Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-22
The Argus Daily Short Story
He Was Reformed-By Karl K. Shimansky.
Copyrighted 1910. by Associated Literary Press.

stared at the stone with a. gaze OF
infinite tenderness,
Suddenly there was a noise as of
door opening. and the thief whirled
around. his pistol cleaning in his
hand. There before the door stood
Mrs. Sanderson. leveling a revolver at
his head. She looked superb with her
head thrown back and her eyes CLEAN
ing with unaccustomed brightness.
"Sit down" she commanded calmly.
land lay that gun on the table"
Gentleman Jim glanced around the
room and took a step forward. Her
pistol clicked suggestively. and. giving
a slight laugh. he dropped the revolver
and sat down.
Mrs. Sanderson walked slowly to-
ward the telephone. debating in her
mind whether she should call for the
police or wait until Jack returned.
May ! smoker" asked the thief as
he saw her GO toward the instrument.
"Sure it isn't q gum" Queried his
captor suspiciously.
Gentleman Jim smiled and pulled
out a package of cigarettes. Mrs.
"Why wouldn't IL be good scheme
to treat him MS we do prisoners in the
Juvenile courtsF' she asked herself.
81 WILL" she decided and turned
away from the telephone.
"Why didn't you call for help?" ask
ed her prisoner. with n smile.
81 don't think that I have to- she
replied. wondering at his nerve and
,almness.
at wouldn't do you any good II you
did," he continued. IL cut the wires
before i entered"
Look here" said Mrs. Sanderson.
''If you will promise not TO touch that
gun Til put mine down" The bur-
glar looked at her curiously.
II promise" he said. still staring at
her. "You have some beautiful jew
els" he continued. pointing to the pile
on the table, and this one especially"
He held up the giant ruby which he
had concealed in his hand.
Mrs. Sanderson put down her pistol
What makes you do this kind OF
work. she asked. paying no attention
to what he was saying.
Gentleman Jim suddenly leaned for
ward, staring intentiy at the ring. His
deep voice became strangely soft.
Little girl" he said. you don't un-
derstand."
But can't you tell me--can't you ex-
plain?" pleaded the young woman. fol-
lowing the methods she had used in
the courts.
The burglar sat with his head IN his
hands for long time. then suddenly
sat up straight and held out the ruby
ring.
"Only one other place on this broad
earth have l seen a ring that can be
compared with that he said slowly.
And where was that?" asked Mrs.
Sanderson.
sit was hers" said Gentleman Jim
shortly.
And won't you tell me about her?"
she asked, trying to make him unbur-
den himself.
The burglar lighted another cigarette.
Three years ago." he began, II be-
longed to the best society in San Fran
cisco. 1 fell in love with one OF the
bellies OF the town. and when we were
engaged hunted all over the world for
a ring beautiful enough to express my
feelings toward her. At last found
it-one nearly like this" He paused
and stared moodily at the lamp.
Then" he went on. lone day ] re-
ceived a note from her sending back
the ring and breaking the engagement.
She said she had found that she did
not love me. and within a month she
was married to one of my best friends.
l was heartbroken and crushed. for /
loved her with all my soul. dropped
from society and went to Africa. There