Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-28

I DOy' huEnels sa1Q at last Il know
these people better than you. and yet
Lord. II it does come on Now, dom
mention this rumor about BIakeley. !
want TO see Steve Cortlandt first"
"Cortlandt. BY the way, do you
happen to remember that he's to be our
guest for supper tomorrow night? Kind
Of joke now. trying TO thank him
for what he's done. isn't it?''
| Not at all. 1t may be our one
chance of salvation; he may be the
one person who can help u.s.
We'll" Kirk reflected, at have a
good deal TO thank him for, suppose,
outside OF this. and I'll go through
with my part"
He proceeded at once to put his plan
into execution, his first step being to
rent a room at the Tivol. taking par
ticular care to select one on the first
floor in the north wing. That evening
he and Allan moved. RunneIs tele-
phoned during the evening that he
had been equal to his part Of the task.
so there remained nothing to do but
wait for the hour of the dance.
1t was considerably after dark on
Saturday evening that John Weeks,
American consul at Colon, received a
caller who came to him direct from
the Royal Mail steamer just locked.
At first sight the stranger did not
impress Mr.. Weeks as a man OF par
ticular Importance. His face was in
significant. and his pale blue eyes
showed little force. His only notice
able feature was displayed when he
removed his hat Then IT could be
seen that a wide. white scar ran from
just over his temple to a point back of
his right ear.
He made his name know as VIII
Hams, which. OF course. meant nothing
to the consul. and while drinking one
OF Weeks highballs. inquired idly
about the country. the climate and the
people. as II in no hurry to come to his
point He studied the fat man and
when he had satisfied himself. came
out openly with these words:
I'm looking for a chap named Wei
lar. He landed here some time late
in November"
Friend Of yoursf'
"Um-m-not exactly" Mr.. VIII |
liams ran a hand meditatively over |
the ragged scar on his scalp. as If |
from force OF habit
"wellar? ! never heard OF him"
HE may have travelled under an
other name. Ever heard OF a fellow 1
called Locker"
The consurs moist lips drew to-
gether. his red eyes cleaned watch
fully. Maybe l have. and maybe 1
haven't" said he. why do you want
him?"
"Tm a detective. and I'm after Wei
lar. alias Locke. alias Anthony. He's
wanted for embezzlement and assault
and few other things, and I'm going
to take him" The indistinctive Mr..
Williams spoke sharply. and his pale
blue eyes were suddenly hard and
bright
Weeks stared open mouthed for an
instant.
81 knew he was wrong. Embezzler.
eh? Well. wellr'
Eighty thousand. that's all. and he's
got IL on him"
You're wrong there He was broke
when he landed. ought TO know"
"Oh, no, He came down on the
Santa Cruz. I've seen the purser. He
travelled under the name OF Jefferson
Locke There's no mistake. and he
couldn't have blown IL all. No. it's
sewed into his shirt, and I'm here to
grab IL"
Weeks whistled in amazement. HE
8 a shrewd one. Eighty thou Lord. {
I wish I'd known that, He's here.
III right. working for the railroad and
living at Panama. Hes made good.
90. and got some influential friends
Oh. this Is greatT'
working. hey? Clever STALL Do
lou see that7" Williams inclined his
lead for a fuller display Of the dis
Iguration over his ear HE hung that !
n me. with bottle. = near died"
Ie laughed disagreeabIy. He'll go ]
ack, and he'll go back quick. How '
o I get TO Panama.
Weeks consulted his watch hastily. !
You've missed the last train, but
-e'u go over together in the morning. {
want TO have a hand In this arrest
,r reasons OF my own I don't Ike I
I'm or his influential friends" He $
egan TO chuckle ponderOusly. -No: n
don't Ike his influential friends, In v
articular."
While this scene was being enacted b
D the north side OF the isthmus. e
Irk Anthony over at the Tivoll hotel,
as making himself ready for the ball o
ith particular pains. Allan regarded
m admiringly from many angles.
"oh. Master h'Auntony." he eIclaim-
! rapturousiy. you are BEAUTIFUL" n
.sThanksi Again thanks! Now. can y
~ remember 10 do as 1 have told q
,uT" y
Il would de =
Don't say that again. I'm too nerv-
.. Here are your instructions once 81
pre-. Keep both doors % this room q
,ked and stand by the one 20 the
randal Don't let any one in except r.
:. Runnels and the man he'll bring OF