Rock Island Argus., 1913-09-17
Literary Bureau


tected. He's got the money, the curt"
The third morning after Fox's de-
parture Roy Bardwell went down to
the lighthouses for his morning dip.
His rheumatism was yielding to the
treatment.
Pete. the black attendant, prepared
Roy's bath. and the president of the
Bardwell Lumber syndicate entered
the compartment and prepared to en-
dure the suffocating atmosphere pre-
scribed for his aiment.
From outside came the sound of
voices in conversation.
"B-b-ath ready. Pete?" asked south
ern voice, mellow in its drawing ac-
cents.
"Yes. sab: jes' minute. sab"
That was all. But it was quite
enough for Roy Bardwell. Without
pausing to use the towel. he hoped
cut Of the steaming tub and into his
bathrobe with nervous haste.
When he heard the stammerer enter
the adjoining compartment and heard
the splash of water Roy stepped out
side where Pete was hanging the new
comer's clothing in the checking room.
why, sab, you done kotch yore
def" gasped Pete as he beheld Roy's
flushed face. moist with the steaming
vapor. "whuffor you comm out dis
saway. De doc say you have to stay
in dere an hour and
Pete's mouth opened so wide with
astonishment that speech was utterly
impossible. for Roy was holding a
twenty dollar bill agreeably close to
that black. toll worn hand.
Pete" he whispered softly. I'm
hunting for the man that shutters.
He's committed a crime. In the pock-
cts of his clothes-you have 'em there,
my man-should be a weapon, pistol
probably. He is a dangerous man and
might muss up your floor here with my
blood. Sure thing. Pete. If he sees me
first! This twenty is yours If you
hand over the pistol to me. How many
are there? Two? BY Jove. Fenby
isn't taking any chances! Now, bring
me my own clothing. oh, don't you
worry, Pete the police will be here in
jiffy and you'll be protected"
The scared but opulent Pete assist
ed Roy into his clothes and led him
he washed his hands of the whole
transaction and went back to his du-
ties in the checking room.
Roy bad a few moments conversa-
ton with the chief of detectives and
then sat down to wait for the arrival
of the officers with the warrant for
Fenby's arrest.
1t was two hours before they heard
Fenby's preliminary cough and then
his suffering call for the attendant.
Pete waited on him and obediently
carried in the pile Of neatly arranged
clothing.
Ten minutes afterward there step
ped out of the compartment a tall.
loosely built man with bright blue eyes
staring from a sun tanned counte
! nance. His eyes darted hither and
! thither and concentrated on Pete's
frightened features.
"B-b-bring that g-g-gun backw he
commanded roughly.
"Wh-what gun. sah?" parried Pete.
ashy white with terror.
I'll show you, you black Fen
by's form curved into snakelike 1.-the
ness as he slouched toward the black
man. His right hand suddenly darted
down and the men watching from their
hiding place in one of the compart-
ments saw that now in his hand there
was a keen two bladed knife.
Hand it over" snarled Fenby saw
agely.
''B-but. sah"- protested Pete.
Just then Fenby leaped, but the po-
lice officer was too much for him. He
darted out. his foot flashed forward
against Fenby's advance and the ab.
sconder measured his length on the
tiled floor. For an instant he lay there
stunned, and before he recovered suf-
iciently to rise Bardwell and his men
were upon him and the handouts were
slipped over his wrists.
''B-b-bardwell, b-b-by Jove" he said
dazedly. ''They t-told me you had
gone b-back to N-new York"
I'm on the Job" said Roy grimly.
"W-well. what do you w-want OF
me?" asked Fenby, with sudden bra.
vado.
About s1o,OOO," was Roy's cool re.
ply.
Bardwell threw back his head and
laughed. II lost every p-penny las,
might" he asserted.
But the detectives were not SO east
ly convinced. When Fenby was
searched at headquarters IT was found
that he was possessed of $4,000 In
cash.
A week later Roy Bardwell started
north with $4,000 in his pockets and
his copy of a contract signed by The
new manager of the Bardwell Lumber
syndicate in the Lontigua district. AND
the new manager was we'll known t
Cyrus Sackett, a man to be trusted
but Bardwell did not tempt him with
the possession of large sums of money
AS for Fenby. he served a term fl
prison for his offense and lived to at
tempt revenge upon Roy BardweIr.
company. How he accomplished it ant
the result are part Of another story.
I