Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-13


ed out into the gathering dusk. he
dropped the drapery and turned back
into the pleasant, fire lit smoking
room, where Frank Lands was enjoy
| ing an after dinner pipe Of tobacco.
II advise you not to set out tonight.
Mr. Landis," warned the landlord as
he went back to his chair.
Its only ten miles to Riverbank. I
can make it in half an hour" protest
ed Lands, knocking the ashes from
his pipe and placing it In his pocket.
You don't understand this clay soil,
Mr.. lands. I'm apparently trying to
retain q very popular guest here over
night; but, on the contrary, I'm &C
tually worried about you"
Thanks, Smith; believe you," said
the other heartily, but I've promised
to be in Riverbank tonight, and I'm
going to try for 1t If have to walk
part of the way"
Every well, then. I'll try to make
you as comfortable as possible. Do
you want Joe to bring your car
around?"
"If you please" Lands was shrug
ging himself into q heavy nlotorcoat
and tying a leather cap over his ears.
The storm was plainly audible now.
The wind howled dismally, and the
rain poured against the windowpanes
In drumming accompaniment.
az may be making a mistake" he
hesitated, soto voce, but I promised
Robinson I'd get that money to him to-
night. No one could have suspected
that I started forth with ten thou
sand in cash in my pockets to help my
old friend out Of tight squeeze, so
why should I be afraid of a holdup2
Brace up, Frank, my lad! l believe
this confoundedly comfortable room
has softened you against Drawing the
storm. If my reaching there tonight
will save Robinson a few hours wor-
~ I'll do it,
Ten minutes later his little runabout
moved swiftly down the bluestone
driveway from the Foxboro inn.
The lamplights cut the darkness like
knife The directions were simple
enough. Straight ahead" Smith had
said, and straight ahead the road led
between high wooded banks. The trees
groaned and creaked as the wind and
rain dashed at them; the heavy rain
swished against the protecting hood
and drowned the noise Of the motor.
For a short distance the road was
comparatively smooth and hard. Then
it grew softer, and the machine labor
ed heavily. Beyond the triangular
points of light on the sticky soil ahead
Of the car all was midnight blackness
"If I've got to stick fast hope IL
: will be in front Of the halfway house, "
muttered Lands as the little machine
bumped and tottered over the rutty
road.
For awhile the way lay smoother, and
then again it became impossible. AL
at once the runabout seemed to sink
up to the hubs in mud, grunted help
lessly and at last was silent and mo
tionless as Lands shut off the power.
1.-The devil" quoth Lands, thrustinl
his head from beneath the apron and
surveying the blackness all about him
what am to do?"
: He climbed out Of the machine and
I stepped down into the oozy mud. Il
; was over his shoe tops. He detached
one of the lamps and threw its white
glare into the blackness.
What he saw was far from reassur
ing. On either side of him tall tree!
bent their heads to wild gray sky
T and downpour of rain. A little be
yond him there seemed break in the
s trees, and after turning the light stead
fly upon 1t for a few minutes he coult
discern the ruins Of an old house.
There were a broken backed roof and
a sagging porch across the front, gap
ing windows and from somewhere th'
rushing roar of a river.
1.-THE halfway house," calculated
Lands in dismay. "Well, l guess
better tramp back to the Foxboro inI
or else spend the night in the car
He turned swiftly, suddenly aware
that something was happening to thu
car. There was a strong smell of gas
oline and theaasEoar and upward rusl
o of flames from the stalled machine
s The heavy rainpazfly extinguished thu
flames as fast az they found new foot
hold, but there were plenty OF protect
q ed parts that furnished fuel for tn
flames.
The glare lighted up the dark road
v way, and as lands stared, for tn
k moment stunned by the unexplained
q happening, a dark figure appeared oil
the other side of the car, scramble,
and slipped up the embankment ant
70 melted into the darkness beyond tn
a circle OF fame.
Then was lands aroused to action
He was about to climb the embank
" ment in pursuit of that mysterious fee
4 ing form when he saw that II hat
dropped down to the road once more
g hundred feet beyond and was crossing
rapidly over to the ruined halfwa,
house.
h AS he looked the flames that envel
oped the car were extinguished by til
steady downpour of rain. and all wa
O. dark again.
5. ssI 0IIa9s n won't no a duII ni0hf ~