Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
At the Octagon House-By Clarissa ,Mackie.
Copyrighted by Associated Literary Press.

Rosamond Lee walked slowly down
the rose hordered path To the tall stone
wall that incloSed the deserted house
next door The owners were abroad,
and there was no prospect of their i'm
mediate return TO inhabit the Octagon
House. as il was called.
Rosamond had made many eXcur-
sionS about the neglected grounds and
dreamed many dreams beneath the no.
bic trees that rose from the uukept
turf She had taken tolu of the bloom
ing flowers and shrubs in their sea-
sons. and now she fed the gray squir-
rels that raced up and down the green
branches.
Her family laughed, at Der fondness
for the Octagon House apd predicted Il
speedy abandonment when Mrs. Phil
lips came home again, for Mrs. Phil
lips was old and irascible and much
feared by Rosamond since she was a
little child.
But on this glorious September day,
when the late monthly roses were Dor
dering the Path with delicate sweet
| ness. Rosamond. a fair. sweet rose her
self. thought little of Mrs. Phillips in
distant Berlin. The day was made for
| her-for her alone-and the Octagon
| House, 'i'
She followed the stone wall To an In
| tersectins fence which served as Il
| stepping stone. In trice she had
| jumped tightly to the soft turf of the
| other side and sped swiftly across the
| dappled green toward the house.
The crooked piazza. which followed
the outline of the old house. WAS COW
| cred with Virginia creeper, even now
| turning Ia brilliant scarlet and gold
| In one corner where the vines hung
| low and formed Il curtain were a long
| wicker chair and pile OF Rosamond's
| fayorite books
she had tired of reading and was
sitting half Growsy with sleep when a
step on the piazza reused her. Never
before had any one trespassed on her
chosen retreat.
She parted the vines and peepcd
through 10 diScoyer~a mans tall form
bent TO peer into the half drawn shades
of the long windows. He Strengthened
up again, and she saw that his clothes
were gray and dusty and that white
dust powdered his dark hair. He was
hopping his forehead vigorously with
handkerchief. and she noticed that
his hands were bronzed by exposure 10
the sun
That the man was a burglar Rosa
mond had not Il doubt. Her heart al
most stopped heating when he glanced
carelessly toward her vine covered re
treat before he sat down on the top
step to light pipe.
Hes wondering how to get in
murmured Rosamond to herself. III
only ! were brave enough l would sc
out and brighten him away, but | am
fearfully afraid of burglars. and yet II
he should break in and steal some OF
Mrs. Phillips pictures would fee
dreadful. because | have enjoyed hei
hospitality unasked'' She smiled
thoughtfully and then satvery quietly
Presently she dropped book on the
floor and rustlcd out of her retreat
with a naughty expression on hci
sweet face. The stranger jumped t
his feet and pulled off his gray cap.
Il beg your pardon" he stamEiered
Il didn't know any one was around"
/ Rosamond fixed him with cole
stare while she mentally decided thai
he was too good looking to be engaged
in such nefarious pastime as burglar
izing unoccupied country houses
| She lifted her pretty brows inquir
ingly. You wished to see some one? ~
"Why-er- 10. didn't expect to Sc,
any one here. | thought the place wa
vacant" he stammered, knocking hi
pipe against the railing and stuffing 1
into his pocket.
| 1T is not vacant. l am here" sait
Rosamond bravely.
$50 I-er-see," with an air of cha
grin.
Ii 1.-THE house is well protected"
Il am glad of that he said heartily