Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-05

young Maitland as the paymaster
showed his pay envelope through the
little grated window.
"You dock me that day 1 loser" he
growled threateningly.
Its the rule of the company, you
know. Jaros." he said patiently. If
it's worth a days pay to you to get
drunk it's your own fault. Take my
advice and leave the rum alone. Then
you'll get full pay. Move along and
give the other chaps a chance"
Jaros flung a backward glance OF
hate toward the paymaster and the
cashier as he went out, and he saw
something in that brief glance that
caused a light to flicker into his dull
gray eyes.
The men had all received their pay,
and the paymaster and the cashier
were alone. Maitland was gazing down
at the girl with an unmistakable look
in his eyes, and the girl, Miss Lane,
was blushing consciously.
Jaros Wostokow turned away salts
fed. With something tangible to work
upon he could have revenge upon the
misery paymaster. ALA, his golden
haired daughter, could help him. She,
too, hated Americans. If Dick Matt
land loved Edith Lane, then it was
through Miss Lane that disaster would
come to him.
On the following Monday afternoon,
Just as Edith Lane had turned the cor
ner Of the street beyond the Fleck
foundry, she was approached by a
fearful young girl, who inquired the
way to the nearest hospital dispensary.
my mother-she is suddenly i'll. She
is dying just beyond here. I know not
what to dor she walled in a voice with
a foreign accent
Edith looked at her quickly. She
was young and pretty and evidently
poor. The neighborhood was one in
habited by many of the foreigners who
worked at the foundry.
take me to your mother" she said
hastily. Perhaps can revive her
while you run for a doctor. There must
be a drug store near by. The druggist
will direct you to doctor"
At 10 O'CLOCK that same evening Dick
Maitland received telephone message
from Edith's home.
Have you seen EdithT' asked Mrs.
Lane anxiously. "She hasn't been
home since noon"
Not since noon? Why, she left the
Office at o'clock, as usual-said she
was going out to play cards this even
ing. What can have happened?' Dick
was anxious.
"I'll call up all of her girl friends
and see If she has stopped anywhere
but it is unlike Edith to do anything
like that She is so thoughtful"
Call me the instant you get wore
from her," said Dick. "Pll wait here
, till you phone again"
He hung up the receiver and paced
the floor with a worried frown creas
ing his forehead.
What had become Of Edith Lane
Had she met with an accident ON he
way home and was lying dead or dy
ing and quite unknown in one of thu
city hospitals? He would inquire O.
each one.
it was ringing madly. A girls voice
came to his ear, strained and rathe
- frightened, but he forgot the tones il
the words that came over the wire.
Come, come to me. / am in grea
trouble, in danger-No. Vroon street
. Come at once Helpv'
1t was Edith calling to him for help
He dashed into his outer garments
paused to notify Mrs. Lane of the dis
covery and that he was on the way t.
Edith, and then he was down in tn,
street jumping into taxicab.
Vroon street was miles away, tn
driver told him, on the outskirts of tn
city, and it would take a half hour t,
get there at fast clip.
Get me there in twenty minutes ant
! you'll not regret it," snapped Dick, AM
the man earned the money.
Vroon street was a pit of blackness
lighted by solitary lamp post halfwa,
down its length. There was q darl
bulk of frame tenements against IN
sky with long spaces of vacant lots be
y tween.
Il The cab stopped before a small de
e tached cottage standing in the mids
o of a large empty lot, and Dick bad
him wait. but the man refused.
I've got another fare waiting 70
me-" he protested and pocketed tn
money Dick paid him. There's n ca
line three blocks east of here. You ca
walk that easily"
The machine moved away, and Die
felt in his pocket for his revolver
was there. He approached the cottag
with sinking heart.
70 1t was dark and gloomy, but some
body within the house had been watcI
Ing for him, for the door opened IL
ward, and as he passed through some
thing soft and thick was tossed owe
his head. tied tightly about his necl
and he was grasped in strong arms an
r. his hands and feet bound, and be wa
tossed in the corner of a room ON {
bare boards.
Footsteps crossed the room heavil
It and left the house. and the frrsat doc
was locked. and some person left tn