Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-12

Gwynne street shop for the
MSUfV next few days, much as he
QasazD wanted to do so. call at
the office of penny weekly had result
ed in the return of three stories as
being too long and not the sort re-
quired. But the editor. in a hasty in
terview. admitted that he liked PauTs
work and would give him Is for a
tale written on certain lines likely to
be popular with the public. Paul did
not care to set forth another persons
ideas. especially as these were old
and very sensational. but as he re-
quired money he set to work and la
bored to produce what would bring
him in the cash. He made several at
tempts before he reached the editor
level, which was low rather than high.
and succeeded in getting the tale ac-
cepted. With three golden pounds in
his pocket and exultation in his heart.
for every success seemed to bring him
nearer to Sylvia. Paul returned to his
aerial castle and found waiting for
him letter from his mother.
1t was written in a low spirited sort
of way, characteristic of Mrs. Beecot
but with true motherly heart. After
two pages of lamentation over his alb
sence and a description of how the
head of the household managed to bear
up against the afIliCtion of his SON.
absence. Mrs. Beecot proceeded to ex-
plain about the brooch.
why do you ask me about the opal
brooch. my dear boy?' wrote Mrs. Bee
cot in her scratchy handwriting. "a!l
l know is that your father bought 1t
out of a pawnbroker's shop in StOwley
which Is some town in the mid,ands
Your father was travelling there and
saw the brooch by chance. As l al
ways thought opals unlucky he was
anxious TO make me see the folly OF
such superstition. so he bought the
brooch and took it away with him
Afterward. | believe. he received q
letter from the pawnbroker saying
that his assistant had sold the brOocS
by mistake: that the time for redeem
ing it had not run out when your ia
Their bought 1t. The pawnbroker asked
that the brooch might be returned and
wanted to pay back the money. But
you know what your father IS He re
fused at once to give back the brooch
and insisted on my wearing it. | haC
a bad fall while wearing it and thel
was thrown out of that high doGcar
your father would Insist OH driving
am sure the brooch or the stones arr
unlucky. and as after a time your ia
Their forgot all about 1t | let it lie II
ms jewel case. For. years | had no
worn it, and as | think it Is un!uck.
and as you need money, my darling
boy. hope you will sell it. There i
no need to pawn 1t. as you say. neye
want to see the brooch again. But re
garding your health" etc.
There was nothing IN the letter I
explain Norman's faint 1t was Gel
talnIy strange that the pawnbroke
from whom the brooch had been orig
inally purchased should have demand
ed it back. and the excuse give
seemed rather weak one, Howeve
Paul did not waste time in thinkin
over this, but resolved to tell Aaro
what his mother had said.
lie IeCGtNCu t"O AClttlS ItOi
Sylvia. mentioning, among othe
things. that her father, now quite wei
was asking after Paul and urging hil
10 come and see him. My father NJ
pears to have fancy for you" wrot
Sylvia, 80 if you are very nice. 6
nice as you can be, perhaps he won
be very angry if you tell him we al
engaged" There was much more
the same effect, which Paul though
good advice, and he intended to ado
the same. 1t was necessary that
should tell Aaron of his love If thin,
were to be conducted in q straightfo
ward and honorable manner. Al
Paul had no desire to conduct the
otherwise.
Having made up his mind to s.
Aaron again, Paul bethought himsC
of GreXon Hay. So Beecot wrote
Grexon Hay at his Camden Hill char
Der and told him he intended to go
Gwynne street on u certain day at
certain time. To this GreXon respon
ed by saying that he was at Pau
service and would come, especially
he wanted to see Dulcinea of Gwyn
street.
The man about town duly made l
appearance to the very minute. II +;
ways keep appointments" he explain
when Paul congratulated him on |
pulctuality; there's nothing ammo
me SO much as to be kept waiting,
Invariably practice what l preat
Wnll paul how ic DuIpinan of Gwyn
streetT'
''She is very we'll" replied Paul, w