Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-07


might have done. But he had been
sent upon an important commission
and still deliberated long how best
to accomplish his purpose. so when
upon a moonlight night he had been
irresistibly drawn toward the house
upon the hill he passed noiselessly
through the gateway, then on through
the deserted gardens to where light
shone from beneath a half drawn cur
tain. If he could only succeed IN this
thing which he had undertaken-if he
could finally satisfy himself that the
man whom he sought was there
STOPPING, he peered under the blind.
.sPerhaps," said a low hooking
voice, you will be kind enough to tell
me what, you expect to find in my
house,
Madden Strengthened suddenly and
looked in the direction of shadowy
corner where a girls white clad figure
was dimly outlined. IL beg your
pardon for having frightened you," he
said in confusion.
81 am not afraid in the least,@ the
owner of the voice returned calmly
"but your actions are a little-er-un
usual, don't you think?"
'Tnexcusable," he replied promptly
and advanced toward her. at is tint
1 should be frank with you. The man
whom 1 hoped to find in that room is
Robert Reynolds, of whom you have
heard"
The girl arose. Her face shone very
white in the moonlight, and her eye;
were wide with hurt surprise. HE is
not in that house." she said slowly
"Have / not told you SOP
''You have" he answered doggedly,
"and you will think me worse than i'm.
pertinent now when I confess that j
thought you might be concealing this
mans identity out of a mistaken idea
Of benefit to him."
She interrupted him angrily. 81 will
listen to you no longer" she said
'sThere is no reason why 1 should
trouble to prove my truthfulness
Nevertheless''-she waved her hand
toward the great, silent house-"you
IRE at liberty to convince yourself. J
will remain here"
Madden ignored the offer. Twill you
at least allow me the privilege of ex
planning" he asked desperately, ''to
morrow, if you would be so kind"
The girl turned from him and slowly
assembled the steps. At the doorway
she paused. You may explain to-
morrow" she said brokenly, ''while
shall confess"
Miriam" he called, unconsciously
speaking her name, for he knew that
she was crying, but the door closed
lNnIf eli " in
! place.
She came to meet him upon the fol
lowing morning, such a pathetic, droop
ing little figure that Madden in his
anxiety to hasten through the ordeal
would have spoken at once, but she
put out a protesting hand. 'If you
please" she asked, may I tell my
story first?"
He silently nodded assent, then stood
looking graveiy down upon her as she
sat before him.
at is needless to tell you" she began
in a low, hopeless tone, that Robert
Reynolds is my father. You are also
acquainted with the facts which made
it necessary t0r us TO hide away il
this isolated village. They were toe
boosted friends of his, and to emblazon
his guilt an all the papers, She
covered her face with trembling hands
81 seem 10 see always the glaring
headlines: Robert Reynolds, Treasurer
of the Elite Club, Absconded.' But
there are some things you do moi
know. How this. disgrace, following
as it did so closely upon the failure OF
the business which left US penniless
changed my father from a strong, re
liant man into a child startled at every
sound! And I, who had never beer
taught to decide for myself, had now
to act for us both. So, wisely or un
wisely, I brought him here, where J
have been doing my best TO allay hi,
fears-trying to coax him back tC
courage"
81 did not come to prosecute your
father, child" said Madden. 81 have
been searching for him, that is true
but it was in order to bring him good
news, to clear his name of false i'm.
putGtiOn."
Miriam gave a little cry. "Oh, how
shall know it is true?" she said
Whom can I trustf"
He bent over, looking down at her
pityingly. There is one whom you
would have to trust always" he said
gently. And when she asked, doubt.
ing, who that might be he answered
her quietly, "Your husband"
And early that evening Mrs. Briggs
hurried down to visit her friend at the
hotel. at beats ALL" she said by way
of greeting. THAT mysterious lady OF
ours was married at the parsonage this
afternoon to the very detective who
came to arrest her, no doubt, and he
has bought back all them stolen rings"
But the other was so overcome by
this astonishing news that she could
find no words to reply.