Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-13
IL. Al. door uhrdonchn 2.

/ softly p. Sybarite tiptoed down tins
stairs.
disappointment. however. lay In am
bush for him at his nefarfous goal. Ev
! identity the messenger had been punc
| tilious about his duty. Not even 81
| much as the tip OF corner of yellow
| envelope peeped from under the door.
| Reckless in evaporation. p. Sybarite
first wasted time educing a series o;
short. sharp banks from the bella pc
cuIiarly irritating noise. calculated Zone
would think to rouse the dead-then
tried the door and found it fast: In the
end knelt and bent an ear TO the key
hole. listening
Not a sound; silence of the grave: tbs
house deathly still. He could hear MS
own heart drumming. but from Shay
mons fat nothing.
Or. no, Was that the creak OF
board beneath a stealthy foOtstep?
II so. it wasn't repeated
Again, could 1t be possible his ears
did actually detect a sound Of humaH
respiration through the keyho!e'
Could it be Shaynon. just the other
side of that inch wide pressed steel
barrier. the freproof door. covering in
throes of some paralyzing fright, afraid
to answer the summons?
When at length p. Sybarite rose and
drew away it was with all stealth.
Once more at Peter Kenny's door. his
difident fingers evoked from the bell
but single chirp-a sound that would
by no means have gained him admis-
sion had Peter not been sitting up in
bed reading to while away the ache or
his wound.
But it was ordered so. Peter was
quick to answer the door.
"Doc says I'm all right if blood
poisoning doesn't set in. What luck?
1.-THE worst. Where are my clothes:
I've got to change and run"
Whereupon. while changing his cloth
ing. P. Sybarite delivered himself of
an abbreviated summary of what had
happened at the ball and after.
"But why" he wound up peevishfy.
"why didn't you tell me Bayard Shay
non lived in the fat below you?"
Didn't occur to me: and II you ask
me 1 don't see why it should interest
you, now
Because" said p. Sybarite quietly.
"I'm going down there and break in as
soon as I'm dressed fit to go to jail"
I'm the sacred name of insanity
IF he's out I'll steal that telegram
and find out whether IT has any bear
ing on the case. If it hasn't I'll sfft
every inch of the room for suspicion
of leading clew."
But if he's in
III take my chances" said 2. Syba-
rite. with grim breyity.
"Unarmed2"
Not if | know the nature of the
brute" He stood up, fully dressed
but for his shoes. Now, my gun,
please"
Top drawer of the buffet there
How are you going-fire escape?'
Where is it?' P Sybarite asked as |
he possessed himself of his weapon.
Half a minute" Peter Kenny held |
out his hand. Let's have a look at |
that gun, will you"
What for?'
pistols. isn't it? I've never seen one |
before"
'But-you've had this here
II know. but 1 didn't pay much at
tention. thinking of other things
but you re ueidylQB ul0.
Mean to- said Peter Kenny pur-
posefulIy. And without giving P. Syb-
arite the least hint of his intention
imprisoned his wrist grabbed
the weapon by the barrel and took IT
to himself. with the greater ease since
the other didn't understand or attempt
resistance
What in blaZes''- he inquired. puz-
zled. watching Peter turn the weapon
oveC curiously in his hands. II should
THERE Peter interrupted placidly.
the magazine clip from
It's slot in the butt and returning the
now harmless mechanism. Now run
along. Fire escapes outside the far
window in the bedroom yonder."
What the deuce: What's the mat
-er with you: Hand over that clip
What good is this without it,
For your present purpose it's better |
han If ioaded." Peter asserted com :
'iacently- For purposes of intimida.
ion-which is all you want of If
;rand: And it can't go Off by accident
md make you an unintentional muir
lerer.''
= Sybarite's jaw dropped and his I
yes opened. bur after an instant be
nodded in entire agreement.
That's head You have on your
houlders. boy said he. LAS for mine.
we notion that it has never really
ellied'
He turned toward the bedroom. 5ut
'aused.
"Only-why not say what you want: 4
WY these roundabout ways TO your
purpose? Have you by any chance 1
'een educated for the bar?"
That's the explanation" laughed
'eter 'rm to be admitted TO prac.
Ice next year. Meanwhile circumIo
ution's my speciality 3
1T Is said r. Sybarite with convic.
ion. 'Well-bacl1 in five minutes"
(To Be Continued Next Wednesday,