Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-15

what do You say?
Hagar, who loved the mans unique
, and spontaneous character as only an
| artist can love a subject in which he
sees roval possibilities, consented glad.
! ~, and dropped q cordial hand on the
others shoulder The hand was dragged
down and wrenched back and forth
with a sturdy clasp. in time to roll OF
round, unctuous laughter. Then Baron
took him up hurriedly, and introduced
him to Telford with the words: lyon
two ought to know each other. Telford.
, traveller, officer of the Hudson's Bay
company, ct cetera; Hagar, artist, good
fellow, ct cetera.
Then he drew back and smiled as the
, two men, not shaking hands as he ex.
, pected, bowed, and said they were hap.
py to meet The talk began with the re.
mark by Hagar on the panorama below
/ them, "that the thing was amusing if
not seen too often, but the eternal pad
+, ding round the band stand was too
| much like marionettes.
lyon prefer a Punch and Judy to
! marionettes:' asked Tclford.
eyes, you get human element in .
Punch and Judy tragedy. Besides, it
has surprises, according to the idiosyn-
| Grassy of the man i'll the greenrOom. J"
He smiled Immediately, remembering
that his last words plagiarized Mr.. AL
/ pheus Richmond.
Il never miss Punch and Judy if
I'm near it, said Telford. II enjoy the
| sardonic humor with which Punch hus-
ties Off his victims. His light hearted
ness when doing bloody deeds is the
| true tsrnpcr''
That is, if it must be done, to do it
with grin is
rs the most absolute tragedy
Hagar was astonishCd, for even the
| traders information that Telford spoke
excellent French, and had certainly
been a deal on rcd carpet in his time,
did not prepare him for the sharply in
| cisive words just uttered. Yet it was
not homogeneous with Telford's appear
ance-not even with the red sash peep
ing at the edge of his waistcoat.
They came down among the prone
naders, and Baron being accosted by
some ole. he left the two together, ex-
acting anew the promise from Hagar re-
garding dinner
Presently Hagar looked up, and said
abruptly. You were singing outside
my window last night
TelfOrd' s face was turned away from
him when he began. 1t came slowly to-
ward him. The eyes closed steadily
| with his, there was no excitement, only
cold alertness.
Indeed? What was I singing?''
For one thing, the chant Of the ne.
gro woodcuttcrs of louisiana"
what part of louisiana
''The county of Tellavie chiefly"
TelfOrd drew a long breath, as though
some suspense was over, and then said.
"How did you lllow it was I:''
Il could scarcely tell you. got the
mprcssion-Eesides. you are the only
man I've seen in Herridon who looks
likely to know it and the song which
you prompted.
do look like southerner-still?
You see I've been in an arctic country
five years.
lit is not quite that. / confess can.
not explain it.
II hope you did not think the thing
too bcorish to be pardoned. On the face
of it it was rude to you-and the lady
Also
The circumstance-the coincidence
was SO unusual that did not stop to
think of manners.
''The coincidence what coinci.
dence:" said Telford. watching intent.
~.
But Hagar had himself well in hand.
He showed nothing of his suspicious.
THAT you should be there listening.
and that the song should be one which
no two people. meeting casually, were
likely to know
eve did not meet" said Telford dry
ly.
They watched the crowd for a min.
ute. Presently he added, May 1 ask
the name Of the lady who was singing?'
There was slight pause, then, Ger
tainly-Mrs. Fairfax Detlor."
Though Telford did not stir a muscle
the bronze of his face went grayish,
and he looked straight before him with.
out speaking. At last he said in clear,
steady voice, II knew her once, l think"
II guessed So
Indeed? May ask if Mrs. Detlor
recognized my voice:''
THAT do not know, but the chances
are she did not, if you failed to recog.
uize hers
There was an almost malicious desire
on Hagar's part to play upon this man
this scoundrel, as he believed him to
be-and make him vince still more. A
score Of things to say or do flashed
through his mind, but he gave them up
instantly, remembering that it was his
duty to consider Mrs. Detlor before all
But he did say, If you were old
friends, you will wish to meet her, of
course -
Yes. / have not seen her in many
years. Where is she staying:''
At the Tempe hotel. do not know
whether you intend to call, but would
suggest your not doing so today-that
is, if You wish to sec her and not mere.
~ leave your card-because she has an
engagement this morning, and this aft.
ernoon she is going on an excursion.
Thank you for the generous informa