Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-19

to have sent you. Fuel Is very expen-
sive, as you will see. The items for
fruits, too. seem unreasonably large,
but grapes are 81 pound and fresh
vegetables dreadfully expensive.
II meant to thank you for sending
me the revolver and cartridges. 1t
seemed q silly request, but we are in
a rather lonely place. and think Miss
Bond and r feel little safer knowing
that in case of necessity we have some
thing to frighten away any roaming In
truder who might take it into his head
to visit us.
"One thing we must be careful about.
Yesterday Mrs. Ruthven had doll on
my bed, and sat sewing by the win
dow, not noticing what she was doing
until l heard her pretty, pathetic little
laugh.
"And what do you think she had
done9 She had discovered your re-
volver under my pillow, and she had
tied her handkerchief around it and
was using it Us doll!
Il got it away with little persua-
sion, but at times she still asks for her
army doll. saying that boy she
knew named Philip had sent it to her
from Manila, where he was living"
Selwyn read this letter sitting before
the fire in the living room, feet on the
fender, pipe between his teeth. 1t was
the first day of absolute rest he had
had In n long while.
The day before he had been at the
Hook until almost dark, watching the
firing Of big gun. and the results had
been so satisfactory that he was ven
turing to give himself holiday unless
wanted at Edgewater.
He had seen Eileen seldom that win
| ter. When he had seen her their rela-
tons appeared to be as happy, as
! friendly as before. There was no ap-
| parent constraint, nothing from her to
| indicate that she noticed an absence
! for which his continual business with
the government seemed sufficient ex-
kcuse.
| Besides, her days were full days,
consequent upon Nina's goading and
indefatigable activity. Selwyn, unable
longer to fulfill his social obligations,
was being quietly eliminated from the
social scheme of things.
i Gerald in the early days of an affair
with Gladys and before even it had as
sumed the proportions Of an affair had
| shyly come to Selwyn, not for comics.
sion, but with the crafty purpose of
! introducing her name into the CONVEX
sation so that he might have the lux.
; Of fo1 III oil hnr RI
who would neither quiz him nor sus
pect him.
Selwyn, of course. ultimately sus
pected him, but as he never quizzeo
him Gerald continued his elaborate
: system of subterfuges to make hel
personality and doings q topic for hin
, to, expand upon and Selwyn to lister
,, to.
e 1t had amused Selwyn. He though
; Of 1t nova gay memory like a ray O
r light flung for a moment across thu
V somber background Of his own sad
n ness. Fortunate or unfortunate, Ger
i aid was still lucky in his freedom t
6 hazard 1t with chance and fate. Sci
: wyns dull eyes rested upon the ashe
: Of the fire, and he saw his dead youtl
n among them and In the flames hi
| maturity burning to embers.
d If he outlived Alike his life would Ii
$ as the ashes lay at his feet. If she out
e lived him-and they had told hir
: there was every chance of it-at leas
4 he would have something to busy hin
e self with in life If he was to leave he
provided for when he was no longe
g there to stand between her and char
E. ty. AS he lay there in his chair, th
h unlighted pipe dropping in his hand
IN the telephone on the desk rang, an
l. he rose and unlocked the receiver.
mi Drina's voice sounded afar. an
N "Hello, sweetheart" he said gayly. 81
8. there anything l can do for yor
youthful highnessT'
l. 1--WE been talking over the phone
ssn Boots" she said. You know, whel
es ever I have nothing to do l call u
= Boots at his Office and talk to him."
THAT must please him." suggeste
y Selwyn gravely.
y. cit does. Boots says you are N
Il going to business today, SO I thOugl
es I'd call you up"
IL THANK you," said Selwyn.
"You are welcome. What are ye
!, doing over there in Boots house?"
Looking at the fire. Drina, and Il
tening to the purring Of three fat tabl
I cats'
J ooh, mother and Eileen have gol
"a. somewhere. l haven't anything to {
bo for an hour. Can't you come around