Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-12

rr1eaGs perweer Gets: Dut TO Cne seem
ed to know her. and he had spent his
leisure time since then In trying to
find some trace of her.
He was not permitted to enjoy his
thoughts long, fer the child soon for
got her troubles in the delight Of rid |
ing. and her very evident pleasure de- |
lighted Sidney, who even dared arrest |
to let the speed out another notch
when the child begged to go faster.
But when they had come to the end
Of the line and she had not recognized
any familiar landmark the situation
turned serious.
Perhaps even now hyster1cal
mother might be clamoring at the po-
lice station for her child, and gen.
eral alarm sent out at once might
cause him to be apprehended. With
| an anxious face he turned to the child
| for a suggestion, and the self pos
| sessed little one promptly replied:
I'VE might look for Aunt Mollie.
| She lives close where you found me.
She can tell where l live. If you stop
where the ears stop you can get to
her place from there"
Sidney Strang accepted the sugges-
ton thankfully, and after treating the
shivering child to hot soda he headed
! the car for town.
| He sent it along at the best speed
| limit, wondering how he would ex-
plain this standardization should the
| notice have been warned.
| He breathed more freely when they
entered the city again, and presently
they were ut the transfer point for
suburban trolleys. From her seat in
the car the child seemed able to pick
up her landmarks. and presently, sigh
ing with regret, she pointed to house
which she declared to be her aunt's.
Sidney drew TO the curb and alighted
to lift the little traveller down.
1T was terrible nice ride" she de-
clared. Il wisht / lived miles an
miles an miles away"
Sidney scarcely echoed the wish, but
he patted the cheek that was offered
for his caress and turned to climb into
the car.
At this instant he heard an exclama-
ton Of surprise and turned to look into
the glowing eyes of the rosy girl he
wanted to know, the girl of the box
party.
She had caught the child up in her
arms. laughing and crying simultane-
ously. Sidney decided that she was
the Aunt Mollie" for whom they had
searched and raised his hat
..rThn I,iJd;o Loot how ha nv
planned. Il ran out TO Mount Holly IN
the hope that she might he able to 10
. cate her home, but the effort was I'M
awaiting, and at last she remembered
that she could find her way from the
transfer station to your house"
Lost" The Girl laughed nervously
! Betty" she added, do you mean to
say that you made this gentleman
take you out to Mount Holly"
The child nodded her head and look
ed fearlessly at the other girl.
\ Betty has passion for automobil
ing" she added. Father has an mex
4 plicable fear of it and viii not have 6
car. so suppose that she took thi:
means of obtaining ride. the schem
ing little puss. She shall be punished
and put to bed. She doesn't live in thu
| country Our home is just around til,
corner.
"Betty went out to play with a littl
friend, and not until the other littl
girl came to ask where she was di,
we realize that she was not safe at tn
Rawlings home.
Jimmie Rawlings?" asked Sidne.
quickly. "Jim ard are great friends
May l ask him to bring me to cal
some time? Then I might have an ex
cuse for taking Betty for ride with
out tempting her to get lost on he
! own doorstep. 1t was just around tn
corner that 1 found her"
"She deserves DO more rides" wa
u the severe declaration. but Sidney of
:, fered an emphatic negative.
= 81 shall feel that she deserves man.
+, rides" he declared boldly, "if you WI
u net as her chaperon."
The pretty girl flushed. but a glanc
at the eager face of the child decide
. her.
ask Mr. Rawlings to bring yo
over" she consented. II am Alic
;. Fakins. by the way, and 1 am sur
. that Betty--and Twill be very glad t
:. go riding"
y "Pll come tomorrow" promised Sid
:, ney as he climbed into the car. The
as he rolled down the street he as
'. sured himself that Betty should b
e forgiven and have daily ride, for sh
had found for him the girl of girls.
N A lot of men try to be fair. but nc