Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-18

|
wise from writing note which might
prove q most disastrous folly. Time
and circumstance could be his only
friends, and lie was accustomed to the
whims of both. He read of the dinners
and entertainments given by the Ca
bles and smiled grimly. Time had
worked wonders for them. Scandal,
he knew, could undo all that ambition
and pride had wrought. He could well
afford to wait.
However, he did not have long to
wait, for his opportunity came one
night in Hooley's theater. Graydon
and he occupied seats in the orchestra
near the stage and not far from the
lower right hand boxes. 1t was during
the busy Christmas holidays, but the
star was of sufficient consequence to
pack the house. The audience was no
end of fashionable one. Time and
again some strange influence drew his
gaze to the gay party in one of the
lower boxes. The face of the woman
nearest to him was not visible, but the
two girls who sat forward turned oc-
casionally to look over the audience,
and he saw that they were pretty, one
exceptionally So One of the men was
gray haired and strong featured: the
others We're quite too Insignificant to
| be of interest to him. The woman
whose back he could see did not lool,
out over the audience. Her indiffer-
ence was so marked that it seemed de-
| liberate
| 4 In of h. fnI4 l,o% hn~
upon him. He turned quickly. True
enough, for with lips slightly parted.
her whole attitude suggestive of in
tense restraint. Mrs Cable was staring
hclplessly into the eyes of the man
who could destroy her with word.
The one thing that flashed through
Bansemer's brain was the realization
| that she was far more beautiful than
he had expected her to be. There was
a truly aristocratic loneliness in the
rather piquant face. and she undenia,
bly, possessed manner" Maturity had
| improved her vastly. he confessed,
with strange exultation: age had been
kinder than youth. He forgot the play
seldom taking his eyes from the back
which again had been turned to him
| Calculating. la reached the conclusion
that she was not more than forty years
of age. More than once he made some
remark to his son, only to surprise tina;
young man glancing surreptitiously al
the face of the more beautiful of the
two girls. Even in this early stage
James Bansemer began to gloat ovel
the beauty of this new found old &C
quaintance.
In the lobby of the theater as they
were leaving he deliberately dotted hi;
hat and extended Il pleasant hand tC
the wife of David Cable. She turned
deathly pale, and there was a startled
piteous look in her eyes that convinced
him beyond all shadow of a doubt
There was nothing for her to do but
introduce him to her husband. Two
minutes later Graydon Bansemer and
Jane Gable. strangers until then, were
asking each other how they liked the
play, and Fate was at work.
y few weeks after this scene at the
thcater young Mr.. Bansemer dashed
entered his fathers Office just as Elias
| DFOOH was CLOSING up.
where's the governor, Mr. broom p
he asked, deliberately brushing pas
the old clerk in the outer office.
Left some time ago" replied broom
somewhat ungraciously, his blue eye:
staring past the young man with {
steadiness that suggested reproach be
! cause ne was out of the direct line OF
vision. 1T is nearly o'clock. He:
never here after B."
Il know that he | asked you if yol
knew of his Whereabouts. Do you-o
not?" The self confident, athletic
youth did not stand in physical awe O.
the clerk.
NO" was the simple and suticien
answer.
well, then, I'm off," said Graydo1
a trifle less airily.
Droom's overcoat was on and button
ell up to his chin. His long feet wer'
encased in rubbers of enormous siz'
I and uncertain age There must hav,
been no blood in the veins of this grin
old man. for the weather was far from
cold, and the streets were surprisingl.
dry for Chicago.
Il am closing the Office for the day,
said broom. For no apparent reason
a smile spread over the lower part o
his face, and Graydon, bold as he was
turned his eyes away.
Il thought I'd stop in and pick u
the governor for a ride home in IN.
r MOTOR" said he, turning to the door.
: Yours is one of the first out here,
q suppose" came from the thin lips o
/. the old clerk
{ GraydOn laughed.
4 Possibly. The company charges
: nickel a ride, half dime. Coin
e down, sir?" GraydOn had rung 70
G the elevator and was waiting in from
v of the grating.
S A look containing a curious CON
/ pound of affectionate reproach and
s certain senile qualification at bein
e made the object of the boys condo
b scending raillery crossed Droom's cour
e tenance. Without. however. answerin
: VKY~ Co11