Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-10

be about thirteen years old-up in the
tree and making efforts to reach the
kite with one hand, while she chung to
| q branch with the other Mr. Slyter
! threw up the sash and said to her:
What are you doing up in a tree
trying to regain kite in DecemberT
This isn't kite time"
my little brother was flying his kite,
and it ceme down in your tree.
didn't suppose you'd mind my trying
to get it. I'm very sorry to have in
truded."
She looked as If she would cry.
my dear child, Of course 1 don't
mind. Stop a bit. III get n broom
handle or something TO poke it with"
He ran away from the window. pro-
cured a rod and ran back The kite
was still dangling. but the girl was
nowhere to be seen. A dread that she
had fallen gave Mr.. Slyter a cold chill
Leaning out of the window, there she
lay under the tree, apparently uncon-
scious To run down and out TO
where she had fallen required but half
minute Seeing no sign of life. he
took the child up in his arms. carried
her into the house and laid her on
lounge. He was surprised at her
weight.
William he yelled.
The butler entered the room. but
got no farther than the door when he
was ordered to call a doctor. At that
moment Slyter felt a hand clutch his
arm and a forced voice say:
mo, no. I'm not badly hurt. Give
me little time and I'll be all right"
Never mind. William; wait awhile.
Bring a What have we in the line
of restoratives-whisky? No; that
won't do. These creatures require
something stuck under their noses.
haven't smelling salts. Bring a glass
of wine"
William retired and returned with
the wine. His master took it from
him at the door and, going to the
girl, asked her to drink a little Of 1t.
She barely touched it to her lips,
made a wry face and handed IT back.
Two brown eyes looked up at him
with an expression he was not likely
soon to forget
Il suppose" she said in a self re-
proachful tone, that my fall is a
punishment for trespassing."
Not at all, my dear child. You were
quite welcome to try to recover your
brothers kite"
I'm much better now" she said.
I'm going home"
"Tll send you in my auto"
mo: III go on foot, thank you. I
must run along; mamma will be wor-
ried."
But the kite?"
"Oh. never mind that"
Here's q dollar; buy your brother
another"
AS she went out she showed signs
of weakness, and he supported her.
| He tried to dissuade her from going
alone, but she was firm. He said he
would send to inquire about her, and
she gave him her address. Then she
| dragged herself away.
The next morning William called to
know how the little girl was and was
told that she was in critical condi-
ton. This brought his master. He
was ushered into a room where the
little girl" lay on a lounge, but as
there was no short skirt to give her
the appearance of a child Slyter saw
what seemed to him to be a young
woman somewhere between seventeen
and twenty years old.
He saw Jack Leroy. She had flown
the kite herself and brought it down
after many attempts upon Mr.. Sylter's
apple tree. When he went away from
the window she had scurried down the
tree and had only time to assume an
unconscious but graceful position on
the ground when he returned.
There was an air Of comfort in the
room contrasting with Mr.. Slyter's
bachelor quarters. A cheerful fire
bIazed on the hearth, the hangings were
in perfect taste, the pictures were at
tractive. and Il silken blanket grace
fully covered the little girl from the
waist down. Sylter's call lasted a
couple Of hours.
When Christmas eve came the prize
that had been offered for. Mr.. Sylters
capture was almost forgotten, and
those who remembered it never
dreamed of Jacks winning it. When
the members of the congregation were
assembled for the Christmas festiv-
tiles a belated couple walked in to the
guild room. \ dozen girls uttered ex-
carnations of establishment. The pair
were JacqueIine Leroy and Westcott
, Slyter Miss Leroy marched in rs
unassumingly rs if she had caught a
sparrow The same innocent smile
, played about her lips; the same guile
, less look vas in her eye. No one would
have dreamed that she had accomplish
I'd anything unusual.
Mr.. Slyter left a check for 81 900
Eith the treasurer of the church.