The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-04
GO ON WITH THE STORY.

Dawes heart warmed 10 this hne
loyalty Bob would do to tie to,
sanders told himself with a rush
Of gratitude None of this feeling
showed in his dry voice.
Thanks, Bob"
Hart knew already that Dave had
come back a changed man. He
had gone in a boy, wild, turbulent,
untamed. He had come out tenn
pered by the fires of experience
and discipline. The steel-gray eyes
we're no longer frank and gentle.
They judged warily and inscrutably.
They arranged an hour of meet
ing at the Delmonico restaurant.
In front of the postoffice Bob met
Joyce Crawford. The young wom-
an had fulfilled the promise of her
Erlhood. AS she moved down the
street, tall and slender, there was
light, joyous reedom in her step.
Miss Joyce" he's here" Bob
said.
"Who-Dave"
Eyes. ma'am, Dave! He's right
here in town Met him half an
hour ago."
when can 1 see him?" she
asked.
Bob looked at his watch. 81 got
an appointment to meet him at
Delmonico's right now"
Joyce was a young woman who
made swift decisions. "I'll go with
you" she said.
Sanders was standing in front
Of the restaurant, but he was faced
in the other direction. His fiat,
muscular back was rigid. In his
attitude was a certain tenseness, as
though his body was a bundle of
steel springs ready to be released.
=Bob's eye travelled Witty past
him to q fat man rolling up the
street on the opposite sidewalk.
Its AID Miller, back from the pen.
l heard he got out this week." he
told the girl in a low voice.
Joyce Crawford felt the blood
ebb from her face. 1t was as
though her heart had been drench-
ed with ice water. What was go
ing to take place between these
men? Were they armed?
She knew that each was reSpon-
sible for the others prison SEN
tence. Sanders had followed the
thieves to Denver and found them
with his horse. The fat crook had
lied Dave into the penitentiary by
swearing that the boy had fired
the first shots. Now they were
meeting for the first time since.
Miller had been drinking. The
sign OF the Delmonico had caught
his eye and he remembered that he
was hungry.
He took one step-and stopped. He
had recognized Sanders. His eyes
narrowed. The head on his short,
red neck was thrust forward.
"Goddlemightyi" he screamed,
and next moment was plucking a
revolver from under his left armpit.
Bob caught Joyce and swept her
behind him, covering her with his
body as best he could At the
same time Sanders plunged for
ward, arrow-straight and swift.
The revolver cracked. 1t spat fire
second time, third. The tiger
man, head low. his whole splendid
BODY vibrant with energy, hurled
himself across the road as though
ne had been flung from a catapuit.
streak of fire ripped through his
shoulder. Another shot doomed
almost simultaneously. He thudded
hard into the fat paunch of the
sunman. They went down together.
The fingers of Dawes left hand |
eosed on the fat wrist of the gam |
pier His other hand tore the re- |
rolVer away from the slack grasp.
me gun rose and fell. Miller went |
INTO unconsciousness without even !
: groan- The corrugated butt of
.ne gun had crashed down on his |
iorehead,
Dizzily Sanders rose. He leaned |
against a telephone pole for sup
port
Are you hurt"' she asked
pave looked at Joyce, wondering |
a. her presence here Hes the !
quietly.
thought was afraid" Her
,oice died away. She felt her
ssnees grow weak. To her this man
Haa appeared to be plunging !
straight to death.
no excitement in him reached the
surface His remarkably steady
Eyes still held their grim hard
.easeness, but otherwise his self
.outroi was perfect. He was abso-
'ulely imperturbable.
he was shootin' wild. Sorry
Sou were here, Miss Crawford"
rs eyes swept the gathering
srowd. You'd better go, don't you
reekon?"
~ Yes You come too, please"
me girls voice broke.
AZ the second corner he stopped,
ss'dently intending to go no far
eaer. III say goodby, for this
.ne I'll want to see Mr.. Craw-
'Oru right soon"
San you come up to see father
onightr
Maybe tomorrow
He'll be anxious TO see you. I
=. an You and Bob to come to din
aer Sunday" 4
Oon,t hardly think Ill be here