Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-29

Il
self as the count left the house, and
for the next few hours her face wore
an expression that ought to have put
my lady on her guard, but didn't.
She was so mild and gentle and af-
fectionate and she seemed so far from
any sort of plot that she
could have asked for raise OF salary
and got 1t on the spot. As she didn't
ask, it was not Offered.
Neither did my lac tiink it best
to tell her that she we2ll soon be out
of a place. That was another thing |
the count had suggested-the very last
thing as he was leaving the house
that as soon as the marriage took place
Perkins could go hang. My lady sim
ply patted her faithful servant and |
companion ON the back and said that |
she should miss her when>she died.
The day on which my lady was to
begin her yachting trip dawned auspi-
ciously. She had looked into her heart. |
She had felt the stir and flutter of love
and romance. She had heard that one
lady had said that she was old enough
to be the counts grandmother.
She looked into her glass and indig-
nantly repudiated the SANDER. Not
gray hair in her head; not wrinkle on
her face; not a wabble to her knees as
she stood there and felt how good it
was to be young again. Even her
worst enemy must have been forced
to admit that day the complexion just
finished by Perkins was a three-A
brand, and that the movements of the
litheness of girlhoOd.
After the midday lunch she became
petulant and nervous and finally drove
Perkins away to sit by herself. She
thus secured an interval in which to
pack small trunk with the things she
would need aboard the yacht At the
dinner hour she had the meal served
in her rooms. She ate sparingly, but
drank rather more than usual of her
favorite brand of wine. 1t is needless
to add that the bottle passed through
the hands of Perkins before taking its
place on the table.
Half an hour after dinner my lady
felt drowsy and retired for nap. She
could sleep for two or three hours and
then have plenty of time to turn the
key on the unsuspecting Perkins.
Her puffs were laid aside for the
nonce, her complexion secured against
accident, and she laid her head on the
pillow and fell asleep like tired child
| or a grandmother. However, when
| the count drove up soon after 10
| o'clock he found my lady ready aud
waiting, and the drive to the quay was
| quickly made.
En- route he wanted to inquire il
there had been much trouble in dis
| posing of the watchdog, but as his
| companion seemed disinclined for con-
| yersation he decided to let the point
stand over until later. They went on
board the yacht at once, and my lady
was handed over to the care of the
! stewardess. She might have inquired
aboard yet, but she didn't. She didn't
i seem to care.
The count and the captain had had
| their morning cocktails and were hun
grily awaiting the appearance of my
lady and breakfast, when she sailed
into the cabin after night of sleep
broken at intervals by chuckles tina,
seemed to chuckle Of their own ac
cord.
She had smile of serenity on bel
face, and she sat down to the table
with "a good appetite. The captain
dotted his cap and made his bow. The
count started to do the same thing, but
caught his breath and then yelled.
1t was Perkins-Perkins-t the jewel
Perkins the neutrality-suspicious. the al
around best ever. She was calm Sh,
was tranquil. She was very much a
home.
She excused the absence of my lad,
on the grounds of very pressing ep
Sagement and promised. as her sub
stitute, to enjoy every hour of the tril
so kindly planned and so auspiciousl,
begun.
1t was breakfast with firecracker
and Roman candles tied to it, Ever,
minute or two there was a snappin
and cracking, and every minute o
two something would go off. Th
: count cursed and raved and tore hi
hair, the captain grinned and chuck
led and Perkins said she hadn't en-
joyed breakfast so much in man,
moons.
Il 1t was soon discovered that she an
the count were not en- rapport AM
coundn't view matters in the sam
light. In fact, they speedily decide
D that they didn't want to be foun
: drowned in the same Mediterranea
sea. If the disappointed and cursin
man had had Perkins afar on til
1 desert or on some lonely mountai
e peak he would have gladly wrung he
: neck. but ON the yacht there were n
straints.
OF course the craft put back. Whe
Perkins reached the hotel she foun
my lady in tears and her complexio
ruined for life. The count left Mic
the same evening without havin
called; the captain of the yacht ha
no news for reporters, and to this da
there are not half a dozen people VIII
can elevate their eyebrows and loo