Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-18
, Poore Sheehan.

1tSeiL 10 Suggest Inc SStIIuS OF a
drama.
Apart from the dim red light that
glowed overhead. the place had all
the appearance Of the ordinary com,
Portable home.
To the right was a hatrack, On
which hung curiously a rather too
generous supply of hats and coats.
There was nothing about this raiment
to indicate that their owners differed
widely from Pink himself-veIyet al
pines, derbies and one silk hat hang
ing arrogantly on the highest book.
To the left, where he felt must be
the parIor, a couple of sliding doors
which were not quite closed disclosed
a strip of impenetrable blackness.
In spite OF himself, he stared at this
fringe of mystery with a twinge Of
hypnotic interest, then started visibly
sound OF movement.
It was a very little sound!
1t was something as though bare
feet had been shifted on carpet or gar
ments had been displaced by an invoI-
untary movement of the body.
He looked quickly at the girl. She
seemed more beautiful than ever
dressed simply in some veil-llke stuff.
her long black hair crowning her
small face and falling in two heavy
braids to her waist.
He saw now bow intent her large
eyes were, and the blood rushed to his
cheeks as he saw the trace OF mock
ing smile on her lips.
you look as though you were fright
ened," she whispered so softly that he
could hardly hear her. And then:
You're perfectly free, Mr. Mead, to
go or remain"
count on me-" whispered Pink Sc
riously And once more there seemed
to be mockery in the girls smile
For a moment they stood looking at
each other steadily, as young people
of opposite sexes are apt to do when
the hour is late and hall lights are dim.
Then the girl said:
land since you are 80 brave, Mr..
Mead, you Will go upstairs and take
the first room to the right Be as a.
lent as you can" She reflected mo-
ment while she looked at Mead curl
ously and added as If by afterthought:
"Of course you'll defend yourself if
If Good nightr'
She suddenly turned and glided be-
tween the sliding doors to the left
Scarcely pausing, he began to mount
the stairs.
The first room to the right, which the
girl had indicated, was apparently
small bedroom. This much he gather
ed as he CROPPED about it in the dark
ness. He felt chair, bed, dresser.
He had no matches, and he passed his
hand over the wall in search of the
electric light switch
He found 1t seemingly at last and
gave it a quick pressure. Instead OF
the flood of light he expected, he heard
a strident ring in a distant part Of the
house, and he desisted. Moreover. he
wasn't SO sure now that he wanted
light
If he was to be q target for unknown
peril he didn't see why he should ilu-
inmate himself.
A shutting step approached the door.
and he caught the faint brushing sound
of hand cropping for the knob.
The hand rested on the knob, there
was a muttered exclamation, and the
footballs shuf1ed rapidly away. Pink
slid over to the door and listened.
A little farther down the hall an
other door was opened and closed.
There followed an interval of heavy
silence. then something that again set
Mead's blood to leaping. but this time
with a sense of outrage and shame. 1t
was low, chuckIing laugh. I
When Pink Mead awoke next morn,
ing, still fully dressed and highly IN
from having passed the
night in chair, he first sensed the IA
miliar aroma of coffee and sausages.
He looked about him.
The chamber where he found him
self, If small. was conventional and
immaculate. Glitteripg sunlight was
streaming through the window, and as
ne came into full mastery OF his sight
he looked out upon a familiar land
;cape.
Thus fear and mystery had fed with
he night-such things could never Turk
n a room so clean and bright Still.
where was he, and how, and why!
And who was the girl?
He met her in the lower hall, where
lie had left her the night before. She
vas looking more charming than ever
I'VE Were all so frightened yester-
Iay," she said, when the boarding
louse caught fre-and right next
Ioorw
MY boarding house?" gasped Mead
And 1 hope you won't be too IN
comfortable here" the girl went on.
while they're getting things into shape
gain They said that they'd tele-
honed you. But really, last night
on acted like a man In a trance. Come
4 and meet my aunt, who was asleep
ist night when you came"
There was a chuckliuG laugh on tne
tafrs behind them. and Mead turned
, see mild, thin man whom be had
ften encountered in the street cars
And Mr.. Johnson" the girl added. "a
Glow boarder.'