Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-15
CHAPTER XIV.
The Oval Hut.

The Oval Hut.
That night DR.. Fenton had a visitor.
Sweetweter, who knew when to be
frank and open, as we'll as when to
be reserved and ambiguous, made no
EFFORT 70 disguise the nature OF his
business or his chief cause OF interest
In Oswald Brotherson.
His first word. therefore, was a
plain. announcement.
Or. Fenton. my name is Sweet
water. ] am from New York. and rep
resent for the nonce, Mr.. Challoner,
whose name have simply to mention,
for you TO understand that my bust
ness is with Mr. Brotherson. whom I
am sorry 70 find seriously, if not dan
gerously I'll. VIII you tell me how
long you think II will be before
can have a talk with him on a sub
ject which I will not disguise from
you may prove a very exciting one?"
Weeks, weeks" returned the doc.
tor. Mr.. Brotherson has been a very
sick man and the only hope. ! have
Of his recovery is the fact that he is
ignorant OF his trouble or that he
has any cause for doubt or dread.
What then. II any intimation should
be given him OF the horrible tragedy
suggested by the name you have men.
toned? The man would die before
your eyes. Mr. Challoner's business
viii have 10 wait"
That I see; but II knew when
might speak"
Il can give you no date. You had
better return 10 New York. Later,
you can write me IL you wish, or Mr..
Challoner can. You may have conf
dence in my reply: it will not mislead
YOU"
SweetwHter muttered his thanks
and rose. Then he slowly sat down
again.
Or. Fenton," he began. you are a
man 70 be trusted. I'm in a devil of
fix, and there is just a possibility that
YOU may be able 70 help me out. It
is the general impression in New
York, as you know, that Miss Chal
Toner committed suicide. But the cir
cumstGnces do not fully bear out this
theory. nor can Mr.. Challoner be made
70 accept II. Indeed. he is so con.
WINGED OF It's falsehood. that he stands
ready 10 do anything. pay anything
fuffer anything. 20 have this distress
ing blight removed from his daugh
tors good name Mr.. Brotherson was
her dearest friend. and as such may
have the clew to this mystery, but
Mr.. Brotherson may not be in a con-
Cition 70 speak for several weeks
VtrUHN j.
fer from great suspense unless" a
pause during which he searched the
doctors face with a perfectly frank
and inquiring Representatives,
some one else can help us out DR..
Fenton, can you7"
The doctor did not need TO speak:
his expression conveyed his answer.
NO more than another" said he.
Except for what Doris felt compelled
20 tell me. know as little as your.
self Mr.. Brothersons delirium took
the form OF calling continually upon
one name. ! did not know this name,
but Doris did also the danger lurking
In the fact that he had yet TO hear OF
the tragedy which had robbed him
OF this woman TO whom he was SO
deeply attached So she told me Just
this much. That the Edith whose
name ruug so continuously in our ears
was no other than the Miss ChalloneI
OF New York Of whose death and its
tragic circumstances the papers have
been full; that their engagement was
secret one uushared SO far as she
knew by any one but herself. That
she begged me TO preserve this secret
and 70 give her all the help could
when the time came for him 10 asa
questions. Especially did she cntrca'
me TO be with her at the crisis. 7 was
but his waking was quite natural He
did not ask for Miss Challoner: hC
only inquired how long he had beer
ill and whether Doris had received 9
letter during that time. She had not
received one. a fact which seemed &c
disapport him; but she carried II OF
50 gaily (she is a wonderful girl, Mr.
Sweetwater-the darling Of all ou'