Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-14

gentle hand.
Boroday had been free for three
days, but beyond telephone message
announcing his release she had heard
nothing Of him. Over the wire he had
advised extreme caution. She Judged
from that that things were not going
well.
She knew that Hufr's reckless crime
would demand a seapegoat. There
were bound to be arrests. All this
Elinor knew quita well. It was In such
an atmosphere that she had drawn her
earliest breaths-the play of cunning
against cunning, wit against wit.
She did not send for Boroday. She
dared not. But because the intimacy
between her and the middle-aged Rus
sian had always been very close, he
seemed to feel her need. And so. on
that Wednesday night, an hour or SO
after midnight he came.
Old Henriette came down and
tapped softly at Ellnor's door.
"Boroday,' she whispered. "He has
rung from the aTDoF+
That was one of old Hilary's de-
vices: g hidden wire from the arhor
to the house. 1t prevented collisions.
Unless otherwise summoned. no men,
Der Of his band ever came directly to
the house.
Elinor went out and found him
there. He bent over her hand and
kissed IT, as was his custom, and then,
realizing that she was crying, he held
out his arms and she went into them.
Very tender was the Russian with her
that night, very fatherly. He put her
into one of the arbor seats and sat
down beside her.
NOW tell me- he commanded,
everything from the start, 1t was
Walter, I know. But why?"
When she did not speak, the Rus
sian nodded.
Jealousy, of course, but what mad
nessr'
There in the arbor, with her hand
/ between two of his. Elinor sObbed out
the story Of the pearl and her attempt
to return it, HufHs threat against
Ward, Wards evening visit, and the
/ scene between them; and last of all.
the shot that had nearly ended every
thing IN this world for Ward and for
her. Boroday listened quietly; better
than old Hilary ever could. he under
stood. He had been reared on an an
Client faith.
'He Is recoveringg"
eyes"
/ sand he cares for You, Of coursef"
"No. L think, perhaps, before he
knew"
Bah" said the Russian, ana rose
''What sort of love is that which
changes? 1 have seen the man. II he
cared at all, he still cares"
He stepped to the door Of the arhol
and drew a long breath. Over on the
next hill, sleeping through all this tur
mol. lay old Hilary. Under these sans
stars Huff fed the law, Ward tossed
, on his bed, Ellnor sat despairing an{
ashamed. What did 1t all mean2 VIVA
. was the answer?
J Perhaps, had he known Il, old Hen
riette could have told hlm-Henriette
who had begun to measure her day
| from the end and not from the begin
= ming. and who now sat on the edge o
her bed mumbling. Between her fin
3 gers she ran the beads of an oil
I rosary which she had found beneatl
t a carpet.
81 had thought" said Elinor wistful
2 ly, that if I could get away somewher
r and start all over again, perhaps som
e day might be good-like other won
g en-. I can never go back toe things q
t they were before"
NO." said the Russian, II can Sc
+ that. But make no mistake. You ar
e good as few are goods
!. II could sell the house and--and
r do not want the jewels. If only 20
and the others would divide them"
= But Boroday would not hear of Thu
v To q certain extent he was reconcile
to her going away. Things were clo'
T ing In on the band. Before long the
d would probably all have to separate.
were better that Elinor be in safety
Y So for a long time they discusse
e ways and means, available money, III
Y question of home for old Henriefte.
n "Iu some ways" Elinor said, II fe
n as though 1 am deserving him" 81
n glanced toward the graveyard whel
old Hilary slept. But all I can thin
IS of now is to get away, to forget ever
s thing"
d when viii they be able to move N
Re Ward?"
e In a week, I should think"
ID "Then, in a week" said Boroda
l. ''where do you think of going. Ellnor
Il had hardly got so far. Anywhe
* but here
1--WE shall have to plan for you"
r. He picked up his soft hat and E
Of nor rose.
III Good night, Elinor."
IS Good night. I am always happi
IN Tor having seen you"
n He watched her back to the hous
IN then went down the steps into I
Is, road.
IL There had been a dinner at t
he country club that night The chief b
attended it, unknown to hostess n
10 guests, 10 the extent of sitting In t
lie grillroom during the evening and cal
ed fully watching the men who came a
Il