Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-17

Starkie followed Claire upstairs. with
the poems. which she took care to leave
there when she came down again.
1t was a little hard on Daintree. but
he was now much too happy to be
readily depressed or vexed. His ram
pant spirits sought relief in activity,
and he gallOped off to Sydney to secure
rooms at the Pulteney hotel.
Tom was meantime behind the
scenes. So was Peggy O'Brien, aud
already those keen Irish eyes had seen
more than he thought. for hopeless
love had fitted them with strong lenses,
even as his triumphant suit had blind
ed her master 80 every passion but his
own. The girl had long OWNED that
some other woman stood between her
self aud Tom, and there were more
reasons than might appear for her in
stantly pouUcing upon Miss Harding
as the one.
Peggy was sure that Tom and Dain-
tree must have known each other in
England, or why We're they more Ike
brothers than master and man? Tom
would not tell her. and the Fawcetts
could nor. So Peggy set them down as
two old friends. and what if the friends
had loved the same woman? The idea
occurred to her when she saw Tom
manipulating the cork ship and so
zealously preparing for the bride 1t
was then an idea only. 1t became q
suspicion on the evening of the brides
/ arrival, and Claire was not the only
young woman who lay awake all that
night.
The other had been transported for
q comparatively venial offenSe and had
come through the thick of her ordeal
better woman than most. She is not
| put forward as an average specimen
| of her sex and kind in that colony and
! at that time. The Irishwomen were
| almost invariably the best of a de
| plorable lot. and Peggy was certainly
! not the worst of the IriShwomen. But
| there was evil in her, and passion was
| TO bring it out. as 1t had already
! brought out the good. 4 Callous mal
she could bear with and wait fer ST
long as he was CallOus and cold to all
But to sec and hear him signing fol
another wOman-and that other woman
there on the spot-waS to lash a pa
| tient and single hearted devotion int,
| tumults of jealousy and bitter rage.
The thing CALLED her while it wa
still a suspicion. 1t maddened he
when she knew it for a fact An'
that was when. in the same half min
ute, she met Claire on the stairs il
tears and saw Tom in his pantry wit
his head claspPd tight between hi
hands. Peggy stole away without
word, and there was mischief in ever.
nOiseless step she took.
Her first thought was TO tell Dair
tree. 1t she dismissed on consideratio
and tried mHkiug friends with the Ia
dies maid In order to acquire informG
ton. This young woman, however
could only talk of the fourth office
aboard the Rosamund, and it took Pes
gy half an hour TO discover that sh
had never even seen Miss Harding III
fore the voyage. So she knew nott
ing. and half the morning was gon,
but Peggy was all the more determine
to learn everything before the visitor
left
The masters departure on horse
back at last inspired the way. Tor
in the pantry was still listening to til
Gathering hoOfs when Peggy opene
the door
"Oh, Tom. the masther would like Y
to clane out the boat foS IN when '
can find the time"
Did he say so. Peggy
"Sure, he tould me not to tell We, wi
all the extra work we've got, but h
only wished it could he done"
Then I'll set TO work this minute"
An ye won't be tellin' m l tout
ye?"
{ mo, I'll take all the credit If yO
like" said Tom in voice and with
face which he took no pains TO disc
, pline for Peggy's benefit. Both SUI
ported her theory and hardened her |
her plot. And as he reached the DO;
, shed she was knocking at Miss Har,
/ tng's door.
, "Askin' yer pardon. miss. I think