Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-22

I'll bet. ashamed to sign his full name"
"Sit down on the porch. won't you,
Mr. She hesitated. The beauty
would make no mistakes.
"Elkins is my name-Pierce Elkins-
and fear have made n mistake. My
sister and l live in the little red cot
tage on New street I'm searching for
our landlord-nanle unknown. but
methods atrocious. Really Miss-Miss'-
Now Pierce hesitated
"Markwell." she added.
This landlord signs bis receipts ".
NJ and I'm after his blood" finished
Elkins.
Wont you sit down." again sug-
gested Miss Markwell and she deftl:
turned the conversation into more
agreeable channels. The landlord was
forgotten.
II wonder If your sistsr would like
to know me-" said the beauty finally
Il know it is my place to call. but
, rather hesitated-well. for several rea-
sons
"Oh. do wish you would call on
Harriet! She's brick all right and rs
lonesome as stray cat No one has
called yet"
'Well, I'll come over this afternoon
| while you are on the Inks" said Miss
| Markwen, with some emphasis about
| the links.
But when Miss Maxwell called that
| afternoon it was Pierce who answered
the bell.
You see. I've such Il fearful cold
from that leaking roof" he explained,
| ''that l thought l had better stay home
and nurse it"
| Miss Maxwell bit her lip.
| az do hope, Miss Ekins." she said.
shat l may be allowed to see this
much talked of roof while I am here
The fact is" she continued. with rath-
| er hating speech-"the fact is, oh.
bother-fm your landlord
! Pierce took firm grip on the table
to keep from losing his balance Nei,
Their he nor Harriet spoke, and the
beauty was forced to cover the pause.
I'm the Terrible Turk I'm Mike
Murphy alias Muriel Markwcil. alias
M. NJ She seemed quite relieved
that the awful news was out.
well, I'll be hanged.' This from
| Pierce.
"Who would think it," This from
| Harriet.
You see, built these four houses
as an investment with some money
that father left to me-" explained M
NJ" And now. Mr.. Elkins. if you viii
come with me we will hunt up root
man and have the repairs done RICH.
away. l am tired of agents. want to
be an old fashioned landlord and take
good care of my tenants
She smiled an irresistible smile.
Monday found the men Mt work. and
IN. NJ" dropped In to see how things
progressed. Tuesday morning she look
ed for Elkins on the $50 train. but he
was not in evidence. Wednesday II
was the same story. and that afternoon
Muriel thought she would make anoth
er tour of inspection. Harriet met hel
at the door with rather long face.
1.-THE ceiling fell in Pierce's room or
Monday night, and his arm is broken
was her greeting.
"Oh, Miss Elkins." cried Muriel. "a
feel for all the world like a murderel
at large. What am to doT"
Suppose you come up and Sc,
Pierce. Perhaps he can suggest a wa,
out of it." said Harriet. with sisterly
interest.
They found Pierce lying back in
morris chair reading the latest issue o
/. a magazine. He made very inter
esting picture with his bandaged arm
and his smoking jacket thrown abou
, his shoulders.
"What can say ?" said Muriel as sh
reached forth supplicating hand Z
meet his free one.
II II don't know what you can say. bu
there's heap Of things You can do.
boldly asserted the invalid.
Il Anything anythingp cried Muriel.
Il "Well. sit down for ope thing sal