Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-12

private speech with her When his
chance came it was only half chance.
since there was little privacy TO be had
in the crowded rooms.
1T is a question of conscience this
time" he told her when she had agreed
10 sit out a dance with him in one cor
ner Of the canvas carpeted assembly
room. 81 have discovered positive evil
dence of frauds to be perpetrated in
the election next Tuesday How far
am 1 justified in suppressing this evil
denceT'
Mercy she exclaimed. How you
can bring a thunderbolt down upon
one out Of a perfectly clear sky, Is 1t
ever right to shield criminals or Grim
inality?"
THAT is just what ! should like to
know" he persisted. '.At the present
moment 1 am shielding not one GRIM
inal but a good many"
May l know the circumstances? 2"
she asked after a moments considera-
ton
Yes. There has been fraudulent
registration in a number of the state
legislative districts. and have Sc
HOSli4hC tN lOCAINC VI -
ION which side?' she asked point
edly.
ION both sides, am sorry to say"
he returned gravely.
Whom does it implicateT'
THAT is further than my inforna-
ton goes" he admitted. II know only
the fact of the false registration. But
with a fully equipped political ma
chine on the ground the inference is
pretty plain. isn't it?'
81 suppose so.' she admitted. Yet
you say tile frauds are on both sides"
THAT aOesn't make any difference"
he declared. at is a fight for men
and not for parties. So far as l can
see, the machine picks its men quite
irrespective of party. There is al
ready reason TO believe that some OF
the candidates who have the most to
say now about the free ballot and
will Of the people are themselves the
sworn henchmen of the machine.
ready when the time shall come to
vote yea or nay, as my father shall Oh
rect"
"I can't believe it." she protested.
with generous warmth-'of your IA
Their, / mean. / am sure he has never
authorized anything so despicabie-"
Blount shrugged. shall l publish
this evidence that has come into my
hands, or shall l continue to suppress
ft?'
1t was the first time she had ever
failed him. Give me little time"
she pleaded. "Tomorrow-comet TO see
me tomorrow. It's dreadful thing
for you to have to do. Evan-the most
dreadful thing that could be imagined
p
But here young Gordon, to whom the
next dance had been promised. came
to claim her. and Blounts hard won
interview was at an end.
When he left the Gordon house,
which was rather far out in the south
eastern suburb. he meant TO go direct
to the hotel and to bed. He had been
losing much sleep in the strenuous &C
tivities of the campaign. and 1T was
beginning to tell upon him. AS the
trolley car was passing the Temple
court building he saw a dim light
Illuminating his upper floor office win
dows.
With all his suspicious rearouseu' ne
dropped from the car and took the all
night elevator to his office floor.
The sleepy elevator man let him out
in the upper corridor, and almost i'm
mediately the car sank away out or
sight.
Before BlOunt had taken two steps
toward his office door there came the
,,,,,f4a1 and
two or three of the glass doors in the
suit were shattered.
Blount Quickened his pace to run,
let himself silently with his latchkey
through the door of his private room.
flung open his desk and CROPPED in an
inner drawer for the revolver which
was part of its furnishings.
With the weapon in his hand, he
passed on through the swinging door