Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-23
lMOING THROUGH
vi .. A GAS TILE.
IOriginal.l


girl In England. These old baronial
seats are splendid"
"But you won't be admitted. The
castle is not open to visitors"
II can try"
She left the party over their luncheon
at the Kings Arms and with the indie
pendence of i true American girl
walked n short distance TO the en-
trance of the castle. 1t was one of the
Oldest in England and was protected
by moat, drawbridge and port
culIis. She stood near the end of the
drawbridge peering wistfuIly in
through the great arched gateway. A
man In riding boots. corduroy trousers,
spurs, n whip in his hand, short box
coat of dun color and u derby hat
came out, crossed the drawbridge and
was about to pass her, a dozen feet
away.
"Is the castle open to visltors?" she
asked
The man stopped and raised his hand
to his hat deferentially. He lifted 1t
slightly. which surprised her. as serv-
ants usually salute by a touch.
Not at present" he said, replying
to her question.
''Oh, dear, l am so disappointed! 1
have come all the way from America
to see IT."
This particular castle"
"All of them. These English castles
are more interesting to me than any
thing in Europe"
The man pulled n watch from his
vest pocket, glanced 1T its face, re-
turned it and said:
IF you will come with me, 1 will
show you over the place.
You? Have you authority to take
in visitors when the public are not ad-
mitted?'
81 have"
''And his grace the duke will not be
offended?"
Anything 1 do goes with the duke.
He is very good natured."
The man turned, and she walked
with him.
You are in his serviceT'
mo"
They passed over the drawbridge
and under the archway.
'This masonry is Norman" said the
man, land was put up nine centuries
ago by Hugh
Mine hundred years old! Just think
of it! Is all the castle as old as that?"
1.-THE square tower over there is. 1t
was built at the same time. The other
parts were erected from time to time,
the last feudal building having been
erected IL 1925. That part of the wall
across the quadrangle was preached
by Cromwelrs men. You can see where
the idiots repaired It with different
stone
"The idiots! Do you think his grace
would like to hear you speak so disre-
spectfully of his ancestOrsT'
ooh, the duke is very much dissatis-
fed with many things his ancestors
have done. just as 1 am
us he so much wiser than they?
Doesn't their blood flow in his veinsT
1.-THE next time he makes a guy Of
himself I'll put it to him that way"
'YOu must be on singularly cOnfiden-
tial terms with your master"
My master. Why, the man can't
even control himself"
''What are his especial vices?"
'If you wish me TO employ the limit
ed time at our disposal IN cataloguing
his vices, 1 will do so, but 1 would
rather show you his castle"
''You are right. Go on"
''This building, in the very center of
the Enclosure, was erected during the
reign of Elizabeth. 1t is a useless edi-
flee, very much in the way, and should
be torn down.
THAT would be pity, but if it is in
the way why doesn't the present duke
tear it down?"
'Indecision is one of his vices"
1.-THE place doesn't seem well kept
up. Many of the buildings have
tumbledown appearance"
That's because the money has all
gone out of the family. There is but
one way for the owners of these run
down estates to repair and keep them
up. That is to marry a fortune. The
duke has no points to recommend him
to the fair sex Such a match would
be impossible for him.
rs he young?"
"About my age"
''And good loOking?'
mo better looking than 1 am"
BY this time they had reached the
postern. She took out her purse.
Were not allowed to take money
for showing the old trap" said the
man.
1.-The old trap! Well, tell the duke
he had better go to America for wife
to help him restore his castle. 1 don't
know but 1 would take the contract
myself"
"Have you the means"
Eyes, and plenty to spare"
'You stop
''At the Kings Arms"
'I'n inform his grace of the oppor-
tunity."
eff you do, I'll deny ever having said
such a thing"
"He has the same confidence in me
rs in his own ears"
She walked back to the Kings Arms
and told the rest of her party how she