Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-15
CHAPTER XVII.
o'Neil VeriFies Suspicious.

"N HE locomotive had been switch
Z eel out Ivy tbs time. and O'NeiI
III hurried 10 board it. ON his way
TO Omar he had time thorough
~ TO weigh the results OF this uncx-
pected complication. His present de-
sire was merely 10 verify his suspicion
that Appleton had told his secret TO
Natalie. Beyond that he did not care
to think. for there was hut one course
open
His anger reached the blazing point
after his arrival As he stepped down
from the engine cab Gray silently
handed him code message from Lon
don which had arrived few moments
before. When its contents had been
deciphered O'NeiI cursed. and he was
furious as he stumbled through the
dark toward the green bungalow on
the hill
Swinging around the corner of the
house. be came into a bright radiance
which streamed forth from ELIAS
window. and he could not help seeing
the interior OF IL, room. She was
there. writing bus and he saw that
she was clad in IT, elaborate kimono
which he had given her. Yet il was
not her personal appearance which ar
rested his angry eyes and caused his
step 10 halt: 1t was, instead. her sur
roundings.
He had grown to accept her prim
simplicity as a matter Of course and
never associated her in his thoughts
with anything feminine. but the room
as it lay before him now was a revela-
ton of daintiness and artful decora-
ton Tasteful water colors hung on
the walls. n warm rug was on the floor.
and everywhere were rosy touches of
color The plain white bed had been
transformed into a couch of oriental
luxury. lace spread OF weblike
texture covered 1t: then pillows were
hidden beneath billowing masses OF
ruf1es and ribbons He saw typical
woman's crazy corner piled high with
cushions. There was a jar Of burning
incense sticks near it-everything. in
fact. was utterly at variance with his
notions of the owner Even the girl
herself seemed TRANSPORTED. for her
hair was brought forward around her
face in some loose. mysterious fashion,
which gave her a bewilderingly Girlish
appearance.
O'Neils eyes photographed all this in
a single surprised glance as he passed.
The next moment he was mounting
the steps TO the porch.
Dan flung open the door. but his
words of greeting froze. His smile of
welcome vanished at sight of his
chiefs forbidding visage
Murray was in no mood to waste
words. He began roughly:
Did you tell Miss Gerard that Poult-
ney Ills is backing me-
Dan stammered. i perhaps Il -
What has gone wrong. chief"
Did you tell her the inside-the sto-
~ of his agreement with the steam
boat people,"
Dan paled beneath his tan, but his
eyes met Murray's without finching
Il think l did-teH her something /
dent quite remember But anything
| may have said was in conf
Il thought so. l merely wished to
make certain. Well. the whole thing
is in the papers"
Appleton laid his hand upon the ia
BILE to steady himself
Then 1t didn't come from her She
wouldn't
Gordon has spread the story broad
cast. 1t couldn't have come from any
other source. 1t couldn't have reached
him in any other way. for none of my
boys has breathed a word" His voice
rose despite his effort at self control
Hills agreement was Illegal" he said
savagely. 1T will probably forfeit the
charter of the North Pass or land him
in court | suppose you realize that. l
discovered his secret and assured him
it was safe with me. Now you peddle
IL to Gordon. and the whole thing is
public. Here's the first result" He
shook the London ca bleGram in Dams
face. and his own was distorted with
rage. There was a stir in Eliza room
which neither noticed. Appleton wiped
his face with uncertain hand. He
moistened his lips to say;
lin terribly sorry. But I'm sure
Natalie wouldn't spy. | don't remem
Der what | told her or how l came 70
know about the affair. Doc Gray told
me, | think, in The first excitement,
but-she-wouldn't knowingly
Gordon fred you for talking TOO
much. ] thought you had learned your
lesson, but it seems you hadn't. Don't .
blame Miss Gerard for pumping you
her loyalty belongs to Gordon now. 3
But l require loyalty too. Since you
lack ii you can go.
O'Neil turned as Eliza door open