Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-20
The Daily
Short Story
HIS PILGRIMAGE.
BY Victor Reicliffe.

how dear she was to him. nev.. :.
gain this peerless jewel Of woman.
kind who could make Of his barr.,
life sweetness and peace!
He was Elwyn Pearce. the most val,
ued of the employees of Wadham. .
Co. She, Naomi Dale. was his stenos-
rapher. the sole support of an inyalia
mother. struggling along to make and.
meet, but she was one of those conr.ss
eous souls battling the world and II.
hardships with a patient, hopefnI
smile
Love had come to him at 30. Thor.
had been reason for five long wears
why he had locked up his true natn,s
jealousy. He had cultivated a -.
serve that shut out intimacy. Naom,
had crossed his path and love seemed
like a food beating at the barriers Of
his resolution.
Il must not, I cannot. tars ,cs
hope or speak the love that she mnst
suspect" he told himself, and felt IN
some way that he must evade the daily
companionship dear to him, but Ger.
tain to become positive torture.
You are going away for two weeks
Mr.. Pearce?" said Naomi Il hope Won
will enjoy good rest"
He WINGED. There was a culver NJ
his lips and then they set cruelty Arm
Had she heard Of the strange vacation
he took annually, always in the mid
die of winter, always coming back
with deepened shadow upon his face
like man who had been upon soma
arduous pilgrimage?
For such it was, pilgrimage-to M
Mecca where his spirit was lifted. hut
on each succeeding occasion more and
more depressed. His was a mission
of penitence, Of suffering, yet bring.
ing no surcease to haunting mem
ory.
His employers often wondered WIN
and where he went. He returned thin
ner and more careworn of face. Thew
did not attempt to fathom the mystery.
however, for never in all his useful
connection with the house had he In
fringed upon business restrictions.
Elwyn Pearce invariably spent his
vacation" always upon the anniver-
sary of the most momentous and
tragic event in his experience. It was
at a river city where his pilgrimage
ended. He would go OF the leading
hotel, leave his rooms in the morning,
return at night and spend his hours in
seclusion.
Had anyone followed him they
would have seen him penetrate the
poorest district of the city. It was
the humble and destitute that
he passed his daylight hours. He
would make diligent inquiry as to
some individual or family in distress
and would hasten to relieve it. This
was his daily method. He would leave
behind him grateful hearts, down.
trodden souls the better for his prac-
teal visitation.
Like a penitent, fasting and praying.
and doing deeds in contrition for some
dark sin, Elwyn Pearce would ment-
ally array a night in the long past
when all the joy and hope of his being
was crushed out. 1t was in this city.
then travelling salesman, that he had
met a fair-haired young man at the
hotel, bound for a commercial CEN
ter, planning to make business con-
nection similar to his own. They liked
one another and Pearce suggested
that they see the town. There was no
idea of riotous time with \ either.
They spent few quiet sightseeing
hours at a theatre and a cabaret Then
young Morton Willis suggested call
at gambling place. Pearce piloted him
thither. In the midst of watching .
game they were startled by the excit-
ed announcement that the police were
below, to raid the place
Follow me-" directed Pearce, hop.
ing to escape the disgrace OF arrest
Somebody upset a stove, there was
fare. and Pearce reached an alley by
means of fire escape.
The whole place was In flames.
When it was consumed 1t was known
that several persons had been trapped.
The next day among some incinerated
remains watch was found bearing
the name Morton Willis"
The young man had left no baggage
at the hotel. All that Pearce knew
about him was his name. Oyerwhelm-
ed with the thought that he had been
The cause of his death by accompany
ing him to the gambling place, Pearce
left the fateful city haunted man.
He returned to work more grave ana
morbid than ever. Naomi met MIN
with an expression in her eyes 30
gentle, so sympathetic that he belles.
ed her womanly nature Recognised
that he had been on pilgrimage OF
sorrow.
81 will end it ALL" he resolved. I
lare not be near this pitying angel
and my sin shuts me out from her
He acted or an impulse. He wouio
cave at once. AS he neared the main
office he noticed man with an open
sample case. He was saying To inc
principal in the firm:
Those goods are the best nave
sver offered for sale, or my name ISL
Norton Willis"
Into the room Pearce fairly nuried
He grasped the visitor o.
both arms. gazed steadfastly into BIS
ace and burst into tears. IL was
alter that he learned that the Natcn
ound in the ruins of the fire had neen
stolen from Willis in the gamDlins
-ooms The latter had escaped ana
promptly proceeded TO shake the duss
II the city of temptation from his WIZ
ng feet.
Then the sonl of Elwyn Pearce lilt
ID, and then-Naomi,