Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-07
CHAPTER XIV.
The White MESSENGER,

SHHF ! GH HNlV.
The White Messenger.
y spite of Bivens' protest Stuart |!
returned to New York on the |
first train the morning after the
coaching party reached the |
house.
Stay a week longer" the little man
urged. and I'll go with you. Well go
together. all of US. in my car. I'm
getting worse here every day. I've
got to get back to my doctors In New
York"
I'm sorry. Cal" he answered quick
ly. but l must leave at once.
Nan allowed him to go without an
effort to change his decision. A strange
calm had come over her. She drove
to the station with him in silence. He
began to wonder what it meant.
As he stepped from the machine she
extended her hand. with a tender
smile. and said in low tones:
Until we meet again"
He pressed it gently and was gone.
he reached New York thoroughly
exhausted and blue, but the sight of
Harriet seated on the stoop Of the old
home by the square watching crowd
of children play brought smile back
to his haggard face.
They've come to honor me with
their good wishes on my voyage" she
said.
What voyage? he asked in sur
prise.
.I0b vop didn't know I've an an
| gagement to sing on the continent
| this summer The news came the
! day you left. Isn't that fine? | sail
! next week.
A sudden idea struck him.
Let me go with you. girlie?"
"Oh. Jim. if you only would. I'd be
! in heaven
Il will" he said with decision.
You've booked your passageT'
Yes. but I'll change it to suit you
He found business which required a
week and booked his passage with
, Harriet on a Cunarder which sailed
| in ten days. A week later Nan and
Bivens returned TO their New York
house The papers were full Of stories
of his failing health.
Two days after her arrival Nan tele.
phoned to Stuart.
You must come up TO see Cal to
night" she said earnestly. He is ask
ing for Won .
rs he really dangerously ill?" Stuart
interruntpd.
ITS far more serious than the papers
suspect. You'll Gomez
Yes, early tomorrow morning I've
an important engagement tonight that
will keep me until II O'Clock. I'm sail
ing for Europe day after tomorrow"
A sudden click at the other end anC
he was cut off. His experienced cal
told him ii was not an accident.
1t was just dawn when Stuart's tele
! phone rang and he eaped from bed
startled at the unusual call
We'll. WELL" he cried in quick. i'm
patient tones. who is it? What is tn,
matter?"
For heavens sake come at once
Cal was taken dangerously i'll at
o'clock. The doctors have been witt
him every moment. He doesn't get an,
better. He keeps calling for YOU
; quarters at the most
Thank you" she gasped. and hum
up her receiver
Stuart's cab whirled uptown throug
the rivers of humanity pouring down t
. begin again the round of another day
In all the hurrying thousands not on
. knew or cared straw whether tn
man of millions in his silent palace o
> the drive lived or died.
, The house was evidently in hopeless
I confusion. Servants wandered in ey
cry direction without order. Doctor af
. er doctor passed in and out. and tn
: sickening odor of medicines filed tn
p air. A group of newspaper reporter
, stood at the foot of the grand stairwa!
Nan stood shivering at the head {
the stairs. pale. disheveled. her dar
T.. eyes wide and staring with a new e.
= preston Of terror in their depths.
|, How is he, Nan?''
Worse" she stammered throug
- chattering teeth. THE doctors say