Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-04

But Brotherson was not to be
caught.
Il saw you" said he. You were
standing in the window overlooking
the court. You were not sleeping
then. I suppose you know that a
woman died in that room?"
Yes; they told me so this morn.
ing"
Was that the first you'd heard OF
it?"
"sure!" The word almost jumped
at the Questioner. DO you suppose
I'd have taken the room if"
But here the intruder, with a dis
dainful grunt, turned and went out,
disgust in every feature-plain, un.
mistakable, downright disgust, and
nothing more!
This was what gave Sweetwater
his second bad night; this and a GER
tain discovery he made. He had count.
ed on hearing what went on in the
neighboring room through the parti-
ton running back of his own closet
But he could hear nothing, unless il
was the shutting down of q window,
loud sneeze, or the rafting Of Goals
as they were put on the fire. And
these possessed no significance. What
he wanted was to catch the secret
sigh, the muttered word. the involun.
tary movement. He was too far re-
moved from this man still.
How should he manage to get near.
er him-at the door OF his mind-ot
hfo
night from his miserable cot into the
darkness OF that separating closet
and with no result. His task looked
hopeless; no wonder that he could get
no rest.
Next morning he felt i'll, but he rose
all the same, and tried to get his own
breakfast. He had but partially sue.
ceeded and was sitting on the edge OF
his bed in wretched discomfort. when
the very man he was thinking OF ap
peared at his door
i've come to see how you are
said Brotherson. 81 noticed that you
didn't look we'll last night. Won't you
Z come in and share my pot of coffee?"
Il can't eat" mumbled Sweet
water. for once in his life thrown
completely of his balance. You're
very kind, but I'll manage all right.
I'd rather. I'm not quite dressed. you
see. ard l must get to the shop"
Then he thought-"What an oppor-
tunity I'm losing. Have I any right
10 turn tail because he plays his game
/ from the outset with trumps? No,
+ I've small trump somewhere about
me TO lay on this trick. II isn't an
ace. but it'll show I'm not chicane."
And smiling, though not with his
usua! chaerfulness, Sweetwater added,
Is the coffee all made? l might take
a drop Of that But you mustn't ask
me to eat-I just couldn't"
1 Yes. the coffee is made and it isn't
bad either. You'd better put on your
coat; the halls draughty" And wait
ing till Sweetwater did so, he led the
, way back TO his own room. Brother
sons manner expressed perfect ease,
+ SWeetwater's not. He knew himself
( changed in looks, in bearing, in feel
/ lnE, even; but was he changed enough
to deceive this man on the very spot
where they had confronted each other
q few days before in a keen moral
struggle?
/ I'm going out myself today, so
| well have 10 hurry a Bit" was Broth
/ erson's first remark as they seated
themselves at table. do you like your
coffee plain or with milk in it?"
Plain. Gosh! what pictures!
. Where 10 you get 'emi You must
lnr nF
staring at the row of photographs.
. mostly of q very high order, tackled
along the wall separating the two
rooms. They were unframed, but they
f were mostly copies Of great pictures.
ana the effect was rather imposing in
contrast to the shabby furniture and
. the otherwise homely fittings.
Yes, I've enough for that kind of
thing" was MS hosts reply. But the
tone was reserved. and Sweetwater
did not presume again along this line
Instead, he looked we'll at the books
piled upon the shelves under these
photographs, and wondered aloud at
their number and at the man who
could waste such a lot of time in read
ing them. But he made no more di-
rect remarks.
Yet there was one cheerful moment
1t was when he noticed the careless
/ way in which those books were ar
ranged upon their shelves An idea
+ had come TO him. He hid his relief
IN his cup, as he drained the last
drops OF the coffee, which really
tasted better than he expected.
When he returned from work that
afternoon 1t was with an auger under
/ his coat and a conviction which led
I him to empty out the contents of
small phial which he took down from
a shelf. He had told Mr.. Gryce that
ne was eager for the business because
OF it's difficulties, but that was when
he was feeling fine and up to any
game which might come his way. Now
he felt weak and easily discouraged.
This would not do. He must regain
his health at all hazards, so he poured
out the mixture which had given him
such a sickly air. This done and a
rude supper eaten, he took up his
auger. He had heard Mr.. Brother
sons step go By. But next minute
he laid 1t down again in great haste
and flung a newsDauor Orar II NJ