Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-10
floor of this wing. You're his chauf.

floor OF this wing. You're his chauf-
feur"-
Il was about to suggest It," inter
rupted Won Grollerhagen. in his turn,
with some grimness Of manner. Il
have a room that can well be spared
for Professor Ivanovitch."
How can l ever thank you? God
bless you bothp' said the Russian. GO
ing toward them with outstretched
hands.
Huh! Don't waste time talking
about it." said Pike. Il shouldn't be
surprised if you were hungry"
He took the refugee by the arm and
steered him in the direction of the ho-
tel, and as the three entered the wide
door the curtains abore the entrance
were agitated violently and the head
of Lady Creech popped out of the case
| ment with the suddenness of a Punch.
From the keen look ON her face one
might have imagined that had it not
been for her deafness she might have
| heard every word OF the conversation
| tLat had gone on below her. As it was.
after gazing anXiously in the direction
of the road she withdrew her head
tsharply and within minute came out
of the door of the hotel just in time to
encounter Horace and Nine. de Cham
pigny coming in from the grove. She
approached them at once.
Have you seen my brother? she
demanded excitedly. "Where is Lord
| HawcaStle?''
| Horace looked at her with surprise.
| ION the other side of the garden,
Lady Creech," he answered. down
there on the terrace" and watched.
with some amusement, the speedy eff
forts of the grim old lady as she hur
ried off. The amusement. however,
| rapidly gave place TO a more interest
| ing pastime, for. summoning all his
callow courage, he set himself vigor-
ously to hint at a possible union be
tween himself and the noble countess.
1t was evident from the first word
that the lady was prepared for him
and that while she intended to offer
him every bit of encouragement in her
power, she would not be satisfied with
anything short of a definite proposal
and more likely before witnesses if
possible.
He made his initial move with some
gayety. She returned his banter with
Il mock seriousness and in answer to
his challenge on her somber mood re-
lplied:
But l cannot believe you are al
ways serious, my friend
TRY me-" he demanded eagerly
"Set me some task to prove how seri-
Gus am" She smiled at him.
Gladly" she said Complete this
odious settlement. Overcome the re-
sistance of this bad man who SO trou-
bles your sweet sister,
Horace took her hand and murmur.
ed:
You promise me that when it is set
tied l may speak to you
Yes. You may speak to me-wher
you please" And at the words b,
kissed her hand rapturously.
In the meantime the suddenly reju
venated Lady Creech had found hel
brother-in-law and had impaired t.
him words of the utmost Importance
She had temporarily forgotten hel
, deafness, or else the agitation that pos
sesSed her had removed it, for she was
bordering upon "a state of mind"
, She walked him back TO the hote
when she found him and talked con
tinuOusly all the way. and as she
talked his excitement grew to mattel
, her own. AS they approached the gar
den Lady Creech said to him:
Il couldn't hear distinctly for the!
mumbled their words, but upon my
soul. Hawcastle, even if l couldn'
:, hear well, l saw enough