Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-04


him.
Before she could finish her letter
one had come from him in which he
apoiogized for not keeping his appoint
ment on time and explaining that he
had run uptown on business and had
been delayed by an unexpected en-
counter with an old friend from whom
| he had been unable to escape
The letter was the last thing needed
to confirm Mamie in her resolution
By his own admission Jack had been
uptown. He might intend to explain
away his detention by an old friend,
but Mamie knew what that encounter
had meant. so it was a brief and
formal note that accompanied the ring
back to the giver.
| Jack did not yield easily, but Nan
hie would not read the letters he wrote
limploring her to explain just what the
trouble had been. He told her he
could not believe that the engagement
was broken because he had been late
in keeping an appointment, and he
begged her to give him an opportunity
to explain.
To Mamie the letters merely meant
that he feared the old man had sought
her and revealed Laurance's perfidy.
Doubtless he wished TO ascertain II
this was the fact, that he might offer
some explanation. Perhaps he even
thought that he might be able to win
her over. but no one could have lis.
tened to the old mans plea and accept
any explanation from the wrongdoer
For nearly two months Jack persisted
In his endeavor to set things straight
and Mamie grew pale and nervous un
der the strain. Even her father, alb
sorbed In business affairs, saw her dis
tress and in his clumsy way sought t.
help her.
His help took the form of theate:
tickets, and several times she met him
downtown on Saturday afternoons and
went to matinee with him. One aft
ernoon he regarded her with eyes thai
twinkled.
Were going to be real frivolous this
afternoon" he declared II got seats
for the variety show. There's a chap
on the bill l met the other day. He
is something of bore when he wants
to talk about himself which is most
of the time-but otherwise he's good
sort, and I'd like to see what he does
Mamie nodded. Her father had often
sacrificed his own inclinations to take
her to serious plays, which She liked
best. 1t was only fair that he should
have his afternoon of vaudeville. Once
ensconced in the comfortable chairs
she found the entertainment rather di
verting. itb5
| The chief attraction was playlet of
fered by Hugh Wassingford, who had
achieved q reputation on the dramatic
stage, which he was now selling to ad
vantage in vaudeville.
Mamie started at his entrance. Al
lowing for the changed appearance In
makeup, it was the man of the ele
waited platform. The voice, the man
nerisms were all the same, and pres
emily the story of the sketch developed
the tale of deserted daughter, and
in the same words that had been scared
into Nannies brain, the old man made
his plea, but this time to paid actor
and not to Laurance.
| Lie tremDilnS appear nnu~ltS eHect
and the curtain fell ON the two mel
starting in search of the girl AS the
applause died down her father turned
to Mamie and smiled approvingly az
he saw that the girls eyes were filled
with tears
Great work that" he commented
"That fellow is a real actor He re
cited the whole of the sketch for me
at the club the other night, and, by
Jove, / almost cried myself. Jacl
Laurance brought him over to a little
smoker the boys got up. Jack says
the first time he heard the act was oil
an elevated station. He was in s
hurry to get downtown. and Wassing
ford held him there for half an hour
with Jack scowling into his face ant
looking at his watch every three min
utes as a hint that he was late. Blu
Wassingford held him to the very end
Jack picked the winner of two sketche.
he had the first time he played il
vaudeville. and = now washington