Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-10
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Girl in the Casey Stacy E. Baker.
Copyrighted, 1910. by Associated Literary Press.

about that none was able to come
later with sufficient information to
draw down the trophy. Rawlins breath
ed his relief at the end of the day and
again drew the watch from his pocket
and studied the photograph. One longs
doubly for the unattainable. The
youth was in a perfect frenzy to meet
the girl.
Time passed. Several months went
by and still the young man was vainly
striving to meet the fair one of the
photograph 1t became a habit with
him no stand before the window of his
office and stare down into the street.
In this way there was chance that
his knowing eyes would find the owner
Of the watch.
One day as he stood at bis usual
point OF yantnge, his contemplative
eyes on a lazy cab. the latter came
to stop in front Of one of the large
stores. and-oh, the sudden shock of 1t
she stepped out.
In a moment the long legs Of the
youth were fairly flying down the
stairs-he wouldn't wait for the ele-
vator-and he was across the street
and into the store in another fast fol
lowing sixty seconds.
1t took the attorney some time to
find the girl. The wonder of it is that
he found her at all in that huge bee
hive of struggling patrons and clerks.
She was on the first floor and at the
handkerchief counter. He patiently
waited until she had finished her pur-
chaSeS.
81 beg your pardon!" he commenced.
approaching, hat in hand:
The girl stared at him coldly. She
was a revelation in beauty-au and
more than the photograph had prom
ised.
81 have here" said the lawyer,
something mat I believe belongs to
you" he smiled in what he evidently
believed to be q courteous manner. but
which left an entirely different impress
sion on the lady.
Il do not know you. SIR she an
swered in a well bred voice. the ca
dence of which thrilled her susceptible
admirer to the full of his rapidly beat
ing heart. You have probably mis-
| taken me for another person. Her
eyes rested meditatively upon an APP
preaching foorwalker.
II know we have never met" began
Rawlins namely, 'but-but"-
AT an almost imperceptible sign
from the girl the fioorwalker Joined
them.
This gentleman" began the girl dis
family, thinks he knows me. He
doesn't" She paused suggestively.
The foorwalker, wise OF his kind,
eyed the attorney with small favor.
You had better go, sir. else He,
too, ended his sentence with an elo-
Quent stop.
Rawlins, despite his keen admiration
! for the girl. was angry.
zone moment" he said authorita-
! lively to the official. He turned again
| to the girl.
Perhaps you recognize this" he
asked and held the watch before her
| eyes.
The maid gazed at it with some Gu
| riosity. 81 do not" she said ITO my
| knowledge. have never seen it before
/ in my life. Are you the-er-oficial
/ propounder of enigmas hereT
! The sarcasm was lost on the de.
! spondent Rawlins, who, with the iron
| hand of the f1oorwalker on his arm,
was being rapidly escorted toward the
| door.
I'm giving you chance" explained
the latter. although hadn't ought to.
The bosses here haven't any time for
fresh guys who antagonize the trade"
An elderly woman with gray hair
and faded blue eyes came hurrying
after the pair and touched the defect
| ed lawyer on the arm.
Gust a moment" she began breath
lessly. my niece has been telling me
| about it You-you must have my
| watchY'
'T knew it." interrupted the floor
walker. "I knew it from the start,
madam. He's a dip old offender
probably. If you'll just step into the
office I'll see that you recover your
property without any fuss, and wen
send this party down"
The woman stared.
'You are rather oficious. This gen
tleman was attempting to do my niece
a favor. He is no pickpocket- l am
| sure of that" She spoke coldly.
She turned to Rawlins- Tell me.
was the watch you wished to return
set with three diamonds and did 1t
| contain a little miniatureT
RawIins nodded happy assent. The
girl had joined them The youth noted
with an appreciative eye the embar-
raised flush dotting her cheeks.