Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-20
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Ronny had left before Lady Appul-
1urcombe was summoned to Grosvenor
place, consequently knew nothing Of
what went forward there, and with yell
verton ran down to Dover and duly
crossed to France that night.
Neither of the men was in particu-
larly good spirits, Ronny being anxious
on his mothers account and Yelverton
On Lesley's, for he thought he under
stood that young woman better than
Ronny did and infinitely better than she
did herself.
And in Yelverton's opinion the whole
thing was n blunder from beginning to
end, and all the exigencies of the case
would have been met by sound horse
whipping in public of Eastwood, as it
was now impossible TO keep Miss Nal
incourt's name ont of the affair
The man who i'll the park had wit
messed the whole affair and refused to
be Dashwood's second had talked, the
other men who had also declined to
back up a man of Dashwood's character
/ "Nuiih,t VI
ed. and no earthly good could come CT
this encounter with a VIGOROUSLY sue
cessful duelist, even if Ronny winged
his man-which seemed unlikely.
| Eastwood had found his second at
last, man of life not moro VIGOROUSLY
evil than his own, but Of lower social
stains. and Yelverton's spirit kicked ut
the whole business. although this had
not hindered his carrying out all az
Engagements with great skill and secrc-
~, SO that when they had dined and
we're about to separate for the night,
There was little more to do than to re-
ceive Ronny's final instructions in case
the worst happened
This is for my mother, said Ronny,
giving Yelverton a letter, "and this
he paused and colored, for love letters
had not been in his linc-''for Miss NAL
incourt."
Yelverton took both letters and put
them away in his breast pocket.
'And Miss Coquctte?" he said. "You
wish her sent down to your cousin?"
), Ronny started
"Of course" he said. "What n brute
was to forget it! And if'-he paused,
I"perhaps i'll that case You'll take the
mare down yourself, Yelverton, and
tell her. Ny mother will be hard upor
her-poor mother. poor little grill She
didn't want to come to town-and non,
of this is her fault. Because she wa.
true to herself, because she was not fac
tie rs the other women are, she made :
deadly enemy Of that reptile"
Yelverton nodded. He felt about al
bad rs man can feel, and without the
relief Of expression. but now he blurted
out:
"And il I had tho remotest chance O
winning such q girl as Miss Malincourt
I'd take jolly good care Of my life-no
throw it away as You are doing now"
"It's odd, said Ronny-''and though
live seen lots Of fighting, I've neve
, been out before-but don't feel rs il
were destined to die by that scoundrel'
hand somehow. Ny luck has brough
me through n good bit hitherto.
"Pluck, you mean," said Yelverton
groaning, ''but pluck and dash and sim
ply never knowing when you are beatel
won't help you much here. The man j
dead shot, and you have had next I
no pistol practice-and remember tina
this is Dashwood's last chance. Hi
final hold as bully in society is lost j
! you come successfully ont Of the encoun
ter."
And now 10 bed. said Rouny cheer
lily, and with - little personal concen
- II he looked On ct z drama that di'
. not in Tie leqatcppesu him