Rock Island Argus., 1913-01-08
CHAPTER Xxx.
Confusion.

Confusion.
In his interest in what was going on
on the other side of the wall, Sweet
water had forgotten himself. Day
light had declined, but in the dark
ness of the closet this change had
passed unheeded. Night itself might
come, but that should not force him to
leave his post so long as his neigh
Dor remained behind his locked door,
brooding over the words of love and
devotion which had come to him, as 1t
were, from the other world.
But was he brooding? That sound
of iron Gathering upon iron! That
smothered exclamation and the laugh
which ended it! Anger and determin-
alton rang in that laugh. 1t had
hideous sound which prepared Sweet
water for the smell which now reached
his nostrils. The letters were burn
ing; this time the lid had been lifted
from the stove with unrelenting pur-
pose. Poor Edith Challoner's touch
ing words had met a different fate
from any which she, in her ignorance
of this mans nature-a nature to
which she had ascribed untold perfec-
tions-could possibly have conceived.
AS Sweetwater thought of this, he
stirred nervously in the darkness, and
broke into silent invective against the
man who could so insult the memory
of one who had perished under the
blight of his own coldness and mis-
understanding. Then he suddenly
started back surprised and apprehen.
sive. Brotherson had unlocked his
door, and was coming rapidly his way
Sweetwater heard his step in the hall
and had hardly time to bound from
his closet, when he saw his own door
burst in and found himself face to
face with his redoubtable neighbor, in
a state of such rage as few men could
meet without quailing, even were they
of his own stature, physical vigor and
prowess; and Sweetwater was small
man.
However, disappointment such as
he had just experienced brings with II
a desperation which often outdoes
courage, and the detective, smiling
with an air of gay surprise, shouted
out:
well, what's the matter now? Has
the machine busted, or tumbled into
the fire or sailed away to lands un
known out OF your open window!"
You were coming out of thai
closet" was the fierce rejoinder
What have you got there? Some
thing which concerns me, or why
should your face go pale at my pres
ence and your forehead drip with
sweat? Don't think that you've de
ceived me for a moment as to youI
business here. / recognized you i'm
mediately. You've played the stranger
we'll, but you've a nose and an eye
nobody could forget. / have known
all along that had police spy for q
neighbor; but it didn't faze me. I've
nothing to conceal, and wouldn't rninC
regiment of you fellows If you'd only
play a straight game. But when il
comes to foisting upon me a parcel o
letters to which I have no right, and
then setting fellow like you to coun
my groans or whatever else they ex
pected to hear, l have a right to de
tend myself. and defend myself | will
by Godi But first, let me be sure
that my accusations will stand Come
into this closet with me. 1t abuts or
the wall OF my room and has it's owI
secret, l know. What is it? / have
you at an advantage now, and yoI
/ shall tell"
/ He did have Sweetwater at an ad
vantage, and the detective knew Il
and disda!ned struggle which woulC
have only called up a crowd, friendly
I TO the other but inimical to himself
+ Allowing Brotherson to drag him intc
the closet, he stood quiescent, while
/ the determined man who held hin
with one hand felt about with the 9th