Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-31

mans, girl who was a beauty anu
a toast Never mind her name. She
has married and changed 1t for an
other. This girl was up to all sorts
of mischief and pranks and carried
a lot of scatterbrained young folk
with her in many a harmless esca-
pade.
"She conceived the idea Of giving
ball in the old mansion of her cousin.
Now, / have not the slightest doubt
that the man would have gladly con-
scented to turn the house over for such
a merrymakng had they asked him.
But, no; of course half the fun lay in
the clandestine proceedings,
"And so one night when the moon
was young and the aged caretaker of
on leave several great automobiles
rolled quietly up the long avenue, and
the mischievous girl and her friends
and their reluctant chaperons trooped
through a side entrance and made
their way to the great ballroom on the
second floor.
THE room had been cleaned in some
mysterious manner, and when the cleo
trio chandeliers were ablaze and the
polished floor stretched forth an invit-
ing surface the small orchestra they
had brought tuned up. and the fun be-
gan Several servants unpacked re-
freshments in an anteroom while the
young people danced and between
dances wandered over the grand old
house lighted from top to bottom by
Laura's"-
"Laura!" shouted Gilbert, but Slade
interrupted:
'Hold on. there. Danny. / didn't
mean to make slip! The house was
lighted up and the dancing was going
on and everything was going along
finely when suddenly a messenger ap-
peared among them. The station agent
from the depot, who had known of the
merrymaking. came to say that the
owner had arrived at the station and
was on his way to the house. He had
jumped on his wheel and sped with
the message.
'They worked fast and without judg-
ment One bright soul cut the electric
light wires and plunged the house in
total darkness. Before a search could
be made for candles and escape made
the front door was opened and the in
truders heard footsteps below stairs.
after awhile the library door opened,
and all was silent.
by aid of matches and the station
masters bicycle lantern the party
reached the ground floor and by stealth
left the house. That was all part of the
finn DOME Nd fh4v, 1r1of
as they were going to leave one of the
girls discovered she had lost her pet
handkerchief and was sure she had
left it in the library. She recovered
it. although she would not say how,
and she was quite breathless when she
climbed into the motor. And that is
ally'
Daniel Gilbert arose to his full
height and laid his pipe on the mantel
"And that was Laura, who got up the
party and everything. shall bless
your. wife all her days, John, if she
will introduce me to my ghost girl
Viola-Viola who?"
''Viola Blair She happens to be Wis
iting Laura now. 1 hardly think you'll
find her in the west gallery tonight
Dan"
Gilbert pulled time table from his
pocket and looked at his watch. "She
is quite free?" he asked abruptly.
Slade yawned and stretched his lorg
arms luxuriously. she was-er-until
we always thought she had met her
fate just a year ago tonight. She has
never been quite the same since.
can't say any more"-
There's a train to town at 11:05 |
Wen take it. You and Laura owe me |
something. Johnv'
We'll pay it with compound inter |
est. That will be Violar' said Slade, |
grasping his friends outstretched |
hand.