Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-07


| More devilment from the old haven!
4 bad house-a rotten bad house,
Yet I've a pressing desire to take a
look at it" said Chester Kent musing-
! ly. "Going back TO AnnaIaka. Mr..
Smith? I'll walk with you as far as
the road to Mr. Sedgwick's."
Freed OF the veterans company at
the turn of the road. Kent sat down
and took his ear in hand to think.
Miss Dorrance' he unused. MARIO
RE Dorrance What simpler twist for
nickname than to transform that
into Marjorie Daw? Poor Sedgwickr'
At the Nook he found the object of
his commiseration mournfully striving
to piece together. as in n mosaic the
shattered remnants of his work. Sedg-
wick frightened at his friends ap-
proach.
For heavens sake. come out and do
me n couple of sets of Tennis he be-
sought. I'm no sport for you. know.
particularly as my nerves are jumpy.
but l need the work"
Sorry. my boy" said Kent. but
I've got to make a more or less polite
call. People named Blair. Ever know
emp
Used to know a Wilfrid Blair in
Paris" said the artist indifferently.
what kind of a person was hep
IAN agreeable enough little beast.
but a rounder of the worst sort. Is he
the man you're going to see?''
NO such luck said Chester Kent.
81 never expect to see Wilfrid Blair.
Probably l shan't even be invited to
his funeral"
"Oh. Is he dead?"
His death is officially expected any
day"
With which words Kent stepped out
and into his waiting car.
After departing from the Nook
Kent's car rolled along beside Sunday
mans creek sedately enough until it
approached the wide bend. where it
INDUCED in bit of pathfinding across
the country. and eventually crept into
the shade of a clump of bushes and
hid. Its occupant emerged and went
forward afoot until ne came In view
of Hedgerow house. At the turn of
the stream he leaped fence and made
his way to a group of willows beneath
which the earth was ridged with little
mounds. Professor Chester Kent was
trespassing. He was invading the ter
ritory of the dead.
From the seclusion of the graveyard
amid the willows n fair view was af-
forded of Hedgerow house. Grim as
was the repute given it, it presented
to the intruder an aspect of homely
hospitable sweetness and quaintness.
Tall hollyhocks lifted their flowers to
smile in At the old fashioned windows.
Here and there on the well kept lawn
peonies glowed. crimson and white. A
great. clambering rose tree had thrown
its arms around the square porch,
softening the uncompromising angles
into curves of LEAKAGE and bloom.
Along the paths pansies laughed ut
the sun, and mignonette scattered its
scented summons to bee and butter
fly. The place was a loved place; so
much Kent felt with sureness of in
stinct No home blooms except by love.
But the house was dead. Its eyes
were closed. Silence held it. The gar
den buzzed and fiickered with vivid
multicolored life. but there was no
stir from the habitation of man. Had
its occupants deserted it:
From the far side of the mansion
came the sound of a door opening and
closing again. Moving quickly along
the sumac fringed course of the creek.
Kent made detour which gave him
view of a side entrance and had bare
" time to efface himself in the shrub
berry when a light wagon. with spir-
tied horse between the shafts. turned
briskly out into the road. Kent, we'll
sheltered. caught one brief sufficient
glimpse of the occupant. 1t was DR..
Breed. The medical officer looked. as
always, nerve beset. but there was a
greedy smile on his lips.
Kent's mouth puckered. He took a
deep breath of musical inspiration and
exhaled it in painful noiselessness.
fattening himself amid the greenery
as he saw a man emerge from the rear
of Hedgerow house. The man was
Gansett Jim He carried a pick and
spade and walked slowly. Presently
he disappeared in the willow shaded
place of mounds. The sound of his toll
came. muffled, TO the ears of the hid !
den man.
Cautiously Kent worked his way, !
now in the stream, now through the
heavy growth on the banks, until he
gained the roadway. Once there he |
went forward to the front gate OF I
Hedgerow house. Kent paused for !
the merest moment. His gaze rested |!
on the heavy black door. Heavier and |
blacker against the woodwork pen |
dant waved languidly.
To the normal human being the girls |
" insignium of death over portal is |
of anything rather than !
mirth But Chester Kent. viewing the /
Grape on Hedgerow house, laughed as
he turned to the open road.
Meditation furrowed the brow
Adam Balm. Nobody vers
Sedgwick," grumbled he. Public %
ion versus Sedgwick.' he amen
"How's a self respecting lawyer g
to earn a fee out of that? And /.
Schlager standing over the grave o
the corpus deficit with a warrant
against searching. so to speak. in his /
hand, For that matter. this Professor !