Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-20

editor, was bumped in his chair over
/ his desk blue penciling copy like a
man running race against time.
an just a minute" he said when
Blount stood beside him. And then.
sticking the copy on the hook. "Now
I'm with you"
Blount had marked the unusual
daytime activities in the newspaper
Office and had instantly put two and
two together.
You're at work pretty early for a
morning paper force, aren't you,
Blenkinsop?' he asked.
you bet we are" was the quick re-
ply.
What is the matter%' queried
Blount
Haven't you heard ~ said the ed
itor. "Somebody-heaven only knows
who-has been gathering up lot Of
false registration evidence involving
half dozen OF the principal towns in
the state. The stuff came to US by
sort of underground route. but it's re-
liable all right. It's a corker. There'N
be 10000 repeaters challenged in this
state at the polls tomorrow. and no
man living can tell what the outcome
will be-"
Blount saw a great light, which sud
denly grew to clarifying brightness.
Whom does the scandal involve.
Blenkinsop?" he asked quietly.
At this the long haired editor grew
curiously embarrassed. You're with
US. Blount. that I know. But you are
also your fathers son. There are only
one machine and one boss in the Sage
brush State"
Blount nodded dumbly. Then.
when will you go to press with the
first edition Of the paper"
"At a. N. sharp" was the reply.
Blount turned TO go. 81 may have
another half column or so for you be-
fore that time" he said, but you
needn't hold the forms open for me.
I'll call you over the phone If have
anything to say
Once in the street, Blount went
straight to the bank where he had
rented the safety box. Five minutes
in the privacy of the vault anteroom,
with the unlocked box before him,
confirmed his suspicious. The packet
which he had so carefully secured was
made up of blank papers folded to ap-
pear like the originals, and it became
couvincingly evident that his office
safe had not been dynamited for moth
ing.
The matter which would appear I'M
der faring scare heads the next morn
ing would be the evidence which he
himself had collected, carefully edit
ed no doubt, so that it would leave
out all that might incriminate any
body but the machine and the ma
chimes boss-hiS father.
With a muttered threat Of vengeance
directed at his traitorous Office force,
Blount went slowly back to the Tenn
pie court and sat down to wait for
Gryson's return, giving Collins orders
to deny him to everybody else.
Once again in the history of the race
it had become the duty of a son to be-
tray a father Blount saw his way
lying clearly defined before him. He
must take the affidavits which Cry
son would bring and lay them before !
Judge Hemingway, the one man in the !
capital, If not in the entire state. who |
would have the courage of his convie- |
tons and the high sense of duty to |
act, and act promptly.
Blount saw the dreadful conse- |
quences marshaling themselves in |
readiness. His father would be i'm |
plicated beyond any possibility or hope |
of exculpation, and the people of the |
state-stirred as they would be by the |
widespread story of fraud which he
himself had gathered-would show lit
tie mercy to the chief instigator of the
frauds
During the last half hour Of waiting
Blount could no longer sit still. and he
was pacing the floor of the private of
fee. ten. steps and a turn, monotonous-
y, when Gryson was ushered in.
I've got 'em, a full dozen of 'emr'
growled the bride taker. throwing a
thick packet Of papers on Blount's
desk. Now, then. what do get out
Of itY'
BIount stopped short and whirIed as
Il the demand had been blow.
You'll get just what any other
criminal gets when he turns states
evidence" he rasped You won't be
prosecuted and sent ITO the peniten-
larry, as you deserve 10 be. Now get
tut Of here. and don't let me have TO s
ell you twicep'
Gryson made move as If he would '
'epossess himself of the packet of af- I
idavits. but Blount came between :
With the danger signals flaming in his Z
yes. 6
mo, you don'tP' he said sharply. IT {
old you to go-do it"' And, as once f
'efore, the bride taker went out NUT s
ering curses. .
When the corridor door had closed /
ehind the traitor Blcunt put the aft ?
avits in his pocket and passed out f
uickly through the anteroom.
Il don't know when shall be back"
e said to Collins, with a hand on the :,
DOR Of egress. Has any one called
ince noon?'
NO. Some lady sent a boy up to
SIX for you, but 1 sent word that you
7ere not In, as you told me to-" Q