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

MS eyes nad distracted his though
and reused his lveiiest apprehensions.
II that book should be allowed to lie
where it had fallen. then he was in
for period of uncertainty he shrank
from contemplating. Any moment his
neighbor might look up and catch
sight of this hole bored in the backing
of the shelves before him. Could the
man who had been guilty of submit
ting him 10 this outrage stand the
strain of waiting indefinitely for the
moment of discovery? He doubted it,
if the suspense lasted too long.
Shifting his. position, he placed his
eye where his ear had been. He could
see very little. The space before him,
limited as it was to the width of the
one volume withdrawn, precluded his
seeing aught by what lay directly
before him. Happily, it was in this
narrow line OF vision that Mr.. Broth.
erson stood. He had resumed work
upon his model and was so placed
that while his face was not visible,
his hands were, and as Sweetwater
watched these hands and noticed the
delicacy Of their manipulation, he was
enough of workman to realize that
work so fine called for an undivided
attention. He need not fear the gaze
shifting, while those hands moved as
warily as they did now.
Relieved for the moment, he left
mis- post and, sitting down on the edge
of his cot, gave himself up TO thought
Suddenly he started upright He
would go meet his fate-be present
In the room itself when the discovery
was made which threatened to upset
all his plans. He was not ashamed
Of his calling, and Brotherson would
think twice before attacking him when
once convinced that he had the de
partment back of him.
Excuse me, comrade," were the
words with which he endeavored to
account for his presence at Broth
erson's door. My lamp smells so,
and I've made such a mess of my
work today that I've just stepped in
Tor chat. If I'm not wanted, say so.
I'd like big room like this, and lot
OF books, and-and pictures"
Look at them, then. l like to see
man interested in books Only,
thought if you knew how to handle
wire, / would get you to hold this end
while | work with the other"
Il guess I know enough for that"
was Sweetwater's gay rejoinder But
when he felt that communicating wire
in his hand and experienced for the
first time the full influence Of the
others eye, it took all his hardihood
TO hide the hypnotic thrill it gave
him. He found himself gazing long
and earnestly at this mans hand, and
wondering if death lay under it. It
was a strong hand. a deft, clean-cut
member. formed to respond to the
slightest hint from the powerful brain
controlling it. But was this it's whole
story Had he said all when he had
said this?
Fascinated by the question, Sweet.
water died a hundred deaths in his
awakened fancy, as he followed the
sharp, short Instructions which fell
with cool precision from the others
lips. A hundred deaths. | say but
with no betrayal of his folly. The
anxiety he showed was that of one
eager to please, which may explain
why on the conclusion of his task,
Mr. Brotherson gave him one OF his
infreQuent smiles and remarked. as
he buried the model under its GOV.
er, You're handy and you're quiet at
your Job. Who knows but what | shall
want you again. VIII you come if /
call you?"
Won't -" was the gay retort. as
the detective, thus released, STOPPED
for the book still lying On the floor
"Paolo and Francesca" he read, from
the back, as ne laid it on the table
Poetry" he queried.
"Rot," scornfuIly returned the 9th.
er, as he moved to take down a bot
tie and some glasses from a cupboard
let into another portion OF the wall.
Sweetwater, taking advantage Of the
moment, sided towards the shelf
where that empty space still gaped
with the telltale hole at the back
He could easily have replaced the
missing book before Mr. Brotherson
turned. But the Issue was too doubt.
full He was dealing with no absent
minded fool, and It behooyed him &c
avoid above all things calling atten.
ton to the book or to the |Ece on the
EhRH Ebers il halonzad