he had
plunged. She was dumfounded by his
sudden transformation and delighted
at first, but later, when she saw that
he regarded her only as a means to
an end. his cool assumption of leader
ship piqued her and she felt hurt
Constantine had been sent for Bait
with instructions to keep on until he
found the fisherman even If the quest
carried him over the range. During
the days of impatient waiting they oc-
cupied their tinfe largely in reoonnoi-
tering the nearest cannery. permission
to go over which Cherry had secured
from the Waterman, who was indebted
to her. The man was umid at first,
but Emerson won him over, then pro-
ceeded to pump him dry OF infornla-
ton, as he had done with his hostess
Fraser looked on In bewilderment
at the change In Emerson
what have you done to Frozen
AnnieT" he asked Cherry on one oc-
casion. "You must have fed him q
speed ball. for / never saw a guy
gear up so fast. Why, he was the
darndest Grape hanger ever met till
you got him Fingered up. He didn't
have no more spirit than q sick kit
ten"
Fraser then eyed the girl keenly.
This is a lonely place for a woman
like you," he said, land our mutual
friend amt altogether unattractive,
eh?"
Cherry's cheeks famed, but her tone
was Icy. This Is entirely a business
matter"
"Hm-mi amt never heard you
touted none as a business woman"
said the adventurer.
"Have you ever heard me''-the col
or faded from the girls face, and 1t !
was q tribe drawn-"discussed In any |
way%
"You know. Emerson makes me un- |
comfortable sometimes, he Is so id |
moral" Fraser replied indirectly. HE |
won't stand for anything or color. |
Hes real square guy, he is. the kind |
you read about"
"You didn't answer my question
insisted Cherry.
Again Fraser evaded the issue. Now,
Il this Marsh is going after you 10
earnest this summer why don't you let !
ne stick around until spring and look
'ut your game? I'll drop a monkey |
wrench In his gear case or put q spider
n bis dumping. and it's more than
In even shot that If him and got
% know each other right well I'd own
lis cannery before fall"
THANK you; can take care Of my.
elf" said the girl.
Late one stormy night-Constantine
lad been gone a week-the two men
whom they were expecting blew in
through the binding smother. Bait
efused rest or nourishment until he
lad learned why Cherry had sent
or him. As briefly as possible she
utlined the situa ton. Boyd Emerson
aw a huge, barrel chested creature
whose tremendous muscles bulged be-
cath his nondescript garments, whose
ed. outstanding bristle Of hair topped
leather countenance from which
leaned pair OF the most violent eyes
Emerson had ever beheld, the domi-
ant expression of which was rage.
lis voice was hearse with the echo
Z drumming ratlines. He might have
we'd forty, sixty years. but every year
ad been given to the sea; its foaming
iolence was in his blood