Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-21

hents word had felled him. Instant
~ he was up. however. and said:
What am I up against? How die
| you find me?''
Thrusting his hand in his pocket ths
scientist brought out a little patch Of
black cloth, with a single star ski
fully embroidered on It.
wild blackberry has long thorns
and sharp" he said. You left this
latter on Hawkill cliffs
At the name the mans chin muscle
throbbed with his effort to hold his
teeth steady against chattering.
What do Won WANT
"A fair exchange. My name is Ches.
| ter Kent"
The starmaster's chin worked con
/ vulsively. The Kent that broke up
the Co-ordinated Spiritism Circle?'
Yes"
ITS all bargaining with the devil"
observed Preston Jax grimly. whats
the exchange"
II do not believe that you are guilty
OF murder Tell me the whole story
plainly and straight. and I'll clear you
in so far as l can believe you limo
cent"
For the first time the seer's chin was
at peace.
The topazes are cached under a rock
near the cliff couldn't direct you,
but could show you
''In time you shall. One moment
As you realize, you are under presump-
ton of murder. Do you know the iden-
tity OF the victim?'
"Of Astraea? That's all know
about her / don't even know her last
name"
why Astraea:"
That's the way she signed herself
She seemed to think knew all about
her without being told
And you played up to that belief"
well. OF course. / did
Yes. you naturally would. But II
you had no name to write to how could
you answer the letters?''
Through personal advertisements
She had made out code. She was a
smart one in some ways. / can tell
you
"onIy the last one"
Bring ii to me-
Obediently as an inundated child.
the astrologer left the room, presently
returning with plain sheet of paper
with handwriting on one side.
With dropping head and chin
n-twitch the master Of stars stood
studying Mrs. Blair and Kent while
they read the letter together. 1t was
In two handwritings, the date. address
and body of the letter being in a clear
running character. while the signature.
"Astraea." was in very fine, minute,
detached lettering. The note read:
All is now ready. You are but to carry
out our arrangements implicitly. The
place is known to you. There can be no
difficulty in your finding IL. At two hours
after shutdown of July the 5th we shall be
there. Our ship will be in waiting. All
viii be as before. Fail me not. Your re-
ward shall be greater than you dream.
ASTRAEA.
Kent folded and pocketed the letter.
Had you ever been to this place be
fore?" Kent asked of Jax.
No
Then how did you expect to find
it,"
"she sent me a map. 1 lost it-that
night
What about the ship"
~ wish you'd tell me. There wasn't
any ship that 1 could see
And the reference to all being as it
was before?"
You've got me again there. In
most every letter there was some
thing about things 1 didn't under
stand. She seemed to think we used
to know each other. Maybe we did.
Hundreds of 'em come TO me. / can't
'em all. Sometimes she
called me Hermann. My name amt
Hermann. Right up TO the time l saw
her on the heights 1 was afraid she
was taking me for somebody else and
that the whole game would be queer
ed as soon as we came face to face"
What did she say when she saw |
your
why. she seemed just as tickled to |
set eyes on me as IL l were her Her |
mann twice over"
Exactly" replied Kent. with salts
faction.
well, how do you account for
that?'
Passing over the query. the other
proceeded: Now, as l understand it.
YOU put yourself in my hands unre-
" nat else Cdn Il uO- Il ANShOh
lax.
Nothing that would be so wise. So
10 not try. l shall want you to come
10 Martindale Center on call Pack
up and be ready. Come, Mrs. Blair.
Jax, fair play. and we
shall pull you through yet"
In the taxi Marjorie Blair turned TO
Kent "You are a very wonderful
person. she said-Kent shook his
,ead-"and, / think, a very kind one"
Kent shook his head again BE kind
o me and leave me to go home alone"
Kent stopped the cab. stepped out
md raised his hat. She leaned toward
lin.
Just a moment" she said. Per
laps 1 ought not to ask, but il is too
trong for me Will you tell me who
he woman was:"
Kent fell back a step. his eyes wild