Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-19
The Argus Daily Short Story
He Won the Betty David w. Church.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary PresA

gate and went UP TO the house. a wo-
man answered his knock at the door,
and he went inside. He was no sooner
out of sight than Miss Hood jumped
out, took small nickel plated mont ey
wrench from her pocket, unscrewed
nut and put it in her pocket. She had
not finished her work before Champlin
reappeared with glass of milk in his
hand Miss Hood was awakened to
his presence by hearing the breaking
of glass on stone. Looking up. she
saw Champlin the picture of astonish-
ment and chagrin. He knew that he
had been done"
Striding with n quick step to the
auto. he said sternly:
you know what I said before leav-
ing-that if there was any rascality
perpetrated | would treat you just as
I should man.
"Oh. yes" she replied. making a face
at him: ~ remember that"
Give me what you have removed"
II decline TO do So
Champlin made Il dive for her. She
sidled around the auto. He followed
chasing her in Il circle She was too
feet for him. He was strong. but she
was agile. At every stop there would
be the pretty face trimming with mis-
chief. her eyes riveted on him that
she should be ready for his slightest
move. Finally he gave it up.
Did Cook send you out to do this?"
Yes"
well, suppose shall have to lose
the bet"
THAT isn't necessary"
What do you meanY'
THAT if you ask me to give you
what have taken will do So"
ION what conditions?"
NO conditions"
mo conditions! What do you mean?"
81 mean that / agreed with Hum
phrey for a dozen pairs OF gloves TO
come out and delay you. Please don't
ask me why / prefer ntss to do So"
She cast down her eyes. and her
meaning was plain. She had gone
soft" on Champlin.
She handed him the nut he re-
placed it, and in another minute they
were shooting again along the road.
Champlin was delighted. Cook had
very nearly got ahead of him-would
have got ahead of him had it not been
that the girl had taken so great Il
fancy to him that she hadn't the heart
to do" him. What a splendid joke it
would be on Cook and the party who
were present at the making of the bet
when Champlin and Miss Hood rolled
up to the - hotel on timei Miss
Hood hadn't even asked for the gloves
win them. Champlin told her that as
soon as he received the stakes he
would give them to her and she could
change them for ladies' gloves. In
stead of being pleas at this. she ap-
peared to be very much hurt. Champ
lin begged her TO tell him why, and
she replied that she had not consented
to be a turncoat for a bribe. This left
him to understand that she had done
it all for him. There was a very ten
der scene between them, at the end of
which the misunderstanding was made
up. and for the rest of the journey
Miss Cook held the steering wheel,
while Mr.. Champlin's arm was about
her waist.
There were no more delays. On ap-
preaching the city, having still an
hours leeway, they concluded to stop (
at convenient place and get the dust |
out of their throats with an ice. |
Champlin left the lady for brief sea-
son while he. poured out something |
more effective than an ice in doing |
away with dust. On rejoining her they |
partook of the ices and resumed their |
journey.
What are you smiling at?" asked |
Miss Hood of her companion.
"Oh, was thinking how surprised |
that cousin of yours will be when we
roll up on time. That was a rascally |
proceeding of his. and it deserved to |
fail. If you hadn't been the dearest |
girl in the world it would have sue
ceeded. But just think Of his surprise |
when he hears of the other part Of it,
He managed to get hold Of her hand /
with his left. holding on to the wheel
with one hand. and they bowled along
in this way until they met another
And now the dome of the capitol |
with the figure perched upon it doomed