Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-02

sighed audibly, as if he were very
sorry that he could do nothing to ap-
pease her, but this only made her feel
more injured. She made an effort to
speak coldly.
You seem to forget that so long
as we are supposed to be engaged I
have some little claim to know how
you spend your timei"
81 make no secret of what 1 do.
That is why you were angry just now.
Nothing could have been easier than
for me to say that I was busy with
one of the matters you suggested"
"Oh, of course, Nothing could be
easier than to tell me an untruth!"
This certainly looked like the FEM
mime retort-triumphant, and Margaret
delivered 1t in a cutting tone.
THAT is precisely what you seem to
imply that I did, Logotheti objected
But II what 1 told you was untrue
your argument goes to pieces. There
was no Tartar lesson. there was no
Tartar teacher, and it was all fabri-
cation of my own"
Just what I think" returned Mar
garet. at was not Tartar you spoke,
anu luSIC Was no ISdCHeT.
You have me there answered the
Greek mildly, unless you would like
me to produce my young friend and
talk to him before you in the presence
Of witnesses who know his language"
81 wish you would. I would like to
see 'him' I should like to see the
color of his eyes and hair!"
BLACK as ink" said Logotheti
And you'll tell me that his COM
plexion is black, too, no doubt"
Not at all; a sort of creamy COM
plexion, l think, though l did not pay
much attention to his skin. He is a
smallish chap, good-looking, with
hands and feet like a woman's. |
noticed that. AS told you, a doubt
occurred to me at once, and I will not
positively swear that it is not a girl
after all. He, or she. is really a Tar
tar from central Asia, and 1 know
enough of the language to say what
was necessary"
necessary"
Yes. He-or she-came on a mat
ter of business. What I said about a
teacher was mere nonsense. Now you
know the whole thing"
Excepting what the business was,~
Margaret said incredulously.
The business was an uncut stone"
answered Logotheti with indifference.
He had one to sell, and / bought it.
He was recommended to me by man
In Constantinople. He came to Mar
settles on a French steamer with two
Greek merchants who were coming to
Paris, and they brought him to my
door. That is the whole story. And
here is the ruby. l bought it for you,
because you like those things. VIII
you take it?"
He held out what looked like little
ball of white tissue paper, but Marga-
ret turned her face from him.
You treat me like a child" she
said.
To her own great surprise and indig
nation. her voice was unsteady and
she felt something burning in her
eyes. She was almost frightened at
the thought that she might be going
to cry. out of sheer mobilization.
Logotheti said nothing for a mo-
ment. He began to unroll the paper
from the precious stone, but changed
his mind, wrapped it up again, and
put it back into his watchpocket be-
fore he spoke.
81 did not mean It as you think" he
said softly.
She turned her eyes without moving
her head. till she could just see that
he was leaning forward, resting his
wrists on mis- knees. bending his head
and apparently looking down at his
loosely hanging hands. His attitude
expressed detection and disappoint-
ment. She was glad of it. He had no
right to think that he could make her
as angry as she still was. angry even
to tears, and then bribe her to smile
again when he was tired of teasing