Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-04

old man began to sputter with indis
milton. What do You think he wrot
me. Mrs. Cortlandt? He had the frr
pudence to turn down a good job / OF
fered him because his wife might no
like our climate Thank God, he ha,
sense enough not to do thatr'
Then you don't know"
"Know WHAT
THAT he Is married"
"D-nation" roared Anthony fur;
ousIy.
She nodded. "a Miss Garayel. The,
were married a-week ago. She brok,
down miserably and hid her face in
her hands. He strobe to her with 8
/ light of understanding In his eyes
Laying great hand upon her dropping
head. he exclaimed with wonderful
softness:
My dear Mrs. Cortlandt, I'm very
sorry for you, indeed 1 am. Now
now try to face It squarely. All good
women are brave, and you're a good
woman We both love him, and I
know we can save him If we pull to-
gether."
Yes. yes" She raised her drawn,
white face eagerly TO his. ut will
only take word. but have been like
a mad woman. I couldn't bear to give
him up, and when 1 learned the truth
L thought l could let him-suffer. But
i couldn't He is the first and only
man
Il know" He patted her in a way
that said more than words.
II couldn't have stood out much
longer"
Then you have proofT' His face
was wild with eagerness.
This. Take 1t quickly. only found
1t last night 1t had been mislaid in
the confusion. / meant to give it up.
/ really did" With clumsy fingers she
drew from the front of her dress an
unseaied letter and handed it 10 him
stephen was not a bad man, you see.
and he had no intention of wronging
an innocent person"
Darwin Is. Anthony's paIlor matched
hers as he read the sheet; then he ex-
claimed weakly: Thank God. Some
thing told me to come straight to you.
Something always tells me where to
find the heart of things"
Kirk was considerably surprised that
afternoon when a sergeant and two
policemen came to his cell, sIgnifying
that he was to accompany them. He
could not make out where they were
taking him, and, despite their unusual
politeness. they were dense to all in
quiries. The coach drew up at last
before a large, white building, and he
was told to descend. Up n fight of
stairs he was escorted. his pulses
quickening with apprehension. down a
long corridor and into a large room.
where he saw Runnels, Colonel Joi-
son. Arson. Clifford. a dozen or more
Panamanian officials and-he stopped
in his trucks as his eyes fell upon a
huge, white crowned figure that came
to meet him.
A certain harsh yet tender voice pro-
nounced his name. He felt his hands
crushed in his fathers palms, found
the old mans arm about his shoulders
and saw the deep set. steel blue eyes
he loved so well wet and shiny. A
sudden sense of security swept over
him, banishing all his fears.
''Afy kid the old man said. shak- |
ingiy. "H-how have they treated you. |
Buster?" 1t was n nickname he had |
given his son when he was sturdy. |
"You came, didn't you?" Kirk said. |
in a voice not at all like his own.
"Of course I came. the instant Cliff
ford cabled me that these idiots had
arrested you. By - They'll sweat |
for this, How are you anyhow. Kirk?
Dammit. you need a shave! Wouldn't
they give you razor? Hey, Clifford.
Colonel Jolson, come here! These
wouldn't give him shave.
suppose you're hungry, too; well,
som /. Wei be out OF here in min
nte then you show me the best place
in town, and Wen have a decent meal.
lust we two, the way we used to. III
pay the bill. Great Scott. But I've
missed you, BUSTER
WAIT, dad" Kirk was smiling, but
his heart ached Mt his fathers emotion.
I'm a Jail bird, you know. They
.hink I-killed fellow. But I don't
are much what they think now"
That's all over" Clifford broke in.
We've squared that, and you'll be
discharged in ten minutes"
Certainly" said the father. "Cortlandt
hot himself Anybody but a blither-
ng Spanish ass would have known ii
wrote to his wife an hour before he
lid ii. She Just found it and turned 1t
'ver. She left here a moment ago. by
he way, all broken up. She's great
Kirk That's not all. either.
,Ifford followed you that night and
nows You didn't go near Cortlandt
IN. you should have seen 'em jump
rhen we flashed 1t on 'em all at once,
nd they learned who I was"'
But those men who swore they saw
sel"
Bah. We've got that little fellow
nth the mustsche. and both his wit
esses. II they don't send him up ~
IN in a shipioad OF my brakemen. ana
,ell push this isthmus overheard and
i'm with it,
II knew you could FIX things"
Fix 'em, fix EN-. That's easy. Say.
ow have you been getting along any ,,
ow?"
"Greatr =.
.sAnd Won m, rf-ied one of these paua- l