Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-24


well. we're to draw the curtains and
air the room. are we not?"
1t was the morning after the inter
view just narrated. and Finley. the old
butler of the Argyle household. glover
ed upon young Topp. the cockney foot
man. Bruce Argyle had given orders
that the library should be opened and
made ready for the reception of Mr..
Kayton. and Topp. was objectinS.
"'Appen | am" he retorted sulleuly.
But do / ave to do it alone. Mr.. Fin
ley. or do ave 'elp?'
What ais We, Topp?" demanded the
butler. though he knew we'll enough.
They stood at the open door of the IL
brary.
THE same thing that's ailin' you.
likely" growied the footman. Il hain't
goin' alone into the bloomin' tomb"
Finley eyed him In scorn. law. ye're
worse than the wimmin. What's to
hurt We? Come on in wit ye"'
BE strobe bravely into the gloomy
apartment and in the dim light STUN
bled over chair. Topp suppressed a
veil. and both stood shiveriug.
What's that?" demanded the foot
man in a quavering voice.
ITS chair" responded the butler.
striving in vain TO speak unconcerned-
| ". "Sit down on it
Topp shook his head and shivered
| massive room. II hain't the sort o
I bloke who sticks at thing" he de-
clared. but l don't fancy a room
where errors ave 'appened."
The older man had recovered his
| poise. and he boldly drew back the
curtain and opened window.
Mister Argyle was as good n mas.
ter as liver lived" he said cheerily.
why shud We be afeared O. the place
where he died?"
"'E may have been a good man
| Mister Finley-but e died a hunnat.
ural death
Finley snorted. I'm thinkin' Yer sin
sibiIities are too refined for yer walk
In life. Ye may be called upon to dc
worse things than to open the wlndies
on tn scenes Of murder-God will
lin"
Topp. in the meantime. had opened
another window. and the draft from
the two caused the door into the hall tC
swing softly 10 and shut with 4 click
Both men wheeled as IL pistol had
gone off behind them.
s"Thats inn" yelled Topp. And the
next instant he was down the hall. al
,,ycatsinU Aruuln Uhn
coming to inspect the library.
whats the matter with Topp," ht
demanded. Old man Finley gulped
hard.
Its his nerves. sir" he said I'M
steadily. Hes got the fear o the
room"
Young Argyle glanced about uncom
fortably OH he said slowly. lie
in all the sunlight you can, Finley
There never were windows enough
here" He turned to another door tina
opened into the farther part of tn,
house. rs this door unlocked"
Not yet. SIR
Bruce unlocked it. The door opened
Immediately into n pretty sunlit morn
ing room, and n soft voice hailed hin
from the window seat.
Are you there. Bruce"
Yes. Come in. Nan"
In obedience to his summons Their
entered n dainty. blue eyed damsel o
about twenty-five. so finely and ex
quisitely nodded that she looked Xix
porcelain. She gave a timid glanc
about the interior of the room.
Having this room opened"
Finley approached. What time an
/ to expict the defective, sir?" he In
quired.
Amy time. now" Bruce replied. AM
Finley withdrew with bow.
"More detectives coming. Bruce?
asked the girl. with little frown.
Yes" he replied. with a nod, ant
sdded: "Asche Kayton."
oh" said the girl doubtfully. ID
you think he can do anything"
He's the greatest detective in tn
, country" returned Argyle. IF h
can't. nobody can. If we'd got him a
first we wouldn't have had the thinl
all muddled up the way it is now. witt
suspicion on me and Mary and-every
body"
Miss Thompson shook her head. ar
parently lost between hopelessness ant
obstinacy.
81 don't believe It'll ever be fount
out who killed him." she declared.
Argyle shrugged his shoulders impa
tiently. IF Kaytou finds ont enough (
clear Mary that's all l ask" he sal,
shortly. Instantly the girls hand wa
on his arm and her eyes looked up int
his troubled face in love and sympathy
oh, Bruce. dear" she exclaimed
softly. nobody believes you or Mar
had anything to do with it."
Nobody that knows US, Of course.
said Argyle gravely. But what abou
the people that read the newspaper
and don't know US? How is Mary"
shes wonderful breathed the cir
THE way she keeps up. I'd 90 out 0
my mind, But she's so strange. Bruce
She hasn't said a word about you
father since l came. She simply won
speak of it,
, Bruce nodded. staring thoughtfnll
: straight out before him.
"Mary's always like that" he said
"She never talks about the things tina