Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-04


| He took the star aud was gone a few
minutes.
Not all WOOL he announced on his
return.
Exit the army or navy officer" re-
marked Kent
why soY
Because regulations require all
wool garments-and get them. What
In the fabricT
"A fatty good mixture. from the
very elementary chemical test 1 made
Thank you. Mr.. Blair. You've elm
mated one troublesome hypothesis for
me. I'll telephone you before 9
o'clock. Good day"
From the wooden manufactures
Chester Kent went direct to the Mar
tindale Center library. where ae inter
viewed the Librarian.
DO you get the agriculture depart
ment publications."
Yes
Have you a pamphlet issued by the
bureau of entomology, Helmund on
The Swarm Phenomenon In Lepidop-
| teraT"
Yes. sir 1t was inquired for only
yesterday by Mr.. Blair"
'Ah. yes! He's quite interested in
the subject, i believe"
1T must be quite recent, then" said
the librarian. I'VE haven't seen MIN
here for a long time until two days
ago. when he came and put in a morn
ing reading on insects
so. Mr.. Alexander Blair" said Kent,
addressing the last fence post on the
outskirts Of the town, after a thought
full walk. that was a fatal break on
your part, that mention OF Helmund
Amateurs who have wholly dropped
subject since years back don't usually
know publications issued only within
three months. That casual meeting
with me was well carried out. and you
called IL chance. A very palpably
manufactured chance! But why am 1
worth so much trouble to know? And
why does Alexander Blair leave a
desperately i'll son to arrange an er-
rand for me at this particular time?
And is Hedgerow house. fourteen
miles distant and possessing just such
an electric car as a woman would use
in driving round the country. per-
haps the place whence came Sedg-
wick's sweet lady of mystery? Finally,
what connection has all this with the
body lying in Annalaka burying
ground?"
Eliciting no reply from the fence
post, Kent returned to the Eyrie. call
ed up Hedgerow house and declined
Blair's proposition.
Early that evening Francis Sedg-
wick came to the hotel,
mfr. Kent? I'm afraid you can't
see him, sir. He isn't in his ROOM"
said the clerk.
Isn't he about the hotelY'
The clerk hesitated. II ought not
to tell you. sir, for it's Mr.. Kent's
strict orders not to be disturbed but
he's In his special room. Is it any
thing very Important? Any new evil
dence or something of that sortT''
That is what l want Mr.. Kent to
decide"
"In that case I might take the re-
sponsibility. But l think l had bet
ter take you to him myself"
After the elevator had carried them
to the top of its run. they mounted a
fight OF stairs and walked to a far
corner OF the building.
''Nobody's been in here since he
took it," explained the clerk as they
walked. Turned all the furniture out
Special lock on the door. Some kind
OF scientific experiments. ! suppose.
He's very qniet about it"
Having reached the door. he dis
creetly tapped. No answer came
Somewhat less timidity characterized
his next effort. A growl OF surpass-
ing savagery from within was his
reward
You see. Mr.. Sedgwick." said the
clerk Raising his voice ne called. |
MIR Kent. I've brought
Get away and 60 to the devilT'
cried a voice from inside in fury. !
What do you mean by
Its 1. Kent, Sedgwick. I've got to |
see you"
There was a silence OF some seconds.
what do you wantT' asked Kent |
at length.
You told me to come at once If any
thing turned up"
SO did" sighed Kent well. |
chase that Internal bellboy TO the |
stairs. and I'll let you in
With q wry face the clerk retired. |
Kent opened the door and his friend |
squeezed through into a bare room. |
The walls were hung and the floor was
carpeted with white sheets. There /
was no furniture of any kind unless
narrow mattress In one corner could
be SO reckoned.
Its happenedr' announced Sedg-
wick
HAS ft?" said Kent Lean up
a gainst the wall and make yourself at
home. Man. you're shakingF'
You'd shake. too" retorted the art
ist, his voice trembling.
No; anger doesn't affect me that
way. Wait! Now. don't tell me yet
II I'm to have a report 1t must be from
a sane man, not from one in blind
fury. Take time and cool down What
do you think of my roomT'
whats the gamer asked Sedg-
wick Interested in spite OF himself.