Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-03

missed vnguely However. shan
need It. This"-with bright and cor
fdent smile displaying PenfieId's re
volver-"wili do just as well-bettes
In fnct''
"That7' she questioned That's no.
police department gun. Where {
you
"Oh. yes. IT Is It's the new pattern
recently adopted. They've just be
gun to issue 'em. I only got mine to-
day
The lady's lips curIed. Every well. -
she concluded CURLY. 81 don't believe
a word you say. but Wen see. l warn
you. find me a burglar-o-." she added
. with unmistakable significance. TN
find one myself.
Interpreting the level challenge of
her glance. p. Sybarite's heart quaked-
But there was no use Offering resist
ance to the demands of this masterful
woman. She was one patiently to be
humored against a more suspicious
turn OF affairs.
He shrugged. gave In with a gesture.
Her imperative arm. uplifted. indicat-
ed an inner door.
Find that burglar Lead the way
nowv'
Awed. P. Sybarite rrasped his re-
volver and strobe to the door with
much dramatic manner but paused
with a hand on the knob to look over
his shoulder. The woman was there.
not a foot distant. her eountenance a
mask of suspicious determination
He pulled the door open. flung out
into the hallway, paused again at the
mouth OF the back we'll of the stair
way.
Behind him the woman snapped on n
switch. An electric bulb glared ont Of
the darkness behind him. And +. Syb
arite. peering down. started back. with
a gasp of Amusement that was instant
" echoed at his ear
Or the stairs. halfway down. n man
was crouching in a posture OF frozen
CONSERVATION, n small electric pocket
lamp burning brilliantly in one hand.
the other. lifted. grasping a weapon of
some curious sort lin the eyes of p.
Sybarite more than anything else like
a small black cannon. a hatless man
In eyeaing clothes, his face half blotted
out by a black mask that left uncov
cred only his angular, muscular jaw
and ugly. twisted mouth.
For full minute. it seemed. not one
of the three so much as drew breath.
And then, as If from n heart of agony.
the woman at his side breathed bro
ken and tortured cry:
You dog, So it has come to murder.
has it?"
AS if electrified by that ejaculation.
p. Sybarite whipped up Penfeld's re-
volver and leveled it ut the man on the
stairs.
Hands up he snapped. Drop that
gum"
The answer was n singular sound |
half a choking cough. half Il smothereG !
bark-accompauied by jet of fire from |
the odd weapon and coincident with |
the tinkling of a splintered electric !
bulb
Instantly tie hall was again drench-
ii in darkness. but little Initigated by |
he light from the bedroom.
Needless OF consequences in his ex-
Element +. Sybarite pulled trigger
I'he hammer fell on an empty cham
IcE- Ip~t Itli Al'ill a htLel :
Without dcducing any response other
han the click of metal against metal.
beyond question that
lis revolver was unloaded-
From the hand of the marauder an
'ther tongue of fame licked out to the
ound OF the same dull. bronchial
ough. and Il bullet thumped heavily
nto the wall beside +. Sybarite.
Enraged beyond measure. he drew
'ack his worthless weapon and threw
I with all his might. And kismet
winged the missile to the firing arm of
he assassin. With cry Of pain and
niger involUntarily he relaxed his
rasp upon his own pistol. and. drop
ing It. he stumbled and half fell, half
brew himself down to the next floor.
AS he did this white arm was lev
led over the shoulder of T. Sybaritc
The woman took deliberate aim, fired ,
and missed