Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-27
The woman was down the ladder Ike


for the ladder again Halfway across
the room she hesitated. turned. walked
swiftly % the end OF the hut and hid
the little chamois bag beneath loose
stone behind the stove.
She vas putting away the last OF the
dishes when suddenly she stopped.
turned. and slow smile spread upon
her lips. Her eyes burned with SOM
Der fire. She went over to Big Ben
and deity secured long, slender
cigarette holder. She crossed swiftly
90 her husband and inserted the holder
I'm his top vest poctet. 50 that its
shining tip protruded- The water cask
stood BY Big Ben's head. With
CLEAN IN her eye the woman went
over. allied the rusty tin cup and de-
ubcratcly poured a fourth OF its con
tents over Big Ben's face.
Excuse me-" she laughed as he
Jumped IN and with the same motion
lersed a revolver from his pocket
he crinncd AT her shcepiShly as he
saw the sparkle or mischief in her eye.
and he wiped his face with his sleeve.
You done Il o. purpose he speculat-
. ID. chucEling-
.-Thini, soT' she dimpled-
Big Ben's eyes frightened
Il believe you're after that shawl
"FIuhd sell st. And she glanced
/ across no the sleeping man with vim
dIctive hatred.
Take S." urged Big Ben. "and 81
Z Flub sells q tell me" He picked up the
shawl and clumsily threw II around
. thc woman's shoulders. She looked
down az The shawl and toyed with its
long. delicate fringe. She took il or
slowly and gave &c back 10 the man
Nothing doing" she sadly decided;
then she slowly turned and looked at
her husband and walked away. There
IVES softcning 90 Big Ben's eyes as
She walked away. and then he. too.
glanced Br the sleeping Fluh. Tie stroll .
ed f1 the door and came hack. sudden
Is he stopped. The CLEAN OF something .
yellow had caught his gaze. He walked .
close and bent low. He pulled the Gig I
rr.tto holder ont far enough 20 identify I
Sc and pushed % back; then he gave the T.
sleeper q kick.
sect up. you thief," he reared
TIuh sIanE up. dazed-
Whats thHtf'
81 said get up. Won THEIR reared Biz /
Eru MS lean Jake abruptly stopped .
snoring and jumped up DE was half .
800 N..H laNNa'a.N A'f7aN.a. ANH NNs'h-as'7A-
that this was not q raid. and june, di-
vinin- his intention. rose swiftly and .
rut her hands on the loose cl1phoards .
OF the roof Ben jer5cd the cigarette
holder from FLUIDS pocket You stole
jt--
FIub seemed dazed rv the accusation
uut suddenly De lct cont yell Ne
chauIcauy De had reached I'm his vest
pocket. as was his habit when the
ctIm1is baE WAS there. and had discov-
cred bis loss.
MY Gl1moud~ he yelled ITS
-ouc-- aud his face turned white rs
hr looked around the tense group
slowly comprehension came to him.
-Vou fuued me- he suddenly shout
81. pointing % trembling finger At Big
Ben. lyon CuUueI any diamond; then
you planted this cigarette holder 50
sou couiL"-
You're q HGrr beloved Big Ben
and sprlug for his uccUscr
A knife cleaned On FLUIDS hand. aud
he sIashcd savagciy az his onrushiug
opponent With roar OF rage Big
Ben caught the descending wrist.
wresteI the weapon from it and pluug
cd &C. 20 the hilr In Flub's breast
There was a piercing shrek from J
rhe attic and "a tearing OF boards. The
woman. quick OF mind as she was OF
body. was the first to comprehend
what that might mean She sprang TO
the ladder hut as she went she cast n
backward glance at the Hfeless man
0u the noor. There was no shudder in
her. only cold triumph.
.Irs a grill she's on the roofr' cried J
the woman as she gained the attic.
lean Jake was the hrst out of the {
door. and Big Ben just after him
They rounded the corner OF the nut /
Just On time 90 see June jump from I
the roof and dart for her boat II was d
the woman who caught her.
let me Eo-' implored June 81 Z
won't teilr'
Those last three words would seal I
her flte 10 the mind OF any murderous Z
thief. Big Ben had caught her roughly q
by the arm. and now he looked in
qulringiy NJ the others fl
Drown her" advised Lean Jake. "a
who was more FUN % fear than thief
should be- "She knows too much " a
All three OF them looked at the wa d
ter. II spread Tar into the marshes. Z,
and n held its secrets well and long s
without work Big Fen swung June n
NJ On hts arms and started with her 20
The waters edge. while she uttered D.
shrek upon shrek
4 shot and then another answered
Iuue's piercing shrieks. and down the 4
channel from the inlet swiftly sped the
little cutter. with Grin Cunningham at
he wheel. revolver in hand.
Hands up" yelled strong voice.
md another shot startled the air OF the 7
marshes. Gilbert Blye.' He stood ny 4
n his racer. and over the wheel bent II
heavy Edwards. his eyes narrowed and
his Thick lips firmly set es
Biz Ben had dropped June at the 81
irst shot and had reached for his re- ~
-olver Lean Jake had dropped DAT Sc