Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-13

( that ! saw him secrete the brooch"
! Nervously in his Indignation L. Syba-
rite caught his coattails from beneath
his Inverness. dragged them round in
front OF him, and, fumbling, found a
pocket
/ Cropping therein. his sngers brushed
/ something strange to him-a small,
! hard. irregular body which, escaping
his clutches. fell with soft thud to
| the carpet at his feet. 1t was the
| brooch.
With a noncommittaI grunt. the de-
tective stopped and retrieved this
! damning bit OF evidence. while the
manager moved excitedly 10 his side
to inspect the find. And P. Sybarite
\ looked up with blank eyes in a pallid.
wizened face in time TO see Shayron
bare his teeth. his lips curling back in
n manner peculiarly wolfish and irrita-
ting. and snarl mirthless laugh.
1t was something inopportune. The
man could have done no better than
keep his peace. Left to himself. p.
Sybarite would IN all probability have
doundered and clustered and commit
ted himself ineItricably.
But that laugh was as good as
douche OF cold water in his face. He
zane abruptly to his senses. saw clear
v how this thing had come to pass. the
temptation Of the loose brooch to Shay
mons fingers itching for revenge while
they stood near together IN Gle crowd
ed elevator.
p. Sybarite smiled sunnily in the
face OF the detective.
,h. hr
chirped- GONE, now. be fair to me.
Own up. You didn't expect to see that.
did youE"
The detective hesitated. We'll" he
grudged. you did have me going for
a minute, you were so cocksure. and
it's pretty slick work for an amateur"
1T looks bad. eh-not?" abe manager
questioned. his predacious eyes fixed
greedily upon the trinket
You think 500" z. Sybnrite purpose
fully misinterpreted. Let me see"
Before the detective could withdraw
p. Sybarite caught the brooch from his
fingers.
"Bad:'' he unused aloud. examining
It closely. "PhOney? Perhaps it is.
Looks like article de Paris to me. See
what you think"
He handled the trinket indifferently.
Nonsense Shaynon interposed in
cisively. Mrs. Strone's not that kind.
Besides. It makes no difference. Thefts
theft
1t makes n deal of difference wheth-
er it's grand or petit larceny" 2. Syb-
arite flashed-"a difference as wide
and deep as that which yawns be-
tween attempted and successful wife
murder. Mr.. Shaynon."
His jaw dropping. look OF stupefy- !
ing terror stamped itself upon Shay |
mons face. He strove to speak. but for |
the time could not
The mans crazy" he muttered sick |
ishly. rising. Il don't know what he's .
about. Arrest him-take him
TO the station house"
Who'll make the charger" asked the
eying Shaynon curiously.
Not Bayard ShaynOnr' p Sybarite
asseverated with conviction
Its not my brooch" Shaynon as
serted defensively.
You saw him take it, the detective
persisted.
NO. didn't; I suspected him. It's
vou who found the brooch on him. and
is your duty to make the charge"
You're one grand little lightning
change OF heart artist-gotta slip it TO
-ou for that" the detective observed
Now. lis'n; don't make
10 charge
ANY employee Of the establishment
viii DO as well. for my purpose" p. {
;ybarite cut in. Come. Mr.. Manageri
How about VOC? So long rs / get {
nv grounds for a suit against the /
3izarre"- u
The manager spread out expostulary
aims. Me. I have Messing whatever
o do with the matter" be protested. !
To me IL would seem Mrs. Strone ]
hould make the charge"
We'll" mumbled the detective OF
ihaynon. how about chap
Wait" mumbled Shaynon. moving
oward the door. III fetch Mrs.
trone"
Don't go without saying goodby."
;. Sybarite admOnished him severely.
IL is-'t pretty manners" I
The door slammed tempestuously. I
nd the little man chuckled with an -
hectation OF ease to which he was en-
rely a stranger.
HIS head buzzed with doubts and sus. S
Icions. and, with misgivinhs on Ma b
ans behalf. but indinerently mitgat- r
by the reflection that by now she b
-ould be at the Plaza. \
HE won't be back" p. Sybarite OBJ e
rived generally to detective and man
ger and sat him down sereneiy. Il
"You feel pretty sure about thatY' IL
le detective asked. r
''WRit and see" +
Bending forward. the little man ex- el
mined the gilt clock On the managers b
SIX Twenty minutes after T." he
nounced. II give you ten minutes % p
d some one 20 make a charge against II
;" m,
rhe detective took a chair. crossed dc
legs and produced n cigHr. which IN
began 10 thin with loving care The vi
mayer. anxiously pacing the nOor
er another moment or so paused al mi