Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-14
By SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS

lie himself. leading the way. carried
coil OF rope on his shoulders. For
what Sedgwick reckoned TO be half
mile they wallowed across soaked
meadows. until the whisper OF rain
upon water came TO his ears.
Keep close" directed his guide and
preceded him down a steep bank.
The stream was soon forded. Emery
ing on the farther side they scrambled
up the other bank into a thicker dark
I ness. where Sedgwick. colliding with
a gnarled tree trunk. stood lost and
waiting. \ tiny bar of light appeared.
1t came to rest upon a fresh garish
. ridge of earth. all pasty and yellow in
the rain. and abruptly died
Too dangerous to use the lantern, -
murmured Kent. Take the near end
and dig"
Both men. fortunately, were in hard
training The heavy soil flew steadily
/ and fast Soon they were waist deep
/ Kent in 4 low voice babe his fellow
/ toiIer stop.
Mustn't wear ouselves out at the
( start" he said. Take five minutes
/ rest"
At the end OF three minutes Sedg-
wick was cropping for his spade. I've
got to go on. Chef" he gasped The
silence and idleness are too much for
me-"
Its just as WELL" assented his COM
mander The clouds are breaking.
worse luck. And some one might pos
sibly be up and about in the house.
Go to it,"
This time there was no respite until.
with "a rbrrH which his
his heart. Kents iron struck upon
wood Both men stood frozen into
attitudes OF attention. No sound came
from the house.
Easy now" warned Kent. after he
judged it safe to continue. II thought
that Jim dug deeper than that Spade
il out gently. And feel for the han
dies
I've got one" whispered Sedgwick.
Climb out. then, and pass me down
the rope"
As SedGwick gained the earth's level
the moon. sailing from behind a cloud.
poured IA food of radiance between the
tree trunks. Kent's face. as he raised
it from the grave. stretching out his
hand for the cord. WAS Ghastly. but his
lips smiled encouragement
All right! One minute. now, and
were safe
Safe repeated the other. with
that opened grave: | shall never feel
safe again"
From between the earthen walls
Kent's voice came. muffied. safe as
church." he averred. from the min
ute that we have the coffin: Take this
end of the rope. Got It? Now this
one It's fast fore and aft Here 1
come"
With leap he clambered out of the |
excavation. He took one end of the |
rope from Sedgwick's hand "All ready |
10 haul:" he inquired in matter OF fact |
tones.
Wait What are we going to do |
with this-this thing?" demanded his
cola borer We can never get 1t TO
the car"
low chuckle sounded from the
shrubbery back of them. The resur-
rectionists stood. stricken.
An OWL whispered Sedgwick at
length.
No replied Kent in the same tone.
Then in full voice and with vivid ur-
Gency. Haul
Up came the heavy casket. humping
and grating. Even through the rope
felt with horror the tum-
bling of the helpless sOdden body with
in With powerful effort Kent swung
his end up on the mound The lantern
flashed. BY its CLEAN Sedgwick saw
Kent striving to force his spade edge
under the coffin lid to pry it loose. The
sounded again.
That's enough" said heavy voice
with a suggestion OF mirthful appreci-
alton.
Sheriff Len Schlager stepped from
behind a tree He held a revolver on
Kent. Sedgwick made swift motion
and the muzzIe swung accurately on
him.
STEADY. Frank" warned Kent an1-
ousIy.
I'm steady enough" returned the
,ther What a fool / was not TO bring
gun
-.Oh. no." contradicted the scientist
OF what use is my gun? We're in the
Ight. and he is in the shadow" ,
so you've got gun on you. ehF' :
emarked the sheriff. his chuckle deep :
ming.
Il didn't say So. 4
NO. but you gave yourself away :
lands up. please. Both OF you"
Four hands went up in the air
-ent's face. iD the light. was very :
owncast. but from the far corner or n
is mouth came the faintest ghost OF
whistIed melOdy-all in IA minor Key. =.
/ died away on the night air and the O
,usician spoke In rapid French. 9
Attention! La ruse gagne- Quandjs
ii donnerai Ie coup de pied. battez-ie p
terre-" II
c.Iisten, A trick wins When :
IcI, him. strike him TO the ground-D g
What's that gibberishf" demanded Il
chlager- y
VERY we'll" said Sedgwick quickly =.
the tone OF one who accepts instruc- n
ous. I'll De still enough Go ahead r.