Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-30

aition.
Lady Maud rose and went to the
window, where she stood looking out
while Margaret wrote her message.
You needn't write 1t out twice"
she said, without turning round. Just
put duplicate message and both ad-
dresses"
Yes Thank you"
Margaret was already writing. Her
message said it was absolutely neces-
sary that she should see Logothei
directly, and bade him answer at
once, If he could come to Bayreuth;
If important financial affairs hindered
him. she herself would return i'm
mediately to Paris to see him.
| She was careful to write financial"
affairs, for she would not admit that
any other consideration could delay
his obedience. While she was busy
she heard, but scarcely noticed, an
unearthly boot from a big motor car
that was passing before the hotel.
There must have been something in
the way, for the thing hooted again
almost at once, and then several
times in quick succession, as IL gi-
gantic brazen ass were beginning to
vi dy just uuQ6T Iue WlnuOW.
noises ended in a sort of wild, tri-
umphant howl, with a furious putting,
and the motor took itself OF, just as
Margaret finished.
She looked up and saw LADY Maud
half bent, as If she had been struck;
she was clinging with one hand to the
ftmsy chintz curtain, and her face
was as white as a sheet. Margaret
started In surprise, and rose to her
| feet so suddenly that she upset the
chair again.
What has happened?" she cried.
Are you Ill, dear?"
The delicate color came slowly back
to the smooth cheeks, the thorough
| bred figure in black drew itself up
with elastic dignity, and the hand let
| go of the curtain.
81 felt little faint" Lady Maud an
swered. Did brighten you? 1t was
nothing, and it's quite gone. I assure
| you"
You looked dreadfully i'll for a mo-
ment," Margaret said in a tone of
concern. Won't you let me send for
something? Tea? Or something
| iced? I'm sure you have had nothing
to eat or drink for hours! How dis
| gracefully thoughtless of mel.
She was just going to ring, but her
friend stopped her.
"No-pleasei' she cried I'm all
| right, indeed l am. The room is a lit
tie warm, I think, and I've been shut
up in that stuffy train for 80 hours.
| Have you written your telegram? I'll
put on my hat at once, and take it for
you. The little walk will do me good.
! Where is the telegraph? But they can
| tell me downstairs. Don't bother!
Walking always brings me round, no
matter what has happened"
She spoke nervously, in disjointed
/ phrases, in a way not like herself for
| there was generally an air of easy
calm In ali she did, as If nothing
really mattered in the least, save
when she was deeply interested; and
hardly anything interested her now
except what she had made her work
IN all that belonged to that, she was
energetic, direct and quick.
Margaret was sure that something
! was wrong. but let her go, since she
insisted. and Lady Maud folded the
written message and went to the door.
Just as she was going to turn the
| handle Margaret spoke to her.
IF I have no answer to that by
tomorrow afternoon I shall accept
Mr.. Van Torp's invitation"
"I hope you will CO." Lady Maud
said with sudden decision, for If you
do, I can go with you, and I'm dying
to see the new yacht"
Margaret looked at her in surprise,
for It was only a little while since she
had seemed much less ready to join
the party. and only willing to do so, if
| at all, in order to please her friend.
She saw Margaret's expression.
yes" she said. as If in explanation,
I've been thinking 1t over in the last
few minutes, and I want very much
to go with you all. 1 shall be back in
less than an hour"
"An hour?"
Say half an hour. I want a good
walk"
Straight and tall IN her mourning,
lady Maud went down the stairs of
the hotel. AS she was going out the
hall porter raised his. cap, and she
stopped a moment and asked him
which was the nearest way to the
/ dpn nc clOO0 III l1C
doorstep and pointed in the direction
| sne was to follow as he answered her
/ question.
Can you tell me-" she asked.
whose motor car 1t was that passed
about ten minutes ago, and made SO
much noise?'
Count Kralinsky's, my lady" the
porter answered. for he spoke good
English, and had the true hotel por-
ter's respect for the British aristoc-
racy abroad.
He was the gentleman with the
big fair beard, 1 suppose? Yes, thank
you"
She went out into the dull street,
with it's monotonous houses, all two
stories high, and she soon found the
telegraph office and sent Margeret's
duplicate message. She had not
glanced at it. but the clerk asked her