Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-09
United States Minister to Morocco.
The Argus Daily Short Story
Modern Galatea-By Crittenden Marriott
Copyrighted. 1908, by Literary

AS WykoT entered the parlor d
young man who was warming his
hands ut the fire looked up.
Hello, Wykoff"' lie said langudly
ITS You. of course"
Wykoff did not seem any better
pleased at the meeting than did the
speaker. "Humphr' he remarked dis
gustedly. Il might have known I'd
find you here. Meredith"
Its mutual" returned the other,
with q gesture of resignation. Il can't
for the life of me see how you can af-
ford to neglect business this way. old
imam. Maybe, though. you have seen
Forbes this morning."
Wykoff shook his head He did not
| seem in the least Interested.
He WAS looking for you" went on
Meredith. IL don't know what he
wanted, but imaEine from his man
ncr that it was something important.
He said he would be at his Office till )
| o'clock. It's nearly that now. and you
had better hurry if you want TO See
| him."
Forbes can wait. Look here. Mere
dith! I'm tired of seeing you hanging
| around here all the time. wish
Before Wykof could explain what
he wished Il girl swept into the room,
holding out her hands in grave wei
| come. How do you do. Mr.. Wykotf:
she said quietly. How do you do.
tn 10 hNn
this afternoon. Will you ring for the
tea. Mr. Meredith? Sit down. Mr.
Wykoff You look troubled. | hope
nothing is wrong Her tones Were
calm. Any one could see that she tool;
little interest in the affairs of others.
"Wykof isn't troubled. Miss Curtis
That's his way of expressing eXtrav-
agant joy. He was just saying how
| pleased he was to see me here
The girl glanced mt Wykoff. who was
| plainly seeking for some retort-and
finding none. Airy persitiage was not
| in his line.
You must not tease Mr.. Wykoff.'
she said gently. when is that sister
of yours coming to see me. Mr.. Wy
| koff? l want
The sentence was never finished. fol-
with a rush Il small girl bounded into
| the room and flung herself on Wykotf
"Oh. Mr.. Wykoffw she cried. Come
right out and sculp my snow man. You
| promised you would" She caught his
| hand and tried to drag him to the
| door.
| BESSIE. Let Mr. Wykoff alone" in
| terposed Miss Curtis. You ought tc
be ashamed of yourself"
A CLEAN came into Meredith's eyes
.'Out of the mouths of babes and suck
Iings" he quoted gayly. positively
| you are getting quite a reputation
Wykoff, Keep on and maybe you'll
| get real client some day-somebody
| who wants TO he 'Sculpcd' in marble
| 10 adopt Miss BesSie's charmingly ex
| preSSive word
| Wykoff WINGED. No one knew better
| than he that so far he had not made ;
| moneyed success in his art; sculptor:
| have little honor i'm western America
| He had known Meredith all his lift
| and. being tongue tied himself. hat
| greatly admired the others giibneS'
| until he himself had become a large
for it. He hesitared now. angry al
| through. but fearing If he spoke at al
he might say more than he intended.
/ Little Bessie. however, had no sucl
/ scrupIes Deliberately she fixed he
/ eyes on Meredith. Il don't like you,
1 III, d,noroI t,nSitivnIN
4 "Bessie." Miss Curtis was scandal
iZed.
II can't help it. Sister Mary. don
4 like him. SO there She turned t
Wykoff. You promised" she reitet
ated wistfully. land Eve got sno'
i pile all built and
Reluctantly Wykoff rose. Il reall
did promise. Miss Curtis, he declared
land l suppose | must keep my word.
He spoke sorrowfully. for he bate
to leave the field To his rivat eve
though all he could do was TO stan