Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-04


Jennie Brice is dead and that Mr..
Howell knows-wbo did it?'
II think she is dead. and I think pos
sibly Mr.. Howell suspects. who did It.
He does not know. or he would have
told the police"
You do not think he was-was in
love with Jennie Brice. do you?"
I'm certain of that" l said. HE is
very much in love with a foolish girl.
who ought to have more faith in him
than she has,"
She colored a little and smiled at that,
but the next moment she was sitting
forward. tense and questioning again.
IF that is true, Mrs. Pitmsn." she
said, who was the yelled woman he
met that Monday morning at daylight
and took across the bridge to Pitts
burgh? I believe 1t was Jennie Brice-
If it was not. who was it?'
81 don't believe he took any woman
across the bridge at that hour. Who
says he did?'
Uncle Jim saw him. He had been
playing cards all night at one OF the
clubs and was walking home. He says
he met Mr.. Howell face to face and
spoke to him. The woman was tall and
or two later. and he refused to eX-
plain. Then they forbade him the
house. Mamma objected to him any
how, and he only came on sufferance.
He is college man of good family. but
without any money at all save what he
earns. And now
i had had some young newspaper
men with me- and l knew what they
49,
made SD a week. I'm afraid l smiled
a little as / looked around the room,
with its gray grass cloth walls. its tot
let table spread with ivory and gold
and the maid in attendance in her
black dress and white apron. collar
and cuffs. Even the little nightgewn
Ida was wearing would have taken
weeks salary or more. She saw my
smile.
1T was to he his chance she said.
IF he made good he was to have some
thing better. Ny Uncle Jim owns the
paper. and he promised me TO help
him. But
So Jim was running a newspaper:
That was a curious career for Jim to
choose-Jim, who was twice expelled
from school and who could never write
IA letter without Il dictionary beside
him. | had a panG when l heard his
name again after all the years. for I
had written to Jim from Oklahoma
after Mr.. Pitman died asking for mon
ey to bury him and had never even had
a reply.
And you haven't seen him since?"
"Once. didn't hear from him. and
Ia Ii 1.
park. He said everything was all right.
but he couldn't tell me just then. The
next day he resigned from the paper
and went away. Mrs. Pitman. it's
driving me crazy. for they have found
n body. and they think it is hers. If it
is and ne was with her
Don't be foolish girl" protested
IF he was with Jennie Brice she is
still living. and If he was not with
Jennie Brice"-
IF it was not Jennie Srice then I
have right to know who it was" she
declared. He was not like himself
when met him. He said suih queer |
talked about an onyx clock |
and said he had been made a fool of \
and that no matter what came out l |
was always to remember that he had /
lone what he did for the best and that |
that he cared for me more than for |
anything in this world or the next"
That wasn't so foolish / couldn't |
help it 1 leaned over and drew her |
nightGown up over her bare white
shoulder. you won't help anything or
anybody by taking cold. my dear" l
said. Call your maid and have her
Put dressing gown around you"
1 left soon after. There was little 1
could do. But comforted her as best
could and said good night My heart
was heavy as 1 went downstairs. For
wist things as l might. it was clear
hat in some way the Howell boy was
mixed up in the Brice case. Poor lit
lie troubled Ida, Poor distracted boy,
/ had n curious experience down
stairs. / had reached the foot Of the
staircase and was turning to go back
md along the hall to the side en-
ranc. when ! came face to face with
saac. the old colored man who had
lriven the family carriage when l was
child and whom | had seen at in
ervals since l came back potterinE
round Almas house The old man
vas bent and feeble. He came slowly
Town the hall with a bunch of keys in
lis hand. I had seen him do the same
hing many times.
He stopped when he saw me. and /
hrank back from the light. but he had
cen Inc. Miss Bess.' he said. Fob
iawd's sake. Miss Bess.'
You are making mistake. my
rieud." j said. quiv ering; ~ am not
Miss Bessr'
He came close to me and stared into
~ face. And from that he looked tat