Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-17
THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER l7 195

he noASA AA9A1AALs
: government sneak who had spoiled
his sport He would make Crawford
regret the day be had uaeddled with
him.
He looked at his watch.
Eleven O'Clock. He ought 70 be here
now, unless the lake Was too rough
He peered up at the SKI, blue as
robins egg.
And then the door opened
"Ha.' said smead with satisfaction.
"How's the Leg"
Better. I've cut ont whisky for two
weeks"
81 told you to. Well. everything on
nav side runs Ike ciockwork. III have
Crawford cut Of the way in night or
trio. Now what's your newsT
THE steamer makes Quebec day
after tomorrow; perhaps tomorrow
night. 9en trust that agent Of yours
The son laughed Not IN inch.
Something better than that. Fear. He
knows ne: false move means prison. ="
Smead nodded approvingiy.
The right idea. Now listen. Don't
20 fooling around the water In the
morning. That's the time I'll wire you.
May send d night message haven't
asked you how you got your hands on
these things"
Don't. 1 shouldn't tell you"
AN right" amiably. Il agreed to
back the game for third. That's
enough for me. You've got head on
you. But don't forget that Crawford
may have done some advising"
IAN due to you If you hadn' t
dropped In he'd never dreamed Of any
thing off color. But what's the use OF
arguing with you?"
NO use whatever. At best he'll never
tumble-he'll only worry and wonder.
I'd give ten thousand to break him"
You can break him physically, il
you want to"
Whats the good Of that? know
his breed. You don't break that sort
physically. You break him socially"
MY words. But there's fine chance
Of that. / tell you there wasn't SCRAP
of paper as big as a postage stamp thai
/ did not go over"
( Smead took from his pocket a news
! paper clipping. He passed it over tt
his son.
+ "Ah"
'You never told me about that"
"Why should | have told you? NJ
! affair that" The young man laughed
Good pupil, though. What
! Toy said Smead, what I've don,
has been for the lore Of the sport"
| All indeed, It was Just the love o
sport that made you teach me how I,
( rifle Il cold deck, mark an ace with III,
/ thumb nail and all that--tust love o
sport"
You'll land hard one Of these days
Don"
Surprising I do? But perhaps
( shant. Maybe m going to turn owe
n new leaf, hunt up new country ans
live straight under another name Tn
son eyed his father. Smead's fac
bored into his.
Go your way. where you Ike an;
when But I'm hanged If you ever Ia.
hand on my pile when I'm done for,
That's tough luck! But would yol
like to know what Id do with It if yoj
left it to me? I'd giye it to orphan
asylums, old ladies homes and bospi
tals-the places you've helped TO I'LL
Smead drew In a long breath slowly
What did you do with those emer
aIds-the real stones for which yor
substituted the paste: I'll tell 20
this. my lad--I never pIucked anythin
but fat gulls / never took a dolla
from a woman
You thought you were going t
when you married the mother
A chalky pallor overlaid the tan o.
the sons face. Who knows what 20
have done:" He stepped e'ose.
With amazing suddenness the grea
powerful hands of the seated ma
reached out and caught the young ma
by the wrists, whirling him to hi
knees.
With his face but a hands spa
away he said You puppy, stir and L
break your wrists. so help me. Try t
I come it over me with your tongue, eli
Thought because can only no
! around on one leg I'm something t
stick pins in? What the devils &c
into you3'
IN Smead's heart there was admire
ton for the nerve of the boy-not
flicker Of the eye. nor did the lips eve
stir.
Too strong for you, eb7'
IN admit that. You were 10
strong for the mother. I've been thinl
ing about her of late"
Leave your mother out of this cor
versation."
Can you forget herr" painted the boy
'You were only six when she died.
six. That may be. but there wer
FIVE years Of terror crowded into eac
Of them. IL you twist any furtht
you'll break the right one. and IL 70
do I'll kill you later on"
Smead flung him aside
The bog got up. brushed his clothes
rubbed his wrists and wiped the swes