Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-15

hearts,, saying that he must not be !
so egotistical as 10 think that the
news Of his illness had gone beyond
Derby, that he soon recovered his
spirits and became very promising
convalescent. That is all know about
the matter; little more, take it, than
you know yourself"
Sweetwater nodded; he had ex.
pected nothing from the doctor. and
was not disappointed at his failure.
There were two strings TO his Dow,
and the one proving valueless, he pro.
ceeded to test the other.
You have mentioned Miss Scott,
as the confidante and only conhdante
OF this unhappy pair" said he. Would
it be possible-can you make 1t pos
sible for me 10 see her."
II was a daring proposition; he un.
derstood this at once from the doc
tors expression; and fearing a hasty
rebuff, he proceeded to supplement
his request with a few added argu-
ments. urged with such unexpected
address and show OF reason that DR.
Fenton's aspect visibly softened and
in the end he found himself ready to
promise that he would do what he
could to secure his visitor the inter
view he desired II he would come to
the house the next day at the time
OF his own morning visit
This was as much as the young
detective could expect, and having ex-
pressed his thanks, he took his leave
in anything but a Disconnected frame
of mind. In the time which must
elapse between that happy hour and
the present, he would circulate and
learn what he could about the pros
pective manager. But he soon found
that he could not enter the Works
without a permit, and this he was
hardly in a position to demand; so
he strolled about the village instead,
and later wandered away into the for
est
Struck by the inviting aspect of a
narrow and little used road opening
from the highway shortly above the
4 house where his interests were just
then conferred, he strolled into the
heart OF the spring woods till he came
awaited him, in the shape of a pc
culiar structure rising from its midst
where 1t just fitted, or so nearly fit
ted that one could hardly walk about
II without brushing the surrounding
tree trunks. OF an oval shape, with
its door facing the approach, il nestled
there, a wonder to the eye and the
occasion of considerable speculation
10 his inquiring mind. 1t had not been
long built, as was shown very plainly
BY the fresh appearance of the IN
painted boards of which II was con-
Z structed; ard while It boosted OF a
door, as I've already said. there were
no evidences visible OF any other
break in the smooth, neatly finished
walls a wooden ellipse with g roof
/ but no windows; such Il appeared and
such it proved 70 be. A mystery to
! Sweetwater's eyes, and like all mys-
teries. interesting. For what purpose
had it been built and why this isola.
ton? II was too fiimsy for a reser.
voir and too expensive for the wild
freak Of crank.
nearer view increased his curios.
ity. In the projection OF the roof over
the curving sides he found fresh food
for inquiry. As he examined it in the
walk he made around the whole struc
ture. he came to a place where some
thing like hinge became visible and
. further on another. The roof was not
simply a roof; II was also lid cap
able OF being raised for the air and
light which the lack Of windows ne
/ cessitated. This was an odd discov
cry indeed, giving 10 the uncanny
structure the appearance of a huge
box, the cover of which could be
raised or lowered at pleasure And
again he asked himself for what 81
could be intended? Nothing in hi,
experience supplied him with an an
swer
A team was approaching. He could
hear the heavy tread OF horses work
Ing their laborious way through trees
whose obstrucing branches swisheC
before and behind them. They were
bringing IN load for this shed, whose
uses he would consequently soon un
derstand. Grateful for his good lucE