Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-04
The Argus Daily Short Story
Miss Lavinia's Lover-By Virginia Blair.
t Copyrighted, 1903. by Associated Literary Press

We'll. of course" Miss LAWNS, con-
fided. Il am glad TO have it, but it's
unSettling"
Mrs. Briggs shifted ut wouldn't
nnsettle me if any one left me $4,000.
| would know what to do with it."
Miss Lavinia leaned forward eagerly.
What would you do. Jane?' she de-
manded.
"Oh. WELL" Mrs. Briggs hesitated
I'D get some new clothes right away
and fix up the house. and entertain my
friends. and take a trip and have an
automobile
Il have thought of those things. but
thy don't seem TO be just what |
want. after all. Maybe I'll just put il
out Mt interest,"
'Now, look here. Lavinia Latimer."
Mrs. Briggs said Solemnly. don't you
do any such thing. You've got enough
TO live on. such as it is. and my advice
is to take some of tue money and have
good time. Goodness only knows
you haven't had many good times"
NO. / haven't" Miss Lavinia admit
ted somewhat wistfully. well, I'll
think It over. Jane"
And after Mrs Briggs bad gone Miss
Lavinia picked up her big yellow cat
and told him her innerInost wish. I'm
going to use some of that money to
find out where John Forbes is" she
whispered but wouldn't tell Jane
But to look for the man who had left
town ten years ago WAS not an easy
matter And I.avinia Latimer was not
wise in methods. But she wanted to
know the fate of her old lover. and so
it happened that ten days after her
talk with Jane Briggs, Miss Lavinia
went TO town.
I'm going to buy clothes" was the
reason she gave. but when she came
to the big town it was not to the
stores that she made her way. but to
IA dusty, musty little office in squalid
street.
"McDermott, private detective" said
the sign. uaH r." ir 'Ht"'.
Miss Lavinia was all pink and white
and pretty as. she stated her case. But
Mr.. McDermott set her at once at her
ease He was a brisk little. man with
| curly white hair and red cheeks.
$50 you want to find John Forbes.
he said. us he relative?"
"Oh, nor And Miss Lavinla blush
| ed
lowe you any money! McDermott
| demanded.
"Oh. no. no. Miss Latimer cried dis
| treSsfully. 1--WE were engaged fifteen
years ago. and l couldn't marry him
because l had to stay with my old
father and mother-and he-he went
| away-and ! promised that when
| was free l would let him know.
oh" McDermott calculated. and
after pause. Were you expecting tc
| find him still single?'
Tin not sure"
McDermott tugged at his mustache
| The chances are that he'll be mar
| ried.'
"Of course" Miss Lavinia agreed
but should like to be sure
| Surely" said McDerrnott. You jus
let Inc have the case. and III brini
you news of John Forbes before you
| know it..
| McDermott reported regularly once
II week by letter to Miss Luvinia ant
| us regularly received her answers.
| Miss Lavinia wrote on pale vioie
| paper that gave forth Il lfrfume O
| fresh flowers in the stufIy little Office
] McDermott found himself laying thoS'
| letters in Il little drawer by themselves
/ and one day in early spring. when n
i had Travelled out into the country on ;
case, he spied some violets by the way
side. He picked them and brough
/ them home and laid them with the let
| ters In the drawer.
| McDermott had money of his own
| so that Miss l.avinia's little FORUM
had no charms for him. but tn
( thought of her delicate presence in hi
home often came to him with a sens
of irresistible attraction.
"But If she finds John Forbes singl
she will marry him." he would sa-