Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-24

In on her way to some afternoon af-
fair. nodding unsmiling at Boots.
sHave you been rifiing the pantry,
toof he whispered. "You lack your
usual chromatic symphony"
mo. I'm just very fired. II 1
wasn't physically afraid of Drina I'd
get You to run OF with me-anywhere.
What is that letter. Nina2 For me7"
"It's for Phil. Boots brought It
around. Leave 1t on the library table.
dear, when you go down."
Eileen took the letter and turned
away. A few moments later as she
laid 1t on the library table her eyes
involuntarily noted the superscription.
written In the long, angular, fashions
bic writing Of a woman.
And slowly the inevitable question
took shape within her.
How long she stood there she did
not know, but the points Of her gloved
fingers were still resting on the table
and her gaze was still concentrated on
the envelope when she felt Selwyn's
presence in the room, near, close, and
looked up into his steady eyes-and
knew he loved her.
And suddenly she broke down, for
with his deep gaze in hers the over
wrought specter had fed.
what is itT he made out to say,
managing also to keep his hands of
her where she sat, bowed and culver
, ing by the table.
pa%t,;vc 1;<tlo
J now-nearly over. 1t was that letter
other women writing you-and I-out-
lawed-tongue tied. Don't look at me;
don't wait. IL am going out"
| He went to the window, stood mo-
ment, came back to the table. took his
letter and walked slowly again to the
| window.
After awhile he heard the rustic of
! her gown as she left the room, and a
little later he Strengthened up. passed
| his hand across his tired eyes and,
looking down at the letter in his hand,
! broke the seal.
It was from one of the nurses, Miss
Casson, and shorter than usual:
Mrs. Ruthven Is physically in per-
feet health, but yesterday we noted a
rather startling change in her mental
I! condition. There were. during the day
intervals that seemed perfectly lucid
Once she spoke of Miss Bond as the
other nurse, as though she realized
! something of the conditions surround
ing her. Once. too, she seemed aston
ished when I brought her a doll and
asked me, is there a child here, or Is
it for charity bazaar?'
Later l found her writing letter
at my desk She left 1t unfinished
when she went to drive. mere scrap
I thought it best to inclose it. which
do herewith"
The inclosed he opened:
! "Phil. dear, though have been very
All the rest was only chfld's dream
Of terror"
And that was all, only this scrap
firmly written in the easy flowing hant
he knew so well. He studied it for ,
moment or two, then resumed Mis-
Casson's letter:
= "A man stopped our sleigh yester
Al
Mrs. Rutilven. 1 was trifie worrie,
and replied that any communicated
for Mrs. Ruthven could be sent to me
;, THAT evening two men-gentlemel
apparently-came to the house an,
asked for me. / went down to receiv
them. One was a DR.. Madison; TIL
other said his name was Thomas 3
Hallam. but gave no business address
when 1 found that they had com
without your knowledge and authorit
refused to discuss Mrs. Ruthven'
condition. and the one who said hi
name was Hallam spoke rather pei
emptorily and in way that made m
think he might be lawyer.
''They got nothing out Of me, an
they left when l made it plain that
had nothing to tell them.
IT thought it best to let you knoy
: about this. though l personally canno
guess what 1t might mean"
Selwyn turned the page:
"One other matter worries Mis-
Bond and myself. The revolver 70
sent us at my request has disappear
ed. We are nearly sure Mrs. Ruthve
has it-you know she once dressed
as doll, calling 1t her army doll-bu
now we can't find It. She has hidde
1t somewhere-out Of doors In til
shrubbery, We think-and Miss Bon
! and l expect to secure it the next tim
ssTn a Rad Wav.o