Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-01


None Of your business
"Ah. I see.s banteringly. He knows
you."
smead left the table without hi.
usual cup OF cof g.
He felt harassed, like a rat driven
into a corner. Why had he stopped
ike a yokel and given the old man
the opportunity? Ali right, he thought
grlnlv. Let him smile. That smile
would never balance the hurt be
tsmeadl had given.
"Fagin, watch him carefully tonight
He NAV take It into his head to
rough il"
why not? Getting tender, Donny%'
NO, Fagin. but I'm rather sick OF
the whole business. Things have turn
ed up unexpectedly. Sick at heart, II
you want TO know the truth, over the
past. over the future. Id like to have
a whack at living straight, doing hon
est work If they'd let me, South
America or South Africa. where they
don't know me. Fagin. I'm Smead s
son"
FaFn had ordered coffee, but he for
got 10 drink It.
An accomplished rogue who did NOT
want to be a rogue any longer.
A year ago nothing had worried him.
Money had come easily. At war with
society, but at peace with himself
| And now this unaccountable upheaval
/ IN his soul Had the sight Of Diana
| set it In motion? Diana, straight and
/ honest as light. brave as the morn
| ing. Might it not be the constant
| thought Of some one else whom be
! had wronged carelessly2
/ A blind, cowardly rage had drawn
him into this coil. Could he walk
straight with all these ghosts trooping
/ beside him? Like father, like son--was
! that to be TIL the end Of the chapter
+ To break her spirit. TO humble her
| pride-as II a woman like she was
would ever surrender to coercion. He
/ found himself at the farmhouse door.
! He knocked,
Miss WynneT' he inquired.
"Sbe is waiting in the parlor. sir.
/ This way"
+ He entered the room. knowing that
! lie was beaten.
She was as beautiful as Palmer Vec-
cbios Santa Barbara With all his
! petty villainies, his makeshifts, his fol
lies. one thing always burned clearly
and purely in his heart-his love for
this young woman who was gazing at
him with critical, unfriendly eyes.
You sent for NE, DIP
Yes" crisply. II want Mr.. Gran
ford liberated at once. I am the per.
son who is responsible for your present
embarrassment
You. Di?' He was genuinely aston
ished
Myself. For a long time have been
in the secret service. l usually pose as
q stewardess on the north Atlantic
liners. / was sent for by one whom
we both know and told what had taken
place. ] gave my word that you should
! not succeed. A sneak's business I be
lieve you call It" with an ironica
smile Your exploits have been of tht
daredevil kind. all save this last one
You had courage. 1t was great sport
really believe you never stopped tc
look deeply into the things you have
done. But this was base and low and
despicable.'
SO 1t was. d." calmly. but quite
like me"
She started and shot him a puzzler
glance
Nature he went on, sis the great
est usurer OF them all. Think of what
she charges On the loan Of a sinai
folly. And I am terribly in debt Il
her Don't look puzzled, Di 1t ism
banter. You have beaten me Doubt
less you have them. If that is tn,
case I'm rather glad Of it, Give then
back to her Tell her the rogue /,
sorry-sorry that he ever crossed he
path-from the very bottom Of hi
soul"
Her eyes grew wider and wider.
I'll go out and release Crawford. HI
fooled us neatly, / never dreamed tina
you were in this. You're 4 wonder
ful young woman. Tomorrow-Souti
America. Di, I've been Smead's son
Michael Smead's. A rare handicap
I'm not whining What's done can
be undone."
IF could only believe you" breath
lessly.
There you area liar and a rogue
Who'd believe him? Wolf! Wolf, To
| many times I've cried it. Now no on
hears"
Frances Diana called
The young man lay back against tn
wall, his hands clutching at IT,
The door at the far side of the frs
place opened, and she who was Gale
| Frances entered quietly.
| She was white. but not more so tina
the man who stared at her. A tahleau
| in which each poser heard nothing but
the thunder of the heart. The youns
man was first TO find his speech.
"Dl. l marvel at your completeness
| Can you forgive me? II you could
only have seen into my mind I never
dreamed-I was selfish and thought
: less-what that house might mean Il
you. was where ! had always lived
Can't you see: I was like jar in s
| potter's oyen-mud buried"
Don, you were the 6rst human be
ing | ever loved. / made you out a
fairy prince, all nv own. And vor