Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-29

made IN Its bottom ana they would all
perish.
Suddenly they discovered within a
dozen yards OF them Il shore in one
part of which was narrow indepta-
ton in the rocks by which they might
make Il landing. They were 81 relieved
that all raised their voices in happy
explanations. AS they were making
their way to the landing place the dim
figure of man appeared on the shore
and shouted:
Keep OF! You can't land hercr'
I'VE will land here" replied the skip
per, and wen stay here till the fog
lifts"
You won't land here" said the other
doggedly.
AS the nose of the boat scraped the
shore of Mark island the man who pro-
hibited the landing pushed her away.
4 man on the. boat seized an oar and
was about TO bring it down on the 9th
er's head when he stepped back and,
drawing a revolver, threatened TO Snooi
the first man who attempted to come
ashore.
There was a violent protest on the
part of the occupants of the boat
against being turned back in the fog,
possibly to their death There were
women aboard, and they begged the
| men to leave the inhospitable place and
| finally prevailed upon them TO do so.
So they drifted away, muttering curses
upon the man who had refused them
landing.
A deathknell had been sounded for
the secret Of Mark island. Had the
man permitted the landing the party
would not have remained long on the
! island and might not have gone 100
/ yards from their boat. for the fog
| soon lifted. and they got safely back
! to their destination with the story OF
/ their inhuman treatment.
| But why had they been thus treat
! ed? The reply was that something
! was going on ut Mark island that the
perpetrators were unwilling to have
known. The story and this supposed
reason for the party having been re-
fused landing at the point of a pls-
. tol passed from mouth to mouth. 1t
was suggested that the desolate lady
was kept there prisoner. But II this
were so why had she not asked to be
passing boats? Others thought that
some other person was held there and
the desolate lady was n party to the
outrage; but. though they differed as
to the crime, they all agreed that
Mark island was used for criminal
purpose.
Meanwhile Mark island remained an
unknown place. All We're curious to
know what was going on there, but
1t was no ones business to find out,
especially since this could not be done
except at the risk of getting shot
More boats sailed about II than before,
and on every boat persons stared at 1t
wOnderinCly. All had heard of the
desolate lady and expected to see her
sitting on rock. like mermaid,
combing her hair. But the lady did
not appear Indeed, no one was to be
seen on the island. Yet the house was
located in its center and so surrounded
by trees as to be invisible.
Meanwhile the story of Mark island
reached n person who pricked up his
. ears the moment he heard It. Later,
, when the Portland boat touched the
landing at Orr's island, he stepped
: ashore and put up Mt one OF the ho-
: tells. He listened attentivcly TO any
one who would talk to him about the
mystery. but said nothing himself.
} The next day several other men arrived
: at Orr's island, each man bearing n
, rifle. when asked why they We're arm
ed they replied that they were going
' on a hunt for moose in the Maine
] ty-gg p1.gnt tho Lot nf
2 ! September. not far from the shooting
: season, the story was believed.
: One morning the man who had first
: arrived. accompanied by the hunting
party, hired a boat and sailed ont
D through the cut separating Orr's and
= Bai!ey's islands; then they turned their
= course to the eastward.
;, few miles sail brought them to
2 Mark island, and instead OF gaping at
$ it they made straight for the shore
Z On reaching it the men cooked their
r rifles aud jumped on the rocks. Their
n landing was not opposed. and they
:, went up to the house They found it
+ shut up. barred and bolted. Not even
q a dog barked or a cat mewed.
n They broke in the doors ard began
g a search Of the premises. IN the Gel
r lar they found u complete counterfeit
!. er's outfit.
= The leader OF the party, a United
States government detective. had long
k been looking for the makers OF GER
d tain spurious bills that had been find
e ing their way into circulation. \ few
d of these bills had been put out IN New
l. England, but the bulk OF them in other
e locations \ man Of education and re-
: fnement WIS finally discovered 10 be
= the perpetrator. and the man who had
lie refused the befoeged party n landing
W was his assistant. The desOlate lady
was the formers wife. who. believing
IS that her husband would some day be
&c exposed. was simply waiting for that
ii day. The assistant while the princi-
u pal and his wife were away from the
% island. had very fO0lIshly refused those
Or ;yho sought refuge q landing.
D Aug. % In american