Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-22

= . -. : $780, = /
an accompanying blast from the pub
lie press; therefore he had gone to
Rosamund with the curtest of hints !
that he would like to have card 70
the Orchu affair.
s'There Is no use In speaking 20,
George" she said, shaking her head.
.'Try it." returned Neergard, with q
hint of snarl. And he took bis leave
and his hat from the man in waiting,
who looked after him with the slight
est twitching of his shaver upper lip,
for the lifting of an eyebrow in the
drawing rooms becomes warrant for a
tip that runs very swiftly below stairs.
That afternoon. alone in his office,
Neergard remembered Gerald. and for
| the first time he understood the mis-
| take Of making an enemy out of what
he had known only as friendly fool.
| But it was a detail, after all-merely
| a slight error in assuming too early an
arrogance he could have afforded to
wait for. He had waited long, long
| while for some things.
l. AS for Fame, he had him locked up
with his short account. No doubt he'd
hear from the Orchils through the
Fanes. However. to cllnch the matter
he thought he might as well stop in to
see Ruthyen.
So that afternoon he took hanson
| at Broad and Wall streets and rolled
smoothly uptown, not seriously con-
cerned. but willing to have a brief I'M
Outstanding with Ruthven on one or
two subjects.
AS his. cab drove up to the intricate
~ ornamental little house of gray
stone big. touring limousine wheeled
out from the curb, and he caught sight
of Sanxon Orchil and Phoenix Notify
inside. evidently just leaving Ruthven.
His smiling and very cordial bow
was returned coolly by Orchil and ap-
parently not observed at all by Mott
ly. He sat a second in his cab motion
less, the obsequious smile still stem
ciled on his flushed face. Then the
flush darkened. He got out Of his cab
and, bidding the man wait, rang at the
house of Ruthven.
Ruthyen in lounging suit Of lilac
silk, sashed in with flexible silver,
stood with his back to the door as
Neergard was announced. and even
after he was announced Ruthven took
his time to turn and stare and nod
with n deliberate negligence that &C
cented the affront.
Neergard sat down. Ruthven gazed
out of the window, then, soft thumbs
hooked in his sash, turned leisurely in
impudent Interrogation.
"What is the matter with you?" ask
ed Neergard. 81 see there's some trou
BILE somewhere. What is It? What's
the matter with Orchil and that hatch
ct faced beagle pup, Notify? Is there
anything the matter, JackT'
Nothing important" said Ruthven
with an information which troubled
Neergard. did you come here to-
ah-ask anything of me? Very GLAD
to do anything. Pm Sure"
"Are you? Well. then, want a care
to the Orchils'''
lawfully sorry"
"You mean you won'tr
"Well, if you really insist, they-al
don't want you, Neergard."
"Who-why-how do you happen t,
know that they don't? Is this som,
petty spite of that young cub, Gerald
or''-and he almost looked at Ruthvel
lis this some childish within o
yours?"
, "Oh, really now
? Eyes, really now" sneered Neergard
you'd better tell me. And you'd bet
r ter understand now. once for all, jus
I exactly what I've outlined for mysel
, SO you can steer clear of the territor,
, 1 operate in. l need a little backing
but can get along without it. An,
, what I'm going to do is to marry Mis-
Orchil. Now you know; now you uu
: derstand. 1 don't care a hang abou
o the Enroll boy, and 1 think I'll dis
e count right now any intentions of an
q married man to bother Miss Orch
!. after some Dakota decree frees hir
n from the woman whom he's driven int
an asylum
n Ruthven looked at him curiously.
2 $50 that is discounted, Is it?'
r II think So" nodded Neergard a
y don't think that man will try to OF
( tain divorce until say the word"
! "Oh, why not?"
n Because Of my knowledge concern
3 ing that mans crooked methods In oil
4 tanning for me certain options tina
= meant ruin to his own country club,
; said Neergard coolly.
II see. How extraordinary! Bu
% the club has bought in all that LIANT
: hasn't itT'
j. Eyes, but the stencil Of your treacl
v cry remains, my friend"
r "Not treachery, only temptation" oil
r served Ruthven blandly. 1--WE talke
i MNleA -s