Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-24

ings in the morning rolls down from
the north like the ebbing tide and flows
up again in the evening. And all night
the whirl goes on, but different whirl.
There is a glow of electric lights; the
streets are full now not of workers, but
the theaters, into the hotels, into the
restaurant. And then they pour out
again.
Captives in the cage of the city Jail,
men moved about like bees in some
mammoth hive, and not unlike the
buzziEs OF bees came the continual
hum OF their low voiced conversation.
Here rough faced men passed the anx-
ious hours, engaged boisterously in a
game of cards, while over there others
sat lost in deep brooding detection.
One figure alone seemed TO stand
| apart, different from them all. This
difference might have been accounted
for by the jaunty suit and cap and
! the high white collar which the young
man wore; but, after all, it was GER
tain infectious light of good humor
in the boyish blue eyes, an irrespon-
sible air of happiness, which distin-
| guished Peter Olaf from his compan-
ions in crime. Once again he walked
! the length of the long room, keeping
time to his step by subdued though
merry whistle; then he paused sociably
at the side of a prisoner who glowered
up at him. Peter spoke with a soft
| foreign accent.
"That makes twelve times around"
| he said. The man addressed lumber
ed to his feet, joining the youth in his
| walk.
What chu here for?' he growleo.
The boyish blue eyes widened, while
a dull red crept to the blond hair on
Peters forehead. "Bigamy." he an
nounced briefly. The elder man stood
still with a muttered exclamation.
"Bigamy," he repeated, and exclaim-
ed again-"bigamy, a kid like you?
What chu do it for?"
Peter Olaf shook his head. II didn't
mean to-" he said slowly. Il don't
know.
'It just happened. Far away in Rus
sia was Mari Before 1 came 70 this
new country Mari and I were mal-
ried.
"Some day would send her money
then she must come to me. So / told
her we would be rich here and happy.
And Mari was glad. At first l wrote
to her long letters, and them Peter
stopped abruptly. When he spoke
again his tone was harder, more con
l-strained. e..
"Well, in the house where I board
ed lived Bianca. i was lonely here II
the strange country-oh, very, very
lonely.
Blanca was most kind and beautiful
Together we went to many places
out upon the ferryboats in the moon
light, down to the sands of the sea
And Mari seemed to fade away so fal
l could scarce remember her face. II
grew dim like dream one has almost
forgot.
"And so 1 did not send to Mar
the money. May not one have new
wife in new country when one shal
never return TO the old? Blanca also
had a lover who would have married
her.
This she told me-" The boy pass
ed his hand across his forehead. "SC
what could l do?' he asked. Gould
! l lose BiancaT And then that very
day when we were married Mar
comes along to this country. Alone
she had worked and saved, and now
she is here.
"And Mari asks them to find me
for her-the ofiicialS-and when they
find me l am married again. So you
see it is bigamy. That is what they
tell me, and l must be held for trial.
The boy clutched the prisoners sleeve
fearfully. What will they do will
me?' he cried.
The hardened man, whose own crime
had brought suffering to many, stared
disgustedly into the frightened face.
DO with you" he answered fiercely
do with you? l don't know, but
hope they will lock you up. / hope
they make you work as she never
thought Of working-that little Russian
thing you deserted. Chances are they
won't do it, though. That innocent
baby face Of yours will carry you
through. You'll only be depOrted."
"Deported?" Questioned the boy ca
gerly. The man turned on his heel.
Yes" he answered grufily-''sent
back where your kind belong"
Peter Olaf stood considering. He
seemed to see again the little village
that had been his home, the tiny school
house where he and Mari had gone so
many years together. Then across his
memory flashed a picture Of Blanca
Blanca of the crimson lips and laugh
ing eyes. The great oaken doors just
beyond the heavy screen opened now
and closed with much grating Of locks
As through mist he saw the figures OF
an officer and girl
"Forty-fver' rang out the officers
voice, and the girls slender figure came
waveringly. indistlnctly. toward him
A moment she stood, her white face
pressed close against the yelling wires
her dark eyes shining golden black Ir
the reflected light. Then with a Joy.
full, half inarticulate ciy Mari clasped
her trembling hands.
Peter" she whispered-"oh, Pcter?'
Dumbly the guilty youth stood peering