Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-29
CHAPTER XXHVl.

The Man Within and the Men Without
An instant OF silence, during which
the two men eyed each other: then.
Sweetwater. with an ironical smile
directed towards the pistol. lightly re
marked
Mr.. Challoner and other men at the
hotel are acquainted with my purpose
and await my return. have come
here he cast d glowing look at the
huge curtain cutting or the greater
portion Of the illy-lic interior-''to Of
fer you my services, Mr. Brotherson
] have no other motive for this intru
sion than 70 be OF use. I am deeply
interested in your invention, 10 the
development OF which ] have already
lent some aid. and can bring to the
test you purpose a sympathetic help
which you could hardly find in any
other person living"
The silence which settled down at
the completion OF these words had q
weight which made that OF the previ.
GUS moment seem light and all athrob
with sound. The man within had not
yet caught his breath; the man with.
out held his, in an anxiety which had
little 10 do with the direction of the
weapon. into which he looked Then
an owl booted far away in the forest
and Orlando, slowly lowering his arm
asked in an oddly constrained tone:
How long have you been in town 2"
The answer cut clean through any
lingering hope he may have had.
Ever since the day your brother
was told the story OF his great mis-
fortune"
All! still at your old tricks /
thought you had quit that business as
Improbable"
u don't know. never expect quick
returns. He who holds on for a rise
sometimes reaps unlooked-for profits. "
The arm and fist of Orlando Broth
erson ached 10 hurl this fellow back
into the heart Of the midnight woods
But they remained quieseent and be
spoke instead.
Il have buried the business. You
will never resuscitate II through me-"
Sweetwater smiled. There was nc
mirth in his smile though there was
lightness IN his tone as he said:
Then let US go back 10 the matter
IN hand. You need a helper: where
are you going to find one IL you don't
take me?'
A growl from Brotherson's set lips
Never had he looked more dangerou.
than in the one burning instant follow
ing this daring repetition OF the de
a. ira a.
he noted how slight was the figure op
posing him from the other side OF The
threshold. he was swayed by his nat
ural admiration Of pluck in the physi
cally weak. and lost his threatening
attitude. only TO assume one which
Sweetwater secretly found It ever
harder TO meet.
You are a fool" WAS the stinginl
remark he heard flung at him ID
you want 70 play the police-office
here and arrest me in mid air?"
Mr. Brotherson. you understand m
as little as ! am supposed TO under
stand you. Humble as my place is Fl
society and. ! may add in the depart
mCnt whose interests ! serve. Their
are IN me two men One you know
passably well-the detective who's
methods. only indifferently clever
show that he has very much to learI
or the other-the workman acquain
ed with hammer and saw. but wit
some knowledge too OF higher math,
mates and the principles upon whic
great mechanical Inventions depend
you know little. and must imagin
much. was playing the gawky whe
I helped YOU in the old house /
Brooklyn. ! was interested in you
airship-Oh recognized it for what
was. notwithstanding its oddly an