Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
THE SAVING OF BOBBIE-BY KATHLEEN O'BRIEN.
Copyrighted 1908. by Associated Literary

The Roberts house party had been
voted success. 1t began an Friday
night, and now that Sunday dinner
was over the fortunate guests were
bewailing the fact that the morning
sun would see them all back in town
again.
Robert Livingston, however. was not
SO sure that his visit had been alto
gether n successful one. He was des-
perately in love with Hulda Roberts.
This was no secret. for Robert had
been guilty OF relating his infatuation
to every one who would listen to the
narrowing tale for the past four years
| The story was interesting to Robert.
| SO why not to others?
The one cloud ON his horizon, and
| this cloud which the brightest sun
| shine could not blot out. was Carlton
| Carruthers. There he was even now,
when the precious moments were so
| few. dangling over the side of the
piano at which Hulda was playing
softly.
Carlton Carruthers was likewise in
love with Hulda. but he had never
mentioned the fact to any one as yet,
not even to Hulda herself.
| Livingston leaned against the man
telpiece and surveyed the scene. Evil
IDENTITY plan had occurred to him, for
he suddenly walked over to the piano.
| "Hulda. don't you think it would be
a fine stunt to go for short walk
after that heavy dinner?" he suggest
ed, absolutely ignoring Carruthers.
Hardly in this toggery," Hulda
laughed in reply.
"What have you against Miss Rob-
erts. old man?" interrupted Carruthers,
that you should invite her for stroll
In the snow clad in Il decollete gown
and paper soled slippers?"
"Well, to be frank" admitted Living
ston. Il was thinking only Of you"
"Of meT' echoed Carruthers.
"Yes. You see. wanted to speak to
Hulda for a moment. and l knew you
detested the cold. so I suggested going
out of doors to get rid of you"
He was irresistible, and all three of
them laughed.
Livingston" said Carruthers. "I'll
make a bargain with you. I'll go up
in the library and smoke for just one
hour. then I'll come back and claim
Miss Roberts, and you to so to the IL
brary for an hour What say you?"
Gentlemen! Gentlemen cried HUI
da. "How do you know that l could
stand either of you for one whole
tcur?"
But Carruthers was gone, and there
was nothing for her to do but stay
with Livingston. Together they went
into the great hall and curled up on an
old settle before the open fire. The
other members of the party had settled
down into peaceful groups.
Most of the men had congregated in
Mr.. Roberts study and were in a heat
ed debate over politics, while the wo-
men were seated cozily about the
draw room talking over the same
things that women always do discuss
when the men are not about-clothes
and servants.
Hulda felt something brush by heI
skirts and, leaning over, saw her fa
vorite Angora cat purring at her side
> Tenerly she picked the animal up II
her arms
Bobby. dear" she cooed to it.
ibid 1 understand you aright?" ex
! claimed Livingston.
II was speaking to the cat" reprov
g ed Hulda His name is Robinson
Crusoe, but we call him Bobbie To-
r short"
. You will forgive me. Hulda, won
lyou?" apologized Livingston as hi
nervously pulled at his perfectly fitted
collar. "But you must remember tina
my name is Bobbie. And, Hulda," h
Icontinued as he leaned little close
to her, do you think you could eve
= lcome to think Of me as Bobbie dear?"
. "Why, Mr.. Livingston"- begal
. Hulda.
"Could you ever care as much 70
me as for
"You have no right to drag Mr.. Cal
\ ruthers into this" interrupted Hulda
''He is nothing to me-"
II was not thinking Of Carruther'
meant could you ever care as niue
for me as for Robinson Crusoe? d
you think
II think we are sitting too near th
fire and that 1t is high time that Boil
bic was in bed like all other decor
leafs" answered Hulda as she gait
cred the Angora into her arms an
rose from the settle,