Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-22


lentiy: II croaked him just as he was
going TO call the bulls with police
whistle. / used q gun with smokelesS
powder. It had a Maxim silencer OF
it. so that it didn't make any noise"
Carson paused. and the set despair
Of his features Hghtened little. Into
his voice came a tone OF eXultation in
( describably CHASTITY. 1t was born OF
/ the eternal egotism OF the criminal, fat
tening vanity in gloating over his in
genuity for evil. He stared at Burke
! with a quizzical grin crooking his lips.
Say" he exclaimed, "Tll bet it's the
first time a guy was ever croaked with
one Of them things. Amt it,"
The inspector nodded affirmation.
Some class to that, eh?" Carson de
| manded. still with that grewsome all
I of boasting. 81 got the gun and the
| Maxim silencer thing off a fence in
! Boston" he explained. Say, that
d. thing cost me $50, and it's worth every
/ cent of the money. Why. they'll re-
member me as the first to spring one
of them things. won't they:"
They sure will Joe!' the inspector
conceded.
Nobody knew 1 had it, Carson con-
! tinued, dropping his braggart manner
abruptly.
At the words, Mary started. and her
lips moved as if she were about to
speak.
Nobody knew 1 had it-nobody in
the world" he declared. And no.
body had anything to do with the kill
ing but me-"
WAS there any bad feeling between
you and Eddie Griggs:"
Never till that very minute. Then
I learned the truth about what he'd
framed up with you" The speakers
voice reverted to its former fierceness
in recollection of the treachery of one
whom he had trusted.
He was a stool pigeon, and I hated
him! That's all. and it's enough. And
it's all true, so help me God"'
The inspector nodded dismissal to
the stenographer, with an air of relief
That's all, Williams" he said heav-
lily. Hell sign it as soon as you've
transcribed the notes"
Then as the stenographer left the
room Burke turned his gaze on the
woman, who stood there in posture
of complete detection, her white. an
guished face downcast. There was |
in the inspectors voice as he !
addressed her. for his professional !
pride was full fed by this victory over
his foes.
young woman" Burke said briskIy.
''it's just like 1 told you. You can't
beat the law. Carson thought he
now He broke off. with
a wave of his hand toward the man
who had just sentenced himself to
death in the electric chair.
That's right" Carson agreed. with
somber intensity. His eyes We're grown
clouded again now. and his voice drag
ged Ieaden. That's right. Mary" he
duly. after little pause.
You can't beat the lawr' He hes
tated a little, then went on, with a
certain curious embarrassment "And
his same old law says a woman must
stick to her man"
The girls eyes met his with passion
tie sorrow in their misty deeps. Gar
son gave a significant glance toward
Dick Glider, then his gaze returned TO
Ter. There was a smOldering despair
n that look. There We're, as well, an
and n command.
$50" he went on, you must go along
With him, Mary. Won't you? It's the
Dest thing to do"
The girl could not answer. There
vas a clutch on her throat just then,
which would not relax at the call of
Ter will.
OF sudden. an inspirationacame to
tn
reate a diversion wholly efficacious.
lie would turn to his Boosting again.
you'd call upon his vanity, which he
new well as HE chief foible, and
lake it serve as the foil against his
I'VE.
You want to cut out worrying about
le," he counseled. bravely. why, I
int worrying any. myself-not n little
it, You see, it's something new I've
uIed off Nobody ever put over any
hing like it before
He faced Burke with grin of gloat-
lg again.
I'll bet there'll be a lot of stuff in
lie newspapers about this. and my pic
Ire. too, in most of 'em! WHAT"
The mans manner imposed on
lat his vaingIorying was meant to {
ask.
Say" Carson continued to the in
rector IF the reporters want any
ctures of me could / have some new
les taken? The one you've got Of me
the gallery is over ten years old.
re taken Off my beard since then.
an have a new One?" re
sure you can, Joe. I'll send you - 10
the gallery right now"
'Immense" Carson cried boisterous-
He moved toward Dick Glider, bl
alking with a faint suggestion of bl
-agger 70 cover the nervous tremor W
at had seized him. in
so long, young fellow" he excIaim-
and held out his hand. You've Gu
en- on the square, and guess you
ways will be" 81