Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-12

with Roland Barnette.
Roland was working under a full
head of steam apparently His natu-
rally sanguine complexion was several
shades darker than the normal. and be
was seething with repressed emotion
excitement, anticipated triumph. jeal'
ousy, envy and hatred. all centerin2
upon the hapless head Of Nat Duncan
Plunging along with his head down.
his thoughts wholly preoccupied with
his grievance and its remedy. he bump
ed into Willing and caromed OF. rec
ognizing him with an angry growL
The result of this was to stay Pete's
departure He grasped the frame OF
the door and steadied himself, glaring
round at the aggressor.
"'Lo, RolandI' he said, focusing his
vision "Whash masser?'
Roland disregarded him entirely.
Say. your he snorted. catching sight
of Nat II want to see you"
"Oh?" Nat drawled exasperatingly.
He had never had much use for Ro-
land. and now, with hidden joy. he
read the signs Of passion on the boys
indamed countenance. Happy he
would be, thought Nat, If Roland were
to be delivered into his hands that
night He owed the world a grudge
Just then and needed nothing more
than an object to wreak his vengeance
upon well, I'll stake you to a good
long look" he add sweetly.
"Ah-h, don't you try to be so funny!
You might get hurt"
Pete seemed to be suddenly electri-
fed by Roland's manner. "Here!' he
interposed. "Whajuh mean by that?"
And, relinquishing his grasp on the
door, he reeled between the two and
thrust his face close to Roland's.
Whore you talkin' to. anyway? he
demanded, truculent
Nat stepped forward quickly and
grabbed Pete's arm. That's all right.
Pete" he soothed him. Don't get
nervous. Roly wont hurt anybody"
The diminutive stung Roland to ex-
ASPIRATION. "Why. curse your he
screamed and promptly became mar
ticulate with rage.
"Ah. ah. ah"'. Nat wagged reprov-
ing forefinger. Naughty word. Roly!
Careful or you'll sour your chewing
gum"
Now, say! Do you think"-
At this juncture Pete drowned his
words with an incoherent roar, having
apparently reached the conclusion that
the time had now arrived when IL
would be his duty and pleasure to eat
Roland alive. Nat saved the young
man by the barest inch He grappled
with Pete and drew himself aside just
in time.
STEADY, Pete!" he said quietly.
STEADY. old man Let Roland alone"
"Awrh, | amt 'fraid of him." splut-
tered Pete
Neither am l. Get out. won't you,
and leave him to me?''
"Aw'rignt" Pete became more
calm III leave him lone. but all
the same / wan it 'stinctly un'erstood
/ kin lick any man in town 'ceptin m
wife. G. night. everybody
he gathered himself together and by
a So: rcme effort iuuged through the
door and into the deepening dusk.
We'll. Roly?" Nat asked. turning
back.
His ironic calm gave Roland pause.
For a moment he lost his bearings
and stammered In confusion. Il come
in to tell you that me and you's apt
to have trouble" be concluded.
"Oh? And are you thinking of start
ing it?"
You bet I'll start it. and I'll start IT
d quick If you don't leave Josie
Lockwood alone"
$50 that's the trouble. is ftY' com
mented Nat thoughtfully.
Yes. that's the trouble. From now
on / want you to let her alone. and
you'll do 1t. TOO. If you know what's
best for you"
suggestion Of menace in his man
ner. unconnected with any hint of
physical correction, caught Mats at
tention. He frowned over It
Just what do you mean by this
line of talk?" he inquired blandly.
stepping nearer.
''I'll tell you what I mean" Roland
clinched both fists and thrust bis chin
out pugnaciously. I'D been a-goin'
steady with Josie Lockwood for more'n
a year before you come here and
thought that on account of her money
you could sneak in and cut NE out"
''Was her money the reason you were
after her. RolyP"
"What?" The question brought Ro-
land momentarily up in the wind.
'Tain't none of your business II II
was!" he snapped. recovering. But
here's what I'm gettin' at" He tapped
his breast pocket with a sneer of bu. !
collie triumph. Just about ten months
ago." he continued meaningly. they
was cashier skipped out of the Long |
acre National bank in Moo YORK, and |
they amt got no trace of him yet"
So this was why Roland had been |
so assiduous a student of the back /
files in the Citizen officei
'IndeedY'
Eyes, indeed / had my suspicious /
all along, but didn't say nothin', but /
just today / got a description OF him, /
and the description just fits. Mr.. Nor
timer Henry"
Just fits Mr.. Mortimer Henry? But
what has that
'Ah. don't you try to seem too darn
innocent" Roland snarlad tsYor1 can't