Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-20

IL did 1t must have been excitement
as I'd written half the night and
dreamed desperately the other half
about Potter Parker-dressed like one
of those red Indians they have for
cigar signs in New York-pursuing me
with jeweled tomahawk.
Mr.. Brett had insisted on my tele-
graphing to Sally before we left New
York to say l was coming and asking
her to meet the train; therefore we
We're surprised not to find her at the
station. / was rather anxious, and so,
/ could see, was Mr.. Brett. He thought
/. he had better not drive in q cab with
| me to the friends house where she
was staying. but he told me the name
of hotel where he would go at once
and made me promise that / would
send him line by the cabman to say
whether everything was well with me.
Miss WOODBURY. probably has a
headache or perhaps is out of town for
the day." said he. ut can't be any
thing else. Still shall be little I'M
easy till hear. And you know l hold
myself absolutely at your service"
What about your friend whose bust
ness you've come to attend to-" /
asked. 81 mustn't be so selfish as to
Interfere with that, whatever hap
pens"
"Oh, / can attend to both interests"
he assured me, without neglecting
either. l shan't need to let one inter-
fore with the other. And remember, I
won't stir out of my hotel till I've had
your note"
Bereft of him. Chicago overawed ME
and took my breath away. 1t is good
come straight from England with only
memories of peaceful London to sup
port me through the ordeal, l don't
know but it might have affected my
brain.
1t was long drive, though, and as
had time to calm down l saw that
numbers Of the huge buildings are no.
bly, designed and very magnificent in
decoration, making splendid effect in
spite Of their vast size rather than be-
cause of it. And such shops too
They're like the fairy palaces my
nurse used to tell me about. as big as
whole cities, where you could get any
thing you wanted just by wishing.
At last we stopped before a large
handsome house with a lawn round
it and no fence. The house was stone
in front, but had brick sides, which
gave 1t a queer effect, yet somehow
didn't spoil it, and wherever there
wasn't porch it had broken out il
bow windows.
1 told the cabman to wait and theI
ran up the four or FIVE steps to rins
the front door bell. In a minute
maid came who could have been very
smart looking if she had only worn (,
proper cap.
SIS Miss WOODBURY. stopping here?'
I asked.
"No, she isn't" returned the youn;
woman, with a CLINT of the eye whicl
seemed to say she would perish soone
than call any one Miss"
Are you sure?" / persisted, my hear
preparing for a plunge bootward.
Il guess sO," said the girl with su
perior but not i'll natured smile Ssh
was staying with us, but she went da!
before yesterday. l don't think shell
be back. because she's gone to talk
care of friend who's real sick wa.
back in Ohio somewhere"
"Way back in Ohio somewherev' TIL
words were like a knell for all N.
hopes. l didn't know what was to be
come Of me now.
II am sorry" 1 said. "Do you know
, il a telegram came for Miss Woodburl
yesterday"
eyes, indeed" replied the youn
woman, all in one word, but her fac
frightened. Suddenly she was lookin
at me like long lost friend. 81 CUES
you're expected. Mrs. Hale, that's tn
lady of the house here. sent the tele
gram on, and Miss WOODBURY. tele
graphed back about you. Mrs. Hal
went to meet your train, but may
5 she didn't recognize you or else sh
got caught at the bridge. Anyhow
she hasn't come back yet. I CUES
I you'd better come in. Your room
l all ready for you.''
!. 81 can't do that, though I'm yer
= grateful indeed to Mrs. Hale" sait
l IL have other plans. I'll just scril
: BILE little note to tell her so an
Il thank her, then 1 must CO."
She'll just never forgive me if Il !,
: you," protested the young woman.
!. l began to be little afraid that
:. might be detained by well meant fore
! but when / had written letter to Mr.
1 Hale squeezing Vivace under one ar
> and sitting at desk in a brigh
: charming drawing room where thrt
Persian cats, six japanese spanie
and a number Of birds played abol
u the floor) contrived to persuade tt
hospitable creature that my immed
/ ate departure was practically a ma
ter of life or death.
e So instead of writing my news
l. Mr.. Brett l went back with 1t to hir
like bad penny. He must have bee
surprised when he heard that lac
: was waiting in the drawing room
II his hotel and hurried in to see me 81
ting there. / should have felt reat
} to die if he had looked bored, but
e didn't a bit.
. told him all my adventures al