The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-28

scene, and during those two years
the bride was enabled to provide
for her younger sister, remove her
by law from the hands of their
guardian and have her completely
cured of the physical disability
which had crippled her. In return
the younger sister adored her pas
sionately with a single-hearted de-
votion which bore fruit in later
years
: when the woman known to all
of you but one as Mrs. Vane' elop-
ed with the husband of the older
sister 1t broke her heart and de-
stroyed her mind She died within
the year and when her husband
heard OF it he shot himself in re-
morse; the cartridge shell from
that shot was found among the So
called Mrs. Vane's effects a few
days ago.
In the meantime, however. she
had found her husband again, sue
! ceeded by ruse in making circum-
stances appear in the eyes of the
law as though he had condoned her
/ unfaithfulness, and has been black
mailing him ever since, playing
with fire but never again permit
ting herself to be burned, since it
would mean the loss of her in
/ come.
She may have almost forgotten
that first mad escapade, but she
reckoned without that little sister
of the girl-wife whose life she had
brought down to the grave
she was plentifully supplied
with money and the little sister was
poor, with her own living to make
while she pursued her search, but
she continued it for seven years,
and then the long arm of coinci-
dence stepped in and placed her
enemy within her reach. Only two
things puzzle me; when she first
knew that Mrs. Vane was Miriam
Griswold, and what became of the
small pistol with which she fired
from the fire escape through the
bull's-eye which she had previously
marked upon the canvas of the por-
trait. straight into Mrs. Vane's
heart-Can you tell US, Miss Bar
rowS?"
| He turned abruptly to the small
figure of Miss Shaw, but this time
she did not shrink, nor was there
the slightest surprise nor hesitation
as she replied:
Yes, the pistol is here. i knew
that Professor Semyonov's apart
ment was the only one in the
building which would be exempt
from search, so while he was
downstairs with you, Sergeant
Barry, before Sergeant Craig came
up l slipped in here-the door had
been left open-and dropped the
pistol behind that pile of violin
music. 1 could see it hadn't been
touched for months"
| 1T is nearly month since" the
young woman went on, going out
late one evening / passed Mrs.
Vane's door and heard her in a
heated discussion with Mr.. Girls
void. OF course 1 knew who he
was from the day he came here
to live so 1 stopped and listened.
She was making a demand fol-
more money and soon heard
enough to tell me that my search
was finally ended. I had speak
ing acquaintance with her already
and a week after that night / man.
dSou " nave hCA Liz AAASO ASA
studio.
81 watched he as she sat upon
her stool, pointing, saw that her
breast was on q level with the
third step OF the stairs in the por-
trait and, getting behind it. marked
the spot on the canvas with a bit
of red paint. You see, I'd planned
during that week just what 1
should do; 1 knew that she often
worked at night and I only await
ed my opportunity"
She nodded and even smiled
slightly at Craig, who stood awk-
wardly dangling in his huge hands
the tiny pistol he had retrieved
! from beneath the dusty heap OF
music.
That's what I did it with; I've
carried it for seven years, but I'm
finished with it now"
/ What made you go down again
afterwards, MissT' Craig evidently
| felt that something was expected
of him. 81 mean when the medical