Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-08-06


turned the conversation on birds.
II saw you looking at bird in '
tree" she remarked. "as l approached.
Did you make out its genus?'
Bird? What bird? l was looking at .
a white flag upon the ledge. 1t indi- |
Gates a bear trap"
81 suppose you don't know anything ,
about birds:" she said archly.
Certainly not
HIN! Sometimes it is convenient |
to remain incOS."
Mr. Stevenson stopped and looked |
the lady full in the face. How in the |
world did you know that?" he asked.
"Oh. little bird told me-"
"A little bird up in tree?"
"Yes."
''That I'm up tree?'
Miss Cumbuton chuckled.
Are you doing the mountains in
cog. ?" he asked.
It was Miss Cumbuton's turn to look
serious. why, 1 suppose L am hest
tatingly.
"For what purpOse"'
"Tell me your purpose and I'll tell
you mine"
81? Oh, I'm a big gun. and If all
these people about here should know
who I am they'd overrun me with at
tention. Now for your reason"
ooh, Tm-I'm trying to escape an
engagement"
She chucllled again, and so did her
companion.
~ supposed" said Stevenson. that
people of your profession sought en-
gagements."
"Ifp profession! What is my profess
sion?"
Threading boards"
Threading boards. What's that?'
"What do you think my occupation
tsp
Yours? Why, you are an ornitholo-
gist"
Mr.. Stevenson looked at her inquir-
ingly. would you mind giving me
| that word again."
"Ornitnologist," she repeated, de
lighted with his pretense of ignorance.
He had never heard the word in his life
"Oh, / Observation-Disclosures kind
of monkey. l saw one in menag-
erie once
Miss Cumbuton laughed and said to
herself, isn't he delightful"'
| At that moment the tete-a-tete was
| interrupted by party from Miss Cum
butOn's hotel, who dragged her away
| with then-against her will-for a walk
to the falls.
That evening Stevenson sought her
at her hotel, and they passed much of
the evening together, continuing their
banter. Neither of them kept the Sc
cret of the others prominence, and
the next day Stevenson was requested
to give lecture on birds, while Miss
Cumbuton was urged to give read
ing Both declined, and both stimuli
taneouSly left the mountains. They
were astonished to meet ut the station.
''Why did you tell people l was an
actress?" asked the lady Indignantly.
''They won't believe I'm not and have
given me no end of trouble"
why did you tell them that l was
an-an ornithorhynchus?'
"T didn't" She laughed in spite OF
herself.
Come" she said when they were
seated in the train, Tets confess. Why
; are you here incog?"
That's a womans way of confess
ing. What are you here for?'
I "As I said, to escape an engage
ment A certain person wants me t
: marry him. don't want to do it,
Q That's funny. A certain woman
2 wants me to marry her. came to the
mountains to get rid of her.
what blunderr'
"a double blunderv'
This was the beginning Of It. Tht
new acquaintances, each of whom wa!
trying to get rid of lover, seemed t,
seek protection in each others com
pany. After awhile newspaper print
ed an item that a breach of promis,
: case against prominent clubman hat
{ been settled out Of court Then re
Il ligious paper published another item
i stating that Miss Cumbuton had Civ
/ | en- up the mission field to reform
2 prominent clubman.
FLORENCE NORTON.