Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-25
position on his workman,s stool.

position on his workman'S stool
Then it came again, still low but
with an insistence which drew his
brows together and made his hand
fall from the wire he had been uncon-
sciously holding through the mental
debate which was absorbing him
Still he made no response. and the
knocking continued. Should he ig-
more 1t entirely, start up his motor
and render himself obliYious to all
other sounds? At every other point
In his career he would have done this,
but an unknown. and as yet unnamed,
something had entered his heart dur
ing this fatal month, which made old
ways impossible and oblivion a thing
he dared not court too recklessly.
Should this be summons from Dor.
Isl Should Uncomfortable idea, yet IL
seized upon him relentlessly and z
would not yield for the asking)
should 1t be Doris herselfl
Taking advantage of q momentary
cessation of the ceaseless tap tap, he
listened. Silence was never profound
er than in this forest on that wind
/ less night Earth and air seemed, to
/ his strained ear, emptied of all sound.
4 The clatter of his own steady, I'M
/ hastened heartbeat was all that
broke upon the stiffness. He might
( be alone in the Universe for all token
/ of life beyond these walls, or so he
was saying to himself, when sharp.
/ quick, sinister. the knocking recon-
menced, demanding admission, insist
ing upon attention, drawing him
against his own will to his feet, and
finally, though he made more than
one stand against 1t, to the very door
Who's there?" he asked, imperious-
ly and with some show OF anger.
No answer. but another quiet knock.
Speak! or go away from my door.
No one has the right to intrude here
What is your name and business?"
Continued Notwithstanding more.
With an outburst OF wrath, which
made the hangar ring; Orlando lifted
his fist to answer this appeal in his
own fierce fashion from his own side
of the door, but the impulse paused at
fulfllment. and he let his arm fall
again in a rush OF self-hatred which
II would have panied his worst en-
envy, even little Doris to witness. As
1t reached his side. the knock came
again.
1t was too much. with an oath,
Orlando reached for his key. But be-
fore fitting 1t into the lock, he cast
look behind him. The car was in
plain sight, filling The central space
from floor to roof. A single glance
from a strangers eye. and it's princi-
pal secret would be 81 secret no longer.
He must not run such risk. Before
he answered this call. he must drop
) the curtain he had rugged up against
> such emergencies as these. He had
! but to pull a cord and a veil would
I fall before his treasure, concealing It
3 as effectually as an Eastern bride is
r concealed behind her yashmak
Stepping to the will. he drew that
cord, then with an impatient sigh,
turned to the door.
Another quiet but insistent knock
greeted him.
9 In no fury now, but with a vague
: sense OF portent which gave an as.
o pect of farewell to the one quick
e glance he cast about the well-known
n spot. he fitted the key In the lock
y and stood ready to turn It.
J. Y ask you again your name and
, business" he shouted out in loud
command. Tell them or" He meant
!. to say. cor l do not turn this key
W But something withheld the threat
o He knew that it would perish in tbs
70 utterance; that he could not carry
IL IL out He would have IN omen tn.
1t door now. response or no response
IT Speak" was she word with which hC
C finished his demand.
I'd A final knock.
:? Pulling a pistol from his pocket
n with his left hand, he turned the ke,
lie with his right.
ID The door remained unopened
es Stepping slowly back, he stared a
n its implanted boards for a moment
as then he spoke UP quietly. almost cour
er teously:
r. Enter"
of But the command passed unheeded
be the latch was not raised, and only tn
he slightest tap was heard
to With a bound he reached forwar
en- and pulled the door open. Then
PIN great silence fell upon him and a ril
he idity as of the grave seized and stil
IFS fened his powerful frame.
m The man confronting him from tn
az darkness was Sweetwater.